Chapter 35 #2
Josh blinked and then straightened to his full height. He tugged at his suit coat with one hand but still held the knife near Raleigh’s throat with the other.
Dylan captured Raleigh’s gaze. Her eyes were willing him to give her the signal. He knew it with every fiber of his being. He gave her a tiny nod.
Suddenly Raleigh slammed her elbow into Josh’s mid-section and she shot forward. Dylan grabbed her and spun so he was between her and Josh. Gabe was in the door and had Josh on the ground in a fraction of a second. Connor was between Dylan and Josh.
“Raleigh, honey, are you okay?”
She looked up at him, fear written across her features and then her eyes rolled back in her head. Dylan’s heart lodged in his throat and refused to beat. He swung Raleigh up into his arms and took her out into the yard. He laid her down on the grass.
“Come on, honey, talk to me.”
Her eyelids fluttered and then opened. He’d never been so happy to see those eyes.
“What took you so long?” she croaked. “I had to take matters into my own hands.”
He was speechless and then, seeing the sparkle in her eyes, he started to smile. It went from a smile to a full-blown laugh in seconds. She was okay. She was really okay. She laughed too, but it made her cough, so she stopped.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her on his lap until the ambulance arrived.
By that point there were cops everywhere.
It still took the EMTs a few minutes to convince him it was okay to let her go.
That they were just going to check her over.
He finally agreed, but he hovered over them while they conducted their examination.
Gabe came over and stood beside him. “She’s going to be fine.”
Dylan nodded. “I can’t thank you and your team enough. I owe you big time.”
Gabe shook his head. “You did all the work. You’d have been fine on your own. Your instincts were spot on. Josh owes you his life. Other people would have ordered Jaxon to take the shot.”
Dylan shrugged. “Maybe, but I don’t think Josh really wanted to hurt Raleigh. He just wanted to be seen. Mental illness is a tough thing.”
“It is, and you handled it like a pro.”
Dylan smiled. “Yeah, well I don’t think that’s gonna help much.” He nodded towards a group of men. “See that guy in the suit? He’s my lieutenant…er, my former lieutenant. He’s coming to tell me I’m fired.”
Gabe tilted his head. “I thought the review board was announcing their decision until next week?”
“It isn’t because of the review board. I, um, had a go at Calvin Clark earlier.” Dylan grinned. He couldn’t help it.
“What did you do?” Gabe asked.
“I accused him of being the stalker and threatened him with bodily harm. So, you know, pretty much broke every rule in the book.”
Gabe chuckled. “I think you might’ve missed a few but you were outside the lines. The thing is…you weren’t actually too far off the mark with Clark. He has a past with harassing women.”
Dylan nodded. “You said. He’s still doing it too. He’s harassed at least two of the staff since he’s been here.”
“So you threatened a scum bag with bodily harm in the name of protecting your client. That’s called Monday at Risk Strategic Security.
” It was Gabe’s turn to grin. “And I wouldn’t worry about Clark.
He’s back there telling all who will listen that he went to you about Josh.
He was worried about Raleigh’s safety, and that’s why you were really here this weekend.
He didn’t want to upset Lydia any more than he had to so, of course, he didn’t tell Bill.
There are more holes in his story than anything else, but no one is questioning it because it’s backed by Bill and Lydia.
It looks like you might make out okay over this. ”
Dylan was stunned. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, well Clark needs to come out of this looking good, or his political career is dead. So my guess is that your lieutenant is coming over here to give your spot on the team back.”
“Wow.”
Gabe said, “Never underestimate the power of ambition and politics.”
“I guess so.” Dylan shook his head. It was unbelievable.
“So, do you want it?”
“Want what?”
“Your old job at ESU. Do you want back on the team?”
Dylan watched Raleigh respond to the questions the officer was asking her.
Did he want to be back on ESU? At the start of the weekend, he would’ve said yes and meant it.
Now? “You know, I thought ESU was the best thing ever. I loved it right up until my instincts told me one thing and my boss ordered another course of action. He didn’t want to go in because the man was a wealthy and influential CEO.
If it had been in a poor neighborhood, my boss wouldn’t have hesitated.
The whole incident with Georgie made me question everything but now I know that my instincts are good. I need to trust them.
“Going back to ESU is likely to land me in that same position.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I think if they offer me my spot back, I have to turn it down. I don’t ever want to have to go against what I know is right.”
“Wise decision. How about making another one? Join us at Risk. Your actions today proved to me and the guys that you are more than capable of making good decisions in stressful situations. Even when you have a personal stake in the outcome.” Gabe inclined his head toward Raleigh.
“You stepped up in every way possible and you saved lives. You were willing to risk your career and everything you thought was important to you to do the right thing. That takes guts but more than that, it takes courage and integrity. We want you on the team.”
Dylan swallowed “Thanks for saying that.”
“It’s all true.”
Dylan turned and saw Jaxon and Connor leaning on a squad car. They both gave him a thumbs up. He looked back at Gabe. Did he want to work for this man doing the thing he loved with a lot less rules? Hell yes!
But.
“Here’s the thing. I want to help people in need, not rich people who can afford to pay more and have their own set of rules. I don’t mean to be insulting or anything I just want to do what’s right and I’ve never been particularly good around the upper class.
Gabe smiled. “Dylan, I’ll let you in on a little secret.
Risk was built on exactly that principle.
I don’t work for people just because they can afford to pay me.
I work for those who are in trouble and need the type of help we can offer, rich or poor.
I don’t care how rich you are, if I don’t like you and what you stand for, I don’t work for you.
