Ultimate Courage (True Heroes #2)(79)

As Boom would’ve said, Duh. “Ask me.”

“Would you like to give living with us a try? Full time? You could have your own room or you could move into mine with me. We could go in phases at whatever pace is comfortable for you. But I’ve realized I enjoy seeing you every morning and I’m hoping you’ll accept.”

Her heart thumped hard in her chest. It wasn’t too big a question, or too scary. It had a lot of flexibility to make it the right fit. “Are you sure Boom would be comfortable?”

He grinned and fished his phone out of his back pocket. “Serena thought you might ask that, so she had me take this pic for you.”

There in the picture was Boom, his Serena, giving a thumbs-up and holding up a sign: COME LIVE WITH US!!!

And sitting next to her was Souze, with a sign around his neck: PLEASE.

Elisa laughed, taking the phone into her hands.

“This.” Alex caressed her hands as she held the phone. “This is why I love you, Elisa Hall. Because your first thought is for my daughter and me and my dog. Because you’re selfless and brave, and I don’t think I deserve you, but I’m going to do my damned hardest to make you happy.”

Before she could answer him, there was a knock at the door. A very disgruntled doctor stood in the doorway. He pressed wire-rimmed glasses up his nose and cleared his throat. “Miss Hall. There are several very insistent visitors requesting to see you. While I don’t usually make exceptions to hospital policies, they make compelling arguments.”

Alex got to his feet and so did Souze.

The doctor’s gaze went from Elisa to Alex to Souze and paused for a long moment before returning to Elisa. “If you do not wish to see these visitors, I will not let them in. But I have been convinced that you should at least be given the opportunity to know who felt it was too urgent to wait, until you are properly discharged, to see you.”

Alex brushed his hand over hers and then withdrew, staying within arm’s reach.

Elisa considered for a moment. There shouldn’t be anything to fear anymore. Joseph was in custody. Anyone else, she could handle. Even facing him, she could if she had to. “Who is it?”

The doctor consulted notes he’d made on a tablet he was carrying. “Mr. David Cruz, Miss Evelyn Jones, and a Captain Jones. Mr. Brandon Forte, Miss Serena ‘Boom’ Rojas, and Miss Sophie Kim.”

Relief swept through her. These people were wonderful. Hearing they’d come to find her filled her with an unexpected warmth, and she wondered how it all could’ve snuck up on her so quickly. “Yes. Yes, I’d like to see them.”

“Normally, we limit visitation in these situations to the emergency contact and direct family members.” The doctor’s tone was distinctly disapproving.

Elisa gave him a peaceful smile. “Doctor, they are family.”

The doctor harrumphed, but then his expression cleared, and he gave her a smile. “I’ll have them escorted in.”

*



Brandon and Sophie were the first to enter. Sophie looked back out the door to see if the nurses or doctor were in sight, then pulled an insulated lunch bag out of her canvas shoulder bag. “It has to have been hours since you last ate and hospital food is awful. I figured you could use a snack.”

“Oh, I love you.” Elisa exchanged a heartfelt hug for the lunch bag. She’d have been as enthusiastic to see Sophie either way, but good food was a fantastic bonus.

Alex leaned forward and whispered, “If food is all it takes, I’ll cook for you at the house sometime when Boom is away on a sleepover. Clothing optional.”

Elisa blinked and tried not to blush. Based on the way David grinned when he and Lyn came in, she’d failed utterly.

“Who said something naughty in your ear?”

Lyn whacked him across the shoulder.

David rubbed his arm in mock hurt. “What? Look at her face. We know that look.”

Lyn briefly dropped her forehead into her palm before recovering as a man in Navy uniform entered and closed the door behind him. If it was at all possible, Alex straightened next to her.

Brandon and David stood equally as tense.

Elisa decided this was going to be a new experience and she was going to meet it head on. “Hello. I’m Elisa Hall. You wanted to see me?”

The man in uniform stepped forward and offered his hand. “Miss Hall, I’m Captain Francis Jones, United States Navy.”

She nodded. “What brings you here, Captain?”

Honestly, she wasn’t sure how to address him but figured she couldn’t go wrong with his rank.

“I need to request your help.”

Elisa raised her eyebrows. “I’m not sure how I can be of help.”

But she had a sinking feeling her time with Joseph wasn’t completely behind her. Corbin Systems was a major military contractor.

“I’m in the midst of a deep undercover investigation. It brought me here a few months ago and into contact with David Cruz and Evelyn Jones.” The captain glanced at Lyn and then away.

Elisa studied the two of them for a minute and decided the surname wasn’t a coincidence.

“What is discussed between us does not leave this room. I’m currently tracking the progress of a forming private contract organization made up of ex-military resources, a mercenary group, if you will. It seems they are looking to gain footholds in several aspects of the private sector, including integration with weapons systems that should not be in the hands of mercenaries. You are currently the most expedient way for us to conduct investigation into the activities of Mr. Joseph Corbin Junior.” Captain Jones didn’t scowl, but his look was definitely stern. “We have reason to believe he used you as his biometric security key.”