Chapter TWENTY-NINE
ROBERTO’S PHONE RANG.
“We need to talk,” Dallas snapped in lieu of a hello.
Why had he answered it? Because he was scared it was bad news about Leah or her brother.
“Can this wait?” The pain was almost unbearable, even with the doggy pain pills he’d chewed. The smell of antiseptic filled the small room. In the back, he could hear a cat meowing.
“Do you want me to stop?” Sara asked.
“No,” he gritted out.
“No, what?” Dallas asked.
“I’m in the middle of something,” Roberto said.
“You’ve been in the middle of something for a long time and neglected to tell us.”
“I’m getting a bullet pulled out of my leg. I’ll call you back.”
“Shit. You got hit?”
“Yeah.” Roberto hung up, slammed his head back on the table, and accidentally let out a four-letter word.
“I almost got it,” Sara said. “I’m trying to be gentle.”
“I know,” he managed to say. “Just do it.” He breathed in and tried not to pass out.
He couldn’t. He needed the bullet out of his leg and then he had to get Sara out of here. But the black spots started popping off like fireworks in his vision.
Roberto heard a feminine moan. Was Anna upset?
Then, bam! He remembered.
Anna was dead. Gone. As was his son. How many times had he woken up and forgotten that? His subconscious simply didn’t want to retain that information. But this time, the pain in his leg brought on another realization.
He’d been shot.
He’d talked Sara into helping him.
Now she was crying. And just like that, he remembered she could be in danger. Shit! Had Cruz come back?
He reached for his gun, but it wasn’t there. His pants weren’t there, either.
The pain in his ear had him remembering he’d given her the gun. She’d shot him, too.
He blinked the fuzziness from his brain and saw her standing there beside him.
“What’s wrong?” He tried to sit up.
“Don’t get up.” She pushed him down. “You need to be still for a while.” She frowned. “Please tell me I didn’t do something stupid.”
“What did you do?” Had she called the cops?
“I helped you. Tell me you aren’t a criminal and just saw me as gullible. I have a son to worry about. He’s my everything. I can’t go to jail or get killed. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Tears filled her eyes.
“You’re not gullible,” he said. He’d thought of her in a number of different ways, but never that way. “I’m not a criminal. And I swear I won’t let this come back on you.” At least he hadn’t been a criminal. Now he was beginning to wonder if it was a crime to get her involved. She didn’t deserve this.
“I’m sorry.” He rose up on his elbow and looked down at his leg. When he’d had to remove his pants earlier, he’d wished he’d worn his better boxers.
“You’re done?” he asked.
She nodded. “You really didn’t break some law? Rob a bank or something worse?”
“No. It’s all about Leah’s half brother. I promise you.”
She didn’t look convinced. “I’ve got some antibiotics and some more pain pills.” She pointed to the pills on the counter. “They are safe for humans.”
He started to get up.
“No. If you move too much you’ll start bleeding.”
He frowned. “How long have I been out?”
“Ten minutes.”
“Where’s my gun?”
“I hid it.”
“Can you get it for me?”
She frowned. “You gonna shoot me now and prove to me just how stupid I am?”
He sighed. “No. But you need to leave in case the guys looking for Leah come back.”
“I have to open the office. Clients will be here in an hour. And Evelyn will be here in…” She frowned. “Evelyn’s gonna kill me for doing this.” She bit down on her lip. “Leah, too.”
“You don’t have to tell them. But you can’t stay here. Leah wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
She seemed to consider that. “I need to talk to Leah. Call her. Now.”
It seemed like a reasonable request. And just as soon as his head stopped swimming he’d do that.
Leah wasn’t sure who she was angrier at, Austin Brookshire—if that was really his name—or herself. She knew better than to trust a man. Especially a good-looking one. Wait, she did know who she was angrier at. Him!
Luis was hurt. Luis was in the hospital, and this lying jerk wasn’t letting her go. Yup, she was madder at him. She twisted her hands, trying to loosen the tape. A couple of times, she’d wanted to ask him to free her, but now she didn’t want to ask him for anything. She’d eventually get herself free. She didn’t need him.
She didn’t need anyone. But her brother. She prayed he was okay while she continued wiggling her hands, loosening the tape with each twist.
Not that the tape was so tight it hurt. Had he purposely not gotten it too tight? Did he regularly tape up people and kidnap them? Yup, she was definitely angrier at him. The only thing that kept her from totally freaking out and believing he was a complete psychopath was realizing she could be dead right now if he hadn’t been there.
