Ranger's Baby Surprise (Special Forces Elite 2)

“What is it?” In one long stride I was next to her. “Are you in pain?”

She shook her head. “I-I remember pieces of it. I didn’t before, but it just…I had a memory of yesterday.”

I wanted to pull her into my arms. Keep her safe. Tell her I’d kill the sick bastard who tried to hurt her. I’d never let her go again. But one thing at a time. Catch the killer first.

“What do you remember?” I took the seat next to her, trying to give her space to breathe.

Her eyes darted back and forth.

“I was leaving the gym with Javier. It was barely light out. The sun was starting to come up and I teased him about how evil he was for making me work out so early.” She paused, staring at her bare feet. “He told me it would all be worth it once I started the award circuit. He said, ‘you’ve got this’.” She held her breath. “And that’s when I heard the gun. I screamed and I don’t remember what happened next.” Her voice cracked. “I think. Maybe…”

“What, Abi? What is it?”

“Javier? Did he? Is he ok? Where is Javier?”

“He’s still in the hospital. He jumped in front of the gunman. It’s why the bullet grazed under your arm. I’m also anxious for him to wake up. I need to interview him.”

Her eyes widened in horror. “It went through him?”

I nodded. “It did. But the doctors say his surgery was a success. He’s being watched carefully. I’ll have the first call,” I assured her.

“I want to see him. I need to thank him.” She jumped from the chair. “I have to go to the hospital. He has to know he saved me.”

The pain circled my ribs, suffocating me. She was on the verge of hysteria. The shock began to settle in. Her brush with death. The memories of yesterday morning. It was starting to catch up to her.

“You can’t go.” I looked at her. “I’ll make some calls and get an update on Javier for you. But this is the safest place in the world you can be right now. If you go anywhere near that hospital the press will be all over you. You can’t risk it. I won’t allow it.”

“You can’t hold me here against my will, Reid.”

“Want to test that theory?” I taunted.

I wasn’t letting her out of my sight. She didn’t need to know I slept in the chair in her room last night. That for twenty-four hours I hadn’t been more than twenty feet away from her. That I was holstered and ready to shoot at the first sign of danger.

There would be time for that. Her life came before anything else.

“You can’t be serious.” Her eyes flared.

“You’re not leaving.”

She crossed her arms. “And I was almost going to say thank you for the hot shower and soft bed, but I’ve changed my mind.”

I arched my eyebrows.

She stormed across the great room and to the bedroom.

“And this T-shirt isn’t even designer,” she said, slamming the door in her wake.

I smirked. That was a hell of a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.

6

Abi

I swear I didn’t know I could survive an entire week without my cell phone, but I managed. There was actually something peaceful about being disconnected from everyone at all times. I wasn’t willing to admit it to Reid. Every morning I asked for my phone. And every time he gave me the same gruff “no.”

Luckily, the Big Bear cabin was stocked with an incredible library. I had gone with the classics at first. The nurse Belinda informed me that since I didn’t have a concussion I had no reading restrictions.

Belinda left after the first day. I think Reid was afraid I’d try to get her to conspire to sneak me out in a medical bag.