Chapter 14 #2
Dawson opened the passenger side of his new, fancy SUV, which had a big, old-dad vibe to it. “Add in my flat tire, which I bet when I take a good look at it, either someone simply let the air out or slashed it, and I’d say the Barbaros are escalating their timeline.”
“Or they’re feeling pressured.” Fletcher tugged at the tourniquet that Dawson had made. “But they’re not hitting the mark with these attempts, and they knew Ken. They’d have to know we don’t scare that easily.”
Dawson pressed the start engine button, turned the knob, shifted the car into drive, and pulled out of the lot.
“Maybe it’s not about scaring us anymore.
The damage to the hull of Baily’s boat was extensive.
I’m surprised she got as far into the Glades as she did.
” Dawson shifted his gaze. “These people are coming in for the kill.”
“That’s not too smart.”
“It is if they believe the language on the loan is buried. That no one knows about it.” Dawson drummed his fingers against the wheel.
“Baily never discussed that with Julie. Barely brought it up with Ken because she’d been so fed up with his bullshit.
Hell, the only reason we knew was because she finally realized we were on her side.
Like Decker said a while ago, Julie believes Baily’s still pissed at the lot of us, and Decker played into that when he spoke to Tessa.
But what I don’t get is why take out Decker? He’s their guy.”
“They lost faith in Decker. Wouldn’t be surprised if next week if we walk into that town meeting blindsided by a new guy. With new plans.” Fletcher shook his head, letting out a long breath. “They’ve moved on to whatever their Plan B is.”
“Well, then we need to get the town to move up their meeting.” Dawson slammed his fist on the steering wheel. “I know just the guy to go to the committee and ask for the meeting to be changed.”
“Silas,” Fletcher said.
“Yup.” Dawson nodded. “He’ll plead that the town needs to heal from the mess Paul and Dewey created. Silas will get them to hear us, and the Barbaros won’t be the wiser.”
“Especially since Decker’s the only one who showed any interest.” Fletcher nodded. “Good idea.” It wasn’t much. It was barely a plan. But it was a beginning, and that was something.
“Thanks, Silas.” Baily jumped from Silas’s beat-up old Jeep. Her heart thumped in the center of her chest hard and fast. Her palms were sweaty, and her mind raced with a million thoughts, and not a single one was good.
“I should walk you in,” Silas called. “Fletcher wanted eyes on you.”
“I’ll be fine. But you can text Fletcher and let him know I’m here.” Her sneakers hit the pavement, and she jogged toward the emergency room bay doors, growing breathless. She needed to take up something other than walking. That didn’t constitute exercise, no matter what anyone said.
The hospital hallway reeked of antiseptic and overcooked coffee.
Fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting pale shadows across the linoleum floor as Baily stormed past the nurses’ station, her shoes clapping against the tile.
She barely registered the soft murmur of voices behind curtains or the squeak of rubber soles.
Her entire focus narrowed to the door at the end of the hall—Room 212.
That’s the message she’d received from Dawson, along with a brief description as to why Fletcher needed to be seen by a medical professional.
She shoved the door open without knocking.
Inside, Fletcher sat on the edge of the hospital bed, shirt off, his left arm wrapped in blood-soaked gauze. The doctor, Emily Sprouce, in navy scrubs and a focused scowl, leaned over him with a curved needle and suture. Her gloved hands moved with quick, practiced efficiency.
Baily’s breath caught at the sight of him. His skin was pale beneath the overhead light, and a smear of dried blood ran along his jawline like a cruel reminder of how close she’d come to losing him.
“You got shot?” Her voice cracked like a whip in the air-conditioning. “And you didn’t think to tell me when you called. Or that the sniper was still sitting in some tree, waiting for you to poke your head out so he could kill you.”
Fletcher turned, startled. “Bailey—hey, I—”
“You got shot, and I find out from Dawson in a flipping text message?” She stepped farther into the room, arms crossed, eyes blazing. “You called me from the woods, and you didn’t say a damn thing?”
Fletcher flinched. Not from pain because Emily had just pulled the final stitch. He opened his mouth, but Emily held up a hand, glancing between them.
“I’ll give you two a minute,” she said quietly. “The sutures are done. No major damage. Just don’t rip them open, getting yelled at.” With a knowing smile, she peeled off her gloves and slipped from the room, closing the door behind her.
Baily didn’t move until the click of the latch settled.
