Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 - Box Set 2 of 2: Exit Strategy\Payback\Covert Justice (33 page)

The fear, the pain and the sorrow of the past few hours pounded against Nia like an angry winter storm in Echo Mountain. She struggled to gasp air into her lungs past the ball in her throat, the ball of shame.

“That's it. Let it go.” Bree stroked Nia's back as Nia clutched the porcelain sink.

“I thought the violence was behind me, but I'll never get away from it.”

“Don't talk like that.”

“The way that man beat your brother, he punched and punched, and I couldn't do anything to stop it.”

“You had to protect yourself. I'm sure Aiden wanted you to protect yourself.”

“Why? He shouldn't care more about me than himself.”

“Of course he should. He loves you.”

Nia studied Bree's compassionate expression.

“It's obvious, Nia. You bring out the best in each other. He challenges you to be strong, and you soften his rough edges.”

“I also bring him pain and suffering. He deserves better. My stepfather was right. I'm a damaged girl who'll only bring agony to the people in my life.”

“Hey! Now, that's enough. I will not stand here and allow you to spew lies. How long are you going to let your stepfather control your life, Nia? Because it sounds like he's still doing it. Is that what you want? Now, finish washing your hands so we can check on Aiden.”

Nia glanced at her, ashamed but curious about Bree's firm tone.

Bree shrugged. “Too harsh? I wished someone would have said that to me after I left Thomas and wallowed in shame. I stayed there way too long and don't want to see the same thing happen to you.”

“Thanks. I guess you're right.”

“Honey, you've seen horrible things tonight, and you're traumatized. Maybe you'll want to see a counselor or talk to Pastor Charles about it. I'm always here, and you know Aiden will be.”

Aiden. The image of his bruised and bloodied body threatened to set Nia off on another round of tears. Instead, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She wasn't that little girl anymore hiding from her stepdad, avoiding trouble. She was a grown woman who wasn't going to stand for any more abuse. She certainly wasn't going to let Aiden get caught in the cross fire again.

“Whoa, I like that look.” Bree leaned against the sink and crossed her arms over her chest.

“This must end.”

“What? Not you and Aiden.”

“No, my brother's business associates terrorizing me and my friends. It's unacceptable.”

“Okay. What are you going to do about it?”

“Find my brother and make him take responsibility for his mistakes.”

Nia prayed for guidance in following through with her convictions.

* * *

By the time Nia and Bree returned to the waiting area, a small group had formed, including Aiden's mother, a few SAR friends and federal agents Nevins and Parker. As Nia headed for the agents, she noticed Mrs. McBride's worried frown. Nia wouldn't be able to speak to the woman, not until Nia could promise she wouldn't put her children in any more danger.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Claire and Marissa Rankin called.

Nia glanced down the hall and saw Will being pushed in a wheelchair by an orderly. His daughters nearly jumped into his lap.

“Careful, girls,” their grandmother said. “Your father's still recovering.”

“I'll recover faster with big hugs,” Will said.

The girls climbed onto his lap and they shared a group hug. Claire and Marissa giggled, but their grandmother frowned. Their grandfather didn't look too happy, either.

Nia was glad Will was being released. Did that mean he'd recovered his memory? Will smiled, and even though he held his girls in his arms, sorrow dimmed his eyes. Of course, he must have remembered that his wife was dead.

Nia felt a tear trail down her cheek.

“Miss Sharpe?” Agent Nevins said.

She swiped away the tear and turned to him.

“I'm sorry about what happened tonight.” He eyed her bloody outfit. “You didn't sustain any injuries, did you?”

“No physical injuries, no. I'm glad you're here. I have an idea that will end this violence once and for all.”

“Go on.”

“I'm going to use myself as bait to reel in my brother.”

SIXTEEN

A
iden woke up to pure and utter silence. It took him a few seconds to remember where he was. Surrounded by white-and-gray walls, he turned his head toward the light and saw colorful floral arrangements lining the window ledge.

