Protected by Shadows (39 page)

“Those who weren’t dead. It was nearly cult-like how they were willing to die for their cause.” Masters shook his head. “Still have some crews out there working with the local LEOs to clean it up. He had one hell of a setup.”

“We know he had things set up elsewhere, are we sure there won’t be some kind of attack even though he’s dead?”

“The ones taken into custody will be questioned. It’s a lot of shit to sort through.”

They fell silent before Masters stood. “I have to get back out there. I’m taking your brother to fly me. Keep me posted.” He placed a large hand on his shoulder. “Stay strong.”

Alone, Valentino sank back and rested his head against the wall to wait. He hated waiting.

He must have dozed a bit, for when the throat cleared he came awake instantly and looked up. The man who’d met the chopper on the roof stood there, exhaustion everywhere.

“News?”

“I’m Dr Pansem, the surgeon who operated.”

“How is she?”

The doctor sat beside him. “She’s stable. In critical condition, but she’s stable.”

Thank you, Jesus.
“I want to see her.”

“She’s being moved to an ICU room. Once she’s settled there, you can see her.” He coughed. “What happened to her?”

“She was kidnapped and held hostage for a while then got shot. We’ll always have someone with her and I will be checking out each person who comes into her room.”

“We already were read that act by our admin. Guess your boss already called it in and made his wishes clear.”

“Clear?”

“She’s been given her own room and a small contingent of staff who will see to her only.”

With a mental note to thank Masters, Valentino stuck out his hand to the surgeon who shook it. “Thank you for not letting her die.”

“I did what I could, she’s one hell of a fighter.” He gave a nod to another passing doctor. “I’ll take you to her room. If you want, I can have them bring in a cot for you.”

“Please.”

They walked in silence through the halls. Hours had passed and the place was missing the hustle and bustle of daytime hours when people visited their loved ones. At the end of a hall, Dr Pansem gestured to the door.

“Here you go.”

Valentino let him enter first then followed. The doc went to her charts and checked the machines. There were so many hooked to her and Lexy appeared so small lying there.

He walked to her and touched the side of her face. Her skin was clammy and he frowned. It took him several seconds to accept she was breathing, despite the respirator helping her.

“Why is she on that?”

“The bullet nicked her lung.”

“Right.” His tone was graveled.

Two orderlies brought in a cot and set it up before leaving as silently as they’d arrived. Valentino sat in a chair beside the bed and took her hand. At some point the others left, he wasn’t sure when. All he knew was that she’d passed the largest hurdle and the staff had finally left them alone. No, she wasn’t in the clear yet, but he refused to believe she would do anything other than recover.

“Hang in there, Alexsa. I’m not ready to let you go.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

She didn’t die!
Glass shattered along the wall as Trevor paced and tried to control the rage pulsing through him. For so many years he’d been able to keep it under a semblance of restraint.

That thin thread had snapped and blinding fury poured free. Hatred toward Valentino and that bitch he’d married. To those who had failed him as well. Everyone.

Someone knocked on his door and he turned. “Enter.”

“What’s the plan, Trevor?”

He cracked his neck and walked toward Henry. Stopping before the man, he canted his head to the side and sucked on his teeth.

“We carry out the plan.”

“But we lost so many, and the weapons as well.”

“We carry out the plan.” He enunciated each word carefully. “Of course, if you have no wish to participate, I could just blow your brains out now.”

Henry paled. “No, I’m in. Just concerned. A lot of those left are.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“You—as of late—have been, to most, more concerned with this Valentino Cassano and his wife than focusing on what The Watchers is about.”

“I have led this group for years. Since I was nineteen. I have always had its best interest in mind. That’s why we earned money, learned to blend in instead of being holed up in some cave, ranting.” He flexed his hand over his knife. “If I have a personal vendetta, that’s none of your concern. I still remain focused on the end goal!”

“Yes, sir. I was just letting you know how they feel.”

“Gather everyone and I’ll address them.”

Henry gave him a small smile. “Very good.” He left, only looking over his shoulder one more time.

Trevor grumbled as he walked back to the small room he was sleeping in for the time being. The woman lying there watched him with fear-filled eyes. He sighed heavily and walked to her side. Reaching out, he frowned when she pulled away from him and he narrowed his gaze before fisting her hair and jerking her close. With his other hand, he freed his knife. Her screams would last him for a while.

He felt a wash of calm as his blade sank into her flesh.

* * * *

Lexy came to with a jerk. The feeling of drowning pressing hard on her chest.
What’s wrong with me?
There was something in her nose and it needed to go. She tried to get to it and remove the obstruction so she could breathe.

A hand covered hers and a voice she hadn’t thought she’d hear again spoke. “Easy there, Lexy.”

Her eyes flew to the right and there, looking rough but oh-so-handsome, was Valentino. He had more than just the mere beginnings of stubble and his eyes were red and rimmed while his hair made him look like he’d just rolled out of bed.

“You have that thing in your nose, don’t pull it out. Okay?”

She nodded and tried asking him a question. He didn’t say anything, just continued to watch her as if he was amazed he was seeing her. He loosened his grip on her but didn’t let go. Something she was okay with.

“Wh…what happened? Why am I in the hospital?”

He cupped her cheek and rubbed his thumb along her skin. “You don’t remember?”

“I’m guessing something kicked my ass.”

His smile was worth all the aches she had.

“You were shot,” he said, sobering.

“Did I take it like a man or did I cry like a little girl?”

“Like a man.”

