Witness (Guardians Book 1) Read online

  “Bailey?” I whispered.

  “Mmm?”

  I leaned over her, squeezing her hand. “Wake up, beautiful.”

  She groaned again and then her blood curdling scream brought Macey running into the room.

  “What happened?” Macey demanded.

  I shrugged. “No idea. I think she’s having a nightmare.”

  Macey checked Bailey’s vitals and her drip levels, and then sighed. “She seems calm now.” She wagged a finger at me. “Don’t wake her.”

  I raised my hands in surrender. “I won’t, Mase. Swear.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me again and then stalked out of the room. I pulled the chair closer to the bed and took Bailey’s hand, my thumb stroking her knuckles. “What happened to you, sweetheart? What demons are messing with you, huh?”

  Bailey

  I GIGGLED, RUSHING to keep up with Alison as we headed up the driveway of a house party off-campus. Alison Wade was tall, slender, and brunette. She maintained her model figure by eating next to nothing, her only caloric vice was alcohol (according to her), and she was strong, independent, and someone who took shit from no one. She had been my roommate and best friend throughout college and was the polar opposite of shy and introverted me.

  “What’s the rush, Ali?”

  “Come on, babe. Tonight we’re going to par-tay.”

  “The nineties called…they want their saying back.”

  “Killjoy,” she said with a laugh. “Come on.”

  I rolled my eyes, thinking of all the things I’d rather be doing: homework, getting shots, cleaning the toilet, eyeballs plucked out by crows…you know, the usj.

  “Stop with that look. It’s going to be fun,” Ali countered.

  “What look?”

  Alison giggled. “That look you get when you’re trying to come up with an excuse not to party with me. Stop it. We just graduated, your parents are already gone; you have days to sleep off your hangover before you have to start packing, right?”

  “I guess. They’re sending someone in three weeks to pack up the apartment.”

  “See? Lots of time,” Ali said. “Besides, you’ve turned down the last five parties and you promised.”

  I sighed, resigned to my fate. “Okay, but why this party, specifically?”

  Ali stopped so I could catch up to her. “That guy I told you about will be here.”

  “Dean or Jake?”

  “Dean.”

  “I don’t know about this,” I said. “Dean’s got a nasty reputation.”

  “Rumors.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  Ali tapped her chest. “Who’s got your back, babe?”

  “You.”

  “Damn straight.”

  I grinned. “Is he really that hot?”

  “Babe, he’s a model. Yes, he’s that hot. And yes, I fully plan to get laid.”

  “I thought male models were typically gay,” I pointed out.

  Ali grinned. “Well, if he is, I’m going to turn him straight tonight.”

  I giggled again. “If anyone can, you can.”

  “Damn straight.”

  I followed Alison into the house and then pain shot through my arm.

  * * *

  Brock

  “Ali!” Bailey screamed, sitting up. She tried to climb from the bed, but I laid my hands on her shoulders to keep her still.

  “Let me go!” she demanded, but I could see she wasn’t quite awake. “Ali’s hurt. I have to get to Ali.”

  “Bailey.” I shook her gently. “Bailey, wake up. You’re safe.”

  She opened her eyes, and then threw her arms around my neck and burst into tears. I ignored the pain in my skull as her newly set cast collided with my head.

  “Shhh. It’s okay, you’re safe,” I crooned as I stroked her hair.

  “They’re going to kill her.”

  “Who, Bailey? Who are they going to kill?”

  She shook her head against my neck.

  “You can tell me. I will protect you.”

  Bailey leaned away from me and gave my shoulders a gentle push. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I did that.”

  I released her, albeit reluctantly. “Who are you protecting?”

  “No one.”

  “Bailey,” I ground out.

  “You know, I’m in a little pain.” She reached for the call button and shifted on the bed. Within seconds of pressing it, Macey walked in.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked as she pushed open the door carrying a tray.

  “She said she’s in pain,” I said.

  Macey set the food on the side table and checked Bailey’s pain pump. “Looks like you just gave yourself a dose. How do you feel now?”

