Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 - Box Set 2 of 2: Exit Strategy\Payback\Covert Justice (25 page)

“Nia,” Aiden said. “It's okay.”

“He...hurt...Will,” she gasped.

“He's okay, aren't ya, Will?”

Will stood up. “Yep, I'm good.”

Through a haze of anger, Nia watched Will brush himself off.

“Nothing broken except my ego,” Will said.

“Daddy!” his little girls cried, racing out of the restaurant.

Catherine chased after them. “I tried keeping them inside, Will.”

The girls launched themselves at their dad and he offered a big hug in return.

His daughter Claire eyed the tall man as Nate escorted him to the patrol car.

“He should be in jail!” Claire cried.

“Yeah, he should be in jail!” Marissa echoed.

“Nia?” Aiden whispered against her ear. “It's okay. You can put the crutch down.”

She was unable to let go, her fingers clutching the weapon as if she thought she might have to use it again.

Gus hesitated and glanced at Will then Nia. “I just need to talk to her.”

Nate shoved the guy into the backseat and slammed the door.

“Nia?” Aiden said.

All the fight drained from her body and her legs buckled. Aiden scooped her up and put her in the passenger seat of her car. He shut the door and she closed her eyes.

She heard muffled discussion between Aiden and Nate outside her window, although she couldn't hear what they were saying and she didn't much care. She was ashamed and embarrassed—ashamed that she'd brought trouble to the restaurant, exposing Will's girls to violence, and embarrassed that she'd gone a bit crazy just now, using her crutch as a weapon.

At this moment, she just wanted to disappear.

Someone tapped on the window. She opened her eyes and spotted Will's girls studying her with worried expressions. Just then, Aiden got in the car and turned on the engine so Nia could lower the window.

“Thank you for saving my dad,” Claire said.

“Yeah, thank you for saving my dad,” Marissa echoed.

“Sure.”

“Okay, girls, I've gotta get Superhero Nia back home,” Aiden said.

“'Bye, Superhero Nia,” Claire said.

“'Bye, Superhero Nia,” Marissa echoed.

With his hands on their shoulders, Will led the girls away from the car. Aiden pulled out of the lot. In the side-view mirror, Nia saw the girls wave. Nia stuck her hand out the window and waved back. Sadness washed over her. She could be responsible for potential nightmares about their dad being hurt.

“So, you went out to eat without telling me because...?” Aiden said.

Surprisingly he didn't sound angry or critical, just curious.

“My brother texted me, asking if I'd meet him.”

Aiden frowned.

“I thought since it was a public place it would be safe.” She shook her head. “Guess I'm an idiot.”

“You're not an idiot. I just wish you would have let me tag along.”

She studied his profile. “He wouldn't have confided in me if you'd been there. It's obvious you don't like him, which would have made him uncomfortable.”

“So, what did he say?”

“Nothing.”

“Nia, look, I know I can be overbearing, but you've got to believe it comes from a place of caring. I need you to trust me, tell me about your secret meetings and what your brother says to you.”

She glanced out the passenger window, hoping Danny was okay. “He never showed.”

“Oh,” Aiden said.

“How did you know where I was?”

“Nate's sister texted him that the famous concierge from Echo Mountain Resort was in her restaurant.”

“A good thing she did.”

“Yeah, I was just about to track the GPS on your phone.”

“You were that worried?”

“I was.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Can I ask you a favor?” Aiden said.

“Sure.”

“Please, never do that again.”

“Leave without telling you?”

He nodded. “I think it took ten years off my life.”

She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “I was trying to be a good older sister.”

“I understand, and I admire you for that, I do, but I wish you'd focus on taking care of yourself until this is resolved. Okay?”

“Okay.”

A few minutes of silence stretched between them.

“I feel really bad,” she said.

“What, are you hurt? How's the ankle?”

“The ankle's fine. I feel bad that I lost it back there.”

“You were defending yourself.”

“I embarrassed myself.”

“I've found that people are a lot more forgiving than we give them credit for,” he said.

“I guess.” She thought for a second. “Is that why it's so important for you to protect me?”

“I'm not sure I understand the question.”

