Battle Tested. Laura Scott
Читать онлайн книгу.
not to mention the box of squirming puppies. Aiden kept the box on his lap the entire time, unwilling to let the puppies out of his sight.
Interesting how the Doberman stayed close to Vanessa’s side, obviously trained to protect her. If that was the case, why hadn’t she brought the dog to the hospital with her? Granted, an intensive care unit probably wasn’t an appropriate place for a dog, but surely under the circumstances an exception could be made for Vanessa’s safety.
Aiden took the puppies inside and began feeding them, using the commercial formula provided by Kyle. He’d barely gotten settled when there was a sharp knock at the door. Vanessa answered it, looking surprised to see the head of the Security Forces standing there, his tall male Malinois named Quinn at his side.
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Captain Justin Blackwood asked as he shouldered his way inside. Quinn stayed close, well trained enough not to react to the other dogs.
“Oh, I left my bag in the car while we were at the vet’s office,” she said with a guilty wince. “Sorry about that.”
Justin scowled, glancing between Isaac and Vanessa. “Tell me what happened at the hospital.”
Vanessa glanced over her shoulder, then gestured for the men to come into the living room. “I don’t want my brother to hear this.”
“Fine, but I need details,” Justin insisted.
Isaac crossed his arms over his chest as Vanessa explained how she took a shortcut out of the hospital, going through the hallway containing offices to get to the other side of the building closest to the front entrance when the lights went out and strong hands grasped her around the neck.
Hearing her talk about the attack she’d suffered made Isaac angry all over again. Justin’s expression turned grim as he inspected the red marks around her throat, already beginning to bruise.
“Did he say anything?” Justin asked.
Vanessa nodded. “I asked why and he said, ‘Because you’re in my way.’”
“In the way?” Isaac repeated. “Doesn’t make sense. In the way of what?”
She shrugged her shoulder. “I don’t know. In the way of his mission to eliminate the people who wronged him?”
“Then what happened?” Justin asked, looking at Isaac.
He and Justin knew each other from when they’d attended the Air Force Academy, but at the moment, he understood his friend was in charge of the ongoing investigation.
“I heard what sounded like a scuffle in the darkness and called out to see what was going on,” Isaac said, relating his side of the story. “I found the light switch and turned it on in time to see Vanessa fall to the floor and a guy wearing black disappear down the stairwell. I made sure she was all right and left Tango with her, before going after him. Unfortunately, he was long gone.”
“No description?” Justin asked, his blue eyes intense.
“Medium height and build. He wore a ski mask that covered his head so I can’t tell you his hair color.” Isaac shrugged. “I wish I could be more help.”
Justin raked his hand across his short blond hair and let out a heavy sigh. “No proof that Sullivan is the assailant.”
Vanessa bristled. “Boyd sent me a red rose. Who else has a grudge against me?”
Justin lifted a brow. “You were the one who said that you helped Boyd by providing first aid to him. Why would he have a score to settle with you?”
Vanessa’s dark eyes flashed with anger. “I don’t know, but I didn’t attack myself, Captain.”
“Come on, Justin, you know she didn’t,” Isaac added. “I saw him. And if I hadn’t shown up, she’d be dead.”
Justin let out a heavy sigh. “You’re right. The marks on her neck are for real, so that means somewhere deep in Boyd’s twisted mind, he’s decided to come after her.”
“And nearly killed her,” Isaac added.
“I know, I know.” Justin sounded tense.
Isaac arched an eyebrow at his friend. “Can you offer her round-the-clock protection?”
“I can have someone stationed outside the house at night, but we’re short staffed so I don’t have someone available to follow her around all day.”
“I can protect her during the day.” The offer popped out of his mouth before he had a chance to consider the consequences.
“I’m not sure that’s necessary,” Vanessa protested.
“I’ll take whatever help you can give us,” Justin said, ignoring her protest. “I’ll keep someone stationed outside the house from nineteen hundred hours until zero seven hundred.” He turned toward Vanessa. “You’re probably safe enough here at home with Eagle during the day, but don’t go anywhere alone, and keep Eagle close, too. Dobermans are instinctively protective.”
“Nessa?” Aiden’s voice from the doorway drew their attention. The young man cradled a puppy in his arms and stared at his sister with fear in his eyes. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing to worry about, Aiden.” Vanessa crossed over to give her brother a hug. “Just extra protection for a while, no big deal.”
Aiden didn’t look as if he believed her, and Isaac didn’t blame the kid. Vanessa was a lousy liar.
It was clear that Vanessa’s life being in jeopardy impacted her brother in a big way. Isaac suspected if anything happened to her, Aiden wouldn’t be able to handle it.
And even though he’d only just met Vanessa tonight, Isaac wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle it, either.
“How are the puppies doing?” Vanessa crossed the living room to stand next to her brother. “We have to think of names for them.”
Thankfully, Aiden’s attention was diverted by the active pup in his arms as she’d hoped. “I was thinking about naming them after national parks. The two females could be Denali and Shenandoah, the males Smoky and Bryce.”
“Those are awesome names.” Vanessa stroked the puppy he held, wondering how they’d be able to tell them apart.
“You’re in danger from Boyd Sullivan, aren’t you?” Aiden asked abruptly.
She looked into her brother’s mature-for-his-years gaze and knew she couldn’t lie. “Yes. I’m afraid so. But Captain Blackwood is going to keep a cop stationed here at the house at night, so there’s really nothing to worry about.”
“You need to keep Eagle close from now on,” he said, his tone full of reproach. “Even at the hospital.”
“I will.” She forced a smile, knowing that Eagle wouldn’t be allowed in an intensive care unit. “Do you need help feeding the rest of the litter?”
Aiden shook his head. “No, thanks.” He looked at Isaac and Justin for a moment. “Make sure she’s safe,” he said, before disappearing into the kitchen.
“He’ll be okay,” Isaac said, reassuringly. “Just because he’s struggling with an illness doesn’t make him helpless.”
“I know, but at twenty he’s already been through so much...” Her voice trailed off as she glanced back at Aiden before joining the two men and the K-9 beside Justin. “Anything else you need from me?”
“Tell me more about this injured female dog that’s at the veterinary clinic,” Justin said with a frown. “It might be connected to our investigation.”
“Captain