If the Dark Wins (Finley Creek Book 4) Page 22

  "There’s not a whole lot of making Lacy do anything Lacy doesn't want to do. But I’ll try. When can I see her?"

  “As soon as you're ready. She’s been asking for you.” Rafe looked at him. “So how long have the two of you been together?"

  "Since about the time you returned from Djibouti. Maybe a little later; it just sort of happened. Something about her… Well, a guy just can't forget her. I doubt I ever will be able to. Even if I wanted to. So here we are now. As soon as I can, I’m taking her back to my home. Until we find the sonofabitch who touched her."

  "You think it’s the same guy who shot Jillian? Ariella?" Rafe asked, his face dark.

  "I do. I think he burned her barn for some reason, too. Someone’s after her, and I don't know why. But I'm going to find out." And when he did, Travis want to just five minutes alone with him. “Then I’m going to pound him into the ground.”

  "I'll hold you coat. Somebody needs to teach the guy a lesson," Rafe said. "She’s back this way. In Trauma B. The nurses are preparing room 403 for her. It’s right next to Chance’s wife and daughter. They’ll have the same visitors. Might as well make it easy on them."

  Travis followed his brother to Trauma B.

  And there she was. Jillian was brushing her hair; the blood had been washed out. She had a bandage on her temple and was arguing with Jillian about putting on a hospital gown. The two women looked up when he and Rafe walked into the trauma room.

  "Travis," Lacy said. "Are you okay?"

  "Is he okay? You're the one in the hospital bed," Jillian pointed out. "I'd say the handsome horse rancher is doing better than you tonight."

  LACY HELD OUT A HAND, Travis took it. He leaned over her, and she looked up into his green eyes. The worry was there. When was the last time she'd had someone worry about her other than Ari or the Becks? Lacy honestly couldn't remember. She brushed her fingers, still encased in her purple cast, over the stubble on his cheek lightly. "Hey, it’s just a little headache, but they won't let me leave. Jillian’s always been sadistic. I'm not sure what your brother’s deal is though, but for once they are in agreement. Will wonders never cease? Right?"

  "A friend of yours from the TSP was here. A McKellen. Asked some questions. Told him about the barn fire, those damned flowers, he already knew about what happened with Jillian’s car. Now this. I think we need to admit it. Someone wanted something from you, honey. And I'll be damned if I'll let them get it."

  Lacy pulled herself up. She wanted to be sitting up for this. She was vaguely aware of Rafe and Jillian stepping out of Trauma B. And then it was just her and Travis.

  Lacy held open her arms. She just wanted him to hold her. Just for a little bit. "Travis…"

  He understood exactly what she wanted. Lacy knew that by the look in his green eyes. And then his strong arms were wrapped around her.

  He was holding her. Next to his chest. Exactly where she wanted to be. Lacy clung. She rested her aching head on his shoulder, and just breathed him in. He settled on the hospital bed next to her, and lifted slightly. Then she was in his lap. "Hell of a way to end the night.”

  She just nodded lightly. She didn't want to speak anymore. Lacy closed her eyes, and tried to forget. It was just too much.

  She didn't know what to do next.

  86

  No one seem to even notice him. Logan kept close to Trauma A, near where he could see and hear what was going on with Lacy. They all just walked right by him, as if he was a piece of furniture.

  But not her. The world revolved around her. Logan understood that. His most certainly did. He had known she'd come back here. This… This hospital was the center of everything. They’d both almost died here. They spent most of their life here—hopes dreams, fears, pains, joys—all revolved around Finley Creek general. For her, and for him. He slipped back into the empty trauma room, as Holden-Deane and that little wildcat Jillian walked by, still snipping at each other. Like they always did.

  Logan understood that was just a cover.

