Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 - Box Set 2 of 2: Exit Strategy\Payback\Covert Justice (32 page)

“Why aren't you at the resort? And where's Mom? Is she okay?” Cassie said.

“Let's see—I'm off for a few days. She's shopping with friends in Victoria, which means she's better than okay.” Aiden motioned Nia and Cassie into the living room. “Let's have some tea. Then I'll help you unpack whatever treasures you've dumped into Mom's hallway.”

“‘Let's have some tea'? Did you really just say that? Since when did you—”

“Since today,” Aiden interrupted his sister. He poured tea for Nia and Cassie. “I'll get another cup for myself.” He disappeared into the kitchen.

Cassie rocked back and forth on the heels of her sneakers, eyeing Nia. “I like what you've done to my brother.”

“I haven't—”

“So...you work at the resort?”

“Yes.”

“I hear he's a tough boss.”

“He wants things done right.”

“So, a real jerk, huh?” She smiled.

“I don't think so. He's always been fair to me.”

“Just fair?” She raised an eyebrow.

Nia wasn't sure how much Aiden wanted his family to know about their relationship, or even if the relationship would continue past this current crisis. “Aiden and I have a special friendship,” Nia offered.

“Uh-huh.”

“Don't grill my friend about me,” Aiden said, walking into the room.

Friend.
He didn't call her his employee this time. Nia had been promoted to friend. Her heart swelled with hope.

“Why not? You're not going to tell me anything.” Cassie nodded at Nia. “Good tea, by the way.”

“Your brother made it.”

Cassie narrowed her eyes at Aiden. “Okay, what's going on? I go away for a few months and Bree finds the love of her life, you've got a girlfriend and Mom's off shopping instead of working on a quilt for church. What's next?”

“Hang around for a while and see,” Aiden challenged.

“Maybe I will, to taunt you.”

“That's Bree's job,” he said. “You're supposed to worship me.”

“In your dreams, big guy.”

Nia was thoroughly enjoying the family moment. Then her cell buzzed with a text and she glanced at it.

It's Danny. Don't trust anyone. They want u dead 2.

A shudder ran down her spine.

“What is it?” Aiden questioned.

She handed him the phone. He read the message and pressed the power button. “We need to turn our phones off.”

“He was trying to warn me,” Nia said.

“I understand, but our GPS signals can be tracked if they're on.” He switched his phone off, as well. Nia shoved hers into her pocket.

“Wait—what? Who's tracking you?” Cassie asked.

“A drug cartel, federal agents, take your pick,” Aiden said.

“Whoa, what kind of trouble did you get yourself into, big brother?”

“It's my fault,” Nia said.

“It is not your fault,” Aiden corrected her.

“Okay, then it's my brother's fault. He set off this chain of events.” Nia addressed Cassie. “He's involved with a drug cartel and came out here to escape, but the trouble followed him.”

“Wow. How dangerous?” Cassie said.

Nia cast a worried glance at Aiden.

“It's dangerous,” Aiden said. “But we can handle it. Change of subject. Want help with your box?” Aiden asked his sister.

Something crashed through the front window, filling the living room with smoke.

FIFTEEN

“G
et back!” Aiden said.

“What is it?” Nia cried.

Aiden coughed. “Smoke bomb to drive us out of the house.” Aiden grabbed a shovel from the fireplace set with one hand and covered his mouth with his shirtsleeve. He scooped up the device. “Get in the basement.”

“What about you?”

“Go! If I'm not there in five, get to the barn through the cellar door.”

“Where's the basement?” Nia asked a stunned Cassie.

She pointed to the back of the house.

Nia led Cassie out of the living room and away from Aiden. A sinking feeling flooded Nia's chest. No, she wouldn't go there. Aiden would dispose of the smoke bomb and join them in the basement.

Cassie opened the basement door and glanced over her shoulder for her brother.

“He'll be fine,” Nia said. “Come on.”

They went into the basement and Nia asked, “Is there a way to lock someone out?”

“No.”

“Okay, then let's find things to defend ourselves.”

As Nia searched a tool bench, she berated herself for assuming trouble wouldn't follow her here.

She berated herself for putting Aiden's life in danger, again.

Can't think about that now.

“Did you find anything?” Nia asked.

“This old lamp?” Cassie clutched a metal lamp in her hand.

“Good. Hang on to that.” Nia pulled a long screwdriver out of the toolbox and also found a lighter and can of spray paint.

“What are you doing with that?”

“Hopefully nothing, but the threat of setting someone on fire will give us the upper hand. Let's hide.”

“Back here.” Cassie pointed to the water heater.

Nia turned on her phone and called Nate Walsh for help.

“Nate, they found us.”

“Where are you?” Nate asked.

“Cassie and I are hiding in the basement, but Aiden's still upstairs.”

“On my way.”

Nia pocketed her phone and huddled behind the water heater with Cassie.

A few excruciatingly long minutes passed.

“Aiden should be here by now,” Cassie said. “It's been more than five minutes. What if they got him? What if they're waiting for us if we go out through the cellar door?”

Nia had to distract an anxious Cassie from going down that dark road, the road that led to despair. If they were forced to defend themselves, they had to be sharp.

