Into the Fury (BOSS, Inc. #1)(88)

A memory returned of the child shivering with fear on the floor beneath her, and Val fought not to tremble. She glanced up to see Samantha crossing the living room toward the sofa.

Sam crouched in front of the little girl. “This won’t be for long, sweetie. I know you want to stay with your daddy, but he needs to find the man who shot at you.”

“At me and Valentine,” Hannah said solemnly.

“That’s right, sweetie. He shot at you and Val, but Val’s okay.”

Hannah looked at Val with big blue worried eyes. “Does your arm hurt bad?”

Val’s heart squeezed at the child’s concern. She managed to smile. “It hurts a little. Not too bad.” It had hurt like bloody blazes until the meds the EMTs had given her kicked in. She’d only taken one, though, instead of two. She needed to stay as alert as possible in case someone else tried to kill her.

Or Ethan. Neither of them could be sure exactly what had happened.

Beneath the bandage, her left arm continued to throb. She still couldn’t believe she had actually been shot.

“I’ll call every day, sweet cakes,” Ethan said as he approached. “I promise.”

Hannah stared up at him, tiny lines cutting into her forehead. “What about Mommy?”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t happy with Allison’s DUI. Val couldn’t believe the woman had been drunk with her daughter in the car. Clearly, Ethan figured Allison deserved some time in jail.

“You’re mama’s gonna be fine.” Ethan crouched next to Samantha. “You won’t see her for a while.” Or so Ethan’s lawyer had assured him. “But you get to spend time with your Aunt Samantha and Uncle Nick.”

They were actually her cousins, but Ethan and Nick were nearly the same age and very close, and aunt and uncle seemed easier for a child to grasp.

Samantha took hold of the little girl’s hand and urged her up from the sofa. “We’re going to have a great time, Hannah.”

“What about the Busy Bee? And Chrissy?”

Samantha turned to Ethan for help.

“The Busy Bee’s her day care,” he explained. “Chrissy’s her babysitter. Ally’s gone a lot.”

Sam cast Val a disgusted look they both understood. Allison wouldn’t leave the little girl with the dad who yearned to spend time with her, but she thought nothing of handing the child over to day care or a babysitter so she could party with her friends.

“We’ll make sure they know you’re visiting your aunt and uncle,” Ethan said. “Okay?”

For the first time the child seemed to relax. Apparently, order had been restored to her young world. “Okay.”

Nick scooped her up and propped her on his hip. “I need kid practice, anyway,” he said with a grin. He was going to be a dad soon himself, and clearly he was excited about it.

“Thanks again,” Ethan said as he walked his family to the door. Val could almost feel the emotions rolling through him. She wished she knew what to say to make him feel better.

He watched through the curtains as Nick’s SUV drove away. The engine noise slowly faded. Though the police were still outside, with everyone gone the house seemed strangely silent.

“I know how you must be feeling,” Val said, walking up behind him. She rested her head on his broad back and slid her arms around his waist, hoping the contact would soothe him.

Ethan turned to face her. “I don’t think you could possibly understand. Until today, I had no idea what it would feel like to see two of the most important people in my life looking death square in the face.”

Val’s throat tightened. “Oh, Ethan, I’m so sorry. If I’d let you stay at your place instead of insisting you and Hannah come back here—”

His warning glance cut her off. He eased her into his arms. “This isn’t your fault, honey. None of it. We don’t even know if you were the target. Hoover’s right. It could have been me.”

She nestled her head against his shoulder and Ethan just held her. She could feel the tension coiling through his big hard body, the worry, the weariness. “What are we going to do?”

“The cops are still outside, so we’re okay for the moment, but we need to get away from here. Trouble is my apartment might not be safe either. I called Dirk while you were giving your statement. He’s got a place we can use. You’ll need to pack a few things.”

“Okay. I’ll do it right now.”

He reached out and touched her cheek. “I’ll never forget the way you protected my daughter, Val. Never. You were amazing.”

“Ethan.” She rose a little, pressed a soft kiss on his lips. His arms tightened around her, pulling her fully against him.

“I was so damned scared,” he said. “I don’t scare easy, Val, but I was so afraid for you and Hannah.”

“Oh, baby.” Her eyes burned. She leaned into him, very gently kissed the side of his neck, trailed soft kisses along his throat, the bottom of his hard jaw. She pressed another kiss on his lips.

Ethan cupped her face between his hands. “Valerie, honey. I don’t want to hurt you, but Jesus, I want you.”

Her chin wobbled. She wanted him, too. Needed him in a way she never had before. “You won’t hurt me.” Wrapping her good arm around his neck, she kissed him the way she’d been wanting to since she had sensed his pain.