The woman shuffled and faced Kyle as he spoke. “Do the smart thing and surrender.” Danielle’s body relaxed, but she never released the tight grip on Tabitha.

  Doug moved into Tabitha’s line of sight and mouthed, When I say to, drop.

  Her heart rate kicked up a notch. Could she do what he asked? Doug had called her a tiger. Did she have that strength inside? The thought of her baby slammed into her. She had to do it—had to be strong. Determined, she blinked twice, acknowledging his command.

  He gave her a quick nod letting her know he understood.

  “Release Tabitha so we can all walk out of here alive,” Jason piped in.

  Hands gripping Danielle’s arm, Tabitha watched a wordless conversation between the men. Jason kept the attorney’s focus on him while Kyle holstered his weapon.

  Her pulse rate skyrocketed. Whatever the guys had planned was about to happen. She clenched her muscles and glanced at Doug.

  “I will not let her go! She will die!” Danielle’s body vibrated with hate.

  Doug met Tabitha’s gaze. “Now!”

  Tabitha relaxed her muscles to dead weight and prayed.

  * * *

  The moment Beth dropped, the world spun in slow motion. Doug and Kyle sprinted for the duo. They had to reach the women before Danielle regrouped. His command for Beth to drop to the ground, the hardest one he’d ever given. He prayed he hadn’t gotten her killed.

  Kyle flew from one side, tackling the attorney, and Doug from the other, grabbing Beth and taking her with him. He hit the ground first to protect her and the baby, rolled, and covered her with his body. He tucked her head under his arm and turned to witness a battle that would make a professional fighter proud.

  Danielle flung her fist, aiming for Kyle’s head, and kicked at his partner with a determination born from desperation. The woman was a scrappy thing as the pair struggled to claim the weapon. Grunts and heavy breathing filled the air.

  He had to help his partner. “Beth, stay down!” He lifted to his knees.

  The gun went off.

  Muffled shouts from Dennis and Jason swarmed in his ear like a handful of wasps. Doug sat with a thud and slid sideways to the ground. He inhaled, but air refused to enter his lungs. Gasping, he fought to breathe.

  “Doug?” Beth’s voice floated in the air. “Are you hurt?”

  Yes. No. Yeah, he had no idea. All he knew was that he couldn’t breathe.

  “Dennis!” Beth’s frantic tone made his heart ache.

  He wanted to answer her, but for the life of him, his mouth refused to cooperate. Darkness closed in on the edge of his vision. His body rolled. A searing pain lanced through his torso. Had the bullet ripped apart his chest?

  Hands patted him. “No blood. Doug, can you hear me?”

  He gave his boss a quick nod. Or at least he thought he had. Man, it hurt to breathe.

  Dennis squeezed his shoulder. “The bullet hit your vest. No holes, but it’ll hurt like crazy.”

  No kidding. A hot poker had nothing on the searing pain.

  Dennis unstrapped Doug’s vest and pulled it off. “There. That should help.”

  The relief was immediate once his boss removed the weight of the vest. A few shallow breaths cleared his vision. Then he took a couple of deeper ones. Finally, he exhaled. “Help me up.” Dennis stood on one side, Jason on the other, and they eased him to a seated position.

  “Good?” Jason crouched next to him.

  “I think so.” The pain had eased a bit, but he wouldn’t soon forget the equivalent of getting hit in the chest with a sledgehammer.

  Beth cupped his cheeks and gently pulled his attention to her. “Don’t scare me like that.”

  “I didn’t intend to worry you.” His gaze drifted to her mouth, and he wondered how soft her lips would be on his. He was a cad for thinking about kissing her in the middle of the woods after Danielle threatened to kill her. But he could have lost her, and he was tired of second-guessing himself. “But I do intend to kiss you.” He waited for her to decide if she wanted what he offered.

  Instead of drawing back, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

  He wrapped his arms around her, ignoring the burn of his newly acquired bruise, and deepened the kiss. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers and struggled to catch his breath. This time for a whole different reason. “That, sweetheart, was pure bliss.”