“So, what was he like growing up?” Nia said.

“Huh?” Cassie said.

“Aiden.”

“Oh, he was a silly guy. He'd always make us laugh.”

“I never would have guessed.”

“Well, you only know him from work.” Cassie paused. “Right?”

Nia shrugged.

“Wow,” Cassie said. “So how long have you been dating?”

“We haven't actually been on a date.”

“What is wrong with him?”

Absolutely nothing. Even with his gruff manner and short fuse, she thought the man nearly perfect. For her, anyway.

“We've been kind of busy staying out of trouble,” Nia said. “But all that will be over soon.”

It had to be. She wanted desperately to see what kind of relationship she and Aiden could have outside work.

“Shh, you hear that?” Cassie whispered.

Nia held her breath. Sure enough, floorboards creaked above them. Someone was in the house. Nia gripped the aerosol paint can and lighter, heart pounding in her chest. The footsteps were headed for the basement door.

Nia glanced at the weapons in her hands. The thought of violence turned her stomach, so she motioned Cassie to the cellar door. Nia only hoped the intruder didn't have a partner waiting outside.

As they crossed the room, they heard scuffling up above. Something slammed against the basement door, Cassie squeaked and Nia guided her into the stairwell leading outside. They pushed on the door.

It didn't budge.

“We're trapped,” Cassie said.

A crash echoed through the floorboards, then a thud, and three taps, as if someone was banging against the basement door. Nia and Cassie huddled close, waiting, praying.

A loud thud was followed by silence. Nia's heart raced triple time as she clung to Cassie, trying to offer comfort.

The door to the basement creaked open.

“Come on up,” Aiden said.

Nia and Cassie shared a look of relief, and then Cassie bolted out of the stairwell and up to the kitchen.

Nia took a breath to calm the adrenaline flowing through her body.

“Oh no, Aiden!” Cassie said.

Panicked, Nia zoomed upstairs. She spotted Aiden on the floor, leaning against the kitchen cabinet clutching his arm. A man lay facedown on the floor. Cassie stood with her hands on her cheeks, looking back and forth from Aiden to the unconscious man.

Nia started to go to Aiden, but he put out his hand. “Tie him up first. Cassie, get the heavy-duty twine out of the top drawer by the microwave.”

“Oh, okay, sure.” Cassie went to the drawer.

Ignoring Aiden's order, Nia grabbed a dish towel off the counter and rinsed it under cool water. She went to him and knelt down.

“Help Cassie first. Go on,” he said.

Nia handed Aiden the towel and went to the unconscious man. That was when she realized she recognized him. “It's the man who broke into my apartment.”

“Yeah, Gus Chambers,” Aiden said. “But how did he find us?”

“Who cares?” Cassie yanked the man's hands behind his back and started to tie them.

The man suddenly rolled over.

Cassie screamed and stumbled away.

The man started to get up.

Aiden dived at him. “Get out of here!” he ordered the women.

But Nia couldn't move. The guy flipped Aiden onto his back and slugged Aiden's bloodied arm. Aiden's cry lit fury in Nia's chest. She reached under the sink, figuring that was where everyone kept a fire extinguisher.

“No! Stop! Leave him alone!” Cassie screamed.

Nia grabbed the fire extinguisher and turned to see the guy punching Aiden in the face.

And Aiden's arms falling limp to his sides.

Nia charged the attacker, swinging the extinguisher like a baseball bat. It stunned the guy, but didn't stop him. He got to his feet and wavered.

Nia released the pin and got ready to blast him in the face.

“Why wouldn't you talk to me!” Gus shouted, glaring at her. “We could have avoided all this!”

He stumbled as he took a step toward her.

She got ready to fire.

“Freeze,” Nate said from the doorway to the living room. “Echo Mountain police.”

The room went hauntingly quiet. The ticktock of Mrs. McBride's wall clock echoed across the vinyl flooring.

Gus raised his hands...

Then grabbed a chair and threw it at Nate, who dodged the furniture but didn't fire his gun.

Gus whipped the back door open and rushed outside.

“Echo Mountain police!” another male voice said.

A few seconds of silence rang in Nia's ears, then, “We got him, Nate!”

Cassie collapsed on the floor. “Take care of Cassie,” Nia said to Nate as she rushed to Aiden's side. Blood saturated his shirtsleeve and oozed down the side of his face from a cut on his cheek.

“Aiden?” she said.

He didn't respond.

“Aiden?” she tried again. She felt for his pulse. It was steady. Why didn't he open his eyes? Was it blood loss? A concussion?

Nia went to the sink and got another dish towel to clean his wound. When she turned to Aiden, her breath caught. He looked so...broken.

“Ambulance is on the way,” Nate said. “Cassie? Cassie McBride, can you hear me?”

“Ya don't have to yell,” she said in a weak voice.

“You were unresponsive.”

“I'm...I'm okay.”

“You don't look okay,” Nate said.

“Aren't you the charmer.” She started to get up, but her legs gave way and she collapsed against Nate for support.

Nia knelt beside Aiden and wiped blood off his face to determine the severity of his wound.