“Good.” She closed her eyes. Flashes hit her and slowly she put it back together. The kidnapping. Being told her house had blown up. Finding out his wife was still alive. She stiffened.

“What?” he asked.

She blew out a breath and shook her head. “Nothing.” She saw the cot next to her bed. “Have you been here however long I have been? How long have I been here?”

“Five days. And yes, I’ve been here the entire time.”

She wanted to ask him to hold her. Wanted to ask him to kiss her. But she couldn’t. He was a married man and it wasn’t to her. Sourness filled her and she frowned.

“You okay?”

“Could you send a nurse in?”

Concern filled his face, but he immediately went to the door. Tears pricked her eyes and she furiously blinked them away. Now wasn’t the time for her to break down.

Somehow, you knew this was only temporary from the second it began. Suck it up, Camden. Don’t let him see how much it hurts.

She answered the nurse’s questions, noting how Valentino hovered in the background. They were alone soon enough and he sat beside her again. Lexy angled the bed up more and turned her head so she could easily see him.

“How’re my brothers?”

He swallowed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Eugene is fine. Hector took some convincing that you weren’t in your house when it blew up. I’m sorry about your home.”

“But he knows I’m alive?”

“Yes.”

“Can he come here, wherever it is?”

“Do you want him here?”

“Yes. And I want to tell him about Eugene.”

“I’ll have him brought up.” Valentino withdrew his phone and placed a call.

“Why are you here?” she asked bluntly after he was off his cell.

His brow furrowed. “Where else would I be?”

“With your wife.”
You know, the woman I beat the snot out of.
It was kind of odd he didn’t seem upset about that. Then again, the woman had betrayed him and his son.

“I am.” He held her gaze without blinking.

“No.” She shook her head. “Alyssa.”

His hazel gaze hardened. “She’s not my wife.”

“Did you get a divorce since I got shot?”

“No. I’m married to you.”

Okay, this hurts more than the shooting
. “You can’t be married to more than one person. It’s not allowed.” She shrugged. “I mean they try out in Utah but seriously, it’s frowned upon.” She shifted on the sheets. “You should be with her.”

He shoved both hands through his hair and scooted the chair closer. “I’m not married to her, Lexy. I’m married to you.”

Suddenly exhausted, she just turned her head away. “I need some rest.”

“Look at me.”

Instead, she closed her eyes and did her best to shut him out. She didn’t have the energy right now to face this.

* * * *

When she opened them next, Hector was beside her. Sunlight filled the room and she realized she’d been out all night. Thankfully, she felt stronger today.

Embracing her brother, she allowed him to wipe the tears from her face. “I’m sorry, Hector.”

“Lex, I’m just glad I didn’t lose you as well. When I heard what happened”—he put a hand over his heart—“it wasn’t good.” He gestured to the bed. “What happened that you’re here though, if you weren’t in the house?”

“I need you to listen to me, Hector. Let me finish before you interrupt, okay?”

He glanced between her and Valentino, who refused to leave the room but had moved back. “Fine.”

“I was working on an operation with Valentino. That’s why we had the pretense of being married.” Val’s gaze hardened then shuttered at her claim. She swallowed and forged ahead. “I was shot in the final showdown, I guess you could call it. Don’t be mad. I’m fine.” She lifted a shoulder indolently. “Or will be.”

“And you didn’t think I’d want to know—”

“Hector.” She leveled a look at him.

Hector held up his hands. “Sorry. Continue.”

“This isn’t easy for me to tell you. Really not easy.” She dampened her lips and searched for the courage. Val stepped forward until she waved him back. “No, I have to do this.”

Hector’s frown didn’t encourage her any. Well…it encouraged her to hide under the blanket.

“Eugene is alive.”

Her brother stared at her for a bit. Then he ran his hands down the sides of his face, and readjusted the chair.

“I’m sorry, what?” There was no humor in his tone. In fact, it was harder than she’d heard it in years.

“Eugene is alive. He’s still in a coma”—she paused and looked to Val for confirmation on that, continuing when she got it—“but he is alive.”

“Let me see if I have this right. My sister’s house blows up, but she’s not in it. However, she is part of some undercover operation that gets her shot. Her lung nicked, yeah, I can read a chart. Then she wakes, for which I’m glad. Tells me she’s been lying to me about her entire relationship with her husband. Oh, that’s right, it’s fake. So this man she’s pretending with as they hunt for some people is not who he claims either. Great. Swell. Now after watching my brother’s body be wheeled from a hospital room and having a funeral for him, you’re telling me he’s still alive?”

She worked her fingers in the blanket and wouldn’t look at him. “Yes.”

“This was your idea?”

Lexy didn’t know who he spoke to, so she snuck a glance at him. Hector was looking at Valentino.

“All of it. Don’t blame Lexy. We really didn’t give her a choice.”

He was shouldering the responsibility? Not fair, she couldn’t let him do it.

“That’s not—”

“It is true. All my group’s doing. She didn’t want to leave you out of the loop about Eugene, but we had to insure people didn’t know so we could keep him alive.” Valentino crossed his arms. “That nurse who turned up dead after his staged death was part of this group we were after.”

Hector got to his feet and stood toe to toe with Valentino. Whatever words they exchanged were too soft for her to overhear. But her heart stopped when Hector left without another word to her.

“Hector?” she called after him.

“Let him go, Lexy. He needs time to digest this all.”

“Leave me alone, Val.” She rolled to her side. “Just leave me alone.”

“We need to talk.”