Deadly Ever After (Hardy Brothers Security Book 6) (3 page)

“Great,” James said, worriedly watching as Mandy hovered near the doorway. She looked lost. “Baby, why don’t you come over here?”

Mandy shuffled across the floor, stopping next to James’ bed. She hadn’t said a word since she’d walked into the room, and James was concerned. He reached out with the arm Marsden wasn’t working on and captured Mandy’s trembling hand with his. “I’m okay,” he said. “It’s not a bad wound.”

“You were shot,” Mandy said, her voice weak.

“Barely,” James said.

“You were shot,” Mandy repeated. “I thought … .”

James pursed his lips. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I should have called you right away. I didn’t realize the hospital did it. If you’d heard my voice, you would’ve known I was okay. I’m not sure where my phone is. I lost it in the stampede after the shooting.”

“What happened?”

“Someone was on the roof of the building next to the courthouse,” James said, rubbing his thumb over the top of Mandy’s hand in soothing circles. “I saw them right before it happened.”

“Who was it?”

“I don’t know,” James said. “I couldn’t really go and look after … .”

“You were shot,” Mandy finished.

“I need you not to freak out,” James cautioned.

Mandy bit her lower lip. “Too late.”

James sighed. “I know.”

“I just … don’t ever die on me. I can’t take it.”

James smirked. “Right back at you.”

“Home sweet home,” James said, sinking down onto the couch and kicking his shoes off with his feet, discarding them underneath the coffee table.

Mandy dropped the bag of medicine onto the kitchen counter and fixed him with a hard look. “You need to get into bed.”

“I’m fine.”

“You were shot.”

“You need to stop saying that like it’s going to win the argument,” James said, looking Mandy up and down. “Why don’t you come and sit down next to me. You look like you could use a hug.”

“I’m fine.”

“Well, I could use a hug,” James countered.

“You need sleep,” Mandy said. “The doctor gave me some meds to knock you out tonight.”

“I don’t need them,” James said.  “I need a hug.”

Mandy made a face, but she acquiesced, carefully sliding onto the couch next to him and resting her face against his good shoulder.

James arched an eyebrow. “That’s not much of a hug.”

“You’re hurt.”

“Baby, I’m fine,” James said. “The only thing hurt here is my pride.”

“That big hole in your shoulder says otherwise,” Mandy said. “And why would your pride be hurt?”

“I don’t have a hole in my shoulder,” James said. “Well, I guess technically I do. I have a hole in my heart because you won’t hug me.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“I want some love from my girl,” James said, slipping his arm around Mandy’s small shoulders and pulling her in close to his chest so he could drop a kiss on her forehead. “See, I’m perfectly fine.”

“This isn’t over,” Mandy said. “You’re going to bed, and you’re taking that medication. Don’t even try arguing with me. I’m going to give you exactly thirty minutes to sit here, and then we’re doing things my way.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re back to being yourself,” James said. “I like you bossy.”

They were quiet for a moment, James’ words niggling at the back of Mandy’s mind. “You didn’t tell me, why is your pride hurt?”

“I should’ve realized what was happening,” James said, brushing Mandy’s flaxen hair down so he could rest his cheek against the top of her head. “I saw something up on the roof. It took me too long to realize what was happening. I shouldn’t have been caught off guard, and yet I was. When I realized what was happening, it was too late to warn anyone.”

“And you decided to jump in the path of a bullet?”

“No,” James said, shaking his head. “I have no idea why I was the one who was shot.”

Mandy stiffened. “Do you think someone targeted you?”

“I don’t know,” James said carefully. “We don’t know anything. Let’s not let our imaginations get away with us, shall we?”

“That’s not what I was doing,” Mandy protested.

“That’s exactly what you were doing,” James said. “I know you.”

“You have no idea what I was thinking,” Mandy argued.

“I know,” James said. “Just like right now I know you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to trick me into taking that medication.”

Mandy made a face. “I was not.”

“Yes, you were,” James said, smiling into her hair. “How about I make you a deal?”

“What deal?”

“If you sit here and let me hold you for a half hour, I’ll willingly take the medication and go to bed,” James offered.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“And you’ll be quiet and rest all day tomorrow, too?”

James sighed. “You’re negotiating?”

“You started it.”

“Fine,” James said. “If you sit here and let me hold you, I’ll take the medication and I’ll lie around and let you play nurse all day tomorrow.”

