Page 9

SEVEN

Mercy Hospital was located halfway between Houston and Silver Creek. The bustling complex consisted of an emergency room, outpatient care, and doctors’ offices. Daniel had done a quick sweep of the area after they checked in, but the tension in his shoulders hadn’t eased.

He kept a steady eye on Ellie and Owen in the small play area across the waiting room.

They were stacking wooden blocks. Owen was intensely focused on balancing one more piece on the growing tower.

His brow furrowed with toddler determination, one hand holding fast to his tattered stuffed dog.

Then, with a decisive swipe, he knocked the tower over and giggled.

Ellie laughed too, her head tilted back slightly, the soft sound chasing away some of the weight in Daniel’s chest. It was a sweet moment. Pure and unguarded. If he hadn’t been so on edge, Daniel might’ve smiled. Instead, he kept his voice pitched low as he pressed his cell phone to his ear.

“I don’t know her real identity. Not yet. I’m working on that.”

Texas Ranger Cole Donnelly exhaled a long breath on the other end. “So you’re asking me to come to your ranch to help guard a woman whose real name you don’t know? And a baby who's technically in state custody.” A pause. “You do realize your first call should’ve been to Child Protective Services?”

Daniel’s jaw tightened. “I’m aware, Cole. I didn’t call for a lecture.”

“No, you called for help. And if I’m putting myself on the line, I’d like to know what I’m stepping into.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Daniel drew in a breath and let it out slowly.

Despite Daniel being the oldest member of Company A and Cole the youngest, they'd formed a friendship built on mutual respect. “Normally, I would’ve called CPS, but nothing about this case fits, and until I know more, I want to keep Owen close. Whoever’s after Ellie tried to use that baby as leverage. They’re looking for something.”

“But you don’t know what?”

“No.”

He looked back toward the play area. Ellie was helping Owen to build a new tower of blocks.

Her sunshine locks were tucked into a braid that spilled over one shoulder.

No makeup. Somehow, she made the practical jeans and T-shirt look both effortless and elegant.

Owen knocked over the block tower, and Ellie laughed before tickling him.

The smile on her face nearly stole Daniel’s breath.

He stamped down the attraction immediately. No way. No how.

The woman was easily fifteen years younger, living a lie, and completely wrong for him. He had a job to do, and getting distracted by wayward feelings wouldn't help anyone.

As if she felt his gaze, Ellie looked up. Her striking gray eyes clouded instantly with worry. Daniel offered a reassuring smile and turned his attention back to the call.

“She’s scared, Cole. Terrified, actually.

If I had to hazard a guess, I think she’s former law enforcement.

Maybe FBI. Whoever is after her and Owen sent his cronies to do the job.

If it's a gang or criminal organization, more will come. I can’t protect her by myself, and I’m not ready to go through official channels.

Not until I know more about what I’m dealing with. ”

Cole was still on medical leave after being shot in the shoulder during another case. He was nearly healed and would be back to full duty in the next couple of weeks. Until then, he was sidelined. Which was why Daniel called him.

“I’ll understand if you say no, but if you’re willing, I could use the backup.”

Cole was silent for a long moment. “Do you trust her?”

Daniel didn’t answer right away. He knew exactly what Cole meant. She was lying to them—or at least, she wasn’t saying everything she knew—but was her heart in the right place? Was she someone he could put his faith in?

Just then, another toddler wandered into the play area.

Ellie welcomed the child with a warm smile and offered her a block.

Within moments, the little girl had climbed into Ellie’s lap beside Owen.

Ellie wrapped her arms around both kids and kept chatting, gently placing another block atop the newly built tower.

Unexpected emotion tightened Daniel's throat. He’d seen the worst humanity had to offer. His instincts were sharp, his trust hard-earned, but Ellie made something inside him soften. Something he didn’t know still existed.

“Yes,” he said quietly. “I trust her.”