“Because you haven't forgiven yourself for failing to protect someone you cared about?” She was pushing, she knew it, but she couldn't stop.

“Something like that.”

“You say you've found people to be forgiving, yet you can't forgive yourself?”

“Let's not talk about me. Let's talk about you.”

She studied the passing countryside.

“Did your brother indicate why he wanted to meet with you?”

“He sounded desperate, like he wanted to explain his situation.”

“You got this from a text?”

“He wrote ‘ASAP' and ‘have to see you.'”

“And then he didn't show?”

She shook her head. “I hope he's okay.”

“After everything you've been through because of him, you're still worried about his well-being?”

“He's still my brother.”

“Well, you should know, your brother stole a lot more than two grand.”

She glanced at him.

“Two hundred thousand,” Aiden said.

“Oh, Danny.” She sighed.

“However, the guy I tangled with outside Bree's cottage has nothing to do with your brother's situation.”

“Well, that's a good thing, right?”

“I think so. It was a random attempted burglary of Bree's cottage, but he wasn't able to get in, so he was probably about to move on when I caught up with him.”

They pulled onto Resort Drive.

“Nia?”

“Yes?”

“Why did you hang up on me?”

“That was insubordinate. I'm sorry.”

“I'm asking as a friend, not your boss,” he said.

“I was frustrated.”

“Because I was worried about you?”

“Because you were being judgmental and condescending.”

“That's how I sounded?” he said in a soft voice.

“Yes.”

They drove the rest of the way to the cottage in silence. Nia considered explaining why his tone had set her off, but that would require a more in-depth explanation of her experience with men, both as a child and as an adult.

She simply didn't have the energy to get into that. Exhausted from events of the past hour, she wanted to flop down on a bed and shut herself off from the world.

Aiden pulled up to the cottage and parked. Before Nia could get a firm footing on the ground, Aiden was there, cupping her elbow to help her out.

“Thanks,” she said.

Knowing it would make him feel better, she adjusted the crutches under her arms.

“Is she okay?” Bree called from the porch.

Aiden looked into her eyes. “Are you?”

She nodded that she was.

“She's good,” Aiden called back. He stayed close as he escorted her up the steps and into his sister's cottage.

“We were so worried,” Bree said, motioning them toward the kitchen. “What can I get you, Nia? Tea? Milk? Cookies?”

“I should probably lie down.” She started for the stairs and Aiden blocked her.

“Here.” He took the crutches from her and handed them to Bree. “This will be quicker.” He scooped Nia up in his arms yet again and made the climb to the second floor.

“Aiden, you don't have to—”

“Sure he does,” Bree said.

Nia closed her eyes and leaned into him as he carried her into the spare room and placed her on the bed. “I need to check in at work, but I'll be back later, okay?” Aiden said.

“Sure, thanks.”

As he left, he hesitated at the door. “If you decide to leave again for any reason—”

“I won't,” she said.

With a nod, he brushed past his sister and went downstairs. A moment later the front door clicked shut.

Bree studied Nia from the bedroom doorway. “You meant it, about not going anywhere, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” Bree said. “I thought my brother was going to have a heart attack when we couldn't find you. I've never seen him like that.” Bree paused, looking directly at Nia. “Ever.”

* * *

For the next hour, rest eluded Nia as her brain kept replaying the scene from the restaurant parking lot. Finally she sat up and grabbed the Bible, hoping for something to ease the anxiety.

She found one of her favorite passages, Isaiah 41:10, and whispered the words.

“‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'”

She took a deep, calming breath, letting the words wash over her.

The sound of a slamming door and deep, angry voices destroyed her momentary peace. She climbed off the bed and headed for the hallway.

“You can speak to her tomorrow,” Aiden said.

“We'll talk to her tonight.”

Nia turned the corner and spotted Aiden, with Scott by his side, facing off with a stranger in a blue suit. A second man came up behind the stranger.

“We have orders—”

“But not an arrest warrant,” Scott said.

“We weren't planning to arrest her,” the man in the blue suit said. “Unless you know something we don't.”