“I’m not wearing a nurse’s outfit,” Mandy warned. “You’ve been shot. You can’t get too excited.”

“That’s not what I was thinking,” James said.

“It is totally what you were thinking,” Mandy said. “I know you just as well as you know me.”

“Oh yeah? What am I thinking now?” James asked, his brown eyes weary and yet still flushed with mischief.

“You’re wondering if you can convince me to have sex,” Mandy replied. “You’re considering playing up the gunshot wound, but you’re worried that will backfire and I won’t have sex with you until I’m convinced it’s completely healed. You can’t figure out what the best way to go is.”

James scowled. “How did you know I was thinking that?”

“Because I know you,” Mandy said. “And, well, I love you.”

“I love you, too, baby. I love you more than anything.”

Once the half hour was up, Mandy ushered James into the bedroom, watching as he stripped down to his boxer shorts and climbed under the sheets. The bandage on his arm was bright white against his skin, a stark reminder of how close she’d come to losing him.

Mandy handed James his pills, watching as he downed them with a glass of water, and then tucking him in snuggly.

“Satisfied?” James asked.

Mandy sat on the edge of the bed, running her hand over James’ chest as she watched him. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” James said, placing his hand on top of hers as she traced a lazy pattern across his chest. “I already told you that.”

“How are you really?”

James growled in the back of his throat. “Are you going to hover?”

“I’m going to make sure you’re taken care of,” Mandy said. “That’s my job.”

“You’re only job is climbing in here next to me,” James said.

Mandy smiled. “I need to go and make sure all the lights are off in the other room,” she said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Hurry up,” James said. “These pills are already working. I’m not going to sleep well if you’re not next to me.”

“Go to sleep,” Mandy said, leaning down and brushing a soft kiss against James’ lips. His hand tangled in her hair as he held her there for an extra smooch.

“If you wanted to do all the work, I could probably muster enough energy to wow you before I fall asleep,” he offered.

His slurring speech and heavy eyelids told her otherwise. “Go to sleep.”

After double-checking that the door was locked and turning off all the lights, Mandy returned to the bedroom and found James passed out. The medication had done its job. She touched the side of his face lightly, the pale illumination of the clock telling her that he was dead to the world when he didn’t stir.

There, alone with the sound of his rhythmic breathing, Mandy sank to the floor next to the bed and finally allowed herself to do the one thing she couldn’t do when James was awake. She cried.

JAMES
woke a few hours later, confusion coursing through his muddled mind. Something was wrong. He knew it. He just couldn’t figure out what.

It took him a few moments to realize where he was, the dull ache in his shoulder reminding him how close he’d come to shattering several worlds this afternoon. He recognized his bedroom, the white noise of Mandy’s pedestal fan lulling him as the medication tried to drag him back down into slumber. He glanced to his left, frowning when he realized that he was alone.

He rolled to his side, running his hand up and down Mandy’s empty side of the bed. It was her absence that had woken him. He’d gone from a man who never wanted to spend an entire night with a woman – any woman – to a man who couldn’t sleep without the same woman’s warm body at his side every night.

James wasn’t sure he would be able to stand if he tried. The medication was powerful, and it wanted him to rest and sleep. He had to find his blonde before he would let it claim him again.

His eyes landed on something odd next to the bed. It took him longer than it should have to realize what he was looking at. It was the top of Mandy’s head.
Why is she on the floor?
It looked like she’d fallen asleep with her head resting against the side of the mattress, her back nestled against the hard wood of the nightstand.

He tugged on her hair to wake her.

Mandy jumped to her feet, startling him with her frantic movements. “What’s wrong? What do you need? Are you okay? What’s going on?”

“Nothing is wrong,” James said.

“Then why are you awake?”

“Why are you sleeping on the floor?”

“I … I guess I just drifted off.”

“Why were you on the floor? Have you been crying?”

Mandy raised her fingers to her puffy eyes, wondering briefly how he could even see that in the dark. “No. I … I’m just tired.”

“Then why aren’t you in bed with me?”

Mandy rubbed the side of her face. “Why are you awake? Are you in pain? Do you need me to call the doctor?”

“I woke up because I didn’t feel you next to me,” James said. “Tell me why you were on the floor.”

“I was just … I was watching you sleep and then I fell asleep.”

“Well, the watching-me-sleep thing is kind of weird,” James said. “Since I’ve done it myself, though, I’m going to let it slide. Get up in the bed. You can watch me from a more comfortable position.”

