Risky Extraction

Chapter 8

What possessed her to blurt out an invitation for Crash to stay with her? At her house, where they would be in close quarters. She knew what it was—the pain in his voice and her feelings for him. When she heard him mutter his concerns about the house, her words came out like verbal vomit. She couldn’t stop it.

“Ally,” Crash called as she tried to make her escape.

“Damn it,” she muttered under her breath.

It wouldn’t be easy to contain her attraction or feelings if he said yes to her offer. As much as she wanted it, they didn’t have a future. He needed someone who could give him the family he said he wanted. She needed to keep reminding herself.

“Ally?” Crash grasped her hand as he caught up with her.

She turned and forced a smile, but as her gaze lifted to meet his, her breath caught. He stared into her eyes for a moment without releasing her hand. She pulled from his hold and shoved her hands into her lab coat.

“Yeah.” She tried to sound casual.

“Did I hear you correctly?” Crash asked.

“If you heard me offer my house for you and the kids, then yes. I have plenty of room, and you need a place close by to finish the renovations without traveling back and forth to the city. I can help with the little ones until your place is ready to move in.”

Allyson impressed herself with her confidence but was glad he couldn’t hear her heart pound. She’d spent plenty of time with Crash over the years, and only once did she almost allow herself to give in to what she so desperately wanted. How long would it take to complete a couple of rooms? A week? Two weeks? She could manage to have him in her house for that long without stepping over that line.

“Ally, thank you, but I can’t accept.” He shook his head.

She should probably shut up and be relieved she dodged a bullet, but she couldn’t help herself. Her mouth seemed to have a mind of its own.

“Why not?”

“I can’t take over your house with two small kids. Do you know how much of an inconvenience that would be?” Crash pulled her aside as a man walked by.

“Brent, those babies need a comfortable place to stay, and you need to be able to finish your house. This is my last two-week shift, and I can watch them while you and your dad finish everything.”

Allyson didn’t know if she was trying to convince him or herself. The mess of mixed feelings swirling around in her head gave her a headache, but when she looked into his eyes again, she made her own decision. She felt an overwhelming need to be there to help Crash.

He wasn’t alone; he had his parents, sister, brother, and sister-in-law. The way they rushed to the hospital as soon as they heard about Ellie and Wyatt showed that they cared, but if she was honest, she wanted to be the one to help.

“I can stay with my parents,” Crash reminded her.

“They live in St. John’s, and traveling back and forth will get tiring. Plus, when you take a break from renovating, you can come to check on the kids anytime you want.” Allyson smiled as he glanced back into the room.

“Those sweet angels have a rough road ahead of them. Both their parents are gone now, and they have no other family.” Crash turned away with tears in his eyes.

Allyson placed her hand against his cheek and pulled his attention to her. She hated the pain in his eyes. Those kids were orphans now, but Crash lost two friends. How could she do anything but help him care for the babies?

“They have you. They have your parents, Megan, Ryan, Nancy, and Lacey. Now, they have me, and I can almost guarantee that when everyone in Hopedale finds out what happened, you’ll have all the help you need. Now, go find them and bring them home.” Allyson wiped a tear from his cheek.

When he covered her hand with his, she tensed. To anyone watching them, they probably looked like two people in love. It was perhaps why she felt the urgent need to be there for him.

“Ally, are you sure?” Crash locked his gaze with hers.

“One thousand percent,” she lied.

“Thank you,” he choked and turned his head to kiss her palm.

“You don’t have to thank me, but we should probably leave and get things set up for them. It’s getting late.” Allyson pulled her hand away.

Crash glanced at his watch and cursed. It was after nine in the evening, and the kids were probably asleep. She could head home and move some things around to make room for them.

“Look, let me know when you find them. Tomorrow, come to my house, and we’ll go from there. Okay?” Allyson shoved her hands in her pockets to keep from touching him again.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Crash whispered as he tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“You don’t have to. It’s what friends do for each other,” she said, trying not to lean into his touch.

“Yeah. Friends.” Crash sighed and walked away.

She was so glad her shift was over. As she made her way through the hospital parking lot, a wave of exhaustion hit, making her feet feel weighed down with rocks. It was close to midnight, and she’d been at the hospital since six that morning. She couldn’t wait to get home.

Someone grabbed her shoulder as she pulled open her car door. Allyson gasped and turned around, ready to defend herself against an attack.

“Hey, sorry.” a familiar man held up his hands.

“Jesus, Julian. You don’t approach people in a dark parking lot without warning them you’re there.” Allyson tossed her purse on the seat.