Aiden took a step closer to the guy. “What I know is that she's been through enough these past two days and needs her rest.”

“Aiden?” Nia said from the top of the stairs.

“Nia Sharpe?” The guy in the blue suit started for the stairs.

Aiden blocked him.

The guy shoved Aiden.

Aiden shoved back.

The guy in the blue suit spun Aiden around, pinning him against the wall and yanking his arms behind his back. “We can arrest you for interfering with a federal investigation.”

“Stop! Let him go!” Frantic, Nia started down the steps a little too fast, and she lost her balance.

EIGHT

A
iden elbowed the federal agent and shoved him back, then dived toward Nia to catch her before she tumbled down the entire flight of stairs.

His knee hit the edge of a stair as he focused on stopping her descent. It seemed as if it were happening in slow motion: Aiden scrambling to get to her, Nia waving her arms as if she was trying to grab on to something.

Almost there.

He caught her about midway down and pulled her against his chest, but he couldn't stop her momentum. The sharp edges of the stairs dug into his back as they slid down the rest of the way. He clenched his jaw against the pain, holding her in such a way that he'd bear the brunt of the fall.

They finally hit the floor with a thud.

“I'll call the resort doctor,” Bree said.

“Stand back,” Scott said to the agents. He knelt beside Aiden. “You okay?”

He was anything but okay. The guy who'd introduced himself as Agent John Nevins had threatened to arrest Aiden, which made Nia panic and lose her balance.

“Not sure,” Aiden said. “But they need to leave.”

Agent Nevins stepped into Aiden's line of sight. “We need to speak to both you and Miss Sharpe.”

“Not tonight you won't. Give Scott your phone number and we'll call you tomorrow.”

Scott motioned the men to leave.

“I'm sorry, Mr. McBride,” Agent Nevins said. “I didn't mean for this to happen.”

“This is a time-sensitive situation,” the other agent, who'd said his name was Parker, protested.

“I understand,” Scott said, encouraging them to leave. “I was on the job for ten years. But right now we need to tend to their injuries.” The door shut with a click. A moment later, Scott knelt beside Aiden. “How's Nia?”

“Not sure. Nia?” Aiden brushed chestnut-colored hair away from her face.

She opened her warm brown eyes. “Now you see why I hate cops.”

“Are you hurt?”

“I don't think so.”

They were so close, closer than they'd ever been. He could feel the warmth from her breath against his skin. Even up close she was perfect.

“You didn't hit your head?” he asked.

“No.”

She shifted off him and sat up. Stretching out her arms, and then her neck, she said, “Surprisingly, everything seems okay.”

“You'll probably be sore tomorrow,” Scott said.

“Dr. Spencer is on the way,” Bree offered, kneeling beside Nia. “That was scary.”

Aiden tried to sit up, but Nia placed her hand against his chest. “No, just say there until the doctor arrives.”

“You got up.”

“Please?”

He realized it was important to her that he remain still. “Okay.”

“I can't believe you got those bullies to leave,” Bree said.

“They're not bullies,” Scott defended. “They're doing their job.”

Bree planted her hands on her hips and glared at her boyfriend. “You're supposed to be on our side.”

“I am, sweetheart. I'm always on your side.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

Nia glanced away, uncomfortable by the show of affection. Or maybe she was just sad that she'd never experience it for herself.

“Excuse me,” Aiden said. “I could use some ice. If you're not too busy making out.”

“Right, sorry.” Bree dashed off toward the kitchen and Scott followed.

“I'll help,” Scott said.

Aiden smiled at Nia. “Maybe you should make sure she doesn't get distracted.”

“Oh no, if I leave, you'll try to get up and hurt yourself even worse.”

“It's not that bad.”

“Then what do you need the ice for?”

“An old football injury.”

“Aiden,” she said in a warning tone.

“Okay, fine. I might have banged my knee trying to get to you.”

She glanced away, shame reddening her cheeks.

“Hey, hey.” With his forefinger and thumb, he coaxed her to look at him again. “I don't like the sound of whatever you're thinking.”

“How do you know what I'm thinking?”

“I can guess. I know you pretty well.”