Then she dropped her arms and stepped closer, her anger giving way to something far heavier.
“What if you hadn’t been lucky? What if you hadn’t made that call, and I hadn’t gotten to say those words?
What if that bullet had hit something other than your biceps?
You could’ve died, Fletcher, and you made light of it. ”
Fletcher met her gaze, a tinge of guilt flickering across his face. “I didn’t want to scare you. Not when I knew Dawson and Hayes were coming. But I did need to know you were safe and I wanted to hear your voice. Selfish of me, I know.”
“You don’t get to protect me by shutting me out,” she said, her voice softer but laced with a fierceness she hadn’t expected from herself. “We’re in this together. That means I get to be scared. I get to be mad. I get to know when the man I love is bleeding out in the woods.”
“Bleeding out is a bit dramatic.” He reached for her hand. She took it.
“Don’t try to diffuse this with humor,” she whispered. “You’re not Dawson. He’s the funny one.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “It wasn’t about shutting you out. It was instinct. Habit. I didn’t even think—I just… I wanted to hear your voice. Make sure you were okay. And if you by chance heard what was going on out there, you’d know in that one instance, I was okay, too.”
“But it’s bigger than that, isn’t it?” She brushed her fingers over the bruised skin around the gauze, her touch feather-light.
“You called me, so I’d be the last thing you heard.
In case you didn’t make it out. In case Dawson and Hayes didn’t get there, and that sniper got a second shot off.
Because you never got those kinds of chances in the military. ”
His silence said everything.
Tears burned at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them back. Instead, she leaned in and pressed her forehead to his. “I’m glad you called. I’m glad I got to say those words. But don’t you ever keep information from me again. It’s not fair, and you wouldn’t appreciate it if I did it to you.”
“I won’t,” he whispered. “I swear.”
Their lips met—brief, tender, aching. A kiss that said more than words ever could. When she pulled back, he smiled faintly. “I missed this. Missed you. I do love you.”
“I know,” she murmured. “You’re not getting rid of me again. Even if you try.”
“I wouldn’t mind hearing those words again. Seeing your face while your voice tickles my ears.”
“Oh, my God. Now, you’re trying to be romantic.
Not you’re thing either. That’s split between Keaton and Hayes.
” She eased onto the gurney, lacing her fingers between his, feeling his warm skin.
He was everything, and she’d spent the last few years pushing him away because she’d been too afraid to risk her heart.
Only, her heart already belonged to him, and life and love was one big risk.
“Oh, come on. I’m not that pathetic, am I?” He looped his good arm around her waist.
“You’re a sweet, kind man, but you’re not Mr. Romance.
More like Mr. Practical, and I adore that about you.
” She rested her head on his shoulder. “I love that you think a romantic dinner is grilled fish that you caught, I cleaned, and a cheap bottle of wine down on the dock while we wave to Silas as he trolls by.”
“Nothing better than watching the sunset over the Glades with the prettiest girl in Calusa Cove.”
“Now you’re being a cornball.”
“Yeah, I’ve never had good lines.” He kissed her neck. “I’ve never had game, but I had something, because I had you.”
“You’ve still got me.” She pressed her palm against his cheek. “I love you, Fletcher Dane.”
“Oh, my full name.” He smiled. “I must be getting lucky—”
A soft knock broke the moment. Keaton poked his head in. “Sorry, but you guys might want to come next door. Decker’s awake.”
“I’d like to talk to him.” Fletcher hopped off the bed, snagged his shirt, and took her hand.
She followed him and Keaton to Room 214, where Decker Brown lay in a hospital bed, propped up by pillows, an IV line taped to the back of his hand. His skin was clammy and pale, his usual bravado dulled by whatever cocktail the doctors had pumped into him.
“The doctors are still flushing his system, and he’s on some good drugs since he’s been in a bit of pain.” Keaton leaned against the far wall, his arms folded tight, like he didn’t quite trust the stillness.
Decker cracked one eye open and sucked in a shaky breath before letting it out with a swish and wheeze. “Keaton tells me you had some excitement, too.” He lifted a crooked finger.
“You look like shit,” Fletcher said.
Decker managed a grin. “Thanks. I’d say you do, too, but you manage to make getting shot look sexy.”
“Don’t say things like that to him. It’ll go right to his head.” Baily stepped to the foot of the bed. “They said poison?”
