Way of the Warrior (Troubleshooters #17.5)(29)

Somehow Jared had risen to the bait even faster than they’d anticipated.

? ? ?

Two hours later, Gavin sat in the spare bedroom, Stacy tucked to his side, her hair still carrying the scent of his shampoo from their shower.

The text from her ex had come in sooner than even he would have expected.

He’d made Stacy read it aloud. You’re going to be sorry, cheating bitch.

Gavin ground his teeth. He would never forget the quiver of fear in her voice.

He and Stacy had thrown on their clothes. Hugh had been awake next door, taking the first watch while Liam and Rachel slept. They’d expected the reaction to come later. His friends had left technological breadcrumbs for Jared to follow that would lead him to this duplex. They’d allowed one of Stacy’s social media accounts to post using map data to pinpoint her whereabouts. The fact that Jared had responded so quickly said he’d escalated. Hell, the fact that he’d texted at all showed he was growing reckless. The text alone was a violation of his restraining order.

You’re going to be sorry, cheating bitch.

Cheating. Somehow Jared had more than followed breadcrumbs. He’d figured out she was with Gavin. How close had he been? Regardless, now they were all on alert. Including the dogs, Radar on the floor beside Gavin. Disco was in the duplex next door with Rachel.

No matter what, he would keep her safe. Stacy didn’t know that they’d set things up so Jared would think she was next door where his friends waited with Rachel acting as a decoy.

Gavin knew Stacy wouldn’t like that. But she didn’t have to know. She had been told they were simply outside securing the perimeter. But Gavin wanted more than a simple trespass. They needed to catch the bastard breaking in to show the pattern. No one was in law enforcement, so it wasn’t entrapment. And what digging Gavin had been able to accomplish told him the department’s hands were tied.

For now.

Hugh and Liam would secure Jared once he broke in. Then the cops would arrive. All would be neatly taken care of. As much as he wanted to be in the action personally, he understood this was the best—safest—plan for Stacy.

Calming her after that text had been a major feat. She’d been so keyed up, so worried about putting others in danger, he’d been afraid the whole plan would backfire and she would recklessly try to leave. Not that he would let that happen. At last, though, she’d calmed and trusted him to take care of this, to help her, and that was soothing to his soul, to feel their bond was still intact.

He stroked her hair, her head tucked against his chest. The spare bedroom was the most secure place in the duplex, fewest windows, farthest from the doors. He had a two-way radio at his side. He and his buddies could alert each other with the touch of a thumb to an alarm.

Each shuddering breath Stacy took told him she wasn’t having any luck falling asleep. Not that he could blame her.

He stroked her arm. “Tell me about your life these past ten years. The good parts.”

Please, God, let there have been good parts. He wanted the best for her.

Her palm rested on his chest, right over his heart. “After you left, I went to school and trained to be an LPN.”

“You’re a nurse?” Just like they’d planned. He smiled. “That’s awesome.”

“I was a nurse,” she amended. “Jared made me quit my job at the hospital. And since the divorce, I freelance write to pay the bills. Everyone’s looking for articles on health issues. Pays well enough. I also do some medical chart transcribing.”

He wished he could see her face, gauge her emotions. “Are you happy with that?”

She shrugged, the feel of her against him so familiar and good. “I have flexibility. I can work from home.”

“All the time?” He frowned.

“Mostly, yes.”

“That sounds…solitary.” And like a woman in hiding.

“You’ve always been known as a quiet man.” She drew circles on his chest, the night sounds from outside muffled, bugs buzzing and the rare car driving past. “I’d have thought you would appreciate a job with solitude and instead you’re the one working with people all the time. Talking.”

“I had to figure out how to support myself and possibly put some of those emergency rescue and medic skills to use.” It hadn’t been an easy transition, but he was taking life one day at a time.

“That’s really admirable how you’ve built a new life for yourself. Maybe I could interview you for an article.”

“Me? I’m just doing a job.”

“You’ve taken a difficult blow and rechanneled your life.” She skimmed her fingers over the scars along his forehead, her cool touch healing. “What you’ve done is every bit as brave as what you accomplished in the field.”

Her words brought a lump to his throat. “I had to accommodate if I wanted a life at all.”

“If?” Her head shifted, and he could feel her look up at him. “You wouldn’t…”

“Kill myself? No, I’m past those thoughts now.” Life was still hard but not like those early days when he’d woken in pain in a dark world.

“Oh, God, Gavin, why didn’t you call me?” She slid her arms around him and held on tightly. “I would have come to you then. You always were too damn independent.”