Not that it made Austin right. Her gut started churning again with worry, and then anger for not being taken to see her brother.
Austin’s phone rang again. “Did Dallas get you?” Austin asked. Pause. “Good. Did he get the… hospital information?”
She looked at him, unable to hide her concern about her brother.
He nodded at her, assuring her someone was checking on her brother. But she didn’t want someone there. She wanted to be there.
Austin looked away and continued the conversation. “What’s Brad Hulk’s connection to DeLuna?”
Who the hell was Brad Hulk?
Austin continued, “Why did he break into—” Pause. “You trust him?”
Like earlier, it was killing her only being able to hear half the conversation.
“Shit. Are you okay?” Pause. He looked at Leah. “I don’t think… so.”
What didn’t he think? It was about her. Frustrated, she twisted her hands harder.
“Let me call you back,” he said.
She didn’t look at him, but she felt him looking at her. Was he going to try to stop her from freeing herself? He pulled to the side of the freeway. If he touched her, she’d fight him!
“Let me help you?”
Shocked at his offer, she got angrier. She didn’t want him to start being nice. She wanted to hate him.
“No.” She was being stubborn, but it felt good. “I’ll do it myself.”
“Please.”
“No.” The tape loosened and she slipped her hand through. She threw the tape on the floor. Leaning over, she untaped her ankles. The question of what she’d do when completely free bubbled up inside her. She could get out of the car.
He exhaled. “We need to talk about something.”
She faced him. “Unless it’s to do with my brother, I’m not in a talking mood.”
“I need you to be reasonable.”
“Reasonable? You kidnapped me. You lied to me.”
“I saved your life. And I’m sorry about lying,” he said.
“You took advantage of me by… by making up some pathetic story about being a foster kid. You knew I’d fall for it.”
“Everything wasn’t a lie.” He sighed. “Look, Sara wants to talk to you.”
“Sara?” What did she have to do with this? “How does she… she knows who you are?”
“She does now. There’s someone I know at your clinic with her. He doesn’t think she should be there in case DeLuna’s guys come back.”
Leah’s chest gripped as she remembered being shot at. She didn’t want Sara hurt. Or Evelyn. “They should leave.”
“She wants to hear it from you.”
She tilted her chin up. “And you’re afraid I’ll tell her that you kidnapped me. Because you’d go to jail.”
“Look, when you’re out of danger, if you want to report me to the police, fine. But right now you need me to protect you.” He held up his hand. “I know you don’t want my help. And you’re madder than a firecracker. I get that. I’ll admit that I might deserve it. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I didn’t expect to be attracted…” He ran a hand over his face. “If you go to the police now, the most they’ll do is send a patrol car to drive by your place a few times a night. It’s not enough.”
“But—”
He held up his hand again. “Think about your brother. I guarantee you that as soon as possible my friends will have someone at the hospital making sure DeLuna doesn’t get to him. It was even someone working with us that took him to the hospital. If you go to the police, they’ll make my friend leave. But they won’t put a guard there. You and your brother will be unprotected.”
She knew he was right, but hated it. Hated having to depend on him when he’d lied and used her. Hated knowing he was helping her. Then she realized something. She didn’t have to feel beholden to him. He wasn’t doing this for her. He was doing it to catch Rafael. That had been his plan all along.
“Let me help you and your brother, please.”
“Fine,” she snapped. “But I want to see my brother.”
His jaw tightened. “If possible, I’ll take you later today or tomorrow. But not before I know it’s safe.”
Frustration gripped her chest. “Fine. But don’t pretend that you’re doing this for me. We know why you’re doing it. To catch Rafael.”
His jaw clenched. “Whatever.”
His expression said he wanted to argue with her, but the sting of all his lies hurt like a deep paper cut right across the heart. Hurt. Until this moment all she’d felt was anger.
Tears stung her sinuses. She could deal with the anger; being angry felt good. Feeling hurt meant she cared. She didn’t want to care. Caring meant he had the power to hurt her. Too many men had already done that.
She stared out the side window. “I’ll talk to Sara.”
Sara started cleaning up the work area. She felt Roberto watching her.
He’d said that Austin would call him back for her to speak with Leah. Couldn’t he have just handed Leah the phone? Fear prickled her stomach. Not fear of Roberto. Fear that something wasn’t right. Like the fact that she’d just pulled a bullet out of a guy’s leg.
