High Stakes Gamble

Chapter Seventeen

Fighting for her next breath, Aurora sunk deeper into the waves of disbelief. Dealing with the fact that this had happened to her took all she had. How the hell was she supposed to accept that when the ‘shit hit the fan’ she wasn’t any different from other victims?

For the first time in her working life, her training didn’t kick in. If she could shove aside the screams so her brain could function, then maybe she could do more than whimper and bite her lips to stop the nervous breakdown waiting in the wings.

Stumbling recklessly, she ran from office to office in her futile search, but in her heart, she knew it wouldn’t do any good. Lily was gone. Eventually, the doctor who shadowed her led her away from the distressed women in the waiting room.

“I’ve just called your office and spoke to Lieutenant Ashton. He says they’ll be here immediately. We’ve followed the same process you installed last time and no-one has left the premises. Is there anything else you’d like us to do?”

The doctor all but forced her to sit. Then he tried to give her medication, but she slapped it away. Stunned? In shock? She might be. Stupid? Not likely. As soon as her legs worked and her brain kicked in, she’d find the son-of-a-bitch responsible for taking Lily and the bastard would have to die. For the first time, she truly understood the fury that had driven Kai for so long when he lost his sister.

If she could, she’d rip the animal apart who had dared take her baby. Visions of a nurse holding out her arms started to emerge. A woman, not a man. Soft spoken and gentle—not an animal in an elevator.

My God, the Chang-Lees were scum. Using any method available to get the merchandise they needed, they obviously didn’t give a rat’s ass who they hurt in the process.

Now why did she automatically suspect them for the deed? Pain radiated throughout her head and she clutched her temples. So many scenarios played havoc with her she couldn’t seem to focus on any one thought at a time. The tingling in her ears began to niggle. What facts had she considered? They must have been important. But her brain wouldn’t work to replay them.

Viciously shaking her head, rubbing her throbbing brow, wanting to drive her fist through the skin into the bone deep inside to shut down the rising nightmares, she yearned for someone. Debbie, no Lisa. No! They weren’t around. Ham or—or better yet, Cory. He’d know. He’d help her. She craved someone who mattered… who cared.

Then the door burst open and Kai, followed by Cory, rushed in. Her absentee lover moved quickly over to where she sat, lifted her into his arms like a baby and cradled her against him.

Her control broke. Tears gushed and sobs followed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to the one man who she knew shared her terror.

“Shuuu, Darlin’. It’s okay. We’ll get her back.” He swayed from side to side, nuzzling his face into her hair. When she tried to pull back and speak, her mouth brushed his cheek and she tasted salty dampness. Sobs erupted once again.

Husky, but firm with conviction, Kai whispered for her ears alone. “Our baby is going to be fine. We’ll find her. I promise.”

Meanwhile, he’d carried her over to the far corner for privacy. Gratified, she fought to recover. Struggling to let him know she wanted to stand, to be released, she liked that he did so but slowly and gently, affection rampant in every move he made.

“Can you answer some questions?” His eyes, red-rimmed and glowing with righteous rage, softened once she looked up. His smile wobbled and his hands shook as he tenderly caressed her face with his thumbs to wipe away the tears. “Cory has the place crawling with our guys. Anyone who knows anything will be questioned. Forensics is combing the joint for any prints they can use to match anything in the system and Ham and the boys are taking statements from the other patients who were there in the room.”

“I gave Lily to the nurse. I gave her away.”

“What did this nurse say?”

“She told me she was going to weigh Lily and that we were next to see the doctor.” Aurora put her hands over her mouth and squeezed hard. “When I handed Lily to the girl, she started to fuss and I almost took her back. Oh God! Why didn’t I take her back? Why didn’t I sense the danger?”

Kai stroked her arm and his warm hand on her bare skin soothed and gave her strength.

“Maybe because there was no danger. You say the female looked like a nurse? Can you give me a description?”

Aurora kept her gaze locked with his and as long as she maintained that contact, her ability to focus worked. Without conscious thought, she linked her fingers with his and pushed her hair from her face.

Clearing her throat first and scrubbing away the wetness on her cheeks and chin, she let her mind go back to the waiting room. With her canny knack of being able to envision prior happenings, she described in detail exactly what had gone down.

“The woman was about my size, had brown eyes and well-kept hands—no rings. With her being dressed in scrubs, masked and capped, I didn’t see much but I had a sense that I knew her. Something about the voice… No, I can’t remember. The memory is fleeting and I can’t grasp it.”

“Did she sound husky, high-pitched, accented?”

“No. All I remember is that she spoke kindly and hushed Lily so skilfully that she instantly settled down. That’s what made me back off.”

Just then Cory stepped close and reached out to take Aurora’s other hand. “Hey, my friend. Don’t you worry. You know we’ll find her. In fact, I just called Alan Haynes at the bureau. They’re deploying their people to hit the warehouse within the hour—”

“What?” Aurora interrupted. “What the hell has taken them so long? If word got back to Chang-Lee about what happened at the correctional center, they would have stripped the place by now and taken any evidence with them.”

“Thanks to your quick thinking, we kept the lid on the attempted assassination and also the suicide to give the Feds time to organize the raid. I’m just praying there wasn’t a leak. We’ll give them that hour to set up but then we’ll be there to make sure there’re no screw-ups.”

“I wouldn’t give them jack!” Kai exploded. “That incompetent a*shole Haynes couldn’t organize a f*cking picnic for poodles.”

Icy with the contempt he couldn’t hide, not from those who knew him so well, Cory only grunted. He loosened his tie and then stretched his neck as if his big muscles needed more space.

Aurora’s eyes narrowed as she stared daggers at him. “Boss, just so you know. From now on, anything I uncover, I keep. No more sharing! I’ll find those poor babies and screw those pricks if they can’t keep up.”

Hands raised defensively, Cory nodded and then grinned on one side of his unsmiling face. “Fine with me! Let’s go.”