My hand shook as I lifted it to my mouth. Exact same thing happened tonight.
“He’s killed eight other women in this manner. One of the women he attacked got away and has disappeared off the map, and now, uh, your sister.” He licked his lips and seemed to gather himself, which if I’d been in a better mental headspace, I would have congratulated him for. Dealing with a pissed-off Sonia was no walk in the park on a good day and he was doing his best. “We’re going to need to get on top of this…” He frowned.
“Right now I need to focus on my sister. You need to call Quinn…”
“And who’s Quinn?” He wrote down the name on notepad and I sighed. He must be really new. Sonia tended to be a hard-ass and go through assistants like she went through the Sunday paper. Quinn was my sister’s right-hand man, her BFF jack of all trades who also happened to be gay and dress fabulously. I was jealous of his abilities in all things. He even was capable of managing my sister, something no one had been able to do, not even Mama Kerri. However, I also knew he’d just gotten back from a much-needed two-week vacation. Hence the reason newbie Logan didn’t know about him.
“Head of PR,” she ground out. “He’s just come back from the Bahamas. Explain what’s happened, sparing no detail. I’ll deal with the press after I’ve ensured my sister’s safety and well-being.” She waved her hand in the air, dismissing the poor guy. “Thank you.” She added onto her instruction as if she’d realized how bitchy she sounded. “You may leave.”
He nodded and scampered away like a long-lost puppy. Then two uniformed officers took his place.
“Ms. Wright?”
“Wright-Kerrighan.” I held my foster mother’s hand tighter. When each of the foster girls turned of age, every one of us changed our last names, hyphenating ours with hers. Kind of like a gift to her for all she’d done over the many years she raised us. I kept the Wright because it felt wrong getting rid of every trace of our biological parents. And since that’s how Sonia kept her name, I followed along. Our other foster sisters did too. Sonia however used Wright-Kerrighan only in private. For professional reasons she chose to stick with Wright.
“Can we speak with you about what happened?” asked a man in a pair of navy slacks and an old beige sportscoat that had seen better days.
“Can they stay?” I nodded to my sister and mom.
“Oh, hello, Senator Wright. I’m sorry to be seeing you again under these circumstances.” He had a shiny gold badge clipped to his worn-out belt.
“Captain Mandle, thank you for coming.” Sonia offered a flat press of her lips as though she weren’t actually happy to see him.
“Captain?” I frowned. How many crimes came with the Captain visiting one of the victims in the hospital the night of?
“This case is sensitive, the FBI is involved, and you’re uh, well darlin’, you’re a living witness.”
And that explained it. I was alive as opposed to being dead girl number nine. Awesome. This day just kept getting better and better.
“The Backseat Strangler.” I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat.
“’Fraid so. I’m going to need to ask you a lot of questions. Many you may not have the answers to, but just do your best, yeah?”
I nodded. “I will.”
Peeking down the corridor, I noted a handful of officers standing around a single door at the end of the hall.
A nudge from behind had me shuffling into the open space before I’d gotten my wits together.
“Sonia, dammit! I was going for stealth mode!” I whisper-scolded under my breath.
“For what reason?” She hooked me at the elbow of my good arm, and we walked hip to hip toward the gaggle of men.
As soon as we approached, several of the uniformed officers turned around. One super tall white guy with longish layered dark blond hair that looked windswept held a hand up, palm facing out. He was dressed more professionally in a full pitch-black suit.
“This is a restricted section of the hospital. Authorized medical personal only,” he started, but my sister stepped right up to battle.
“Hello, Agent.” She glanced down his body.
He smirked. “Agent Russell.”
“Agent Russell. I’m Senator Sonia Wright and my sister was attacked this evening. Your peer, Agent Fontaine, saved her life. We’d like to inquire how he’s doing, and my sister would like to say a few words if he’s up to the company.”
My sister was a freakin’ rockstar. I held her hand, interlacing our fingers, palm to palm sharing my thanks silently.
The man’s face gentled. “You’re Simone?”
“Yes. Is he okay?”
The blond man smiled, and it lit up his face, making his already handsome one rather stunning. Though the man who saved my life was far more attractive. I always swooned for tall, dark, and handsome though several of my sisters would have dug this guy.
“He’s doing really well. A couple of fractured ribs and some serious soreness and bruising but the vest did its job. He’ll be back to work in no time. Not that he’d ever rest. And how are you?”
I reached for my bandaged arm and held onto it. “Twenty-two stitches and bumps and bruises.”
“The hand?” He glanced down at the hand that was wrapped and being held by my sister.
“Scratched up from hitting the asphalt. I’ll be good as new in a few days. Um, do you think I could see him?”
He gave us a boy next door grin. “I think he’d like that very much. He’s been asking about you. Come on.” He led us through the group of men gathered around and opened the door.
I walked in and my knight in shining hospital gown turned his head and smiled huge.
My heart stopped.
All sound disappeared.
There was nothing but him and me in that moment.
No machines. No hospital. No people milling about.
Just us.
I rushed to his form and threw my arms around him the best I could. He held onto me and pressed his chin to my neck.
“Thank you. Thank you for saving my life. I can’t ever repay that gift.” I snuffled against his warm, alive form.
“Hey, hey, we’re both okay. It all worked out.” He cupped the back of my neck under my hair and kissed my temple. “It all worked out.”
For a few long moments we held one another. Me standing over his bed leaning against him, him taking my weight and holding me close.
Eventually someone behind me cleared their throat.
I inhaled against his neck, the woodsy and fresh linen scent even stronger, but now mixed with something inherently rich and masculine. Pulling myself together, I leaned back and wiped the stray tears from my eyes.
“Oh, hello there. Whoa. Senator Wright?” Agent Fontaine said, clearly shocked to see my sister’s presence.
My sister smiled softly, her entire face softening at the sight of my savior.
“Thank you, Agent Fontaine, for saving my sister’s life. I am in your debt. If there is anything me or my office can do to assist the FBI or you with anything in the future, I am at your service.”
“Wow. Uh, okay. Thank you for that.” He shook his head as if trying to clear it before focusing on me.