  A way to keep people from understanding that the boss was screwing a far too young for him nurse, likely on company time. Hell, they were probably headed that way right now. Holden-Deane would slip that little top right off her, bend her over his desk and… do exactly to her what Travis Worthington-Deane had wanted to do to Logan’s Lacy. Pigs, all of them. Undeserving pigs.

  Logan popped another pill. He needed to. He couldn’t stop shaking. He wasn't too sure what two of them would do to him. But he just didn't care. All her cared about was her.

  Logan walked by the door to Trauma B. And there she was, cuddled up on that damned Worthington-Deane’s lap. The guy was running a hand through Lacy’s blonde hair.

  And he held her while she cried.

  It was the tears that did it. Lacy didn't deserve to cry over anything.

  Logan retreated to his own office to think.

  He’d hurt her. What kind of animal had he become?

  Logan downed another Solpalmitraln as he tried to think.

  His shaking hand tightened on the gun he hadn’t realized he still carried. When had he pulled it from the drawer?

  87

  Travis rocked her for what must've been thirty minutes. She just let him. That told him all he needed to know. His poor girl. What made it worse was the knowledge that they just didn't know who. How was he supposed to keep her safe from someone he couldn't identify?

  Travis didn't know.

  But he knew one thing. He was not leaving her on her ranch alone. Even if he had to move in permanently. "I want you to stay with me, honey. Until Elliot finds that asshole."

  "Travis…"

  "No fighting me." He leaned back so he could see her face. "Losing you… I just can't stand to think of it. I saw my brother lose the woman who was his world—and I'm just not strong enough to go through that. Not like Marc. I can't lose you. I just can't… Stay with me. Until I know you will be safe. Even if that’s forever. Please?"

  "TRAVIS?" Lacy read the feeling in his eyes. What was it his brother had said? Travis felt things deeper than people realized. Hadn’t she'd seen evidence of that for herself? "What exactly are you asking?"

  "I know your ranch means everything to you."

  It did mean a lot to her, how could it not? But Lacy knew the truth. She'd trade it in a heartbeat for the ones she loved.

  Ari. Jillian. The rest of the Beck family.

  Travis.

  Wood and plaster meant nothing. Not like he did.

  She'd felt more at home this last week with him and that adorably ugly dog than she had at her ranch in a long time.

  Because Travis was her home. Where she could belong.

  If she was brave enough to make the choice. Lacy brushed a hand down his cheek.

  "I think I can do that." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "When your brother finally lets me out of here, take me home. With you."

  "No."

  Travis jerked her closer as they turned to see who had come into the exam bay.

  Just as a shot exploded directly next to her.

  Travis went down, covered in blood.

  Lacy screamed and dove for him.

  Dr. Lanning stood just outside the trauma bay, a .38 pointed right at them. Right at Travis.

  Travis’ older brother stepped deliberately in front of him.

  88

  He’d seen men with that kind of crazy in their eyes before. Rafe held up his hands, trying to be as unthreatening as possible. His brother...Travis was bleeding, but getting back to his feet.

  McGareth, looking like hell, was stuck between them all.

  Lanning grabbed her arm and yanked her away from Travis. “Don’t touch him! He’s filth!”

  “He’s bleeding.” McGareth reached for Travis, just as Travis reached for her.

  Rafe bit back a curse, seeing how his brother felt right there in Travis’ eyes. Travis loved that woman. Deeply.

  “I don’t care if he bleeds out right here in the floor. You ar
e never to put your hand on a filthy Deane again.”

  Lacy, stubborn as always, challenged him. “What is this about, Lanning?”

  “He doesn’t deserve you!” Lanning had her tight and he yanked, jerking her away from Travis. For all the fire Lacy possessed, she was no real match for a crazy man who outweighed her by a hundred-fifty pounds, and Rafe knew it.

  Travis called her name. Tried to grab for her again.

  “Let me go!” Lacy fought the hand, but it was useless.

  “You’re coming with me. We’re leaving this place forever.”

  Rafe got it then. The someone stalking her had been Lanning. Why had they missed it? But what in the hell were they supposed to do?

