Stryker

She was naked, wet, and in my arms. What the hell should I have expected? Evie pressed into me and caught her breath when she felt my arousal. “I’m sorry.” I dropped my head to her shoulder. “I want you. I’ve missed you. But now isn’t the time for this.”

“I know.” She turned and caressed my face. “I can touch you now.”

“You can touch me whenever you want to because I’m not letting you go. Ever.”

She smiled, reached up and planted a quick, albeit wet, kiss to my lips before she raced into her room.

I tried hard not to grin, but it was difficult. I had my freedom, and what I’d wanted the most, Evie. Our happiness would have to wait though, now that we raced for the hospital.

Evie looked pale as she shoved her feet into boots. She worried, which went without saying. I wished that there was something I could do to take all her pain away.

Dressed now and ready to go in fitted jeans, T-shirt and a sweater in her hand, she turned to me. “I’m ready.”

I moved toward her. “Just remember I’m with you. You don’t have to do anything alone, okay?”

“You’re mine, Jake.” She smiled. “I’m glad your name comes so easily to my tongue. I’ve always tried to think of you as Stryker so that I wouldn’t slip up. But you’re both, and you both belong to me.”

“Always.” I rested my forehead against hers. “Let’s go because I don’t want to be stuck here. I can’t drive.”

Her eyes widened. “I didn’t even think about that.” Our fingers intertwined. “We’ll have to sort that out, and soon.”

Evie

WHEN WE WALKED INTO the hospital, still hand-in-hand, my mother had pulled herself together and had taken charge of making sure my father was being taken care of properly. Part of that was after Carter had informed us that my father had made it to the hospital. He’d lost a lot of blood but he’d made it so far, and now he was in theatre.

My mother showed everyone what she was really made of before she crumpled and gave in to her tears. I think at first, when she was directing everyone around that Jake had been shocked. I’d smiled because he didn’t know the half of it.

It felt good to finally call Stryker by his real name of Jake. Stryker would never be forgotten but I hoped it was the past. I always wanted him to be known as Jake from now on. With my help he was going to get his life back, and his family.

But as I clutched his hand to me, I couldn’t remember being more scared while we waited for information on my father. Jake kept his arm around me and wouldn’t let me go anywhere without him. We’d had a discussion about the restroom, but everywhere else, I was glad that he was with me.

I loved him and for once I knew how it felt to have someone to lean on. Before I’d always been on the outside, even when I was a child growing up. I think I grew up too soon, and I do blame my father’s political career on that.

He was my father though and even though I was an awkward teenager, I loved him and my mother dearly.

Just like I knew deep down that Jake loved his father, Peter, who sat on his other side. With my help, they were going to get their family back, and that included me, who would be joining them as soon as possible. I wasn’t about to lose Jake for a second time.

Curled up in Jake, I noticed Millie watching me. Carter who hadn’t left her side held her tightly. I was glad that my best friend had found a good man as well. She’d been looking for a while for ‘the one’ even when she disagreed. The fact that he was with the FBI would make for entertaining dinner conversation with her family. I told her that was one dinner I planned on being present for.

“Evie,” Jake squeezed my waist.

I looked at him and then in the direction that he nodded.

A surgeon was walking down the hallway toward our family waiting room.

Jake helped me sit up and then tugged me to my feet as my mother gripped my hand. Blood rushed through my ears in panic at not being able to decide whether the surgeon held good or bad news.

“Mrs. Southwell.”

“Yes.” My mother’s voice broke as she answered.

“Please tell us how my father is,” I begged, unable to wait for the doctor to continue.

“He’s a very lucky man is how he is. I managed to retrieve the bullet and it missed most of the major organs.” He took my mother’s hand between the two of his. “He should make a full recovery.”

“But?” I knew that there was more by the way the man hesitated.

“I had to remove one of his kidneys.”