Julian Burgess was in pharmaceutical sales, and they’d spoken earlier because he had misplaced his briefcase. He was checking with the doctors he’d met over the last couple of days to see if they’d seen it. Allyson promised to call if she found it, but she hadn’t looked.

“Sorry, I wanted to let you know I found it. I left it in the men’s room, and someone brought it to the main reception.” Julian shook his head. “I should be more careful.”

“Probably,” Allyson chuckled.

Julian always seemed to make her nervous, but not because he’d said or done anything. It was something she couldn’t put her finger on. He talked fast and couldn’t sit still for long. It was as if he was always looking over his shoulder. She wasn’t sure if it was some hyperactive disorder or if he was overly energetic.

“Well, I should head home. I’m glad you found it,” Allyson said as she sat in her car.

“Me too. I was going to see if you wanted to go for a drink, but you look tired.” Julian leaned on her open car door.

“I am, but thanks for the offer.” Allyson smiled.

“Maybe another time.” Julian stepped back as she closed her door.

“Goodnight,” Allyson said without committing to the drink offer.

She’d had one date with the man about six months earlier, but it was awkward. His questions weren’t the type someone asks on a date. Julian seemed more interested in who she spent time with and if she had any friends in the military.

By the time she arrived home, she had taken a shower and crawled into bed; it was after two in the morning. The problem was that she was exhausted, but her mind wouldn’t shut off. It was always hard when she lost a patient, but the fact that Ellie and Wyatt were Crash’s friends made it hit home a little harder.

Then, there was blurting out an offer for Crash and the kids to stay with her until he finished his renovations. She honestly didn’t mind helping out, but she wasn’t sure her mental health could handle living with Crash. It certainly wouldn’t be easy to keep him at arm”s length if they were under the same roof.

“Well, you can’t take it back now,” she muttered as she flipped over on her stomach.

Allyson had to keep reminding herself she wasn’t the right woman for Crash. He needed someone who could give him children, not an older woman who had her childbearing years behind her. At least she had one amazing kid who got her through each day.

She closed her eyes and prayed Crash had found the sweet babies and sleep. What she wouldn’t give to have Crash hold her at night so she could drift off in his arms. She’d have no issues with snuggling into the warmth of his embrace. Then again, being that close to him would probably have her libido in overdrive.

A loud crash downstairs had her bolting upright. She reached for her phone on the nightstand only to come up empty. She didn’t want to turn on her bedroom light in case whoever was in her house would realize she was home. Then again, they had to be pretty stupid not to see her car in the driveway.

“Where the fuck is my phone?” Allyson whispered as she gently slapped her hand around her nightstand.

She smoothed her hands around her bed, thinking she may have left it next to her as she often did, but there was nothing. She threw back the blankets and tiptoed to the corner of the room where she kept Trent’s old baseball bat. He bought it to show Cameron how to hit a ball when their son was in little league.

After he died, Cameron kept it in his room, but when he moved to town, he gave it to her to keep in her bedroom for safety. Allyson had laughed because she never expected to need it.

“Thanks, Cam.” she sighed and gripped the bat handle, holding it as if ready to play ball.

Allyson slowly opened her bedroom door and tiptoed to the top of the stairs. The only light downstairs was the light over the stove, and she could see a shadow move around the kitchen. She needed to call the police, but she couldn’t find her damn phone.

One step at a time, she crept down the stairs, bat ready to swing if anyone came close. She was on the bottom when she heard a male curse. Her heart pounded when she spotted her phone charging next to the stove.

She plastered herself against the wall outside the kitchen entrance and reached around the doorjamb to switch on the light. Surprising the intruder with a room full of light, she jumped into the doorway with the bat held over her head.

“What are you…” Allyson gasped. “Elijah?”

“Holy fucking Jesus. You scared the living shit out of me, Ally.” her cousin blew out a breath of air.

“Why are you creeping around my house at one in the morning?” Allyson snapped.

“I texted you to tell you I was coming back to Newfoundland tonight. I sent you all the information,” Elijah explained. “If you don’t mind, can you put down the bat? You look nuts.”

Allyson looked at her shoulder, realizing she still had the bat ready to attack. She placed it next to the door as she walked into the kitchen. It was when she noticed the broom in Elijah’s hand and a dustpan full of glass.

“I dropped a glass,” he said.

“No shit.” Allyson grabbed her phone.

She tapped the screen and saw several texts from her cousin, one from her sister, one from Cameron, and several from Witt. She looked at all the crucial ones before checking to see what her annoying co-worker wanted.

