Sadie was waiting in the parking lot and ran over to help Rori, as she got out of the car. It brought tears to her eyes. She hadn’t been close to anyone when she’d returned, and Sadie’s friendship meant the world to her, she just hadn’t realized how much until that moment. As much as her life had sucked the last few years, she still had a lot to be thankful for, and the people standing around her were three of them.

“Thank you, all of you for being here for me.”

“Aww don’t cry, Rori. It’ll all work out, and you’re alive.”

“I know. But for a few minutes there I didn’t think I would be. I still don’t know how you stayed so calm the entire time.”

Raptor shrugged and looked at Hank, then back at her. “It’s years of training, angel.”

Sadie nodded. “Hank is the same way. When I was in trouble a year or so before you came back home, it was the same thing.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, one of these days I’ll tell you the gory details. I keep forgetting you weren’t here then.”

“We can continue this upstairs. I’d just as soon get her off her feet and in a protected area.”

“Yes, sir,” Sadie said with a laugh but took Rori’s hand and helped her to the door.

Hank and Raptor held back a moment, and from the look on Raptor’s face, it wasn’t good news. Too bad she couldn’t hear them.”

“C’mon. We’ll find out soon enough. Let’s just get you inside and cleaned up. Oh yeah, that reminds me. Hank, can you grab the casserole dishes out of the truck.”

Rori fished the keys out of her purse, and Sadie unlocked the door, but before they could step inside, Raptor was there.

“Let me go in first and look around. You stay with Hank. I’ll be right back.”

Rori mumbled under her breath, “you’re kidding, right?”

“No, I’m not, angel.” He kissed her forehead and disappeared inside the building. True to his word he was back a few minutes later, and for the first time she noticed he was favoring his side. “We’re good. Do you want me to carry you up?”

“No, I can do it myself. You’re hurt.” Sometimes that man, but really, she couldn’t fault him. He’d saved her life. Twice. And he called her angel? He had it all wrong, he was her guardian angel.

“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

Just as the doc said, she was starting to hurt in places she didn’t know existed. “Whatever. I think I need a hot shower.”

“Are you sure? If you’re dizzy, it might not be the best idea.”

“I’ll help her. Is that okay, Rori?” Sadie asked.

“Thank you. That’d be great, although I’m sure I’ll be fine. I don’t feel dizzy at all.”

“If you guys throw the casseroles in the oven on three hundred fifty, they’ll be ready to eat by the time she’s all cleaned up.”

As soon as they got to Rori’s bedroom, Sadie was full of questions. “Angel? He calls you angel? How perfect is that? When did all of this happen? Two days ago, you were arguing with us about needing a bodyguard.”

“Hey, my head is killing me. One question at a time. As for him calling me ‘angel,’ I don’t know, I think he’s been using it all along. I figured it was just something he said.”

“I doubt it. Especially when you see the way he looks at you.”

“He’s the one who saved me in Paris. Did you know that before he came?”

“No. I don’t think Hank did either or he would have told me. Wow. What are the odds?”

“I don’t know. But now he’s saved me twice.”

“Yup. So maybe you need to open your eyes, err eye. I don’t think you’ll be opening that left one for a few days.”

Rori turned to look in the mirror. “Oh my God.” No wonder her head hurt. Half her face was swollen and bruised, and her eye was swollen shut. “I’m a horror story.”

“No, you’re not. Cut it out. You were in a car accident. You’ll be fine in a few days.”

“Because of Raptor.” She didn’t know how she would ever thank him. He’d been there for her on two of the worst days in her life. He said he wanted her, that he wasn’t leaving. Had he really meant all the things he’d said to her last night? She needed to talk to him, but it wouldn’t happen until they were alone. For now, she needed that shower, and maybe the heat would help the swelling.

***

“How come you didn’t answer Chases’ emails,” Hank demanded as soon as they were alone.

“I didn’t have a chance to read them yet. I was going to do it as soon as we got back from the delivery.”

“Well maybe if you’d checked them you wouldn’t have been in the accident.”

“What did he find out and how do you know?”

“He called me when he couldn’t get in touch with you. Alex traced the source of the calls to Cynthia Marshall in Boston. Apparently, she was Jim’s twin sister and took his death hard.”

“But if she’s in Boston she’s not the one causing all the trouble here.”

“We don’t know yet. Alex is trying to find any connection between Cynthia and anyone local.”

“Maybe we’ll get lucky, and there will be a fingerprint on the brake line.”

“Or he’ll try again. If he meant to kill her, he isn’t done.”