“That’s what the docs are telling me.” Decker reached for the water on the tray.
Keaton raced to his side, giving him a hand. “Emily’s running off-the-record labs. But his throat closed up fast. Skin flushed. No signs of obstruction. Classic signs of something synthetic. Fast-acting.”
“I was mid-bite,” Decker said, voice hoarse. “One minute, I’m arguing with Keaton about who pays for dinner to keep up appearances. Next thing I know, I’m gasping for air like someone shoved a pillow down my throat.”
Fletcher’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t simple escalation. Dawson and I believe they’re gonna try to blindside us with a new developer at the meeting.”
“That thought has crossed my mind since I’ve been lying here,” Decker said, eyes sharpening despite the medication. “They know I’ve been stalling. Feeding them crumbs. They think I’m a loose end. But I don’t get why they tried to kill you.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.” Fletcher shifted his gaze, catching Baily’s. “It’s all about creating an environment of fear. But also, if they take me out, in their minds, they’re removing everything Baily has that matters outside of the marina, making it easier for her to walk away.”
“They don’t know me very well.” She folded her arms across her chest. “All that would make me do is dig my heels in deeper. This is my home. It’s all I’ve ever known, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted. If they thought hurting the people I love was one way to get me to cave, well, they’re fools.”
“Don’t mistake their miscalculation of who you are as being foolish.” Decker lowered his chin. “Their plans are always layered. This has been years in the making. The Barbaros use people. Hell, they use their own. I’m sure Julie had no say in any aspect of her life.”
“Are you suggesting she went after Ken?” Keaton asked.
“Oh, I am.” Decker nodded. “Just like Tessa came after me. And I’m sure Damon and Valenia had all sorts of information on Ken to make sure that Julie knew just what to say and how to act to get his attention. I doubt he knew what hit him until it was too late.”
Baily’s chest tightened. “That’s so cold and calculating.”
“That’s the kind of people they are,” Decker whispered. “But I’m not playing their game. I’m all in. I want to take down every last one of those bastards. They used me. I’m sure they used Ken. And they need to be stopped.”
Baily’s heart pulsed in her throat. “And what if they bring in another sniper? Or a different kind of killer to Calusa Cove”
Decker scoffed. “Let ’em. They missed their shot.
I’m still here. And I’ve got names. Records.
I took a risk and reached out to my cousin back in Miami.
He sent me a list of businesses linked to their laundering operation.
You gave me a seat at the table, now I’m gonna help you blow this whole thing wide open. ”
“Dawson has that list.” Keaton nodded grimly.
“Chloe called Buddy. She did it quietly. He’s sending an old friend of his.
Someone we know. Someone who works for the Aegis Network to stand guard.
But we’ve got to work out a plan and move fast because I wouldn’t be surprised if the Barbaros are closing in. ”
Fletcher looked to Baily. She knew that look. It was the look that told her he couldn’t sit still. “I told Dawson I wanted to be part of the interrogation of the sniper,” he said softly. “It was me the man tried to take out.”
Baily hissed, clenching her fists at her side. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“Nothing like rubbing his face in the fact he failed at his mission.” Fletcher inched closer, resting his hand on the small of her back. “I need to hear what this guy has to say.”
“Hondo’s got a few days off, and he’s keeping a watchful eye at the B&B,” Keaton said. “I’m going to stay here with Decker until the guy from the Aegis network gets here, so why don’t you drop her off at the B&B, and she can hang with Audra?”
“I wouldn’t mind spending time with her.” Baily nodded.
Fletcher pulled her close again, pressing a kiss to her temple. “All right, let’s head out.” He turned, resting a hand on Decker’s wrist. “Call me if you need anything. And you can come stay at my place to recover when they release you.”
“Thanks. Keaton offered the same.” Decker gave a weak smile. “Does this mean we’re friends?”
“Don’t push it.” Fletcher laughed, shifting his gaze toward Keaton. “Keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
She took Fletcher’s hand and stepped out into the hallway. “I feel like I should call Julie or something.”
“Maybe, but not until I’m sitting right next to you, and we’ve got a better handle on what we’re going to do next.” He kissed her softly. “I get the feeling things are going to happen quickly, especially if we’re able to push up the town meeting, and our bid on the Crab Shack is accepted.”
“They’re going to bring the war here, aren’t they?” Baily shivered.
“Sweetheart, unfortunately, we’re already fighting it.”