Search and Rescue by April Wilson

Chapter 14

Killian Devereaux

After the radiology report came back that her ankle was indeed broken, Hannah was taken to orthopedics to have her bones set and a cast put on. Fortunately, it was a clean break and the doctor said it should heal well. Surgery wasn’t needed, thank god. But she does have to stay overnight in the hospital for observation because she has a concussion, and they want to make sure the antibiotic is effective against the infection in her arm.

I’m grateful to Jake for keeping me updated on her prognosis. And to Maggie and Owen, who also filled me in on how she’s doing just before they left the hospital.

Hannah’s family arrived at the hospital about an hour ago—the whole McIntyre clan—her parents, her brothers, and two sisters, along with a number of spouses.

I’ve intentionally kept my distance from Hannah and stayed on the periphery, because I don’t want to intrude on her privacy and recovery. She needs her family more than anything. All morning, I’ve been camped outside her hospital room, standing guard more or less, just to be safe. We still know next to nothing about the assholes her attacked her. It’s possible they could try again.

I’m also killing time wondering when Jake’s going to send me back to Chicago.

I watch as various family members come and go from her room in small groups, starting with her parents. Her mom’s a wreck, her eyes red and swollen from crying. When Bridget sees me, she runs into my arms and hugs the daylights outta me. She’s pretty strong for a petite little thing. Now I know where Lia gets it.

Calum McIntyre, Hannah’s dad, pats me on the back. “Well done, son. Thank you for saving our little girl.”

Hearing Hannah referred to as a little girl makes me smile. She’s more of a wildcat, I’d say. But who am I to argue with her kin? “I’m glad I could help, sir.”

Hannah’s parents go into her room, and from the hallway, I can hear her mother crying and both Hannah and her dad trying to console the woman. Then her sisters, Sophie and Lia, come in to see her. Then the rest of her brothers have a turn—Shane, Jamie, and Liam. Jake’s been in and out of her room all day.

Many of the significant others are here as well—Sophie’s husband, Dominic; Jamie’s girlfriend, Molly; and Lia’s husband, Jonah, who’s wearing a pair of dark aviator sunglasses and a hat as part of a disguise. The last thing we need is for news of Jonah’s whereabouts getting out on social media. This small hospital would be overrun in no time by screaming fans.

Eventually, the family congregates in the waiting room.

Jake’s the last one to leave her room. “She’s sleeping finally,” he says to me as he closes the door quietly. He makes no move to join the rest of the family, instead loitering in the hallway with me.

My heart starts pounding as I straighten away from the wall. Is this it? Am I about to get reassigned? The idea of returning to Chicago guts me. I don’t want to leave her. “I’m sure she’s exhausted after the past forty-eight hours.”

Jake nods. Then he offers me his hand. “On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank you, Killian. If we’d lost Hannah, we would never have recovered.”

I swallow against the lump in my throat. This is it. He’s sending me home—and I have no justification for staying. “Happy I could help.”

Jake looks away, staring off down the deserted hallway. It’s clear there’s something on his mind, and I wait him out. I’m certainly not in any hurry to rush this conversation because I’m afraid I know what’s coming. I just hope he’s not sending me back tonight. I’d like to stay a few more days at least, long enough to make sure she’s okay, and to see her home safely.

And how in the hell is she going to manage on her own with a broken ankle?

I’m a patient man, so I wait for him to say whatever’s on his mind.

I can’t count the number of times my grandpapa told me, “Patience wins the day, son.” Of course he was referring to fishing, but I still think it’s good advice.

Jake finally breaks the silence. “She’s not going to be able to take care of herself while she’s got that cast on. For one thing, she lives in a remote cabin in the woods that’s heated by a woodstove—I don’t see her out in the snow chopping and hauling wood anytime soon. And for another, her Jeep has a manual transmission, which means she won’t be able to drive until she gets the cast off. And most importantly, there are the poachers to consider. We have to assume we haven’t seen the last of them.”

I nod.

Patience.

“My parents tried their best to convince her to come back to Chicago with us so she can recuperate there,” he continues, “but she refused. You know Hannah—she’s decidedly pigheaded.”

Smiling in agreement, I nod but don’t say anything. He’s not done talking.

Patience.

There’s a reason he’s telling me all this, and it’s not to share his family’s business.

Jake turns back to face me. He looks deceptively casual, leaning back with one black boot propped against the wall behind him, but I know better. He’s wound tight as a drum. He’s worried about his sister. He’s afraid for her.

“Shane and I discussed it, and—” He breaks off.

My pulse kicks up. “Yeah?”

“We’d like for you to stay here with Hannah until the poachers are caught and she gets that cast off. Would you be willing to do that? Consider it a temporary reassignment.”

It’s all I can do not to laugh in the man’s face. Is the Pope Catholic? “What does she think about this plan?”

Jake glances back at her closed door. “I haven’t brought it up with her yet.”

“Don’t you think you should ask her before you go making plans on her behalf?” One thing I know about Hannah—she’s not one to be run roughshod over.

“Why don’t we ask her together when she wakes up?”

I nod. “Fair enough.” My heart’s pounding. I thought for sure I’d be on a plane headed back to Chicago this evening, and for the life of me, I can’t stomach the idea of leaving her.

My head may tell me I’m wasting my time where Hannah’s concerned, but my heart tells me somethin’ different.

* * *

Late that evening, once visiting hours are over, and after assuring themselves she’s not going to die, the McIntyres leave for their hotel where they’ll stay the night. They’re coming back in the morning to see her again before they fly back to Chicago around noon.

I’m sitting in the cafeteria staring at a half-drunk, cold cup of coffee when I get Jake’s text.