Aiden hadn't realized until now just how well he knew her. He knew that she took personal responsibility for so many things, including Aiden's well-being, which always puzzled him. What did he ever do to deserve her compassion?

“Here's the ice,” Bree said, coming around the corner with a towel-wrapped ice bag.

Nia took it from her. “Okay, boss, where does this go?”

“Left knee.”

When Nia placed the ice on his injury, he made sure not to wince or show any kind of reaction to the pain. He reached out to hold the ice securely over his knee and accidentally placed his hand over hers.

“Thanks,” he said.

“I should be thanking you. You saved me from breaking my neck.”

“You would have done the same for me,” he teased.

She smiled and glanced at their hands. “Yeah, you're probably right.”

* * *

The next morning Aiden awoke in Bree's cottage sore from the tumble down the stairs. After Dr. Spencer checked him out and said he was okay but should go for X-rays, Aiden planted himself on the couch, determined to stay close and protect Nia.

Sure, a protector with a bum knee and sore back and neck. It was the second night in a row he'd spent on Bree's lumpy couch instead of in his own bed, but he didn't mind. His place was lonely anyway and the nightmares didn't seem to plague him at Bree's place.

Standing, he tested the knee, which didn't hurt as much as he'd expected it to. His phone buzzed with a call.

“McBride,” he answered.

“It's Nate. Thought you'd want to know—Gus Chambers wasn't charged.”

“What, is this guy made of Teflon? Wasn't he charged with assaulting Will?”

“Witnesses said it was a shoving match on both their parts, so no. The good news is, Gus is leaving town.”

“Yeah, I'll believe that when he's gone.”

“How's Nia?”

“Almost broke her neck falling down the stairs thanks to a late-night visit from the feds.”

“They were supposed to check in with me first.”

“Guess they can't follow directions.”

“Did they question you?”

“I sent them away. Said I'd be in touch.”

“Okay, well, call if you need me.”

“Thanks.” Aiden ended the call and shuffled into the kitchen.

“You walk like you're ninety,” Bree said, leaning against the counter drinking coffee.

He hip-bumped her out of his way. “You're bad for my ego.”

“That's my job as your little sister.” She handed him a mug.

He poured a cup of coffee. “Nia asleep?”

“Nope. She's been up since dawn, putting final touches on some family reunion and coordinating temporary accommodations for mud slide victims.”

“Wait—she left the cottage?”

“Relax. She did it by phone.”

“But it's only...” He glanced at the clock. It read eight-thirty.

“You let me sleep in?”

“Not me—Nia. She said you needed the rest. I wanted to wake you at six.”

“Where is she?”

“On the front porch with the two agents from last night.”

He nearly spit out his coffee. “What?” He started to go to Nia, but Bree grabbed his arm.

“Hang on, big brother. It was her idea. She asked Scott for Agent Nevins's number and called him.”

“I'd better go check on her.”

His sister wouldn't release him. “Do you have faith in Nia?”

“Of course.”

“Then show her.”

“What...? I don't understand.”

“Don't go out there guns blazing. Be calm and supportive, not bossy and irritable.”

“She doesn't like cops. She doesn't trust them.” He glanced toward the front of the house. “Why would she meet with the agents alone?”

“To protect you.”

“Me?” He snapped his attention to Bree.

“She probably doesn't want them arresting you like they tried to last night, because with your attitude, you're asking for it.”

Bree's phone buzzed on the counter and she eyed it. “It's a SAR text. Since they didn't find anything yesterday, they're enlisting K9 teams to search for the missing federal agents.”

“You and Fiona go ahead,” he said, limping toward the front door.

“You should ask to borrow Nia's crutches while you're out there,” she teased.

“Maybe I will.”

Aiden reached the front door and hesitated. Bree was right. If he stepped outside with a chip on his shoulder he'd only make things worse for Nia. And that was something he definitely didn't want to do. But resentment about how the agents had acted last night simmered low in his gut. Somehow he had to release it.

“Dear God, don't let me do anything stupid,” he whispered. “I just want to help her.”

He took a deep breath, opened the door and joined them on the front porch.

