Chapter Thirty-Two
While Hannah sat in the living room of Ethan’s modestly furnished Belltown apartment, playing with some of the toys he kept there for her, Ethan pulled Val aside.
“We’ve got a problem.”
“Ya think?” she teased, mentally going over the long list of problems they faced. His mouth edged up in that sexy way it did when he was amused.
“The thing is, you’re working for Klein, and the job might be involving you in something illegal—even deadly. Stern is a big philanthropist here in town, which means that isn’t something the cops want to hear so they won’t be much help.”
“What are you saying?”
“That’s the situation behind door number one. Behind door number two, there could be a psycho out there, a crazy still lying in wait to kill you or one of the other models. Either way, until we figure things out, you could be in trouble.”
“I know that.”
“Now Hannah’s in the picture. I’ve got to figure a way out of the quagmire Allison has dropped us all into and still make sure you’re safe.
I’ll have Ian put a man on your apartment.
That’s what Dirk did for Meg. In the meantime, I’ll stay here till I can find someone to take Hannah.
She can’t stay with me—not yet. I’ve still got a murder to solve.
I can’t quit until this is over.” He touched her cheek. “Will that work for you?”
He was moving out. It had to happen sometime. Every day he stayed just made it harder. She still had a job, Internet classes to study for, and the first of the month she’d be starting her part-time job at the animal clinic.
She looked into Ethan’s dark eyes and emotion tightened her chest. Tell him that’s a good idea, her smart self said.
“I won’t feel safe with anyone but you,” her heart said. “Let’s take Hannah back to my place. Surely with you there she’ll be safe. She can stay until you can find someone you trust to take care of her.”
“You aren’t used to kids.”
She smiled. “I’m used to animals. Some of them can be pretty hard to handle. I can manage a three-year-old girl.”
His mouth faintly curved. “Whatever happens, she can’t go back to her mother until Allison gets herself straightened out. Even then, there’s no way Ally can keep me away from her after her DUI. I just need a day or two, time to figure things out.”
Val rested a hand on his arm, felt the hard muscles tighten. “I want you to stay. I want both of you to stay.” Her heart squeezed just saying the words. Dear God, was it already too late? Was she already in love with him? Already falling in love with his sweet little girl?
“You sure?”
No. I’ve completely lost my mind. “I’m sure.”
She could still read the worry in his face. “We could stay here,” he said. “I can make my calls, get things rolling.”
“Have you got anything in the house to eat?”
“No, but—”
“We’ve stocked the fridge at my place. My clothes are there. I’ve got a yard Hannah can play in. Snoozie’s there. And I have to say it’s a little cozier than this place.”
He glanced around his basic, furnished-apartment living room with its plain brown sofa and chair and almost no decorations.
“All right, your place. Like I said, it’s just for a day or two.” Bending his head, he very softly kissed her. “Thanks, baby.”
Her insides melted the way they always did when he said the word. “It’s no big deal.” She turned away before he could see the mist that sprang into her eyes. “I’m sure Hannah won’t be any trouble at all.”
He nodded. “I’ll call Frank Gibbs right now. He’s my lawyer. He can make sure we do everything nice and legal.”
While Ethan made the call, Val filled a box with some of the toys and clothes he kept in his apartment for Hannah. The clothes were probably a size too small—Allison hadn’t let the child visit her father in weeks.
By the time they got back to the duplex, the little girl was asleep in her car seat.
“Wait for me. I’ll be right back.”
Val watched the gentle way Ethan carried the child into the house, her head snuggled against his shoulder, and emotions rose Val usually kept locked away.
For years after Bobby, she had closed herself off, kept herself apart from all but the most superficial relationships. Not even the men she’d dated over the years had ever gotten close. Only Mom and Pops had been able to break through the barrier she had created.
In the past few years, that had begun to change. She’d made friends with a couple of girls in college. She’d met Samantha and they had become close friends. Through La Belle, she’d met Meg. Isabel and Carmen were friends, too.
After what had happened in that bathroom in Atlanta, Val and Amarika had been e-mailing back and forth.
Now there was Ethan and his little girl, touching her even more deeply.
It was the wrong time. The wrong man.
Then why did it feel so right?
Ethan checked the duplex, settled Hannah on the sofa, still fast asleep, then returned to the Jeep for Val.
“Come on, let’s get you inside.”