What kind of a mother was she that she took such a stupid risk? But even still she knew why she’d done it. She’d followed her heart. Like the time she’d pulled off the freeway to rescue an injured dog? Or the time she’d stopped and given a strange woman a ride when she ran out of gas. Sara could have gotten run over rescuing the dog; the woman could have been a serial killer. But she risked it because her heart said to. All she could do now was pray her heart had been right about this like in the past.
“Can I put my pants on now?” he asked.
She looked at him. It had been a while since she’d seen a man without his pants. She hadn’t thought about that when she’d been digging the bullet out, but now… she thought about it. He had nice legs, not too hairy. Though, she had shaved around his wound before she’d gone in for the bullet.
He rose up.
“Let me help you.” She took his hand. “Are you dizzy?”
“Not anymore.” His hand wrapped around hers. The touch seemed different now. Her heart raced, but not from fear. His closeness, his scent, it surrounded her.
She reached for his jeans folded on the counter. She shook them open and leaned down for him to put his legs in.
“Now ease off the table,” she told him. “Don’t put weight on your leg.”
His warm palms came against her shoulders, and they weren’t just holding on, they were touching her. He slipped off the edge of the examining table. She pulled his jeans up, reached for his zipper, then realized the back of her hand pressed against some private body parts.
She yanked her hand away and rose up. His hands remained on her shoulders. His eyes on hers. “I’m used to dressing Brian. But you’re not Brian.”
He smiled. “You’re blushing.”
That made her blush more. “I’m blond, we blush easy.”
His grin widened. “It’s pretty.” He zipped his pants and eased back up on the table.
They stared at each other. Awkwardness slipped into the moment, but not so awkward that she wanted it to end. The ring of his phone brought it to an end. He picked it up from the table and looked at the number. “It’s Austin.”
Sara stood there, not even pretending she wasn’t listening. She was in this too deep to pretend.
“It’s Leah.” Roberto handed her his phone. Their hands met. His thumb brushed over the top of her hand.
She brought the phone to her ear. “Leah?”
“Yeah,” her boss answered. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” Other than I just pulled a bullet out of someone’s leg. She wasn’t sure she should tell Leah that. “It’s you I’m worried about. Roberto said Luis is hurt. Are you okay?”
“Roberto? The guy who brought in Spooky?” Leah sounded confused.
Sara glanced at Roberto. “Yeah. He said he’s been working with a private investigator. I think Austin is—”
“I know,” Leah said. “Look, you shouldn’t be at the office now. We should shut down for a week. Forward the client list to your home e-mail, or to Evelyn’s, and cancel appointments.” She paused. “We just have one patient in the overnight clinic, right?”
“Yeah, just Boots; he belongs to the Petersons.”
“Can you call Eric Taylor and see if Heartbroke Veterinarian Clinic will take the cat in? E-mail him the file on the cat. Then let the Petersons know and that I won’t be charging for my services. Tell Eric I said I had a personal emergency and I’ll call him tomorrow. Tell him I’ll agree to his business proposition and sign the papers when I get back.”
“You sure about the business proposition?” Sara asked.
“Yeah. And put a sign in the door that says there was a family emergency and we’ll open soon.”
“You sound upset. You okay?” Sara asked.
“Just worried about Luis.” It was more than worry, Sara thought. Leah sounded angry.
“Okay, I’ve got things here. You just take care of Luis.”
“Thanks.” The line went silent.
Sara handed the phone to Roberto. “The only other time I’ve heard Leah sound like that was when someone brought in a cat with cigarette burns on it. I think Austin’s in deep shit.”
Roberto shrugged. “Austin can handle it. Let’s get you out of here.”
“I have to do a few things first. Oh,” she said. “My car’s in the shop. My mom brought me.”
He frowned. “I’ll take you home, but hurry, and give me my gun. Please.”
She eased it out of a drawer. Not chancing it would go off again. “Do you really think they’ll come back?”
“I hope not.”
Austin rolled his shoulders, completely uncomfortable. Looking at this from Leah’s point of view right now, he was nothing but a guy trying to use her to get some information. Guilt filled his every pore and made him itch—guilt for not coming clean with Leah from the beginning. It didn’t matter that if he’d been honest, she’d never have flashed one dimple at him.
She leaned against the car door as if not wanting to breathe the same air as him. Seeing a fast-food sign up ahead, his stomach grumbled.
“Hungry?” he asked.
“No.”
“You have to eat.”