Jake: She’s alone. Come now and we’ll ask her.

After tossing my cup in the trash can, I head back to her room and knock quietly on her door.

“Come in,” Jake says.

When I step into her room, her brown eyes go wide.

“You’re still here,” she says in a slightly accusatory tone.

“I am.”

“I thought you’d already gone home, without saying goodbye.”

She sounds a bit pissed about it, which I take as a good sign. “Why would I do that? Of course I’m still here.”

Before she can get another word out, Jake breaks into the conversation. “Hannah, you can’t stay alone in your cabin. Not with a broken ankle. You won’t be able to take care of yourself and keep that place running. And you can’t drive that stick shift with a cast on.”

Hannah looks at her brother, suspicion clouding her eyes. “And?”

“And…” Jake nods in my direction. “Killian’s agreed to stay with you until your ankle is healed.”

She sucks in a breath. “That’s six weeks from now.”

Jake nods. “It’s an extended assignment.”

Her gaze bounces from me back to her brother. “When you say with me…”

“In your cabin,” her brother says. “He’ll be living with you temporarily.”

Her focus shifts back to me. “And you’re okay with this plan? With being away from home that long?”

Chicago’s not really my home—it’s just the place where I live and work. “I’m happy to do it.” I keep my tone light. I figure that’s a better option than saying, Hell yes, I’m okay with it. I don’t want to leave you.

“I could stay with Maggie,” she counters, glancing back at her brother. “I’d hate to impose on her and her sons, but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”

“It’s not just your ankle, Hannah,” Jake says. “The men who attacked you are still out there, and if they find out who you are and where you live, you’re a target. You don’t want to draw that kind of danger to your friend’s house. Until we know more, you need protection.”

Hannah frowns. “Can I speak to Killian alone for a moment?”

Jake nods toward the door. “Sure. I’ll go grab some coffee in the waiting room.”

As soon as Jake’s out the door, Hanna nails me with a curious gaze. “When I didn’t see you today, I thought maybe you’d left.”

“I’ve been here the entire time—mostly standing outside your room. I didn’t want to intrude on your privacy.”

“Killian, you shared your body heat with me in that shack, half-naked in a bed. You emptied my pee bucket, for crying out loud. I think we’re well past worrying about my privacy, don’t you?”

I grin, happy to see a glimpse of the Hannah I know and love. “Hard to argue with that.”

“And if you’re going to stay with me while I’m recuperating—help take careof me—there will be a lot more privacy violated, don’t you think?”

“Without a doubt.”

“And you’re totally okay with this? With putting your own life on hold for me?”

“I’m fine with it. Perfectly fine.” Glancing down at her bright green cast, I realize all the things she’ll need help with. Not just the obvious things—like chopping wood for the stove, fetching and carrying, cooking, cleaning, taking care of her dog—but also personal things, like dressing and undressing, and perhaps bathing. But most of all, what she truly needs from me is protection in case those motherfuckers come looking for her. If they want her, they’ll have to go through me first. “Yeah, I’m definitely fine with it.”

“My cabin’s small,” she warns. “There’s only one bedroom.”

“That’s all right. You have a sofa, right? That’ll do me just fine.”

“Well, yes, there’s a sofa, although I’m pretty sure it’s not long enough to accommodate you.”

“It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

She looks far from convinced. “All right then. If you’re sure. I’d be grateful for your assistance.”

“Then it’s settled. I’m staying.”

* * *

When I step out of her room, Jake’s standing in the hall with a vending machine coffee cup in his hand.

“It’s settled,” I tell him.

He finishes off the last of his coffee and crushes the paper cup in his hand. “Well, that wasn’t too hard,” he says, sounding surprised.

I suppose I’m a bit surprised, too. The woman who has refused to give me the time of day for quite a while just agreed to let me move in with her, at least for the next six weeks. “Now what?” I ask him. “Are you going back to Chicago?”

He nods. “I hate leaving my sister at a time like this, but my wife’s at home taking care of two sick babies. I need to get back.”

“What about Owen? When’s he heading back to Tennessee?”

“He hasn’t decided.” Jake’s gaze bores into mine. “My gut tells me this situation isn’t resolved yet. The poachers are still out there. You’re on Hannah’s full-time security detail until further notice. We have to assume she’s still in their crosshairs. As for Maggie, we don’t think she’s at risk, but Owen’s going to hang around a little longer to be sure.”

“Understood,” I say. These poachers are wildcards, and that makes them unpredictable. “I won’t let anything happen to Hannah.”

Jake grips my shoulder hard. “I know you won’t.” Then he returns to Hannah’s room to have a private conversation with her. I assume he’s telling her why he needs to get home. She’ll understand.

I wait in the hallway, giving them some privacy.

Just before Jake leaves, we shake hands one last time. “Thanks, Killian. I’ll arrange to get your rental back to the agency. You might as well use Hannah’s Jeep, as she won’t be driving anytime soon. I’ll arrange for someone to bring it here to the hospital.”

He glances back at his sister’s door, indecision clearly written on his face. He nods curtly to me, then heads down the hallway and steps into a waiting elevator.

Just as the elevator doors close, a second elevator’s doors open and a man steps out, pausing as he glances up and down the corridor. He starts walking in my direction, clearly checking out the patient room numbers.

“Can I help you?” I ask him when he nears Hannah’s room.

He glances at me briefly but doesn’t answer. Instead, he continues on his way, glancing at each patient room door as he passes. I’d follow him, but I can’t leave Hannah unprotected. And by the time I call someone for back-up, he’ll be long gone.

I never got a look at the poachers, but Hannah certainly did. It looks like she and I need to have a talk.