Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“So, what do you guys think?” I eyed each one of them while sitting on the edge of the bed in my room.
Briefings while traveling were essential.
It was a way for us to strategize about how to keep Steven safe.
I never thought I’d be protecting the equivalent of a Mafia boss when he chose me at Chapman Security.
“If he does what he’s told, I don’t think anyone can get to him,” Aaden replied.
“Yeah.” I rolled my eyes because we all knew Steven was a stubborn man.
I understood he was used to what he was used to, but one would think that after five years and multiple attempts on his life, he would take this stuff seriously.
Joshua was the only one who could talk sense into him. “We’ll see.”
“I think we need to be stationed in the hall, the lobby, one of us on the roof, and one on the street, especially if he decides to go out,” Jeremiah suggested.
“You’re right.” I nodded, thinking it over and visualizing the layout of the area and positions in my head.
We didn’t know where the cameras were in this place, like at Transient. So, the blind spots were unknown. We’d have to coordinate with hotel security while we were here. I planned to arrange that tomorrow.
“The meeting tomorrow morning is at the St. Clair building. I’m sure it’s secure, but not for someone like Steven.
Jeremiah, you and Alex, take point on this tomorrow.
” I leaned back on my hands, trying to figure out how we were going to play this.
The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach remained.
“Get to the St. Clair building and coordinate with their security team and make sure our asses are covered. I’ve had a bad feeling about this trip since we hit the air that won’t go away.” They nodded. “The rest of us are on Steven’s security detail. We stay on his ass, no excuses.”
If something happened to him, I don’t know what I’d do.
I ended the meeting, passed out their keys, and closed the door behind them when they left.
To be sure, this wouldn’t be the last time I saw them, but the thought brought tears to my eyes, but this was definitely my last stint with Transient and Steven Smith.
However, I was still hellbent on not going to Steven’s room, but it was hard as hell to resist his many, many…
talents. My body was on fire thinking about the things he did to me, and that dark room of his was unlike anything I’d ever experienced in my life.
“Okay, stop it,” I berated myself, undressing to take a long and luxurious bath.
I didn’t know how long I’d been asleep when a crash next door startled me. I quickly exited the tub, splashing water over the sides and almost busting my ass in the process.
“Shit,” I mumbled, sliding to the door. Throwing on a pair of leggings and a tank, I grabbed my Glock and keycards and was out of the room and banging on Steven’s door.
“Steven!” I yelled, causing the doors in the hall to open. Jeremiah was the first to peek his head out into the hall. I banged again, louder this time. “Steven! Open up!”
“What’s going on?” Jeremiah asked, his voice thick with sleep.
“I don’t know.” I shook my head. “I heard a crash coming from inside.” I started kicking the door. Alex, Aaden, and Dennis joined me in the hallway.
“Is he in there?” Aaden inquired.
“I don’t know that either.” I needed to get in there. Just as Alex pushed me out the way to take my place at kicking, a bullet smashed through the door.
“Take cover!” I screamed, diving out of the way. My heart was beating out of my chest. I had to get to Steven. I only hoped I wasn’t too late.
“Shit, the keycard,” I muttered, waving it in front of the pad. I’d forgotten I’d even had it during the confusion.
Low and slow, I entered his room. The shooting stopped, and Steven clutched his shoulder while he lay inside the doors of the balcony. An eerie silence fell over the room except for Steven’s labored breathing as he struggled to get farther inside the room.
“Clear!” I yelled. Jeremiah ran past me onto the balcony. “Steven, are you all right?” I tried to help him up, but he was too heavy. “Alex, help me.”
“Aaden. Dennis.” Jeremiah pointed to the building directly across the street from the hotel. “Get to that roof.”
“He’s probably gone by now,” Aaden observed.
“I don’t give a fuck!” Jeremiah continued to scan the area for the shooter. “There has to be casings or something.”
“On it.” Aaden grabbed Dennis by the shoulder, and they left the room.
“Steven, who did this?” I couldn’t lose him. There was so much blood. He had to be hit somewhere other than his shoulder.
We got him settled on the edge of the bed, then Alex dialed the ambulance from the hotel phone.
“I don’t know.” His breathing was labored. My hands roamed his body to see if there were any other wounds. Blood was seeping from his side and down one of his legs.
“Oh God,” I muttered, tears threatening to obstruct my view.
“I was on the…balcony.”
“Gotdammit! Didn’t I tell your stubborn ass to stay off the balcony?” I chastised him. Damn, he was so stuck in his motherfucking ways. “Did you see anything?”
“I saw…” He paused, trying to catch his breath, then he coughed up blood. “A reflection, then burning.”
Jeremiah disappeared into the bathroom, then rushed back with a hand towel. I quickly grabbed it, wiping the blood from Steven’s mouth, then putting pressure on the wound in his side, hoping to stop the bleeding.
“Don’t you fucking die on me.”
His body started shaking. It took me a moment to realize he was laughing, causing him to cough even more.
“I thought I was…the boss.”
“Not where your life is concerned,” I said, trying to get him more comfortable. “Jeremiah, go wait for the ambulance.” He nodded, then hurried from the room. “Hey.” I lowered my voice so only he could hear me. “You fight, okay? You son of a bitch, you fight.”
That smirk I’d fallen in love with those many years ago tugged at his lips.
“With my dying breath.”
I rolled my eyes. He thought this was funny. “Anything else you could tell me would help, Steven. Did you see his face?”
“Not who it was.” He took deep breaths. “But I thought I saw…the top of his head.”
He struggled to talk as I rubbed the sweat from his forehead.
“Good. Now take your time,” I coaxed, helping put pressure on his side while he clutched his shoulder. His breathing was so shallow right now, and pain was etched on his face. It was hard to see this solid rock of a man so vulnerable.
“Red.” He slumped, resting in my arms. “His hair was red.”