  A smile graced her face. “I completely agree.”

  Jason grunted. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

  “What do you mean?” Kyle asked. “My partner isn’t a monk. He’s dated before.”

  “Well, you do have a point. But seriously. Did you see that kiss?” Jason whistled between his teeth. “Wowzer.”

  Doug hadn’t taken his eyes off Beth and tried to block out the conversation going on around him.

  Sheriff Monroe approached and folded his arms. “If you two yahoos are done with your comedy act, I want the both of you to transport Danielle back to the station. Take Jason’s vehicle and leave the other for Doug.”

  “On it, boss.” Jason’s tone turned serious.

  Ignoring the razzing, Doug stole a quick kiss. The idea of having Beth in his life had his smile growing. He pushed to a stand and groaned. Hand pressed against his chest for support, he helped Beth to her feet and tucked her in beside him. Pain aside, he aimed to show her how a gentleman treated a lady.

  Kyle patted his back, then joined Jason in escorting the attorney toward the road.

  “Sheriff, I’d like to take Beth to the hospital and get her checked out.”

  “I agree. Head to Valley Springs General. And while you’re at it, have them take a look at you too.” Dennis held up his hand to stave off Doug’s argument. “You’ve been beat up a lot lately, and that bullet to the Kevlar vest will leave a mark. A simple checkup won’t hurt. I’ll meet up with you later.”

  “Fine. But Beth and the baby come first.” He refused to risk her life or her child’s.

  “Of course.” The sheriff glanced around the scene. “I’ll call in Deputy Fielding to cover here and collect evidence. I don’t want Ms. Thompson getting off on a technicality.”

  Doug placed his hand on Dennis’s shoulder. “Thanks for everything.”

  “That’s what this team does. We help each other.” His boss clasped Doug’s fingers. “Now go and take care of your lady.”

  He swallowed the emotions clogging his throat. “Come on, Beth. Let’s get out of here.”

  She wrapped her arm around his waist and met his stride.

  As they marched through the woods, he steered her around downed limbs to avoid twisting an ankle, but her quietness worried him. A few minutes later, his concern peaked. “Beth, honey, what’s wrong?”

  “I—” She sniffed. “I was so scared.”

  He tightened his hold, offering her his strength. His chest screamed at him, so he focused on the pathway to shove the deep ache away while letting her process without interruption.

  “I prayed you’d find us. And even though I feared for my baby’s life...” She rested a palm on her belly. “It killed me inside that I hadn’t released my fears and insecurities and told you how I felt.”

  His steps faltered. The jolt had him hissing against the discomfort. “And how do you feel?”

  She pivoted and locked her eyes with his. “Doug, I’ve never loved or been loved by anyone my entire life, starting with my mother. Michael introduced me to God, where I discovered an unconditional love that I still don’t comprehend at times. But it changed my life. It wasn’t until you that I trusted enough to allow my heart to explore the true meaning of love with another person.” She gripped his fingers and brought them to her chest. “I love you, Doug. I know you might not feel the same, and that’s okay. But I can’t go another minute without saying it out loud.”

  Tears stung his eyes. He’d feared failing another person he loved, but gazing into the depths of Beth’s green eyes drove out all doubts. “Beth, words can’t describe the power of your trust in me. I’ve struggled for years with guilt that if I ever loved again, I’d fail. But you’ve shown me I can be the man God made me to be without fear.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I love you too, Beth.”

  Her contented sigh made him smile.

  “What do you say we get you to the hospital and make sure you and baby are fine? After we’re both checked out, then we can go home, rest, and discuss what’s next in our life.”

  “Sounds wonderful. I’m tired, hungry, and ready to put this all behind me.” She tugged at him to continue the trek back to the road. “Do you really think I’m safe from Tommy and Danielle?”

  “I think ACSD won’t stop until we know for certain.” Doug refused to allow another person in Beth’s life to take advantage of her. The idea of her spreading her wings and learning to fly under his love and that of his friends filled his heart to overflowing.

