Page 33 of Rogue Survivor
“We’re back,”I announce after Connor punches in the code to Veronica’s hospital room. “And we brought you something.”
“Coffee!” Veronica squeals.
AJ yawns from where he’s sitting at the foot of Veronica’s bed. “Don’t suppose there’s one of those for me?”
“I’m not that much of an ass—jerk,” Connor says and hands the Texas Ranger a tall cup of black coffee. “Cream and sugar packets are in the bag. Along with a couple of scones and some chocolate monstrosity that, apparently, Veronica would kill for, so I wouldn’t touch it if I were you.”
“You got me a choco-croissant? I love you, Mom.”
It’s so good to see her happy, even though the weight of our current situation—and Mitzi’s—is evident in her gaze. Scattering flakes of pastry all over her hospital gown, she devours the entire thing—along with a sixteen-ounce macchiato complete with whipped cream. So much for the nurse’s orders to keep things “light.” I don’t care. The color is back in her cheeks, and while she winces in pain more than once as I help her get dressed, when she’s ready to go, she hugs me tight.
“Is Mitzi’s mom okay?” she asks quietly. We’re alone in the room, Connor and AJ waiting outside with the day shift Rangers, and I expect her discharge paperwork any minute now. “AJ said they found Mitzi’s car and a few drops of blood in the old mall, but no sign of her.”
Connor gave me the same update when I was almost done packing. “Leah…she came to the house.” I touch my cheek gingerly. The skin is hot, but I covered the burgeoning redness with some foundation before we left the house. “She’s scared, but she has two of AJ’s guys with her, so she’ll be safe. ”
“Can I call her? Please?”
“No, baby girl. I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Smoothing Veronica’s hair, I press a kiss to her temple. “Leah’s hurting right now. Let’s give her a little space, okay?”
Tears shimmer in my daughter’s eyes. “She blames me, doesn’t she? ”
“No.” After a beat, I let out a heavy sigh. “I honestly don’t know, V. But if she does, she’s wrong. You and Mitzi didn’t cause any of this. The bad guys did.”
“I wish I’d never signed up for the student newspaper,” Veronica says, her tears finally spilling over. “If I’d picked chess club, we’d be at home right now.”
“You hate chess, remember?” I lean in and rest my forehead against hers. “When I was your age, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. But you’ve known since you were twelve. You’re an amazing journalist already, and you’re going to get even better at U of A. This is who you are, and I’m so proud of you.”
“Arm around my neck,”Connor says. “Leave the crutch for your mom.”
Veronica stares up at the five-story apartment building. “Isn’t there an elevator?”
“No. Apparently no one in the Rangers ever blew out their knee. Or broke an ankle.” Connor carries Veronica up two flights of stairs, his gait increasingly uneven. Shit. I keep forgetting he’s injured too.
With a broken wrist, Veronica can only use a single crutch, but the brace that spans almost two thirds of her leg is so strong, she was able to do a couple of laps around the hospital room before she was discharged.
Sergeant Billings carries our suitcase with Sergeant McGrath keeping an eye on our surroundings. Every time I look back at him, he’s staring out at the street, the parking lot, or up and down the stairwell.
When we reach Unit 322, Connor sets Veronica on her feet and unlocks the door. “Go on in and pick your bedroom,” he says when she has her crutch firmly under her right arm.
“She doesn’t have to wait for you to…clear the apartment?” I ask, stopping my daughter from taking a single step until I get an answer.
Connor pulls out his phone, taps the screen a couple of times, and shows me an outline of what I assume is Unit 322. Every wall, window, and door—other than the front door—is green. “Motion and heat sensors in every room. Any movement or elevation in the ambient temperature will register on the app.”
“Wow.” As soon as Veronica crosses the threshold, the living room turns orange. This…could work. We might actually be safe here until AJ, Connor, and their respective teams find the men who hurt my daughter.
Chapter Thirteen
Connor
Wrappingthe leftover pizza in foil, I steal glances down the hall. Isabel and Veronica disappeared into the larger of the two bedrooms a few minutes ago. The kid almost nodded off into her last slice, and Isabel wasn’t doing much better.
Billings and McGrath play cards in an alcove off the living room, and their replacements, Hardison and Elmore, should be here in a few minutes.
In the smaller bedroom, I set my gun and holster in the nightstand drawer and my boots next to the bed. For the tenth time, I wonder if I should move to the couch, but Isabel said she was going to sleep in Veronica’s room tonight, and my whole body aches from so long in the hospital’s shitty recliner. Tomorrow, I should leave. Go home. Let AJ’s unit handle the case from here on out. But tonight? Tonight I’ll stay close to the woman I’m falling for. Even if only to sleep.
Billings raps on the door jamb as I’m retrieving my tooth brush from my duffel. “We’re headed out. Hardison and Elmore are set up out front. They’ve pulled overnights before, so y’all shouldn’t hear a peep out of them. Elmore’s teachin’ Hardison ASL.”
With a chuckle, I dig around for the toothpaste. “Handy skill to have. I learned a little at the Bureau.”