  “Good,” Bailey said.

  I glanced at her, but she wouldn’t look at me, and I realized pretty quickly she’d used the pain as an excuse to put distance between us.

  “I think Bailey should eat and then rest, Brock,” Macey said.

  “She hasn’t answered my questions, yet.”

  “And she isn’t going to until she’s feeling better.”

  “Mase, I’m not leaving until I get some answers.”

  “Well, I’ll let Doc decide that.” Macey left the room and I stepped back to the bed.

  “Since it took me a second to figure out you duped me into believing you’re in pain, I think you owe me one,” I said.

  “I owe you one because you were duped?” she challenged.

  “Tell me who you’re protecting Bailey.”

  She sighed. “No one.”

  “Bailey, you’re going to have to tell me at some point.”

  She blinked up at me and her face relaxed. “Alison Wade,” she said, her speech slurring. “A foreign man has her.”

  “A foreign man?”

  Bailey’s pupils were pinned, indicating the meds were kicking in. She smacked her lips. “Russian maybe?”

  I texted the information to Dallas. “Good, Bailey, that’s good.”

  “You are gorgeous,” she said, and giggled.

  I smiled. “Am I?”

  She nodded. “Best looking guy I’ve ever seen.”

  “Brock, what are you doing?” Alec asked as he pushed into the room and made his way to Bailey’s side.

  I frowned at him, but did step aside.

  “How are you feeling?” Alec asked Bailey.

  She giggled. “Mmm. You’re gorgeous, too. Two hotties in one room. Damn.”

  “Looks like the pain meds are kicking in.” Alec took Bailey’s pulse and glanced at me.

  I wasn’t happy with her attraction to the young doctor, but didn’t know exactly why it bothered me.

  “No offense, doc.” Bailey giggled. “He’s way cuter than you,” she whispered…loudly. “But don’t tell him. I can tell he kind of has a really big ego.”

  Alec smiled and squeezed her arm. “It’ll be our secret.”

  “Thanks,” she said, and giggled again.

  “She wasn’t acting like this before,” I observed. “What did you give her?”

  Alec didn’t respond as he appeared to take vitals and check her IV.

  “Doc,” I pressed. “What did you give her?”

  “You know I can’t tell you that.”

  “Damn it! I need some answers.”

  “Well, you’re not going to get them tonight,” Alec said. “She needs to rest.”

  “Ali,” Bailey mumbled.

  I took her hand. “Where’s Ali?”

  She smiled sleepily up at me. “God, you are so cute.”

  “Thanks, beautiful. How about you tell me where Ali is?”

  “Is she missing?”

  “You tell me.”

  Bailey smacked her lips again. “Thirsty.”

  I grabbed the water before Alec could, and held the straw to Bailey’s lips. “Better?”

  “Hmm-mm.”

  “Tell me about Ali.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “Ali’s in trouble.”

>   “Where is she?”

  “I don’t know. I think she’s dead.”

  I glanced up at Alec and frowned.

  “The man hit her really hard,” she mumbled, and burst into tears. “Dean tricked her.”

  Alec grabbed a syringe and pushed the needle into her IV. Bailey’s tears quieted, and her breathing evened out. “That’s it for now, Brock. How about you come back tomorrow?”

  I gave him a reluctant nod. I had a few more pieces to the puzzle and I knew I wouldn’t get anything else from her until the meds wore off, so I stepped into the hallway to make a quick call. I’d need to get a security detail sorted before heading out for the night.

  * * *

  “Dallas,” I ordered. “Find out everything you can on Alison Wade and some guy named Dean. That’s all I know.”

  “I can tell you Alison Wade is Bailey’s roommate,” Dallas said. “They have an apartment off-campus. Jax and I were going to head over there to see what we could find.”

  “Has anyone filed a missing person report on Alison yet?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “Get a detail over here.” I caught sight of a man in scrubs heading toward Bailey’s room. The scrubs didn’t quite fit and with his rough hands, he didn’t look right to me. “Dallas, gotta call you back.” I hung up and slid my phone in my pocket, following the man into the room. “Can I help you?”

