VANISHED, A Romantic Suspense Novel (Edgars Family Novel) (32 page)

“Because you dreamed about me.”

“I did, but don’t remind me. You still ended up covered in blood.”

“And you bossed me around.”

He leaned in to kiss her gently. “Someone had to protect you.”

“And you love how my brain works.”

“I do and if I live to be a hundred I’ll never quit thinking how much you fascinate me.” He kissed her again, then leaned back. “You scared me with all that blood. Why did you jump in front of me? You could’ve been killed, nearly were, in fact.”

She pushed a button on the bed, slowly raising herself up to a forty-five-degree angle. “Because he had line of sight on your heart. Too many people would’ve been sad if you’d died. While I’m more expendable.”

Expendable? What the hell was she talking about?

Before he could correct her misconception, a knock sounded on the door.

It was Jeffers pushing Brianna in a wheelchair.

“Sorry, but she insisted she wanted to see her friend,” Aaron said with a slight shrug of apology.

The smile that lit up Abby’s face took some of the anger out of Luke’s frustration over the interruption.

“Come in. I’ve just been catching Abby up on what happened while she was napping.”

Jeffers wheeled Brianna right up to Abby’s bedside and the two women clutched each other’s hands and the tears started flowing.

Luke looked at Aaron, who appeared just as perplexed, then shrugged as if to say,
Women
. He nodded and shrugged, too. Apparently they had to cry before they could talk.

“You’re going to be okay?” Brianna asked after a bit.

“Yes. It was just a little gunshot,” Abby said and Luke coughed to cover up the choking sound at her description of her injuries. She cast him a slanted look and he moved to the foot of the bed as she focused on her friend once more. “Are you going to be okay?”

“The doctors fixed my nose and arm, but they think the damage to my cheekbone and eye socket might need more surgery once the swelling goes down.” Brianna looked out the window a minute, then back at Abby. “I’m so sorry I dragged you into this, Abby. I had no idea how dangerous Dylan and his people were. I’d only wanted some advice on what to do with the information I’d found. Then, two men were attacking me in my home and…”

She choked on more tears and Abby reached out to stroke her hair.

“We know, Brie. I was so scared when I saw all that blood and the mess, I knew you were in trouble. But I never found the information you had for me.”

“It was in the picture of me.”

Abby laughed, then caught her side. “Dang that hurts.”

Luke started to her, but she shook her head at him.

“Brie, there were dozens of photos of you all over the place.”

“I know, but only one addressed to you. It was taped on the back. The cardboard backing hiding it from anyone.”

Abby’s eyes shot to his. “We had it all the time and didn’t know it.”

Luke nodded, then turned to Jeffers. “I’ll have Castello get it to the station later today.”

“Appreciate it,” he said. “We’ll be mopping this mess up for some time. All the information on that will help our case.”

“I’d keep that profile up on those websites, too.” Luke gave him a pointed look.

“You think there might be sharks out there we haven’t rounded up yet?”

Jeffers was a smart man. “Could be. Might be worth a little fishing, don’t you think?”

The nurse came in carrying a small IV bag and a cup of medicine. “I’m afraid I have to break this up. Ms. Whitson and Ms. Mathews both need to rest.”

Jeffers moved in behind the wheelchair again, but Brianna still clutched Abby’s hand. “Thank you, Abby. Thank you for not giving up on me. And I never told them who you were, even when I realized they thought Abby was a church.”

Anger shot through Luke. Brianna
had
told the Kleins about Abby, only they hadn’t realized it. He knew she’d put her in danger, but Abby simply blinked and patted her friend’s hand. “I would never give up on you, Brie. You’re my forever friend.”

“And you’re mine,” Brianna said as Jeffers eased her away from the bed.

After they left, Luke sat back down in the chair by her bedside, slipping her hand in his, threading their fingers together as the nurse hung the small bag of antibiotics, checked the end of the blood transfusion, marked down more of Abby’s vital signs, then gave her the medication, warning her it would make her sleepy in ten or fifteen minutes.

He waited for the nurse to leave then brought Abby’s hand up to his lips and kissed it. “You’re wrong, you know.”

“Wrong about what?” she asked, looking at him with those fascinating green eyes.

“About being expendable. If you hadn’t made it through this…” he swallowed, fighting the lump suddenly in his throat. “If you’d died, a hole would’ve been left in my life. One I don’t think I could ever crawl out of…” He paused again, kissing her hand. “I love you, Abigail Prudence Whitson and don’t you ever put your life in danger like that again.”

Tears slipped down her cheeks, but she smiled at him. “I love you, too, Lucas Edgars and I won’t put myself in danger as long as no one points a gun at your heart.”

“Stubborn woman.”

“Bossy man,” she said with a yawn.

“You get some sleep,” he said, pulling up the covers around her.

“Will you be here when I wake up?” she asked, and the slight question in it reminded him how vulnerable she was, even to something as powerful as love.

He leaned in and kissed her, tenderly but with enough heat to promise more when she was up for it. Then he sat back down, her hand still in his. “Sweetheart, I will always be here for you.”

The End

Thank you for reading THE EDGARS 

FAMILY NOVELS!

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The Edgars Family Novels

KIDNAPPED, Edgars Family Novels, Book 1

FBI Agent Jake Carlisle is in deep trouble. He’s been shot and if he can’t get help fast, two lives will be lost-his and that of the young witness whom he’s sworn to protect. Desperate, on the run from both the police and the Russian Mafia, he kidnaps a nurse from a hospital parking lot.

ER nurse Samantha Edgars has been living in an emotional vacuum since the death of her daughter. Mentally and physically exhausted following a difficult shift, she’s suddenly jolted from her stupor when she’s bound and gagged, then tossed into the back of her car. Forced to tend a bleeding FBI agent and his injured witness, she’s terrified. But Samantha quickly learns the rogue agent and orphaned boy need more than just her professional skills. Danger is bearing down on them, and she must learn to trust Jake – and her heart – if they’re all going to survive.

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Hunted, Edgars Family Novels, Book 2

In one fiery explosion Katie Myers' witness protection cover is blown. Unable to trust the Marshals who've been responsible for her safety, she’s on the run from the cult leader she put on death row. In desperation she forces a near stranger at gunpoint to help her hide.

By-the-book patrolman Matt Edgars is shocked when the woman he's come to rescue points a gun at him and demands he help her leave a crime scene. The stark terror in Katie’s beautiful eyes has him breaking rules for the first time in his career.

With a hit man on their trail, Matt must break down the walls Katie has built to guard the secrets of her past. If not the cult leader will fulfill his prophecy and take the one woman Matt has ever loved to the grave.

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SEIZED, Edgars Family Novels, Book 3

Dave and Judy Edgars have always loved each other – they’ve been married ten years and have three kids. But ever since Dave, a SWAT team member, was shot on duty Judy can’t control the intense fear that grips her every time he heads out to work. It puts a strain on their relationship. Dave knows she’s scared, but damn it she knew he was a cop the day they met. His patience is wearing thin.

Until the tables are turned…

One icy winter night, Judy, an operating room nurse, is called into work. She’s taken hostage by a crazed gunman with an agenda. Now with Judy’s life in danger and the SWAT team deployed elsewhere, Dave must face the same fear his wife does on a daily basis. Terrified he will lose her, he and his law enforcement family race to save Judy and stop her captor’s plans.

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THE EDGARS FAMILY NOVELS, 3 Book Anthology

This boxed e-book set includes the first two Best-selling Edgars Family Romantic Suspense Novels, KIDNAPPED and HUNTED, along with the fast-paced novella SEIZED KIDNAPPED.

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