  “What is it you want, Logan?”

  Lanning looked right at him, a wild look of desperation in his eyes. “I want him dead! I don’t want him ever thinking he has the right to touch her again.”

  “Shouldn’t that be Lacy’s decision?” Rafe tried to keep himself as unthreatening as possible, but he had an ER full of people--staff and patients. There were two nurses directly next to him, and he motioned them to get behind the admittance desk and what cover it provided.

  Jillian Beck, that little redheaded devil, was caught out in the open. Exposed. Rafe risked a glance at her.

  She stared at Lanning and her friend with remembered nightmares written all over her face, frozen.

  “No! She can’t make that decision. You...you are too powerful and she isn’t. You’ve ruined everything, everything! You and your brothers!”

  “Just let her go. We can decide what to do after. I think you’re hurting her; you don’t want to do that, do you?”

  “I will.” He swung the gun toward Lacy, the barrel passing through the blonde hair that hung loose around her shoulders.

  Rafe tried to push the fear in her green eyes out of his mind.

  Lacy McGareth had always appeared so fearless to him. To see her otherwise...to see how she looked at his brother, the love they felt for each other...

  Lanning’s hand tightened on the barrel. “She’s coming with me. You Deanes aren’t going to stop her anymore!”

  “We don’t plan on it. But you need to stop scaring her, now.” Rafe stepped closer. “Can you do that?”

  “She’s coming with me. Anyone tries to take her from me and--” He shifted the gun and pulled the trigger before anyone could react.

  Tile splintered not even six inches away from where Jillian stood.

  Everyone screamed.

  “Don’t! Don’t. I’ll come with you, just don’t shoot anyone else, ok?” Lacy stepped closer to Lanning. Between him and her friend. Because it was just that simple for her to do. Because she loved.

  Travis reached for her. Lanning pointed the gun straight at Travis’ heart. “I’m not screwing around here! Next one is you or that little friend of hers! Imagine what another bullet will do to her!”

  Rafe couldn’t do a damned thing to protect his brother, but he could reach Jillian. He shifted, putting his body in front of hers.

  Not that it mattered. Lanning was already dragging Lacy toward the exit. “Open the doors or I’m going to start shooting!”

  Rafe had no choice. He nodded at Vincent, the security guard. “Do it. Let him out. He’s right. We have no choice.”

  89

  Travis had no choice. He couldn't let that crazy bastard get her away from him.

  The fear on her face… Travis tried to grab her. But hands were there stopping him. He struck out, one fist hitting Rafe’s face. His brother let him go.

  "Wait. Get him away from innocent bystanders."

  Travis couldn't wait. Not with Lacy in jeopardy. He was steps behind them, his brother on his heels.

  LACY FOUGHT with everything she had as Lanning dragged her toward the back stairwell exit. "Let me go."

  "So you can go to him?"

  "Why do you care?" She never would've thought the man who'd hurt them all was Logan Lanning. It didn't make any sense. "I love him."

  "Because he forced you. Those damned Deanes have been screwing with what I want since FCU. Marcus Deane, boy wonder. Then Rafael Holden-Deane, med school magician, took the hospital from me. You… You almost died because of their cousins. Some stupid fuck of a cowhand cannot have you. He cannot."

  "It’s my choice. Mine." She twisted and pulled. Fought. Nothing stopped him.

  Until someone called his name. Hers.

  Travis. Lacy had known he would come—had prayed, hoped, that he wouldn’t. She didn't want him up there.

  She didn't want him anywhere near a madman with a gun.

  Lacy kept fighting. It was the only choice she had. Lanning fired again. His hands were shaking so badly he missed. Just like it had before. Travis kept going. Kept trying to get closer to her. He’d take a thousand bullets if it meant he kept her safe.

  "LET HER GO, LANNING."

  "Travis."

  "Honey, I'm not leaving you with him. I promise."