The hospital—they'd taken him to the hospital because he'd been attacked at his mom's house. Panic took hold.

“Nia?” he whispered.

“I'm here,” her sweet voice said from the other side of the bed. He turned his head and her adorable face came into focus.

He struggled to smile. “Hi.”

“How are you feeling?” she said.

“Loopy, I guess.”

“They had you on some pretty strong pain meds.”

“For my arm?”

She nodded. “They were worried about the blood loss, so they decided to keep you for observation.”

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Sure, I'm fine.”

But he sensed something else behind her answer. He felt her drifting away.

“The guy who attacked me?” he said, needing to know the threat had been neutralized.

“They arrested him. He's not going anywhere this time.”

Aiden nodded with relief. Then he remembered something, something he needed to share with Nia. “I have to tell you—”

“You should rest,” she said.

“I will, but first I need to tell you something. The strangest thing happened. As that guy was pounding on me, and I fought to stay conscious, you know what I did?”

She shook her head that she didn't.

“I prayed.”

Her eyes widened and she took his hand in hers.

“I prayed that you'd be safe,” he said. “That even though I'd failed to protect you, you'd somehow escape.”

“Nate showed up with the sheriff and another officer.”

“And Cassie?”

“She's okay, a little traumatized, but physically okay. She and Bree stayed by your bedside until midnight. I had to go back to the resort and change.”

“Aw, I ruined your clothes, didn't I?”

“You didn't ruin anything. I'm so glad you're awake and talking.”

“Whoa, never thought I'd hear an employee say those words.”

She offered a sad smile and studied their entwined fingers.

“I'm kidding, Nia. You're much more than an employee. You have to know that by now.”

She didn't respond.

“Nia?” He shifted in bed and pain shot down his arm to his fingertips. He hissed between clenched teeth.

“I'll get the nurse.” She stood.

“No, wait. Stay here and talk to me.”

“But—”

“Please?”

She didn't leave, but she didn't reach for his hand again, either.

“What's wrong?” Aiden questioned.

“I guess I'm just exhausted.”

There was more to it, but he sensed she didn't want to share.

“Nia?” he pressed.

“This is probably the wrong time to get into this, but—” she glanced at him with regret in her eyes “—whatever happens, I need you to know that I love you, Aiden. With all my heart.” She leaned forward and kissed him.

Everything seemed to hurt a little less, and he wanted her to stay close. Instead, she pulled away and refused to make eye contact.

“That felt like goodbye,” Aiden said.

“It's not, unless you want it to be.”

“I don't understand.”

“Is he awake?” Cassie said from the doorway.

“He sure is.” Nia motioned his visitors to enter.

Aiden's heart-to-heart conversation with Nia had been interrupted by the women in his family: his sisters Cassie and Bree, and his mom, who carried more flowers and candy into his hospital room.

“Uh, I don't think I'll be here long enough to enjoy the flowers, Mom.”

“You'll be here as long as the doctor wants you to be here.” She shot a curt nod at Nia.

“Well, I've got to get back to the resort,” Nia said.

“No, it's dangerous. What about—”

“It's fine,” Nia interrupted Aiden. “I'm working from the cottage and have 24/7 police protection. Work must go on,” she said. “Goodbye, everyone.” She turned and walked away.

“She is certainly your best employee,” his mother said.

“She's much more than that, Mom.”

“No kidding,” Cassie laugh-snorted.

“She was so upset about everything that happened,” Bree said.

“As she should be,” his mom snapped. “It's her fault.”

“Mother,” Aiden said. “Don't talk like that.”

“I'm sorry, but Mama Bear goes on the warpath when someone hurts her baby.”

“Your baby is thirty-two,” Aiden said. “And Nia didn't hurt me.”

“It might as well have been her, and I told her so.”

“What?” Aiden tried sitting up, but all three women reached out to encourage him to lie down. “Tell me you didn't confront her about this.”

“I did.”

“Bree, go find her. Bring her back so Mom can apologize.”