“Then I’ll be at your ranch by dinnertime. Word of warning though. If I get injured while helping you out, you’re the one who has to explain it to Olivia. According to her, bandages don’t go with my tux.”

Daniel laughed. Olivia Leighton was Cole’s fiancée. Their wedding was in a few weeks, right before he returned to full duty. “I’ll bubble wrap you before the bad guys arrive. And Cole… thanks.”

“You’re welcome. See you soon.”

He hung up and rose from the chair, intending to join Ellie and the children in their block-building activity, when a nurse called out Owen’s name. She led them to a small exam room. For the next half hour, Owen was poked and prodded before being deemed healthy by his pediatric cardiologist.

Seeing Owen's scar for the first time was still a shock. Daniel knew he’d had surgery, but the thick strip of healed tissue running down the little boy’s chest was evidence of just how invasive the procedure had been.

Ellie handled the entire visit with ease.

She spoke medical jargon as if she had a degree herself.

Once again, Daniel was struck by just how tough Ellie was.

She didn’t flinch when things got hard. She dealt with it.

Adapted. Learned and kept moving forward.

It was impressive, and it made him wonder what steps Ellie had taken to handle the current danger.

Who had she called? Her superiors? A trusted friend?

He knew she was waiting for a phone call from someone.

Daniel had spotted the burner phone tucked behind an extra packet of wipes in the diaper bag. It hadn’t been there yesterday.

Ellie snapped the last button on Owen’s shirt and then lifted him from the exam table. “Okay. Good to go.” She glanced at her watch. “We have 40 minutes to get home before lunch and naptime, or there'll be a meltdown. Think you can get us home in time?”

Daniel smiled. “I’ll do my best.” He tossed the diaper bag over his shoulder and escorted Ellie back to the waiting room.

She needed to sign some papers at the front desk, so he took Owen.

The little boy patted Daniel’s cheek with a slightly wet hand and cuddled Scout.

Daniel play-acted like he was going to nibble on the tiny fingers creeping toward his mouth, even as his gaze roamed the waiting room.

Everything appeared normal. Still, he wouldn’t let his guard down until they were all safely back on the ranch.

Owen giggled. The laugh was infectious, and despite his efforts to stay alert, Daniel found himself chuckling too. And when Owen laid his head down on Daniel’s chest, a pang of longing and grief struck him so sudden and fierce, it nearly buckled his knees.

He hadn’t let himself think about the baby he lost. Not in years.

His ex-wife had miscarried at five months.

The loss hadn't destroyed their marriage—it was already crumbling—but it delivered the final blow. Divorce followed. The combined tragedy had scarred Daniel’s heart in a way that couldn’t be repaired.

He hadn’t dated since. Not in a decade. Why bother?

He had no intention of ever remarrying. Once had been enough.

“Earth to Daniel.” Ellie waved a hand in front of his face.

He blinked, jolted straight out of his thoughts. Belatedly, he realized she’d been calling his name.

“Are you okay?” Her brows furrowed. “You look upset.”

“I’m fine.” His tone was gruff, but he was irritated to have lost focus. And he absolutely did not want to talk about his failed marriage or the reason his throat had thickened with tears. “Ready to go?”

“Yep.” She held out her hands. “I’ll take Owen.”

“I’ve got him.” Daniel might not want to talk about the baby he’d lost, but he wasn’t ready to relinquish the one in his arms just yet. Owen’s head was still nestled against his chest, his fingers absently playing with the buttons on Daniel’s shirt. He wanted to savor the feeling a bit longer.

“Uh-oh,” Ellie teased as they exited the doctor’s office into the hallway. “You’ve fallen victim.”

“Excuse me?”

“That little guy has just about everyone in Silver Creek wrapped around his finger. You should see how the ladies of the sewing circle fight over him. I have to practically wrestle him away from them in order to take him home.” Her lips curled into a soft smile.

“Seems like Owen worked his magic on you too. Like I said, another victim.”