She didn’t answer. He swerved off the freeway and went to the drive-thru. He ordered himself a sausage biscuit and hash browns, then asked, “What’s the lowest-calorie breakfast item you have on the menu with cheese?” He knew she liked cheese.
The female clerk spouted out a sandwich. He ordered it, then added two coffees, one with extra cream and sugar.
When the meal was delivered, he put their coffee in the cup holder, placed her sandwich in her lap. Then he drove off.
He half expected her to knock her food onto the floorboard. She didn’t. But it took five minutes before she started eating.
“Your coffee’s there,” he said.
She nodded.
He should be good with the nod. It was too much to expect an actual thank you, or maybe, I totally get why you did this. Even with the guilt, he knew he’d done the right thing making her come with him.
His phone rang. Dallas.
“Yeah?” he said, and watched Leah add cream and sugar to her cup.
“Rick’s at the hospital. The kid is going to be okay,” Dallas said.
“That fast?”
“He was on his way up to Heartbroke and rerouted. He played the cop card and said he was friends with the sister who couldn’t get there until later. The kid’s conscious and worried about his sister. The local police have spoken with him. He pointed right to DeLuna.”
“Good,” Austin said. But then again, it could also mean DeLuna would run back into hiding. “Rick’s staying there, right?”
“Yup.”
“Any signs of trouble?” Austin asked.
“Not yet. But whatever you do, don’t bring her there.”
Austin frowned. Taking her to see Luis seemed to be the only thing that would make her happy. But not if she was in danger. “Have Rick video him and send it to me for her.”
Leah swung around, surprise in her eyes.
“I don’t know,” Dallas said. “Rick said the kid looked bad.”
Austin stared at Leah. “I’m sure he’s better than what she’s imagining.”
Leah nodded.
“I’ll see what he can do,” Dallas said.
Leah blinked, and Austin could swear he saw reason in her eyes. Would she see he wasn’t the bad guy?
“You still there?” Dallas said.
Realizing he’d gotten lost in her gaze, he asked, “Who’s getting the cats?”
“Tyler and Nance are on their way.
And I’m going to come to the cabin to talk to her,” Dallas said.
“I got this,” Austin growled.
“You could do time for this, Austin,” Dallas said.
“I know.”
Dallas made a deep, discontented sound. “Has she calmed down any?”
“Some,” Austin said. But not nearly enough. He wanted to see her smile, to see her dimples winking at him again. He wanted her to lean on him like she’d leaned on him the day she’d gotten the bloody package. He wanted to be her hero, but he was pretty sure that ship had sailed.
Roberto watched Sara run around the office preparing to leave. His gut told him he needed to get her out of here. Every time he tried to help her, she refused.
“You just had a bullet pulled out of your leg.”
He hadn’t forgotten; it still throbbed, though not as much as it had. Then again, it could be the doggy pain pills Sara had given him.
“I’ll sit here.” He dropped into a chair.
“You need your leg up.” She sounded like a worried someone who cared. He remembered his mom, and then Anna, fussing at him like that. He hadn’t had anyone care in a long time. It felt nice. Then again, it could just be the pain pills.
He set his leg up on the counter. “Happy?”
“I’d be happier if you hadn’t gotten up.” She pressed her palm to his forehead. “Do you feel feverish?”
“No.” He allowed himself a second to enjoy her touch, then…“We need to go.”
“Almost done. I need to get Boots in a carrier.” She popped up. “Stay here.”
He followed her. Her hair shifted across her shoulder blades as she moved. He wanted to touch it. His gaze lowered to her ass. He wanted to touch that, too. Things in his jeans tightened. Oddly enough, he didn’t feel guilty about those feelings.
Definitely the doggy pain pills.
She swung around. “You’re a bad patient. You don’t follow orders.”
“You are a bad nurse. You shot me.” He laughed.
She grinned, and damn if he didn’t want to stop worrying about everything and tease her. See how many smiles he could coax out of her. Was that due to the doggy pills, too? Not now, his gut said. He needed to get her out of here. “Get the cat.”
Minutes later, she had a cat carrier and her purse. He unlocked the back door and cautiously peered out.
He didn’t see anyone, but his gut felt knotted. Pulling out Luke’s car keys from his pocket, he unlocked the doors to the sedan. The taillights flashed in the hazy morning light.
“Let’s go.”
The door shut behind them. They’d only gotten a couple of feet when Roberto heard the car coming around the side of the building.
He swung to Sara. “Run. Get in the car now!”