Bree dashed out of the room.

“I most certainly will not apologize. I wasn't mean, Aiden. I was truthful. You're in danger because of her, and I don't like it.”

“But she saved my life, Mom,” Cassie said.

“You wouldn't have needed saving if it weren't for Nia and her brother.”

Bree jogged back into the room. “She's gone.”

Aiden fisted his good hand and pounded the bed.

“It's fine, Aiden,” his mom said. “That girl obviously didn't listen to a thing I said, because she sneaked into the hospital and spent most of the night at your bedside.”

“Because she loves him, Mom,” Bree offered.

“Why can't you kids fall in love with safe, boring people?”

“Mother,” Bree admonished.

“Sorry, but you'll never stop being my babies.” She glanced at each of them. “Someday you'll understand.”

“But none of this is Nia's fault,” Bree offered. “Her life's been threatened, too.”

“Her only crime is she wouldn't give up on her brother,” Aiden said. “Nia spent her childhood protecting her brother from an abusive stepdad and blames herself for not doing enough to keep Danny out of trouble.”

“Plus, she blames herself for everything her brother's done, which is
so
not her fault,” Bree said.

“But guys, Mom was scared.” Cassie took her mom's hand. “She lost her temper. It's happened to all of us, especially you, Aiden.”

“Yeah, well, this was one time when what Nia needed most was love and compassion instead of judgment and criticism.”

The room fell silent, so unlike the McBride family.

His mother sighed. “I guess my mama-bear instinct made me lash out at the closest target. I'm sorry, Aiden. Truly, I am.”

“I know.”

“How about we pray for Nia?” his mom said.

“Yes, I'd like that,” Aiden agreed.

The three women looked at him as if he'd sprouted a palm tree out of his head.

“What?” he said.

Bree came in for a big hug.

“Watch the arm,” he said.

“Sorry, sorry.” She broke the hug and smiled. They all were smiling at him.

“What's wrong with you guys?” he asked.

“Nice to have you back, big brother,” Bree said.

And they prayed.

* * *

Later that afternoon, after Nia got a few hours' sleep at the cottage, she explained the plan to lure her brother out of hiding to Quinn and Billie, Quinn's fiancée.

“Does Aiden know about this?” Quinn asked.

“No, and I'd like to keep it that way. He needs to focus on recovering.”

“Isn't it dangerous?” Billie said.

“Danny's my brother. He's not going to hurt me. But letting his mess drag on is extremely dangerous, not only for me, but also for everyone at the resort.”

“It is a busy weekend,” Billie said. “But I don't like the thought of you being in harm's way.”

“It's my mess to clean up.”

“Aiden's not going to be happy when he finds out what you're doing,” Quinn said.

“He doesn't have to be happy. He needs to be safe. His mother pointed out that being around me makes that impossible.”

“Nia, she was probably riddled with worry about her son,” Billie said. “I mean, she's out of town and gets the call that her son's in the hospital. That he was attacked in her home.”

“No, she's right,” Nia said. “I've continually put him in danger by allowing Aiden to protect me. Now I'll protect both of us.”

Billie glanced at Quinn as if she hoped he could say something to change Nia's mind.

“I wish you'd at least talk to Aiden about this,” Quinn said.

“Why? I don't need his permission.”

“Nia,” Billie said. “That's not what he meant.”

“I think Aiden's going to be, for lack of a better word, hurt that you've left him out of the loop,” Quinn said.

“Maybe, but he'll be hurt worse if he gets it in his head that he's going to be a part of this retrieval plan. I won't put him at risk anymore.”

“Because you love him?” Billie said.

Nia glanced at Quinn.

“It's okay,” Billie said. “You're not going to lose your job because you fell in love with the boss. It happens to the best of us.” She smiled at Quinn, her boss-turned-fiancé. “And I still have my job.”

“Until she gets a better one called Mommy,” Quinn teased.

A twinge of melancholy arced through Nia's chest at the tender exchange. Quinn and Billie were so blessed to have found each other.

