Page 21

Chapter

Eleven

Chase was ticked. His stomach was in a tight knot and his jaw was clenched hard enough to crack.

He was ninety percent convinced one of Captain Macon’s guards had helped this man get into the house, avoid the cameras, and attack Lizzy.

Was there another option? Not that he could come up with in his haze of frustration and his desire to protect Lizzy at all costs.

Lizzy. Her in his arms was the only thing that felt right at the moment.

He cradled her closer, and she clung to him.

She was obviously terrified, and who could blame her?

A month ago she’d been almost killed, a knife piercing her chest while she defended a young boy from his monster of a father.

And now, when she should’ve been as safe as she’d ever been in her life, an attacker had gotten into her bedroom and tried to suffocate her.

“Are you injured?” he asked softly, pulling back just enough to look her over.

“No,” she whispered. She touched his abdomen where the knife had grazed him. The bleeding had already stopped, but her touch brought a fire with it that was out of place for their current circumstance. Her soft brown eyes glinted with tears. “You’re injured.”

“I’m fine.” Chase smiled and took her hand in his. “The knife barely grazed me, and now I have another scar to brag to you about.”

She blinked up at him. “I want to hear all about those scars. Thank you for coming for me tonight and protecting me.” She arched up and kissed him.

Chase returned the kiss. It wasn’t the sweet yet passionate kisses from earlier in the hot tub when she’d bravely shared her scar with him and he’d longed to tell her he was falling in love with her.

This kiss was desperate and needy and there was gratitude mixed in as well. Chase hoped he conveyed that he would protect her and be there for her. No matter what. Would she agree? Would she want him to leave her side? He couldn’t imagine doing so.

Footsteps sounded on the main level and the sirens grew louder.

Chase pulled back and ushered her behind him. He cursed himself for not being armed, then remembered he didn’t have many weapons with him. He’d been dead asleep when she’d cried out his name and he’d rushed into her bedroom without grabbing his knife or his phone.

“Captain Macon? Chase?” Tony’s voice called as he rushed up the stairs.

“Up here,” Macon said.

Tony hurried into the room, taking in the situation.

“I came back from rotations and found Joshua zip-tied at the cameras,” he said.

“He said someone got in the house and distracted him and someone else snuck up behind him and knocked him out. I tried to call, but you didn’t answer. I rushed over here.”

Chase and the captain exchanged a look. Was Joshua the mole and disguising it by claiming to get knocked out and being secured with zip ties by the attacker? Someone sneaking into the guards’ house would be a feat and felt unlikely. They’d have to have training on bypassing security systems.

“Elijah?” Macon asked.

“Asleep as far as I know.”

“Go let the police in,” Macon instructed. “Bring them up. Then take an officer with you to help Joshua and check on Elijah.”

“Yes, sir.” With one last look and nod to Chase and Lizzy, Tony spun and stalked out of the room.

Everything felt wrong. Chase was angry with all of these guards. It might be unreasonable, but it was what he felt. He’d trusted them. He’d especially felt a connection to Captain Macon and Tony.

Now he felt uncertain, and all he wanted to do was get Lizzy out of here. If only Robbie and his other buddies weren’t doing their own two-week European vacation stints. Could he contact his Ranger unit? It would be a miracle if they were on leave right now.

Could he take Lizzy to Jade Valley and protect her there?

Could he go to her home in Kansas and watch out for her there?

He’d prefer Jade Valley, as he trusted his friends on the police force and he knew Brexten Cabella, who’d recently married Clara Gem, would get him help from Aiden Porter’s men.

Yet some of these men worked for Aiden. Where should he turn?

The police stormed in, and the confusion grew worse.

They were speaking German and though some of them knew English, their accents were a barrier and no one had the complete story.

Everyone wanted to point fingers and the Austrians were trying to figure out why all these retired American military men were protecting an American woman on vacation.

When they got the identity of the attacker, a Tate Heiner, former Army Lieutenant, they were more confused about why another retired American military man was attacking an American woman on vacation.

Chase shared their frustration and confusion. They separated him and Lizzy for a time, and that upped his irritation.