Daniel slanted a glance her way. “What happens when he screams like he did during the exam? I’m sure the ladies of the sewing circle are happy to give him back when he gets grumpy.”

She laughed. “You’d think so, but nope. They just rush to do his bidding. He's going to be spoiled rotten if I don't find a way to…” Her voice trailed off as a pained look crossed her face. “Never mind.”

“No, finish the thought.”

Ellie stayed quiet. And suddenly, Daniel understood exactly what she was waiting for. He halted midstep, drawing her to a stop beside him. “You called for an extraction, didn’t you? For you and Owen.”

“How did?—”

“I saw the cell phone.” His mind whirled. The cell phone was still in the bag. The same bag slung over his shoulder. “Who did you call, Ellie?” His gaze fixed on her intently, his tone demanding. “Who?”

The elevator dinged and then swooshed open. The movement caught Daniel’s attention. Two men exited wearing scrubs. His pulse spiked as he noticed their medical masks and dirty boots. Not doctors. Not nurses.

“We have to move.” Daniel wrapped an arm around Ellie’s shoulders and turned her away from the men. His voice was pitched low to keep it from carrying as they traversed the long hallway. “The stairwell. Hurry.”

With luck, they’d escape before the men spotted them.

To her credit, Ellie didn’t ask questions.

Her complexion pale, her steps quick, she kept pace alongside him.

A family spilled out of a nearby doctor’s office, their loud voices reverberating down the hall.

Daniel kept going. The weight of Owen in his arms added pressure to the moment.

It also complicated things. He couldn’t pull his weapon.

Five more steps and they’d be at the stairwell. Ellie lengthened her stride and reached the door first. She yanked it open. Daniel risked one glance back.

And made direct eye contact with one of the masked men as he pulled a small handgun from the pocket of his scrubs.

“Run!” Daniel ducked into the stairwell and raced down the first flight of stairs behind Ellie. Her braid flew behind her as she bounded down the stairs.

Feet pounded above them. The attackers were coming.

Adrenaline surged through Daniel as he kept pace with Ellie.

The diaper bag bounced against his back and Owen, jostled by their sudden dash down several flights of stairs, wailed.

His screams covered the sound of the approaching men, but Daniel knew there wasn’t a moment to waste.

Chest heaving, he burst onto the ground floor of the hospital. The stairwell opened into the ER lobby.

“Which way?” Ellie gasped.

It was a good question. They needed to escape, but there was no way of knowing if another set of attackers waited at the car. He considered their options in half a heartbeat. “Into the emergency room.”

Ellie didn’t hesitate. She pivoted on her heel and raced ahead. Owen’s screams attracted attention, and Daniel wanted to comfort him, but there was no time. The stairwell door crashed open behind him. Gasps followed as the men spilled into the waiting room. Daniel didn’t waste time looking back.

Please, Lord, let this plan work.

Clutching Owen to his chest, Daniel pushed through the swinging doors into the emergency wing.

A security guard had already stopped Ellie, and another moved to intercept him.

Daniel shifted Owen to reveal the ranger badge pinned to his chest. “I’m law enforcement.

She’s with me. Two men dressed in scrubs and masks are chasing us. They have guns.”

Before either security guard could ask more questions, Daniel grabbed Ellie’s hand and pulled her farther into the emergency room.

They weaved around doctors and patients crowding the hallways.

He turned a corner and found a break room.

Ducking inside, he acted quickly, handing Owen over to Ellie and then removing the burner phone from the diaper bag, along with her personal one. “Give me your smart watch.”

All the devices could be used to track them. Daniel suspected that whoever Ellie had called for rescue was not a friend to her.

Panting from exertion, she paused in comforting Owen to rip the watch from her wrist. He smashed all the devices before dumping them in the trash can.

Then he peered cautiously out into the hallway.

Voices carried. Angry ones. As Daniel had hoped, the security guards intercepted the men chasing them.

But this wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.