  “What are you doing in here?” the man demanded in a Russian accent.

  “I was going to ask you the same question.”

  “I’m the on-call tonight and I’m checking on Miss Harper.”

  “What’s with the syringe?” I asked.

  “Medicine for Miss Harper.”

  I moved in an attempt to get between him and Bailey’s IV. “Doc just gave her meds less than ten minutes ago.”

  “He ordered more.”

  “Show me your badge.”

  “It must have fallen off. I will go get it as soon as I give her medicine.”

  I had to give the guy props. He made a big show as I reached for my pocket and sighed. “You’re not giving her anything until you show me your badge.”

  The fucker ignored me and made a move toward the IV, which meant I was forced to take action. I wasn’t prepared for him to fight back, though, as I shoved him out of the way.

  “Fuck,” I snapped as the guy punched me in the jaw.

  I saw the next hook coming and dodged in time. I jammed my fist into the fake doctor’s throat, and then wrapped my hand around his neck. Gasping for air, the Russian doubled over. I swept the Russian’s legs out from under him. He hit the ground, face first. I pounced on him with my knee in the middle of his back and pulled his arm up, so he couldn’t move. Handcuffing him, I dragged him off the floor and shoved him into the hallway.

  Alec and Macey came rushing toward us.

  “What the hell happened?” Alec asked.

  “He was trying to put something in Bailey’s IV. There’s a syringe on the floor by the cabinets. Find out what the hell is in it and I’ll take care of this asshole.”

  * * *

  I pulled out my phone again while I pushed the perp into a chair in the hallway. I filled Dallas in on everything that just happened.

  “Jax’ll come to you and I’ll head to Bailey’s apartment,” Dallas said.

  “Okay.” I frowned at the perp. “Tell Jax to grab Sergei. Just in case this bastard plays the ‘I only speak Russian’ card.”

  “Got it. I take it you’re going to stay with Bailey now?”

  “Yeah. Cancel the detail.”

  “Okay. I’ll take care of it.”

  “Thanks.” I rubbed my forehead. “What the hell has she gotten herself into?”

  “No clue, brother. We’ll figure it out,” Dallas assured.

  “Yeah. See you later.”

  I hung up and crossed my arms, addressing the Russian. “What do you want with her?”

  He sneered. “Fuck you.”

  “Figured,” I retorted.

  Alec walked out of Bailey’s room and held up the syringe. “I’m taking this down to the lab and we’ll find out what was in it. Macey will stay with Bailey until you get this mess sorted.”

  “Thanks. Jax is on his way to pick up this piece of trash.”

  Alec walked down the hall and out of sight, and I took a couple of pictures of my prisoner. To kill time, I asked a few more questions that the Russian ignored. Finally, Jax and Sergei arrived just as Alec walked back into the room.

  “What did you find?” I asked.

  “Cyanide,” Alec said.

  “Fuck!” I wrapped my hand around the perpetrator’s throat and squeezed. “I ever see your face again, I’ll kill you.”

  Jaxon pulled me off the guy, and he and Sergei yanked the Russian to his feet.

  “I’ll call you when we know something,” Jaxon promised.

  “Thanks.” I watched them go and then headed back into Bailey’s room.

  Bailey

  TWO DAYS LATER, Brock walked into my room, a duffle bag over his shoulder. I’d been in the hospital for almost four days and was officially being released…finally.

  “Hey, Bailey.”

  “Hi,” I said carefully.

  “Doc fill you in?”

  “On?”

  Brock frowned. “He didn’t fill you in. You’re coming home with me.”

  “Excuse me? Coming home with you, where?”

  “Ali’s in some deep trouble, which means, by association you’re in some deep trouble, so, you’re heading to a safe house.”

  “A safe house? Deep trouble?” I pushed myself up on the bed. “For how long? When can I go back to my place?”

  “Not for a while, Bailey. It was pretty trashed.”