“Good morning.” Aiden extended his hand to the lead agent who'd tried to arrest him. “Sorry about last night.”

The agent, who'd introduced himself last night as John Nevins, returned the gesture.

“Please accept my apologies, as well,” Agent Nevins said. “This case is complicated and frustrating.”

“Mr. McBride,” the second agent greeted him.

“Agent Parker, right?” Aiden said.

“Yes, sir, Rick Parker.”

They also shook hands.

“You guys need something to drink?” Aiden asked. “My sister makes an amazing cup of coffee.”

“We're good, thanks,” Agent Nevins said.

“Would you mind if I hung around? You've probably figured out that I'm protective of Nia. She's my best employee. The resort would crumble without her.”

Nia glanced down at the wooden floorboards, but he couldn't tell if her expression was one of embarrassment or disappointment. Did she dislike him referring to her as an employee?

“Actually, you might be helpful since you seem to have been around when much of this happened,” Agent Nevins said and then shot an apologetic frown at Aiden. “Wait—I didn't mean for that to sound like an accusation.”

“I didn't take it as one,” Aiden said.

“Good. Miss Sharpe was giving us a rundown about what's happened over the past few days. We're concerned about Agents Brown and McIntyre not returning from the mountains.”

“It's rugged terrain out there. If you're not an experienced hiker, you could find yourself in a world of trouble,” Aiden said.

Bree bounded out of the house with Fiona beside her. “Headed to the command center. See ya later.”

“Be careful,” Aiden said.

“You, too.” His sister's golden retriever hopped into the front seat of her truck and they took off.

“So, back to your missing agents,” Aiden said. “May I ask why they were looking for me?”

“They said they were following a money trail that led here, to Echo Mountain Resort,” Agent Parker said. “They had identified you, Mr. McBride, as a suspect in an international drug ring.”

“What?” Nia snapped. “That's ridiculous.”

Aiden leaned against the house for support. “How did they come to that conclusion?”

“Emails sent by Danny Sharpe to your account at the resort.”

“I never received any emails.”

“Aiden would never do anything illegal, and don't you try to frame him for anything,” Nia defended.

Agent Parker put up his hands. “We're not framing anyone for anything.”

“But you think I'm some kind of drug runner?” Aiden said.

“The agents were following the evidence. Maybe the email landed in your spam folder?”

“I received an email, one I found just the other day,” Nia offered. “But it was just a link, so I assumed Danny's email had been hacked.”

Agent Parker looked at Nia. “Your brother was a drug courier. Agents Brown and McIntyre suspected him of disappearing with proceeds from a sale instead of turning it in to the cartel he was working for.”

“A drug cartel,” Nia whispered. “Danny, what have you gotten yourself into?”

“When he went off the grid, the agents thought he'd been killed by cartel thugs. They pulled his phone records and found the emails and multiple calls made to Echo Mountain Resort. They said that's why they were headed out here, to speak to the manager.”

“They challenged Aiden's exemplary military record,” Nia said. “They were trying to intimidate me.”

“I'm sorry about that,” Agent Nevins said.

“Hang on,” Aiden said, curious. “What
aren't
you telling us?”

Agent Nevins hesitated. “There have been recent indications that Agents Brown and McIntyre may have gone rogue. At any rate, we need to find them.”

“You mean they're corrupt?” Aiden said.

“It's possible, yes.”

“I was right not to trust them.” Nia glanced up at Aiden. “If they thought you were involved in hiding drug money, they would have done anything to find it. Even hurt you.”

Aiden placed his hand on her shoulder for comfort.

“They don't know we suspect them of anything,” Agent Parker said. “Please keep that to yourselves. We need to find them ASAP, before they either figure out our suspicions or get the money from Danny and dispose of the evidence.”

“You mean kill him,” Nia said.

“Your brother is critical to resolving this case,” Nevins said. “If the agents couldn't track down the money through Mr. McBride, they would have gone after Danny directly.”

“They thought I was hiding the money at the resort?” Aiden said.

“Possibly, which is why they wanted to find you. Would you mind if we looked into your accounts, just to cover all our bases?”

“You won't find anything,” Nia said.