  And if Tommy or Danielle beat the charges, he’d work night and day to protect Beth from the monsters who’d tried to destroy her.

  TWELVE

  Two weeks later

  A haze swirled in Tabitha’s head. Doug had stood beside her during her sonogram and held her hand. The same hand that now warmed the small of her back as they meandered down the hospital hallway to Michael Lane’s room. She itched to pull the picture of her baby from her purse and stare at it. According to the doctor, her baby girl was healthy. And if her daughter’s somersaults were any indication, she was quite happy in her current home.

  Doug whispered into her ear. “Thank you.”

  Her forward motion stopped. She blinked, struggling to connect the dots. “For what?”

  He shifted to face her and cupped her cheek with his palm. “For letting me come with you to your appointment.”

  Without thinking, she leaned into his touch. “I hope it wasn’t too hard for you.”

  A silent moment lingered between them. He cleared his throat. “I can’t say that my heart didn’t hurt for my son, but when your little girl filled the screen, and you smiled... I realized God gave me a gift. Two, in fact. You and your baby. And I intend to enjoy it and not let the past dictate my happiness.”

  Staring into his brown eyes, she saw a myriad of emotions. She’d suffered from a cruelty that no one should experience, but his life had held an agony of a different kind. “It’s okay to grieve—to remember. I won’t hold that against you.”

  Relief flashed through his gaze and vanished. “And I’m sure I will. Especially now that Wade is behind bars and I have closure in my wife and baby’s death. But I refuse to let it control me. You deserve more.” He kissed the top of her head. “Come on. Michael’s up and around. Doc says he’ll discharge him tomorrow.” Doug laced his fingers with hers, and they continued down the hall.

  Michael Lane had changed her life. She owed him everything. Including the relationship she had with Doug. If Michael hadn’t told her to trust him...nope, she refused to go there. No more second-guessing herself. Well, not as often, anyway.

  Standing outside the hospital room door, Doug slid his hand up her back to her shoulder. “Are you ready?”

  She nodded. “Knock-knock.” Tabitha poked her head inside Michael’s hospital room. “May we come in?”

  “Tabitha. Doug. Yes, please.” Michael scooted to an upright position. The bruising on his face had faded to a lovely yellow green. “It’s good to see you both.”

  She hurried to his side and gave him a hug. When she pulled back, their gazes locked. “I can’t thank you enough for saving my life in more ways than one.”

  The man blinked, opened his mouth, and closed it.

  Tabitha laughed. “I never thought I’d witness that.”

  Michael scrunched his forehead. “What?”

  “You at a loss for words.”

  The agent rolled his eyes. “Very funny.”

  Doug joined her at Michael’s bedside and shook the man’s hand. “Looking better, my friend.”

  “Feeling better too.” Michael clapped his other hand on top of their linked ones. “I appreciate you stepping in and helping Tabitha.”

  Doug wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in close. “Trust me, it wasn’t a hardship.”

  “Oh, I see how it is.” Michael chuckled. “Do I get credit for playing matchmaker?”

  “Whatever makes you feel better,” Doug teased.

  Michael turned serious. “Sheriff Monroe came by and updated me. I’m happy to hear that Tommy Wade is behind bars, but I’m sorry I was out of it and couldn’t warn you about his attorney Danielle Thompson. I figured out that piece right before someone tried to blow me up.”

  “I’m glad they didn’t succeed.” Doug caressed her arm as he spoke to Michael. “By the way, your little tip to Beth about a leak at your office helped plug that hole. Your boss never would have investigated your department without it.”

  “Yeah? Did they figure out who was tipping off Wade?”

  Doug nodded. “Avery.”

  “The new guy?”

  “Apparently, one of the bigwigs planted him on your task force for the very reason of keeping Wade out of jail. Now that we have threads to pull, the entire organization is unraveling as we speak.”