“I know. My gut tells me it’s the guy from the bakery, or that he’s involved in some way. I haven’t had a chance to ask Rori if she’d seen him before. I wish to hell the hardware store had cameras. Then there would be irrefutable proof on video.”

“Stuff like this doesn’t usually happen in Eagle Rock. I bet they’ll stock them now.”

“Too little too late. I almost got her killed today.”

“No, you didn’t. I shouldn’t have said that. There was nothing Alex turned up to indicate they’d tamper with her van. It was pure genius to have her drive into the dumpster. It could have been so much worse.”

“I know. She was terrified when she realized she couldn’t stop, but she listened to me and stayed calm. Thank God this is a small town. Did you or Chase find out anything else?”

“Chase thinks Cynthia is behind it all. She was in a private clinic after Jim’s death, and from the records he dug up, she doesn’t seem too stable.”

“Alex is amazing on the computer.”

“Yeah, it would appear that way. But I sure as hell don’t want to know how he got private medical info, but I’m glad he did. But we can’t share any of this with the sheriff.”

“Understood.”

They continued to discuss plans and options. Raptor was convinced it was the guy from the bakery and he was itching to get his hands on him. But he’d managed to duck Hank. He’d bet anything that he was still hiding in town, waiting for his next opportunity.

“I think you both should come stay with us.”

“No, we’re not going anywhere. This is my home.”

The two men turned to see Rori and Sadie standing in the kitchen doorway. They were both ex-special teams, and the women managed to sneak up on them. Not a good sign at all. “I guess we’re slipping, Hank. They could have taken us out before we knew they were there.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Rori said with a smile. She looked a little better after her shower, but he winced whenever he looked at her poor eye. He loved that she’d left her long brown curls loose instead of putting them up the way she usually wore her hair.

“I agree, Hank. I think we’re better off here, besides I don’t want to bring any trouble your way.”

“It wouldn’t be…”

“What about Emma? I would never forgive myself if something happened to her.”

“We’d keep her safe.”

“I’m still not going.”

“Okay, but if anything else happens, I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“If you he-men are done making all the decisions, how about we eat?” Sadie said as she pushed past them to get to the stove.

“You made chicken Tetrazzini?”

“Yeah, I figured why not try it. My kitchen skills have improved tons since you’ve been helping.”

“I can vouch for that.”

“No one asked you. Unless you want to feel the burn of this dish I’d suggest you move.” Sadie smiled and brushed against Hank as she moved past him. Raptor envied their relationship, well not envy so much as wished for the same with Rori. But if he couldn’t keep her safe he wasn’t worthy of her love.

Dinner was delicious, even though he had no idea what chicken Tetrazzini was, he’d eat it again in a heartbeat. 

“Thanks for bringing dinner, Sadie. I’m sorry I don’t have anything to offer for dessert. Unless you want to go get something out of the bakery? I need to get down there and clean and prep for tomorrow still.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that. The bakery will be closed tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll make up for it in sales when you open. Everyone in town will want to hear what happened.” He wasn’t going to allow her to push herself. She needed rest and time to recuperate.

“But…”

“There you go with the buts again.”

“I hate to say it but I agree with Raptor, I think you should just take a few days off. You’re the only bakery in town you won’t lose customers.”

“I’d prefer you didn’t open again until we figure out who’s targeting you. Today proved they’re serious and don’t plan on letting up. You could have been killed.” The last thing Raptor wanted to do was make her sad, but he needed her to listen to him so he could keep her safe.

“I’ll give you tomorrow. But after that, we’ll see.”

“You are one stubborn woman.”

“Only when it comes to something I care about.” Her words made him hope that one day she’d care about him that way.

“I think we’ll head back to the ranch. If you need anything call, I can be here in about twenty minutes.”

“Thanks, Hank. Sadie, if you ever decide you want a new career you can come work at the bakery with me.”

“No way. The middle of the night feedings were bad enough, I don’t need to do it daily. Thank you though.”

The women hugged, and Hank gave Rori a kiss on the unbruised side of her forehead. “Talk to you tomorrow.”

“I’ll go down and lock up, stay put, okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

Raptor shook his head as he followed the Patterson’s down the stairs.

“You better not hurt her,” Sadie said.

“What? I’d never hurt her.”

“She’s fallen for you, whether you see it or not. Don’t you dare break that girl’s heart. She’s already been through too much.”

Hank looked as surprised as Raptor at his wife’s comments.

“I don’t plan on ever hurting her. I hope she’ll have me, but I have to make sure she’s safe first.”

Sadie nodded and smiled. Obviously hearing exactly what she was hoping. Raptor checked the lock on the bakery door, then locked the apartment entrance and headed upstairs to his angel.