  “Trashed? What?” I snapped. “By whom?”

  “I’ll explain everything on the way, but we stopped by your apartment and grabbed a few things. Hope it’s the right stuff.”

  A shiver ran through me. The thought of him sifting through my panties both excited and terrified me. “Wait. Grabbed a few things? You went through my stuff?”

  “Well, no, not me personally. A female agent did.”

  In a weird way, this both relieved and disappointed me. “Oh. Okay.”

  He laid the duffle on the bed. “Do you need help?”

  “No, I’m good.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right outside.”

  I nodded and watched him leave before unzipping the duffle. Whoever this female agent was, she knew what to pack. I pressed the call button and waited for the day nurse to come. Macey wasn’t on shift, and that was a bummer in my opinion. Macey had a way of calming me.

  The door opened, and Brock stuck his head in. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “You called a nurse.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I did. I’d like to take a shower and I have strict instructions not to do it alone.”

  He gave me a sexy grin. “I’d be happy to help.”

  “Brock Williams, are you encroaching on my job again?” the nurse asked. “Get your skinny butt out of that room.”

  He looked as though someone had just killed his cat, but he did as he was told.

  Jenna walked in and smiled. “Did you need some help, hon?”

  “I want to take a shower, actually.”

  “Okay.” Jenna gathered up plastic to cover my cast and then opened cabinets and pulled down soap and shampoo and such. “I won’t come in with you, but I’ll get you in and then hang out in case you need me.”

  I smiled in relief. “Thanks.”

  I took the quickest shower in the history of the world, a little surprised I didn’t pass out…I was experiencing some serious pain. Drying off with one hand was nearly impossible, but I managed it and also managed to dress with Jenna’s help. What I couldn’t do was dry my hair, and Jenna got called to an emergency situation, so I sat on the bed, a towel wrapped around my head, hoping Jenna wouldn’t be long.

  A knock
at my door brought Brock, who glanced at me and frowned. “I take it you’re not quite ready.”

  “Can’t dry my hair with one hand,” I said, and pointed to my head.

  He chuckled and walked up to the bed. “Shift.”

  “Huh?”

  “Shift,” he repeated, and I did.

  Brock pulled the towel from my head and gently dried my hair. “Got a brush?”

  I nodded and reached for my brush in the duffle, handing it to him. He made quick and painless work of my less than ideally conditioned hair, braiding it and grabbing a band from the end of the brush to secure my braid.

  “Wow. You’ve done this before.”

  “Nieces,” he replied. “Ready?”

  “I just need to sign out.”

  “That’s been taken care of.”

  “Oh, okay. Then, yes, I’m ready.”

  “Rules say I have to wheel you out.” Brock pulled open the door and guided the waiting wheelchair inside. “I’ll grab your bag.”

  I nodded and walked slowly to the chair, a little dizzy, but Brock was right beside me to steady me. I lowered myself into the chair and he helped me with my feet, set my duffle carefully on my lap, and then wheeled me out the door. Dallas nodded at me and followed, and we headed to a large black SUV idling at the hospital entrance.

  Dallas took my bag, threw it in the back seat, and then Brock helped me in next to it, buckling my belt like I was a small child. Brock drove, Dallas rode shotgun, and we took off to an unassuming suburban neighborhood in Vancouver, Washington.

  Brock maneuvered the car into the garage and then closed the door. Brock, not Dallas who was closer, opened my door, unbuckled me and then virtually lifted me out of the car.

  “Who lives here?” I asked as he set me on my feet.

  “As far as the neighbors think, Dallas lives here. He’s lived here for six months and I’m his brother, visiting for a few weeks.”

  “And who am I?”

  “Well, no one’s going to see you, Bailey, so you don’t have a cover.”

  “Oh,” I said, and followed him into the house.

  I was surprised by the home. It was gorgeous. The large kitchen had a center island long enough to seat four. The great room offered a flat-screen television, a black, leather sectional, and a couple of overstuffed chairs circling a fireplace in the corner.