Forbid (Whiskey Run Heroes 5)

“Why not?” he asks.

I put it out there, straight to the point so that everybody understands where I'm coming from. “May has a stalker, and I'm not leaving until I know she's safe.”

Nash looks at Colt and then back at me. “May? Colt’s sister?”

I nod and clench my fist just remembering everything May said earlier.

“And who's the stalker?” Nash asks, looking between Colt and me.

Colt cracks his fingers and leans back in his seat. “She won't say.”

I know that Colt is already pissed. I know that he's going to be even more upset that she talked to me instead of him, but I know the guys in this room, and we're all family; we protect each other, and that even means extended family. “His name is Dr. Mike Lassiter. He works at Jasper Hospital, and I already have Dylan looking into him. I met with Dr. Johnson this morning. He’s the administrator at the hospital, and he’s May’s boss. From what I found out, she talked to him the other day about everything, and he blew her off.” I look at Nash. “Sorry, but I threw your and Walker’s name around to make sure he knew that this is being taken seriously.”

Nash nods. “Of course it is. What’s he doing about it?”

I let out a sigh of frustration. I want it over, but with the asshole out of town, there’s no way of ending it yet. “He said that he and the board are going to do a full investigation. He won’t have May and him working the same schedule, and he promised that May would be protected. He also said that Dr. Lassiter is in Florida right now due to a death in the family.”

Nash nods with a glance at Colt. The tension in the room is palpable, and in our line of work, that’s not going to cut it. We all have to work together and trust each other, so Colt and I are going to have to get through this. Luckily, nobody calls us out on it, so they’re probably going to give us time to work it out.

The meeting continues, and Nash gives out assignments. Thank fuck he lets me stay in Whiskey Run for this one. I look over at Colt, and I can feel the rage across the table. I just don’t know if it’s aimed at me or if it’s because he’s hearing what his sister has been going through.

As soon as the meeting is over, I go to my office and open up my computer. I know that Dylan is the computer whiz, but surely to goodness I can find something out. I can't just sit here and do nothing.

Colt walks in the door of my office and crosses his arms across his chest as he leans into the doorway. “I need you to protect my sister while I'm gone.”

I nod. “I intend to.” There are so many other things I want to say to him, but maybe less is more right now. I don’t want to fight with him. I want to find May’s stalker and fucking end him.

Colt must not like my answer because he straightens his back rigidly. “I can't let anything happen to her. Just thinking about something happening to her makes me sick to my stomach, and I want to fucking kill someone. She’s not like us, Aiden. She’s good.”

He doesn’t have to tell me; I know how good of a person his sister is. That’s why I fell in love with her. She’s the kindest, most sincere and compassionate woman I’ve ever met. I grit my teeth. “Nothing is going to happen to her. I tried to tell you last night I love her. I've loved her for two years and haven't looked at another woman since then. She's it for me.” Colt uncrosses his arms and lets them hang to his side. I’m just waiting on him to punch me again, and quite honestly, I can’t say that I blame him. I know the reputation that I’ve had in the past, but I'm a different man now. May makes me want to be different.

He tilts his head. “Why didn't either of you tell me?”

I shrug. “Probably because of how you reacted last night.”

His face is grim. “She's all I've got left of my family, Aiden. It's been my job to protect her for a long time, and I don't want her hurt.”

I nod because I understand where he's coming from. “I know that she's your only family left, Colt, but she's my everything.”

Colt opens his mouth but then turns suddenly. I can hear feet pounding on the carpeted hallway outside my office. Colt sticks his head out and then jumps to the side as Dylan comes running into my office. “The hospital is on lockdown. May is being held hostage.”