Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The wait was pure agony. We had done all we could do setting the bait, now it was a waiting game to see if Connor would take it.
They had a difficult time getting Josh to leave the hospital.
We didn’t need a hothead trying to take things into his own hands.
Josh and Steven were cut from the same cloth.
Brawlers, and they didn’t give a fuck about anything or anybody except family.
I understood Josh’s reluctance to leave things to me, but it was my way or no way, and he agreed to back down.
The nurse’s assistants on the hall helped me get everything in Steven’s room straightened.
More than once, I’d gotten confused stares when I told them there was no need for the extra blankets and to roll the cot back to where it came from.
Their reaction was understandable since I’d been camped out there for the better part of two days and nights.
“Thank you, ladies. I appreciate your help,” I said, ushering them out the door, then closing it. I touched my earwig. “Everything is a go here. Any sign?”
“None.”
“Nope.”
“No.” Before I could respond, the handle to Steven’s room door turned.
“I’ve got movement,” I whispered, snatching the earwig out of my ear, rushing to the bathroom.
As I quietly closed the door, a man dressed in scrubs came into the room. I watched as he moved methodically toward Steven. The dark-haired man pulled a pillow from under his head, then placed the pillow over Steven’s face and held it there.
Steven didn’t rustle. My heart was beating so hard, it felt as if it was coming out of my chest as I rushed out of the bathroom with my gun drawn.
“Let it go,” I demanded.
The man was startled, but held the pillow in place. I cocked my gun.
“I said let the pillow go.”
My gaze was unwavering and my hand steady as he released the pillow, letting it fall to the floor.
Then he lunged for me, trying to take the gun.
My training kicked in. I kicked him in the knee, causing him to go down on one.
I pulled back my leg, giving him a firm blow to the head, then swung the butt of my gun across his face, connecting with his jaw.
Laughter filled Steven’s room as he fell prostrate to the floor. I trained my gun on him once more.
“Who are you?” I asked.
He faced me, his eyes locked on mine, smiling. The red stained his bright white teeth. “You know.”
My eyes stretched wide as recognition dawned. “Travis Connor.”
He dipped his head. His cocky smirk pissed me off. I hit him with the butt of my gun again.
“Who hired you?” I asked.
His body shook with laughter again. “You’ll just kill me if I tell. I see that fire in your eyes. He means something to you.”
“And if you don’t tell me, I’ll kill you.” I shrugged.
He wiped the blood from his mouth and glared at me. He wanted to attack me. I was going to make it even harder for him, smashing my foot into his stomach as hard as I could, taking his wind from him.
“Who the fuck hired you?”
I ground my boot into his flat hand. Impressive, he didn’t scream. But his constant moaning had Steven stirring in his bed. But I couldn’t let him distract me. I applied more pressure to his hand.
“Collins,” he wheezed.
“That’s impossible,” I ground out, keeping an eye on a now unmoving Steven. “He’s in jail.”
“Not the father.” He laughed at my cluelessness. “The son. Tyler Collins.”
Why in the hell would Tyler Collins want Steven dead?
“You’re lying.”
“I don’t have a reason to lie. You’ve made your mind up to kill me.”
“Tyler Collins runs his father’s company. Steven made that possible. Handed him the keys. It was in the contract.”
“Revenge. Dear old dad lost everything because of Smith.”
As I mulled over what he said, I wasn’t ready when he lunged for my weapon.
I pulled the trigger three times, burying the rounds into his stomach.
Travis Connor slumped forward, grabbing for me as he fell.
I shuffled backward, letting him fall once more to the floor.
I stared down at the man who’d possibly caused me so much heartache, not feeling any remorse about his still frame.
“Tisha?” A scratchy voice flittered to my ears, jerking my attention toward the bed. I couldn’t help the smile that stretched across my face. Steven was awake, and the man who tried to kill him was lying at my feet in a pool of blood.