Finally, the police took Tate Heiner into custody, promising to keep a watch on the property and continue searching the surrounding area for a second man. Heiner wouldn’t give them any information, so they were searching blind.

Captain Macon reprogrammed the code on the door to one only he and Chase knew.

He headed back to the other house to ‘talk’ with his men.

Thankfully Joshua seemed fine from being knocked unconscious.

The EMTs had checked him out and cleared him.

Macon promised he would personally watch the cameras the rest of the night while Elijah patrolled.

By morning they’d have answers and a solution to go forward.

Chase should’ve felt relief. He couldn’t confidently say that any of these men had betrayed them. Joshua appeared innocent and insisted Tate Heiner had distracted him while someone unseen had knocked him out. If that was true, there was another man at large. The police hadn’t found anyone else yet.

Elijah had been asleep, if he was to be believed. Tony had been out patrolling, so he could’ve attacked Joshua and helped Tate Heiner, but… Chase didn’t want to think that of Tony. He really liked the quiet giant. He just put off a calming aura.

Captain Macon had also been asleep and was insistent his men were loyal.

Who knew the answers?

Locking and arming the door, Chase took Lizzy’s hand, grabbed some drinks from the fridge, and led her up the stairs. Her hand trembled in his and she was far too quiet for his vivacious and appealing Lizzy.

His Lizzy?

He wanted her to be.

Chase paused in the upstairs hallway and then he walked up to the camera, ripped it off the wall, and dropped it face down on the ground. They could stare at the wood floor for all he cared.

Lizzy’s eyes widened, but she still remained silent.

He led her into his room, shut the door with a loud bang, and released her hand. “Give me one moment.”

He grabbed his knife, wishing for his Glock 19 at the very least. Putting the knife in his pocket, he took Lizzy’s hand again.

Easing out of his room, he held his finger to his lips.

She nodded. He quietly shut his door, then led her across the hallway and down to one of the unused suites.

If another attacker was coming tonight, he wouldn’t make it easy on them to guess which room they were in.

He shut the door softly and led her to the bed without turning the light on. “You lie down and rest,” he said. “I’ve got to make a phone call, but then I’ll be quiet. I’ll watch over you while you sleep.”

“Chase.” She held onto his hand. “There is no world where I can sleep tonight.”

“I understand.”

He led her over to the sofa, set the drinks he’d grabbed from downstairs on the side table, and guided her onto a cushion. “Let me make that call and then we’ll talk more.”

It was two in the morning here. He had no idea what time zone Brandon and Rock were in, but he would call until one of them woke up.

He’d start with Rock. He trusted him more.

Settling down on the couch, Chase scrolled and pressed Rock’s number.

Lizzy leaned into his other shoulder and curled her legs up underneath her.

The move reassured him that she trusted him and made him feel responsible for her safety deeper than ever.

Lizzy had been through far too much, an angelic woman who only wanted to safeguard and love children.

He would not allow anyone to hurt her.

The phone rang through to voicemail. Chase shut it off, paused, and then pushed on the number again.

This We’ll Defend . The Army motto ran through his head.

He’d defend and love Lizzy.

Love? Was he there? Did he dare go there? Was she even ready for something like that?

“Chase?” Rock’s voice was rough from sleep.

“An intruder, maybe two, knocked out Joshua. One of them got into our rental and attacked Lizzy,” he said in a clipped tone.

“What?” Rock was definitely alert now. “How long ago? Why didn’t Macon call me?”

“I don’t know, but I’m calling you. If your men are at fault in any way …” He didn’t know what to threaten. He loved Rock like a brother, but this was Lizzy and her safety. She mattered more to him than even his lifelong friends.

“They wouldn’t … no way,” Rock protested.

Lizzy blinked up at him. Chase tried to give her a reassuring smile.

“Are you secure?” Rock asked.

“I’m locked in my suite with Lizzy.” It felt awful to lie to one of his best friends. “I’ll attack first and ask questions later if anybody dares come through that door tonight.”

If only he had better weapons. He should’ve demanded a gun from Macon.

Lizzy gasped. Chase slipped his free arm around her shoulder and squeezed gently.