  "Just go inside. Please, just go inside. He hates you. Because of Rafe and Marc. He hates them, too. He’s jealous and crazy. And is on something. I recognize the signs."

  Travis heard the panic. But it didn't change anything. He was willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe.

  Lanning pulled her closer to the back concrete half wall that separated them from the courtyard… Three levels below. What was the man planning?

  90

  Worthington-Deane was hiding behind a concrete post. The coward. If it was Logan trying to rescue Lacy, he wouldn't be hiding. But wasn't that exactly what he was trying to do? Rescue Lacy? Logan really didn't know. He did not know anymore. He tried to shake off the gray hazing his eyes, his mind. To stop the damned shaking. The sweat. To fight back the rage.

  He should just shoot them both now, if they loved each other so much. Just kill them together. A perverse FCGH romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet.

  She didn't want Logan. She wanted that damned dirt cowboy Deane. He didn’t think, he just pulled Lacy closer to the concrete stairs. The elevator wouldn't work, they'd be trapped. Travis Worthington-Deane was right there behind them.

  They'd almost made it to the old parking garage exit when Rafael Holden-Deane stepped into his path.

  "Logan, let Lacy go. We'll go downstairs to my office. Talk. Figure out a solution."

  The cowhand stepped closer. Logan was trapped between the Deane brothers. They were going to take everything away from him. Again.

  His gaze darted wildly around, finally resting on the stone bench that had been erected in memory of the first Finley nurse who later became a doctor in 1883. It sat next to the concrete rail. Up there he could shoot both Deane brothers right in front of her. Make his point.

  Then Lacy would fucking learn, would understand. He dragged her toward the bench, then climbed up on it. He pulled the woman up next to him. He could feel the wind and rain blowing in on him from the open air behind him. He wanted them all to see him. He was so damn tired of being invisible. Did they see him now?

  Now they did, now that he had her. Their heart.

  His heart, too.

  It threatened to explode out of his chest.

  "Don't move." He shouted at them. Worthington-Deane didn't listen. He got closer.

  Just as Jillian Beck showed up.

  What was this? A party? A stage production just for the Becks and for the Deanes?

  Was it more people coming to gawk as Logan lost everything?

  Logan couldn't take it anymore.

  He raised the gun—and aimed at Worthington-Deane. It was time this all ended.

  No filthy cow herder was going to touch his Lacy ever again.

  91

  Lacy dove for Lanning, knowing even as she did so that he was going to pull the trigger. That it was going to hit her.

  She felt it rip through her chest and she felt his hand grabbing for her.

  “No!”

  She heard Travis’ call, knew it was him. It would alwa
ys be him. She heard Jillian’s scream, Holden-Deane’s cold curse. But it was Lanning’s agonized wail that pierced her.

  His grip tightened on her and he yanked her backward.

  Over the back of the bench.

  She knew what he intended.

  They’d almost died together in this very garage before.

  He yanked her close and tightened his arm around her. Leaned back toward the edge. He was going to take her with him, wasn’t he?

  She didn’t have the strength to resist. Lacy lifted a hand and wrapped her fingers around the arm holding the gun pointed at those she loved. He may have already killed her, she might bleed out at any moment, but he was not going to hurt Travis or Jillian. Or Travis’ brother. Not going to happen. He would not hurt the people she loved.

  She used every bit of remaining strength she had and pushed.

  And then they were falling.

  92

  Travis would never know who moved first, him or his brother. The instant he knew what Lacy was doing he dove for her. His fingers wrapped around the back of her shirt and he pulled her to him. Rafe was there, his own arm around her chest, stabilizing her before she could plunge after Lanning. Before she could slam into the concrete bench.

  He had never been more thankful for the sheer size and strength of himself or his brother, as Rafe was able to jerk her free of Lanning’s hold just in time. Rafe grabbed for the other man next, but they all knew it was too late.