Mandy worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “I don’t want to hurt you. If I climb on that bed, it might jostle your shoulder.”

James rolled his eyes. “Get your ass in this bed. I’m not joking. I’m not going to be able to stay awake much longer, and I’m going to be really pissed off if you’re not here with me when it happens.”

Mandy’s exaggeratedly slow movements as she slipped under the covers were enough to make James want to shake her. She was rigid when she rested her head against the pillow, her body tense.

“Okay, go to sleep,” Mandy said.

“No.”

“James, you have to sleep,” Mandy said. “Please.”

“Not until you’re over here with me,” he said.

“You can’t keep your eyes open,” Mandy said. “I’m not going to climb on top of you and risk hurting you in my sleep. I won’t do that.”

“Oh, you’re going to do it,” James said. “I’m the one who was shot. I get what I want tonight, and what I want is you right here.” James extended his arm and pointed to the open spot he’d made. “Right now.”

“James.”

“You know, we went through this a few months ago when you were hurt,” James said. “You were hurt a lot worse. A lot worse, baby. You wanted me to touch you even though it really hurt you. It doesn’t hurt me, and I want you in my arms. Now, don’t make me yell.”

Mandy shuffled closer to him, cautiously resting her head against his shoulder as he secured his arm around her back.

“If you move after I fall asleep, I’ll know,” James warned. “Then I’m going to yell at you tomorrow morning.”

“I won’t move,” Mandy said. “I’ll be right here.”

“You’re going to stay awake all night to make sure you don’t accidentally hit my shoulder, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

James was exasperated. “We’re going to talk about this in the morning,” he said. “We’re going to have a really big fight. Just be prepared.”

“Go to sleep,” Mandy said, her voice soft as she kissed his strong jaw.

“A big fight,” James murmured, sleep winning the battle again.

“I love you,” Mandy whispered.

“I love you, too,” James said. “We’re still going to fight, and you’re going to lose.”

Mandy’s head was still resting on his chest when James woke up a little after nine the next morning. He was purposely still, hoping to give her more time to rest before facing the day. Something told him she’d had a long night. As hard as she fought falling asleep, though, she’d been unable to win the ultimate battle. That gave him a small measure of comfort.

James reached over, brushing the tousled blonde hair away from her face so he could get a better look at her in the early morning light. Her eyes were still slightly puffy, but he was fairly certain she hadn’t succumbed to tears again while he was out.

He didn’t want her to cry. He couldn’t take it when she cried. The thought of even a little bit of misery touching her heart was too much for him.

He felt her shift next to him, her legs extending as she stretched. He watched as consciousness claimed her, internally sighing as she bolted to a sitting position and glanced around guiltily.

“Don’t bother,” he said, his tone dry. “I’m already awake, and you didn’t accidentally maul me or hurt me in my sleep.”

Mandy leaned over, resting her weight on her elbow. “Are you okay?”

“No.”

Mandy furrowed her brow. “You’re not? What do you need? Do you need me to change your bandage? Do you want more of the pain meds? Do you need help getting into the bathroom? Do you think it’s infected? Do you need me to call the doctor?”

“I need you to chill,” James said.

Hurt flashed in the depths of Mandy’s eyes. “Oh.”

“Don’t look at me like that,” James warned.

“Like what?”

“Like that,” James said, forcefully pulling Mandy’s head back down to his chest. “I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“You’re allowed,” Mandy said. “I shouldn’t have fallen asleep.”

“Why not?”

“Because you might have needed something.”

“I was dead to the world,” James said. “I have a feeling you were awake for hours after I was already gone. Why is anyone’s guess. Only your busy mind has the answer to that.”

“You were shot,” Mandy reminded him.

“Oh, really? I forgot.”

“You’re not funny.”

“I’m not trying to be funny,” James said. “I’m trying to get you to relax.”

Mandy was quiet for a minute, letting James pet the back of her head. The perfect morning moment didn’t last long. “Are you hungry?”

“No,” James said, grimacing as the sound of his stomach growling betrayed him. “Maybe a little.”

“I can make you breakfast,” Mandy offered. “You need nourishment. You need fuel to recover.”

“I need you more,” James said, his voice soft and pointed. “Just … five minutes. Just be with me for five minutes.”

Mandy eyes were conflicted.

