Page 32 of Trust in Me
I took a breath to steel myself and went to examine my patients. I was a professional, dammit.
I opened the door to Colton’s room slowly. The toddler was asleep in his mother’s arms. The mother, in turn, was asleep in one of the not-so-comfortable hospital chairs. Her husband snored softly in an identical chair next to them, familiarity in an unfamiliar place.
I gently lifted the child, tucking him into bed. I examined him, trying not to wake him, and noted the IV in his hand. He would be going to the operating room today to place a larger IV in a big vein, one that could stay in place for his whole treatment course, and he’d get his first chemo through it tonight. I glanced at the boy’s parents. Two days ago, they’d thought their biggest struggle was toilet training.
How could things change so quickly in such a short amount of time?
At seven thirty that night, I’d signed out to the overnight resident. One of my patients had been transferred out of the ICU, and the other would leave tomorrow morning. Colton was still in the operating room, getting his line placed.
I headed down to the lobby to wait for Brax. I peered out through the glass doors. The sun was starting to sink lower in the sky over the Rockies. The silhouette of the downtown buildings stood out against the golden glow. It was one of my favorite things about living in Colorado. I stepped outdoors to get a better view while I waited for Brax.
The temperature would drop once the sun set, this time in early September, but it was still warm against my skin right now. It was silent other than the chirp of crickets, a rare moment without other people around the hospital entrance. I closed my eyes, breathing in the moment.
And then the moment ended.
I sensed the man behind me a split second before his hand was on my arm. His fingers were stubby, his hand hairy, with fingernails that bit into my flesh.
I barely had time to scream as he dragged me toward a van. Despite his size, the man was strong, and wrestled me into the back area of the cargo van. My head hit the metal siding. I faded into unconsciousness as he slammed the door.
24
Brax
Ifingeredthephonein my pocket. I wanted to text Avery again, see how she was doing, but I forced myself to leave it alone. I’d see her soon enough, and I didn’t want to get a text back while I was driving to pick her up. The temptation to answer it while driving would be too much. I pulled out of the station.
Twenty minutes later, I turned the cruiser into the hospital parking lot. Rather than bring the cruiser back to the station and risk Avery having to wait alone while I switched vehicles, I’d brought my service vehicle to pick her up. I’d drive her back to the station in this, and then we could take my truck back home.
Home. I hadn’t thought I’d feel like that with someone ever again. Not after Julie. But somehow Avery fit seamlessly into my life, my house. My heart, even. Fuck, I was falling in love with her.
I pulled toward the hospital entrance. Avery was sitting out front. The early evening sun glinted off her hair. My cock twitched. God, I couldn’t wait to get my girl home. Who would have thought that singles night would lead to this?
I smiled to myself. Drew thought of it, didn’t he? Damn matchmaker. He was already way too proud of himself for getting us together. If he found out I’d fallen in love with the girl he’d set me up with, I’d never hear the end of it.
I looked back at Avery. My heart swelled. I was a lucky bastard, wasn’t I?
Then, as I watched, my world came crashing down.
I was powerless to stop it. A short man jumped out of a cargo van. He snatched Avery’s arm and yanked her into the van.Fuck.I pressed on the accelerator, zooming closer. The man slammed the van door, then ran around to the driver’s side and sped toward the road.
I flipped on the lights and siren. My training took over. I grabbed the radio, trying to keep my voice calm and professional. “Unit 191, witnessed abduction, in pursuit. Request backup.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket as I pursued the van that held my world. I hit a number and listened to the ring tone as I followed the van down Colfax, weaving in and out of traffic.
“Yeah, man?” Drew’s voice came through the car speakers.
I thanked God for hands-free mode. “Someone grabbed Avery. Fuck, I don’t know what’s going on. Can you get here to help? We’re on Colfax heading west toward Stapleton.”
“Be there as soon as I can.” The connection went dead.
I followed the van as it sped erratically down Colfax through red lights, around cars. Another cruiser appeared a few blocks later, then another one. We raced through traffic. The sirens were background noise to the blood rushing through my ears.
I had to get to her.
A car swerved to get out of the way, nearly hitting an electrical pole. The van swerved around a corner, onto a side street. My heart stopped as the rear tires fishtailed, but the van kept going. The street curved around, then stopped abruptly in a dead end.
The van skidded to a stop with nowhere to go. I pulled my cruiser to a stop as the other two units did, too, creating a road block. I jumped out of the car and pulled my firearm out of its holster. The passenger side of the van faced us. From this angle, I could make out the driver’s side door opening.
“Freeze!” Two different officers yelled from my left.
