Tattoo (Take It Off #7)(28)
Author: Cambria Hebert

I studied him.

“She told me about the plan of using her for ransom. One of the thieves is still out there. What are the odds he will come back for her?”

I wished I could say I thought Snake would turn tail and get the hell out of town, but I knew better. I knew these guys were territorial. He wasn’t going to just cut and run. Especially now that he knew I’m a cop and was responsible for thwarting his grand plans of being the next kingpin in the organization. “It’s a possibility.”

“Be at this address early the day after tomorrow morning. The police are putting a man outside the door here until she is discharged tomorrow evening. She’s staying with me, and I have a very early day at the bank. This breech in security is making our members very antsy.” He handed me a business card with what I assumed was his home address.

“I didn’t say I would do it.”

“It’s just until this criminal is captured.” He just kept talking like he hadn’t heard me at all. “Then, I will be happy to not see you again.”

Wow, he was really laying on the charm to get me to agree.

“I’ll give you one hundred thousand dollars.”

Surprise shot through me like a bullet. A hundred grand for what would likely be a day or two of work? Damn.

A rapid beeping sound floated through the door, and then Taylor cried out. Both of us barreled into the room. The first thing I did was sweep the space with my eyes, and my arm went to my back, reaching for my gun.

The gun wasn’t there.

She made another sound of distress and my feet skidded across the linoleum as I rushed to her bedside. “Taylor,” I called, leaning over her, taking her hand. She was having a nightmare.

She gasped, her eyes flying open and her body jerking upright.

“Easy,” I murmured, catching her gently by the shoulders to keep her from flailing about too much and hurting herself.

“Brody?” she asked, her unfocused eyes seeking me out. When she saw I was there, she gave a cry of relief and flung herself at me, her free arm wrapping around my neck as she buried her face in my chest.

A tidal wave of fierce protectiveness swept over me. The fact that she willingly rushed into my arms for comfort heightened a primal need within me. I wanted to protect her. I wanted to be the one to soothe her when she was upset.

“It was just a bad dream,” I said softly, splaying my hand against her back and pulling her a little bit closer.

“Please don’t leave,” she whispered.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

The phone in Edward’s pocket went off, shattering the quiet in the room. Taylor jolted in my arms and I glanced at Edward, who was letting it ring while he stared at us with an unreadable expression on his face.

“If you aren’t going to get that, at least shut it the hell off,” I growled.

He pulled the phone out and looked at the screen. He sighed. “I have to get this.”

I waved him away and he answered, stepping out of the room and pulling the door around behind him.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, keeping my arm around her. She practically crawled into my lap, and I chuckled. “You’re going to hurt your arm and pull out your IV.”

“I don’t care.” Her voice was muffled against my shirt.

“Lie down,” I ordered, pushing her into the covers.

I saw the flash of defiance in her eyes, but then I kicked my legs up on the bed and scooted up beside her (careful of the IV) and she decided not to refuse.

“Come here,” I murmured, opening my arm. Her body fit right up against me and I turned so I was on my side, facing her, with my arm draped over her middle.

I could tell she wanted to turn as well, to push that ass of hers right up against my hips, but the sling and monitors would not allow it. Instead, she turned her face so it was buried in my neck.

She didn’t say anything, but the slight tremble in her body faded away and she released a contented sigh before slipping back into a deep slumber.

I sat there a long time, not sleeping, just feeling her against me. I wasn’t used to this kind of shit. I was used to wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am. I wasn’t used to holding hands, kisses that didn’t lead to sex, and a woman who acted like I was the cure for everything that ailed her.

I liked it.

I was dozing off when Edward came back into the room. He stopped short when he noticed I was in the bed and she was plastered against my side.

I glanced up at him, speaking softly above Taylor’s sleeping head. “I’ll do it,” I said, accepting the job.

He nodded.

“One thing,” I said.

“What?”

“I don’t want your money.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes. “You’re turning down payment?”

“Yes.” I had money of my own. I didn’t want or need his.

I wanted something else from him.

I wanted his daughter.

14

Taylor

My father left early, and as soon as I got out of bed, I told his housekeeper she could take the day off. I didn’t want or need a babysitter.

Time alone sounded pretty nice, though. People were hovering around me since I was admitted in the hospital. My father, the nurses, the doctor, the police officer at the door. I was constantly surrounded. Sometimes I went into the bathroom just to hide. All these people… and not one of them were who I really wanted. After Brody left that night, he hadn’t been back. I understood he had work to do and a life of his own, but every time the door to my room opened, my heart would leap, hoping it was him. And when it wasn’t, disappointment burned the back of my throat.

Was it possible to become attached to someone through a life-altering situation? Was it possible to develop real feelings for someone under circumstances of duress? Or was Brody just someone whose memory would fade over time?

The thought scared me. I barely knew him, but I wanted the chance to change that.

My entire body was like one giant ache as I moved through the rooms of my father’s too-big house, not really looking at anything, but just moving, just trying to work out some of the soreness.

Of course, this wasn’t like a pulled muscle. This wasn’t like I ran one too many miles at the gym the day before. I couldn’t just walk off the soreness of being shot and almost killed. I wasn’t sleeping well because I was plagued with dreams of gunfire, money, and basements without windows.

It would take time for some of my fear to wear away. I understood that and I was okay with it. But a little bit of peace might be nice.