“Understood,” Rock said. “And I don’t blame you. I’ll get ahold of Macon and get the story.”

“He was going back to the rental to question his men. He promised to monitor the cameras himself tonight.”

“Okay.” Rock was obviously at a loss. “Chase, I’m sorry …”

“Sorry?” Something prickled at his spine. Rock was not one to offer an unsolicited apology.

“Something happened with …” He paused and took a breath. “I’ll have answers for you by morning. You keep Miss Birmingham safe.”

“I plan on it.”

“Appreciate ya.”

Rock hung up.

Chase was more confused than ever. What had happened, and why had Rock apologized? Brandon? Had their friend pulled one of his ‘tricks’? He couldn’t possibly have risked Eliza’s safety for a trick.

Lizzy blinked up at him. He wanted to call Robbie and see if anything off had happened with him and Alice. There had been something in the email Madelyne sent about not contacting the rest of their buddies. He hadn’t thought much about it, as he wasn’t one to call and chat.

But if Brandon had instigated this attack … all bets were off.

First, he needed to see how Lizzy was doing.

He brushed a kiss across her forehead. Her eyes darkened with a desire that Chase felt reflected inside him. He wanted to kiss her passionately and for a very long time, but he couldn’t let down his guard right now.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Better now that we’re alone.” She shuddered, and he tightened his grip on her. She placed a delicate hand on his chest and warmth spread through him. “Do you think Grady Worthen could’ve orchestrated all of this?”

“I don’t see how.” The reports he’d read showed Grady lived in a rented single wide and had nothing to his name. “From what I understand, he has no financial resources and is most likely in hiding.”

She nodded but still looked uncertain. Should he share his suspicions about his lifelong friend?

It would be just like Brandon to pull a stunt like this.

No, not as bad as this, but Brandon had pulled his share of stunts on all of them, and Chase had felt that gut instinct at their meeting in Texas last week.

“I wonder if Darren could be behind it.”

“Darren?” His thoughts were yanked from Brandon’s mischief to whoever ‘Darren’ was.

“My most recent ex.” She blinked up at him, so beautiful and trusting. “He hit and threatened me when I broke up with him, two days before Grady Worthen attacked me.”

Chase’s breath rushed out as if Robbie had slammed his fist into his solar plexus.

Some jerk had dared to hit and threaten Lizzy?

When he didn’t respond, she lowered her gaze. “I always choose the wrong men to date. My dad was abusive too.” She shook her head and pulled back, edging away from him on the couch. “The men I date always seem charming and treat me well … until they don’t.” She bit at her lip and looked dejected.

“Lizzy.” Chase turned toward her, wanting to hold her close and fight her every battle but not knowing what his role was.

“I …” He had to swallow through the thickness of his throat.

“If I can please have the full names of each of the men you’ve dated who didn’t treat you right, starting with this Darren loser, I will track them down and rip their arms out of their sockets. ”

Lizzy burst out a surprised gurgle of a laugh. Shaking her head, she looked at him with appreciation in her soft brown eyes. “You’d do that for me?”

“Oh, yes ma’am. Happily.” Chase eased closer and gently tilted her chin up with his fingertips. “You understand it is in no way your fault that you dated men who were out-of-control jerks.”

Lizzy shrugged, looking vulnerable and beautiful. “I chose to date them.”

“They put on a mask to trick you into dating them.”

She nodded. “They always were charming and kind and then … usually because I embarrassed them with my condition, the monster would climb out and belittle me and sometimes hurt me.”

“None of those men were in any way worthy of you, Lizzy. You are a shining light, an inspiration, an angel.”

She smiled at him, but the subject must’ve been tender as a tear crested her eyelid and rolled down her silken cheek.

Chase bent and kissed the salty wetness away.

Lizzy whimpered, flung her arms around his neck, and clung to him.

“I hope you know I would never hurt or belittle you,” he said softly. If she allowed him to, he’d love and protect her.

“I do know that, Chase. I trust you.”

Then she arched up and kissed him.

Chase wanted to stay diligent about her protection, and he would keep one ear open, but returning her kiss was of the utmost importance right now.