She slid out of the vehicle, all long legs and grace, and he felt the same tightening in his groin he’d felt when he’d seen her in the sapphire dress that morning. He wanted her with the same deep hunger, but again he would have to wait.
A faint smile touched his lips. Being a father had its drawbacks. He thought of the sleeping child who had nestled against his chest. There were drawbacks, but there were far more perks.
The sky remained overcast, but a few holes appeared in the dense layer of clouds.
Sun was predicted for that afternoon. Ethan urged Val along beside him as they climbed the front porch steps.
He’d go back and get Hannah’s toys and clothes, but he wanted to get everyone safely inside the house first.
They had almost reached the porch when something in the distance moved at the corner of his vision, glinted for an instant when the clouds opened up.
“Get down!” Ethan shouted as the sound of a muffled rifle shot split the air and a wood chip flew off the column holding up the overhanging roof.
Val screamed as he shoved her down behind the three-foot partition enclosing the porch, pinning her beneath him, jerked his weapon, came up, and fired off two quick rounds.
A second whizzing shot ricocheted off the top of the railing.
His jaw hardened. Sniper rifle with a sound suppressor. This guy wasn’t playing games.
Val crouched behind the half wall around the porch while Ethan changed position and popped off two more shots in the direction the bullets had come from.
“We need to get inside.” Grabbing Val around the waist, he positioned her in front of him and they raced, bent double, through the open front door.
Hannah was sitting up on the sofa, her eyes wide, her lips parted in a silent scream of terror. Ethan grabbed her and dragged her down on the floor.
“Stay down. Both of you.” His gaze shot to Val. “Call nine-one-one. Tell them we’ve got a shooter. Tell them I’m a private detective and I’m armed.” Moving at a crouch, he made his way back to the window.
Glass shattered above his head and Hannah started crying. “Daddy!”
“She’s okay,” Val said to him. “I’ve got her.”
Ethan fired off two rounds, then ducked as a bullet shattered another pane in the window. Glock in both hands, he popped up and fired again.
Quiet fell. His blood pumped, adrenaline roared through his veins. He itched to go after the shooter, make this end once and for all. “I want this guy,” he said through clenched teeth. “But I can’t leave you and Hannah.”
Turning away from the window, he saw Val huddled over Hannah, protecting her with her body. The little girl was shaking and crying, curled up beneath Val on the floor. His heart jerked hard at the splashes of crimson on Val’s blouse.
“You’re hit!”
“I’m . . . I’m okay. It’s . . . my arm. I don’t . . . don’t think it’s too bad.”
His heart was hammering, blood rushing as he clamped down on his fear. The wail of sirens in the distance was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard.
He took another look out the window but saw no sign of the shooter. Belly crawling across the carpet, he settled himself next to Val.
“It’s all right, honey. I’m right here. We need to stop the bleeding.” He smoothed back her long, blond hair. “I’ll buy you a new blouse, I promise.” Grabbing a handful of fabric, he ripped the blouse away, then tore the material into a strip long enough to tie around her arm.
He took the cell phone she still gripped in her hand, the line still open, told the dispatcher to send an ambulance along with the patrol cars already on the way.
Hannah was still curled into Val, still shaking. He kissed the top of his daughter’s head. “It’s all right, sweetheart. The police are coming. They’ll take care of Val, and we’ll all be okay.”
“I’m scared, Daddy.”
“I know, honey. Just stay down on the floor with Val. She needs you to take care of her, okay?”
She nodded. “I will, Daddy.”
“Good girl.” He kissed her forehead, then headed to the back of the house to be sure it was still secure.
He heard the screech of tires as he moved back into the living room, raised his head enough to see two black-and-white police cars slamming to a stop at the curb. Two more pulled up in the street. Doors flew open. Officers poured out, guns drawn, and relief surged through him.
They were safe.
At least for the moment.
He opened the front door with his hands in the air, holding the pistol loosely between his fingers, showing them his weapon. He bent and set the Glock on the ground, then went back to Val to wait for the ambulance. Ethan prayed she’d be okay.
“We’ve got a problem,” the man said into the phone.
“I don’t like problems. What is it?”
“The hit didn’t go down as planned. Our man got away, but it puts Brodie on alert. He won’t give us another opening.”
“Brodie will think the shot was meant for the girl. He’ll be worried about her, not himself. Brodie’s been sniffing around the Internet, setting off all kinds of alarms. I want him stopped before he stumbles onto something.”