She rolled her eyes when she scrolled through numerous memes that he seemed to think were funny, but she thought they were stupid. They all involved plastic surgery.

“I’m sorry. I haven’t checked my phone since supper time, and then it died. When I got home, I plugged it in and went to bed.” Allyson placed it back on the counter.

“I’m glad I didn’t get a bat to the head.” He chuckled and tossed the broken glass into the garbage.

“You would’ve deserved it. Most people call a few days in advance, not a few hours,” Allyson chastised as she hugged her cousin.

Elijah Grant was the only child of her mother’s brother. Her uncle Oliver was a retired teacher. Allyson didn’t see him very often, but they talked at least once a week.

“I didn’t know I’d be coming here a few days ago. I only found out eighteen hours ago.” Elijah kissed her forehead.

Elijah used to work with a company that helped veterans who struggled with civilian life. He was sent all over the country, but three years ago, he joined NES. Keith usually sent him out of the province because he enjoyed traveling, and none of the other staff wanted to do those jobs.

“Keith doesn’t give you much notice, does he?” Allyson laughed.

“The joys of private security,” Elijah sighed.

“Anyway, how long are you here for?” Allyson asked as she grabbed a glass of water.

“Not sure. Keith was kind of secretive about the whole thing. Said it would be a long contract, and I’d be based mostly here.” Elijah sat at the table.

Allyson overlooked the pizza on the table until her cousin took a bite out of a piece. She grabbed a slice for herself and joined him for the snack.

“So, I’m guessing you’ll be staying here?” Allyson asked with a hint of reluctance.

If Elijah remained with her, it would possibly be an issue having Crash and the kids stay at her house. She couldn’t take back her offer and didn’t want to. She also couldn’t turn away her cousin.

“I’m going to crash at one of the bunkhouses on the compound. Not that I don’t love staying here, but I’d rather have my own space if I’m here for an extended period.” Elijah grabbed a second piece of the pizza.

The compound was what everyone called Keith’s extensive property. He lived there with his family and kept the offices for NES and his construction company in a separate building, a stone’s throw from his house. Keith also erected several bunkhouses at the back of the area for staff or anyone who needed a short-term stay. It was completely secure, and a fence surrounded the entire property. Nobody got through the gate without being let inside.

“Okay, good,” she said without thinking.

“Good? Thanks a lot, cuz.” Elijah chuckled.

Allyson stopped chewing and placed her pizza on top of the napkin. She put her hands on the table and lifted her eyes to meet Elijah’s amused gaze.

“I have some people staying here for a couple of weeks,” she told him.

“What? Are you going to run a bed and breakfast from this place?” Elijah questioned.

“No, a friend needs a place to stay for a bit.” Allyson was being evasive.

“A friend?” Elijah smirked. “Are you seeing someone, Allyson?”

“No,” Allyson almost yelled. “Brent is staying here until he finishes his house.”

Elijah’s eyes grew wide, and his mouth hung open. He’d been one of the people who constantly hounded her to take a chance on Crash. Before she could tell him the situation, he threw his head back and laughed.

“I fucking knew you’d give in sooner or later,” Elijah said.

“It’s not like that, Elijah. It’s a long story.” She took another bite of the pizza.

“I slept on the plane. Let’s hear the long story.” Elijah smirked.

She could tell by the expression on his face he didn’t believe anything was going on between her and Crash. She was exhausted, but the only thing that would shut him up was if she told him the whole situation. After she grabbed another piece of pizza, she explained.

“That’s terrible,” Elijah said.

“Yeah, we both know losing a mom is not easy, but to lose both parents before you’re old enough to retain memories of them, that’s cruel.” Allyson sighed. “They’re just babies, and I’m praying he found them.”

“Between Crash’s family and the guys at NES, he won’t be short of help looking.” Elijah stood up. “I’m going to catch a few hours shut-eye before heading to the compound.”

“I should get some sleep too.” She placed the leftover pizza in the fridge. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Elijah hugged her and then headed to Cameron’s old room. He was lucky she hadn’t cleared anything out yet, or her cousin would be sleeping on a bare floor—although it wouldn’t be his first time.

She wanted to call Brent to see if there was any news, but it was late. If he had managed to get some sleep, she didn’t want to wake him. Allyson didn’t want to think about what could happen to kids if the wrong people got their hands on them.

By the time she crawled back into bed, she barely had the strength to tug the covers over herself. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep; her last thoughts were of Cameron, Caleb, Mila, and Crash.