“You might want to deal with the arm first,” Nate offered, holding Cassie against his chest. “Head wounds always bleed like crazy, but his arm shouldn't be bleeding that much.”

“Okay, thanks,” Nia said.

She spotted a rip in his shirt. She grabbed either end and ripped it wider. Blood seeped from a three-inch gash on his upper arm.

“He's been cut.”

“I saw a bloodied knife on the dining room floor,” Nate offered.

“I don't know how to—” Nia stopped herself. She would not make excuses. She needed to tend to Aiden, fix him.

But there was so much blood.

Aiden had been sliced and beaten.

Because of her.

“Try to stop the bleeding,” Nate prompted gently, jerking her out of her self-recrimination.

“Right.” Nia grabbed another towel from a kitchen drawer and wrapped it around Aiden's arm.

“Is he conscious?” Nate asked.

“No.”

“Splash some water in his face.”

Nia filled a cup with water, went back and sprinkled water on his face with her fingertips. He didn't move.

“Please, my love, open your eyes,” she whispered and kissed him.

It was at that moment that she knew, without a doubt, that she was—and probably had been for a while now—deeply in love with Aiden McBride.

She dipped the towel in the water and brushed it across his face, wiping blood from the nasty cut on his cheekbone. His eyelashes fluttered as he opened his normally sky blue eyes, now dulled by pain.

“Welcome back,” she said.

“How long have I been out?”

“A few minutes.”

“That guy...Gus?” Aiden said.

“Nate got here in time.”

“Good, good.” He closed his eyes.

“Aiden?” she said.

He opened his eyes. “Wait—did you kiss me?”

She smiled.

“It was nice.” He reached for her hand.

She glanced down and noticed blood seeping through the towel on his arm.

“Hang on.” She snatched another towel from the drawer. “I hope your mom forgives me for ruining all her towels.”

She turned to Aiden.

His eyes were closed. And he was so still.

“Aiden?” she croaked.

“He's lost too much blood,” Nate said as he held on to a dazed Cassie.

Chief Washburn rushed into the kitchen from the back. “Everyone okay— Whoa,” he said as he caught sight of Aiden.

“He's lost a lot of blood.” Nia went to work, bandaging his arm with the fresh towel. It all felt like a dream, more like a nightmare, and she found herself falling into that place of detachment to cope with the situation.

“Officer Carrington and I are taking the suspect into the police station, although we might have to stop by the hospital first.”

“Do not let him out of our sight,” Nia said, glaring at the chief. “That man is going to pay for what he did to Aiden.”

* * *

Half an hour later, Nia clutched Aiden's hand as they wheeled him into the emergency room. She was grateful that one of the EMTs was Aiden's cousin, and she let Nia ride along. Whenever Aiden regained consciousness, he would ask for Nia, so her presence seemed to calm him down.

His heart rate was lower than normal, and his cousin Maddie did her best to get him stabilized on the ride to the hospital.

As they wheeled him toward the examining area, a nurse blocked Nia. “I'm sorry, but you can't come in here like that.”

Nia glanced at her clothes for the first time since they'd left the house. She was covered in blood from tending to Aiden's injury.

“Nia!” Bree cried, coming into the hospital with Scott by her side. “Are you okay?” She eyed Nia's bloodstained clothes and hands.

“It's Aiden's blood” was all she could say.

“Where is he?”

“They took him in to be examined by a doctor.”

“Bree?” Cassie said, entering the ER with Nate by her side.

“What are you doing here?” Bree hugged her sister.

Nia felt suddenly alone. Her only sibling was the reason for all this violence, all this blood. Nia eyed her fingers.

“I came back for an unscheduled visit,” Cassie said. “Bad timing on my part.”

“What happened?” Bree said.

“Some guy attacked us. Nia saved my life.”

The women turned their attention to Nia, who still couldn't look at them.

“She saved Aiden's life, too,” Cassie added. “You should have seen her, the way she shoved towels on Aiden's knife wound.”

A nurse came out of the examining area and Bree accosted her. “My brother—I need to know how he is.”

“They're examining his arm and he may need a CT scan for his head injury. You should relax in the lounge over there. We won't know anything concrete for a while.” With a reassuring smile, the nurse walked away.

“Thank you, Nia,” Bree said.

Nia glanced down the hall. Bit her lower lip.

“Hey, Cassie, can you wait here for word on Aiden?” Bree said. “I'm going to help Nia get cleaned up.”

“I'll wait with her,” Nate offered.

“I'm really okay,” Cassie said to Nate, who towered over her.

“I believe you,” he countered.

“We'll be right back,” Bree said to her sister and extended her hand to Nia.

She went to grab it, saw the blood turning her skin brown and snatched her hand back. “I can do it,” Nia said.

“I know you can.”

Bree accompanied her anyway.

They went into a bathroom and Nia got to work scrubbing the blood off her fingers. Bree stood by, watching. What did she think was going to happen? Did she fear Nia might faint? Have a breakdown?

“You didn't have to come with me,” Nia said.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

A choke-gasp caught in Nia's throat. “I'm washing your brother's blood off my hands. I'm never going to be okay.”