All of my clients have to meet my standards and I think you’ll find those standards acceptable. ”
“So I have to ask, how can you afford to stay in business?”
Gabe smiled. “Join my team and I’ll tell you my secret. You’ll appreciate it. I promise. You just have to trust me.”
He looked hard at the other man and then offered his hand. “I trust you, Gabe. If you’re sure, then I’m in.”
Gabe grinned and shook his hand. “Welcome to Risk. Now, go tend to your girlfriend. Take a few days to get yourself organized and call me mid-week.”
Dylan nodded and Gabe turned to walk away.
“Gabe?” Dylan called.
Gabe turned back around.
“Thanks.”
Gabe smiled and then walked over to join Jaxon and Connor.
Dylan turned around and joined Raleigh where she was sitting with the EMTs. “You okay?” he asked.
She looked annoyed. “They want me to go to the hospital, but I just want to go home.”
He looked at the EMT.
“We’d like to take her in for observation as a precaution, but if you want to take her home, I’m not going to argue with you.”
“Home it is,” he said. “You’ll have to make a statement tomorrow, but I don’t think the local LEO’s will mind if you go home tonight.”
“Yeah, they said as much.”
He helped her up and started walking with her along the path. He saw her gaze dart to the back of the police car where a man was speaking with Josh.
“I thought I hated my stalker. That I would want to see him punished for what he did.” She brushed her hair out of her eyes. “All I feel is sad. Poor Josh, or Robert I guess, he’s sick and he needs help. I feel awful about the whole thing.”
Dylan put his arm around her. “Josh is going to get the help he needs now. That’s the best outcome possible for him. For you, I would suggest getting a therapist sooner than later. I’ve been down this road and it takes a heavy toll. You’re going to need to talk about it at some point.”
She nodded. “Sounds like a good idea.”
They walked up the slope to where all the emergency vehicles were parked.
He guided her to his truck and opened the door.
He settled her into the passenger’s seat, and then hurried around the pickup to slip behind the wheel.
“I’ve arranged for our stuff to be packed.
It’ll be ready by the time we get there. Is that okay?”
“It’s fine,” she mumbled.
He fired the engine over and turned toward the resort.
“Are you hungry, or do you need a drink?” Dylan squeezed her fingers. He wasn’t letting go of her hand for any reason.
She still had a blanket wrapped around her from the ambulance. “No. I’m fine.” She snuggled deeper into the blanket.
They arrived at the resort, and he kissed her knuckles before climbing from the truck The bellman had their bags at the valet station. He helped Dylan load the suitcases into the back.
Dylan slid behind the wheel and glanced over at her. She looked so small and vulnerable. His heart broke for all she’d been through.
He started the truck and pulled out of the resort. He turned toward New York City. “Look, Raleigh, a lot has happened this weekend, but I think we should talk about some of it.” He glanced over at her, but she was fast asleep. So much for sorting things out.
A bit later, he pulled up in front of her house.
A patrol car was there. An officer got out and handed him the key to Raleigh’s place.
He’d asked Gabe to get one of his people to come over and change the sheets on the bed and the towels in the bathroom.
He’d also asked them to bring fresh flowers.
He wanted to erase as much of Josh as possible.
It would take a while, but she would eventually feel good again in her own home.
He went around to her side of the car and eased the door open. He scooped her up and carried her up the stairs. He came to a stop in front of the door and was trying to figure out how to unlock it with her in his arms when she said, “You can put me down now.”
He froze for a second. Her voice was rough from her throat being crushed. He put her down as directed, and she moved away from him to stand on the opposite side of the step.
“I, um, had Gabe’s people come…fix everything.”
“Thank you.” Her face was blank. The sun was setting, so part of it was lost in the shadows.
He nodded. “Will you be okay here tonight? I can call Lauren and ask her to come back for a couple days if you want. There’s not a doubt in my mind, she’d like a break from looking after four kids.”
“I’ll be fine.” She stared at him, her eyes hidden in shadow.
He couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but he also couldn’t keep quiet. Not now.
“Look, Raleigh, I know this weekend was…intense. Starting a relationship from something like this is probably not the best move, but I don’t want you to feel like I took advantage of the situation to just have sex with you. I really like you. A lot.”
She glanced at the door and then turned back to him. She stepped forward into the light. Tears glistened on her cheeks. “You kept your word.” It came out almost as a whisper. Her voice was husky with emotion.
“What?”
“You kept your promise to keep me safe.”
“Well, that’s debatable. You were kidnapped and held hostage, so I don’t know if you could say I kept you safe.”
“But that was my fault for not listening to you. And you came for me and rescued me, and you even made sure Josh was safe.” Her voice broke.
“Hey, hey. It’s okay. Don’t cry.” He gathered her in his arms. “I did what had to be done, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“I knew when I saw you that you would keep your promise.”
“Always. I’ll always keep my promises to you.” He felt her nod against his chest.
“I know.” A shiver went down her body.
She leaned back in his arms and looked up at him, her green eyes luminous with tears. “I’m safe now, right? You’ll keep me safe? It’s over?”
“Yes, darlin’, it’s over. You’re safe. Promise.”
“So…” She looked up at him. A small smile played at the corners of her lip. “I made a promise to you as well.”
Dylan frowned. “I don’t follow. What promise?”
“I promised you that last night wouldn’t be the only night we’d spend together and, Dylan, I’d really like to keep that promise if you’re up for it.”
“I’m game if you are,” he said with a grin.
He wrapped his arms tight around her, relishing the warmth of her embrace and the promise of her kiss.