“Baby,” James growled. “You’re killing me. I am fine. My shoulder is fine. I need you to just let it go.”

“I can’t,” Mandy said.

James cupped the back of her head and forced her eyes to his. “Why?”

“I thought … I thought you were dead,” Mandy admitted. “I thought that’s why they wouldn’t let us back to see you. The minute I heard the words from the nurse on the phone, I just … I couldn’t function.”

James forced himself to remain calm, even though he desperately wanted to shake her. “I know the feeling,” James said. “You don’t think that I felt the same way when you were hurt?”

“I … .”

“It’s hard being the one waiting,” James said, cutting her off. “You know what the worst moment for me was when you were hurt? And, no, you sneaking out of the apartment doesn’t count.”

Mandy waited for him to continue.

“I spent twenty minutes yelling for a doctor to come and update me on your condition,” he said. “I was convinced you were dead. I knew that’s why they wouldn’t tell me what was going on with you. The second between when the doctor came out of that back hallway and before he opened his mouth was the most scared I’ve ever been in my whole life. I needed to hear how you were, and I was terrified to hear him say the worst words in the world at the same time.”

Mandy lifted her chin. “Really?”

“Really,” James said. “I know a little about being scared when it comes to someone you love.”

“I guess,” Mandy said. “It’s just … .”

“You felt helpless,” James finished. “I know. I can’t fix that. As you can see, though, I’m okay. In a week, you won’t even be able to tell this has happened.”

“I’ll know,” Mandy grumbled.

James’ chest rumbled with silent laughter. “Yes, you will,” he said. “Just like I still have to force myself to remember that your back is healed.”

“Of course my back is healed,” Mandy scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m not the one being ridiculous.”

“Oh, fine,” Mandy conceded. “I’m being ridiculous. I just … is it wrong that I want to take care of you?”

“I want you to take care of me,” James said. “I just don’t want you to sacrifice yourself to do it.”

“I’m not,” Mandy protested.

“You are,” James said. “What we both need here is for you to relax.”

“Fine.”

James couldn’t hide his smile as he watched her rest her head against his chest. After five minutes – a stretch of time he was sure was excruciating for her – he let her back up. “So, what are you going to cook me for breakfast?”

Mandy arched an eyebrow as she leaned over him. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“I’m enjoying being with you,” James said. “By the time our parents invade next week, alone time is going to be a hot commodity.”

“You’re right,” Mandy said. “What do you want for breakfast?”

“An omelet sounds good,” James said, his mind wandering back to the first breakfast she’d ever cooked for him.

“Okay,” Mandy said. “Breakfast it is. We’ll tackle your bandage afterwards.”

“I can’t wait.”

“SOMETHING
smells good,” Grady said, breezing into the apartment, his arms laden with groceries. “I was worried you guys didn’t have anything to eat.”

“I see you brought supplies,” Mandy said.

Grady looked her up and down. She was dressed in fuzzy Hello Kitty pajama pants and a T-shirt, her blonde hair pulled back in a simple ponytail, and she was standing next to the stove with a spatula in her hand. She looked relaxed – at least more relaxed than the last time he’d seen her. “I did,” Grady said. “I figured you guys would be sticking close to home today.”

“We are,” Mandy said. “James is grounded.”

Grady smirked at his brother. “You’re grounded?”

James shrugged, grimacing slightly at the twinge in his shoulder. “I’m hoping she dresses up as a naughty teacher and spanks me with a ruler later.”

“Nice,” Grady said, settling on the couch next to him. “How is your shoulder?”

“It’s fine,” James said. “It’s a little sore.”

“You were lucky,” Grady said. “By the way, Finn is down getting the footage from the courthouse’s cameras. We’re hoping it shows something – but I don’t think there are cameras on the roof. We’ll have to wait and see. He’s going to bring them over here when he’s done.”

“Good,” James said. “The sooner we find out who did this, the sooner we can put it behind us.”

“You’re not working today,” Mandy said from the kitchen, her back to them. “You promised.”

“Looking at a video isn’t work,” James said.

“Yes, it is.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“James,” Mandy warned.

“Mandy,” James teased back.

Grady watched the exchange, amusement flitting across his face. “She seems better,” he said after a moment, lowering his voice.

“She was up all night,” James replied, matching his brother’s muted tone. “She panicked about three times.”