As was Nia, to have found Aiden.

“Well, if we can't talk you out of this—”

“You can't,” Nia interrupted Quinn.

“Then I'll put Billie in charge of concierge responsibilities temporarily so you can focus on finding your brother,” Quinn said.

“Thank you, both of you,” Nia said. “And do me a favor?”

“Sure,” Billie said.

“If anything happens to me—”

“Don't talk like that,” Quinn said.

“But if it does, can you make sure Aiden knows I never meant to hurt him? That I'm doing this to protect him and my friends in Echo Mountain?”

“We won't have to tell him any such thing because everything's going to be fine,” Billie said.

* * *

Nia spent the next hour bringing Billie up to speed on the day's events. Nia would stay away from the resort to make sure her brother's business didn't threaten resort guests.

Nia packed her suitcase since she thought it wiser to spend the night in a random hotel rather than on resort property. When Agent Nevins showed up at the cottage, she was ready to go, although she wasn't sure how to proceed with her plan. The last text she got from Danny was from a blocked number, so she wasn't sure how to reach him to set up a rendezvous.

They got into the car. “No Agent Parker today?” Nia asked, not that she minded. He was an aggressive man.

“He'll join us later,” Nevins said.

As they pulled out of the resort, she swallowed back the lump in her throat. It was only temporary. She'd be back.

“So, how do we start?” she said.

“Our best bet is to speak to the last person who saw your brother,” Agent Nevins said. “Will Rankin.”

Poor Will, another victim of her brother's craziness.

“What about the man who attacked Aiden?” she asked.

“Gus lawyered up. He isn't talking.”

“Odd, since all he wanted to do was talk to me,” she said.

“Don't worry, he'll stay locked up this time—for assault, at least.”

Nia nodded. Somehow it didn't make her feel better.

* * *

When they arrived at Will's house, his in-laws were reticent to let them in.

“Please, ma'am, it's important that we speak to him as soon as possible to help us close this case,” the agent said.

Mrs. Varney debated for a minute. “Fine, we'll take the girls for ice cream.”

“Ice cream! Ice cream!” Marissa shouted.

“Me, too,” Will said from inside the house.

“You can't, Will. The FBI is here to ask some questions,” Mrs. Varney called into the house. “Come on, girls, Grandpa's buying.”

Nia heard smacking sounds, which she guessed were the girls kissing their dad goodbye.

“Bring me some volcano chocolate with Gummi Worms,” Will called out.

“Eeewww,” the girls cried, rushing up to their grandmother at the door.

“Let's go, girls.” Their grandmother motioned them outside, where her husband was waiting.

As little Marissa passed, she smiled at Nia. “I know you. You're the lady from the restaurant. You're going to marry my daddy.”

Mrs. Varney gasped and glared at Nia.

“Don't worry, Grandma,” Claire said. “Marissa thinks everyone is going to marry Daddy.”

“Come on, the ice cream's melting.” Mrs. Varney quickly shooed the girls away from Nia.

Understandable. Nia had brought trouble to Echo Mountain, and Will had suffered his share.

Nia and Agent Nevins entered the house, where they found Will reclining on the couch.

“Hey, Nia.”

“Hi, Will. This is Agent Nevins from the FBI. I'm helping them track down my brother.”

“Oh, okay.” Will sat up. “How can I help?”

“We need to know everything Danny Sharpe said to you when you fought in the mountains,” Agent Nevins said.

“Well, unfortunately, I'm still a little foggy on some stuff.”

“Anything could be a huge help,” Nia encouraged him.

“Okay, well, he was mostly freaking out about you, Nia. Said the men after him were also after you, and even accused me of being sent to kill him. He wasn't right in the head. I thought maybe he was dehydrated, that he'd been in the mountains too long without water. I tried calming him down, but he whacked me with his gun. I didn't see it coming and I...I'm still a little confused about some things.” He glanced at a framed picture of himself, his deceased wife, Megan, and the girls.