Chapter Eighty-Eight

Out of sight from the doorway of Rory’s private room in the ICU, Nina sat quietly. Her gun was tucked beneath her jacket.

Creed’s body hadn’t been found, and she wasn’t taking any chances.

Hands in tight fists on the arm rests of her chair, the tension that had held her in its grip since Rory was shot was still going through her like an electric wire.

So close.

He’d come so close to dying that, even now after the doctors had assured her he was going to live, she felt cold sweat break out all over her body. So damn close.

Never in her entire life had she felt such fear. Blood had been everywhere. Whatever she had tried, she’d been unable to stem it. The sheer helplessness she had felt still churned in her gut.

On the way to the hospital, she’d pretty much lost it, had acted completely illogical. It was only thanks to the admiral that she had not been hauled off to jail for threatening the hospital staff with bodily harm if they didn’t save Rory.

She wasn’t ashamed of her behavior. She loved Rory and was no longer afraid to admit it.

From the moment he had taken her away from Prima Vista, she had been falling slowly but steadily in love. Neither her fear, nor her fervent denial of her true feelings for him, had been able to stop the inevitable. In the end, she hadn’t stood a chance against his unrelenting kindness, his sense of honor…his all-consuming passion for doing the right thing.

Her eyes snapped from his still form to the door when it slowly swung open. She dropped her hand to her weapon and let it linger there when an older man dressed in tweed came in. He had unruly white hair pulled back into a ponytail. A frizzy goatee covered his pointy chin, and the faint smell of pipe tobacco surrounded him.

He did a quick sweep of Rory, then noticed her in the corner. Clearly curious, he took his time studying her. She lifted a cautious brow.

“You’re Nina, I’m guessing?” Giving her a slightly crooked smile, he settled on the chair at Rory’s bedside. “I can see why he likes you. I’m Leo, by the way.”

The name didn’t mean anything to her, so she remained silent, watching him warily. She didn’t think he was a threat, but she didn’t let her guard down.

“Rory is a former student of mine, but we’re friends, too. You’ve certainly been keeping him on his toes.” Leo cackled in delight, crossed his thin legs casually, and folded his hands with the air typical to therapists and shrinks.

Realization dawned in her mind. “You’re the shrink. The one Rory’s been going to for advice.”

With a burst of laughter, he nodded enthusiastically. “That would be me. So, I already spoke to the doctors about Rory’s condition, but how are you, my dear? You look a little rough around the edges, if you don’t mind me saying.”

She doubted he would care one way or other if she minded or not. Curiosity was clearly what drove him. Slowly, she allowed herself to relax.

“Fine. We’re fine.”

His brushy brow quirked at the “we,” but he didn’t pursue it. “Good. Rory will be pleased about that when he wakes up.”

“I’m not so sure. We weren’t exactly on speaking terms before this happened.”

“I see. Do you want to talk about it?”

For a moment, she hesitated, but decided if Rory trusted him, she could, too. “We lied to him. And that almost got him killed. He might never forgive us. Me.”

“You know him better than that.”

Did she? She wasn’t so certain.

Leo smiled. “The boy never did manage to carry a grudge properly. Much too reasonable by nature. Do you love him?”

The question startled her. She grappled for a smart-aleck response, but in the end she just gave a short nod.

“I thought as much. You have that look about you,” he said, obviously pleased at the insight. “It’ll be okay, my dear. You’ll see.”

“You don’t understand. We lied,” she repeated. There was something about the old man that disarmed her, made her want to explain herself. It probably served him well as a shrink.

“A few lies among friends,” he said with a wave of his hand. “They’re only an obstruction if you let them be. Did you set out to hurt our boy?”

“No!”

“Did you do it for the fun of it, just because you could?”

“Of course not.” She glared at him. Then she realized he was just goading her. Sneaky son of a gun.

“I thought not.” He stroked his goatee distractedly. “Sounds like there’s nothing that can’t be settled with a good old-fashioned sit-down where you talk it all out.”

Somehow, she doubted it would be that easy, but she didn’t bother to argue. Only time would tell.

Time she didn’t have.

The door opened again, revealing Admiral Creighton. In the hallway behind him, Jericho and Westlake stood like silent sentinels, as they had for the past few days.

She got up immediately.

“It’s time, Nina,” said Creighton.

Regret burst to life, filling her with sadness. Too soon. She had hoped for a little more time. A lifetime, maybe. “His grandparents are here?” she forced herself to ask.

“Yes. They’re with the doctor.”

She gave a tight nod, hesitated, then walked to the bed and looked down at Rory. His body was hooked up to machines, his skin pale, but his expression was peaceful.

Ignoring the people around them, she quickly leaned over him and kissed his cold lips lightly before whispering a soft goodbye in his ear.

Regardless of understanding why, she hated leaving him like this. She wanted, more than anything, to hear his voice one last time before Westlake and Jericho took her away.

But she had made promises. Promises she couldn’t break.

The admiral had pulled rank just for her to stay at Rory’s side for the past few days. She owed him for that, more than she could ever repay.

She brushed Rory’s hair back from his brow. “You will keep him safe?” She didn’t look up.

“I’ll have two men at this door at all times, another at the main entrance, and hospital security has been alerted,” said the admiral. “He’ll be safe. I promise.”

She nodded. This was harder than she had ever imagined, but she had no choice.

“Would you like me to relay a message, my dear?” Leo asked.

Slowly, making herself look away from Rory’s motionless body, she met his gaze. “No.” Shoulders set, she backed away from the bed and turned to face the admiral. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”