“Well, that’s to be expected,” Grady said. “You should have seen her in the lobby. She was convinced she was having a nightmare. I think the thought of you dying on her was almost too much for her to take.”

“Well, I can’t go back in time and fix it,” James said. “All we can do is move forward. I’m fine. She’ll be fine, too. I’m hoping a whole day together where she can see I’m fine will help.”

“It can’t hurt,” Grady agreed. “So, do you want me to change your bandage so she doesn’t have to?” James shook his head, a gesture that surprised his brother. “You don’t?”

“I want her to do it,” James said. “If she sees how small the wound is, I’m hoping it will make her realize that she’s being ridiculous. After seeing her back after the explosion, my shoulder should be a piece of cake. Oh, you didn’t happen to bring any cake, did you?”

Grady snorted. “I bought a box of Twinkies.”

“Those will work.”

Mandy slid three plates onto the dining room table and glanced at the brothers expectantly. “Breakfast is served.”

“Aw, man, I thought you would serve mine to me in bed wearing nothing but an apron,” James said.

Mandy rolled her eyes. “Eat your breakfast.”

“THIS
isn’t a very good angle,” James said, leaning over Finn’s shoulder so he could see the laptop screen better.

“It’s all we have,” Finn said. “I think all we can say with any certainty is that, whoever it was, they knew what they were doing.”

“And we can’t clean this up at all?” Grady asked.

“I’m going to send it to Maverick,” Finn said, referring to the computer guy Hardy Brothers Security often utilized for sensitive matters. “I’m not optimistic.”

“Look here,” Grady said, pointing to the screen and causing Finn to hit the pause button. “Look at the way he crouches.”

“He’s military trained,” James supplied. “Yeah, I figured that out, too.”

“I don’t think he chose you at random,” Finn said. “I think you were a specific target.”

James straightened, shifting his gaze to the closed bathroom door. Mandy had disappeared inside to shower about twenty minutes before. “Keep that to yourself for now.”

“You don’t want her to worry,” Finn said.

“She’s already worried,” James said. “I don’t want her to completely fall off the rails.”

“Do you think that lying to her is the best way to go?”

“It’s not a lie,” James replied. “We don’t know anything. We have certain ideas, but they’re not facts.”

“That seems like a semantics argument,” Finn said.

“It is,” James agreed. “I just … she slept on the floor for half the night last night because she was so worked up. She needs time.”

“And you don’t want to scare her,” Grady supplied.

“Not for anything in this world,” James said. “So, for now, this is just between the three of us.”

“What about Jake?” Grady asked, referring to the fourth security company employee. “He has better military contacts in the area.”

“He can be briefed,” James conceded. “Make sure he doesn’t tell Ally.”

“He’s not going to like that,” Finn said. “They’re all about the love and honesty these days.”

James made a face. “Just … he’ll understand.”

“He will,” Finn said. “I was just messing with you.”

“Why?”

“Because, for a second there yesterday, I was worried I’d never be able to mess with you again,” Finn admitted.

“Do you want me to clear a spot for you on the bedroom floor so you can sleep next to Mandy tonight?” James asked.

“If you think that will help,” Finn replied.

“ARE
your brothers gone?”

Mandy walked out of the bathroom, her hair damp, her face flushed from the hot shower.

“Yeah.”

“Did the video show you anything?”

“Not much,” James said. “It’s a horrible angle. We’re sending it to Maverick.”

“Are … ?”

“Don’t ask me if I’m okay,” James said, keeping his focus on the television. “I can’t answer that question one more time.”

Mandy remained rooted to her spot, uncertainty washing over her for a moment. She sucked in a deep breath, calming herself. She’d promised him that she wouldn’t hover.

James tilted his head to the side, his warm brown eyes scanning her. “Do you want to come over here and make me feel better?”

“I’m going to come over there and change your bandage,” Mandy said. “That should make you feel better.”

James wrinkled his nose. “That’s not what I had in mind.”

“I know,” Mandy said, moving toward the counter and gathering the medical supplies. “It’s what we’re doing, though.”

“Fine,” James grumbled, leaning forward and pulling his shirt over his head.

Mandy knelt down in front of him, fixing him with an unreadable look. “Didn’t that hurt?”

“What?”

“Taking your shirt off,” Mandy said. “It seems to me that should have hurt.”

James smiled. “I’m a tough guy.”

“You’re … something.”

James grabbed Mandy’s chin and pressed his lips against hers. “I’m your something.”