  Michael’s attention shifted to her. “What about you, Tabitha? Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine. We’re all alive, and that’s what counts.” Tabitha refused to let either man wallow in guilt. “To answer the question that you are tiptoeing around, the baby is good.”

  Michael’s shoulders relaxed. “I’m glad.”

  “Me too.” She swiped at the tears pooling on her lashes. Stupid hormones.

  Doug tugged her and pressed his lips to her hair. When his cell phone buzzed, he released her and pulled it from his pocket. “Olsen...sure, give me a minute.” He returned his attention to her. “I have to take this, but I won’t be far.”

  “Go, do what you have to do. Michael and I have some catching up.” She patted his arm.

  He feathered a kiss on her cheek and strode out of the room.

  “So, what’s going on between you and my Army buddy?” Michael’s cheesy grin made her laugh.

  “I know it sounds ridiculous, but I love him. And he says he loves me.” She continued to worry that her happiness would vanish, but she’d chosen to trust God with her future.

  “I have never known that man to say something that isn’t true. In fact, during our time together overseas, he tended to be brutally honest.”

  A smile bloomed on her lips. “He went with me to my sonogram appointment today.”

  “He did, huh? How’s the baby doing?” Tabitha hadn’t missed the smirk on his face.

  “She’s fine.” Doubt found a crack in Tabitha’s new self-confidence and wiggled in. She shifted her gaze to the floor. “Michael, am I making another mistake?”

  “With Doug?”

  She nodded.

  “Tabitha, look at me.”

  She lifted her gaze.

  “Don’t second-guess what you and Doug have. Sometimes it takes people months or years to figure it out, and sometimes they just know. If I had any doubts about that man, I’d speak up. But there’s one thing that I’m certain of.”

  She nibbled on her thumbnail. “What’s that?”

  “Your heart is safe with him.”

  “You really think so?” Tabitha knew the answer, but she needed the confirmation.

  “I know so.”

  She closed her eyes. “Thank you.” Hearing it from Michael eased any lingering reservations.

  “Anytime.” Michael rested back against his pillow. “Now that we have that settled, tell me what’s happened since they arrested Wade.”

  Tabitha scooted the chair next to his bed and lowered onto the cushion. “Once the chaos died down and the sheriff’s department deemed it safe, I moved back into my rental. I have another month on the lease you paid for to figure things out. I still have my job at the diner, so I’ll have an income. Not much, but some. After that, I’m not sure.” She shrugged. “I want to stay in Valley Springs. The people here are amazing. But beyond that, I don’t know.”

  “That’s a start.” Michael retrieved the cup and straw from the roller table over his bed and took a sip. “I’ll help any way I can. If you need another month or two of rent, I’ll take care of it.”

  She swallowed the emotion threatening to bubble out. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  “That’s easy. Have a wonderful life with Doug.” The grin on Michael’s face made her laugh.

  The door swung open. Doug’s laidback demeanor had shifted to all business.

  One look and her heart thundered. Her fingers dug into the arms of the chair. “What happened?”

  His long strides ate up the distance, and he knelt beside her. He took her hand in his. “Wade is dead.”

  A whimper fell from her lips. Her nightmare was gone. Black spots danced on the edge of her vision.

  “Breathe, honey.” He tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. She inhaled, pushing the darkness away.

  “How?”

  Doug’s gaze connected with Michael’s then shifted to her. “A gang member took him out. From what Brentwood PD has pieced together so far, Wade killed the guy’s brother. It was retribution, plain and simple.”

  “He’ll never hurt me again?” She clasped her shaking hands together in her lap.

  Doug’s thumb caressed her cheek. “Never.”

  She stared at him, waiting for the punchline to a bad joke. Was it really true? “And my baby will be free?”

  “Beth, Tommy Wade is gone. You can live without fear of him.”

  She struggled to wrap her mind around his words.

  “What about Danielle?” Michael asked.

  “That’s another story. But I don’t see her escaping the charges against her. Besides, she was only a threat to Beth while Wade was alive.”

 

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