Gabe held Megan's hand while they rushed through the hallways. Orderlies pushed patients on beds in front of him in a line for a CT scan, but with luck the crowd dispersed the moment they tried to maneuver around them. He held Megan closer and guided her past the security people he’d placed near their private wing.

As they made it to the entry, Gabe nodded to two other men he served with overseas, Conner and Harrison, who each took a job in helping him protect his family. His sister, Olivia, walked out of the room and wiped her eyes. She took a deep breath and motioned for him to go.

Gabe took a step forward, but held Megan's hand and refused to let go. He held the door for her but his gaze immediately fell on his mother and next to his father who sat beside her sipping a small water cup. He let go of Megan's hand and hugged his mother. "Mom. Dad. I'm so happy."

As his mother's wrinkled arms wrapped around his neck, he felt like he could breathe. These two days had been horrible, but now that they were awake and responsive, he could live again. They seemed healthy. He let go of his mother and walked around the bed to hug his father. From behind him, his sister said, "Mom’s doctor said the infection is over its worst and she’s responding to medication and Dad woke up thirsty and demanding water, now."

Now was a word his father enjoyed saying. The moment his father let him go from the hug, Gabe stood taller and asked his burning question. "Mom, why were you both wearing bulletproof vests that day?"

Megan's face went white as she leaned against the wall.

His mother glanced at Megan who she stared at quizzically and answered, "Your father told me to."

He turned toward his father and asked, "Why, Dad?"

He sat straighter and nodded. "We had anonymous letters. I refused to let anything happen to your mother."

"Well you were still unconscious for days." His lips curled and he crossed his arms. Weeks earlier, Maddox had sent them warning before he tried to kill them. This behavior was a tell. He had threatened Megan too.

His father tried to end the questioning. "Neither of us are spring chickens anymore, kiddo."

Megan stepped forward but kept her head down. "You were wearing bulletproof vests?"

"Yeah." His mother stared with a quizzical look in her eye.

"Oh thank goodness." Megan swallowed and she sucked in her breath.

His mother turned toward him and asked, "Who is this young lady?"

Right. He expected the question sooner, but Olivia had been too preoccupied. He glanced at his parents and sister and let how healthy they looked sink in. A second later, he motioned for Megan to join him. She hugged her waist and followed him to the center of the room. Once he had his hand on her back, he hoped she relaxed. "Mom. Dad. This is Megan Murdock. I served with her brother during the war."

His mother gave her the 'welcome smile' as best she could in a hospital bed. "Nice to meet you."

Megan stared at him and her face went white. He then said, “Megan’s in danger too for telling us who fired at you and I’m trying to keep her safe.”

“How did you know?” His mother asked and stared at Megan.

“I found my brother’s confession.” Megan backed into him. " The second I found out, I contacted Gabe and the police."

“Mom, Megan’s scared too and she’s been more than helpful. I intend to keep her safe.” So the cat was out of the bag. He had texted James, Conner and Harrison everything he knew about Maddox to protect his family, but he hadn't told his sisters, not yet.

His father stared at him and asked, "Why would he...?"

"He blames me for being captured and getting tortured, Dad." Gabe interrupted while the memory of a gun pointed at him blazed through his mind. His head throbbed until he met his friend's gaze. "It was in the desert."

A nurse entered the room with her traveling kit to check on both of his parents. His mother clenched her heart as his father shook his head and said, "I never wanted you to join."

No one said anything until the nurse left. Once the door closed, Megan added, "My brother has not been well in a long time. I'm so sorry."

"You seem lost, Megan." His father stared at her but briefly glanced at him. A second later, he lowered his head on his pillow and seemed tired, though he softened his gaze and asked, "Did he hurt you?"

His entire body froze. He looked away from Harrison and gazed at the first woman who had made him crave for more than anyone else in years, if he told himself the truth. He hadn't asked Megan if she was ever hurt by her brother.

Then her face turned red. "No, but he's not the same guy he was before he left."

Traitor. At least he hadn't said that out loud. The silence in the room was palpable. No one said anything, and the sound of hospital equipment filled the silence. "Give me one second to talk to Harrison and Conner."

Conner and his sister Olivia shared a look and the three of them walked toward the window. Gabe kept his voice low. "Did Maddox point a gun at me the day we almost lost Colt?"

"I wasn't close enough to you to see," Conner said.

Harrison wrapped his hand around his waist. "You screamed traitor right before the bomb exploded."

Again he thought about the gun that was pointed at him, but this time he remembered a USB in Maddox's hand. Suddenly the scene played out and the entire moment clicked in his head. Maddox had set Colt up to die though Belle pulled him out. Conner had chased Maddox to get his hands on the USB that had his information when the bomb detonated, and they were all almost killed.

He gazed up at his friends and whispered, "I don't think Maddox was taken to prison that day, if ever. Everything was a blur.”

Conner nodded and glanced at his sister Olivia. “True and we all moved on, intending to forget.”

“Agreed. I started my tech firm in Internet security because I kept seeing codes in my head that could hurt our countries Internet infrastructure. Banks are my biggest clients. Maddox took a program I had worked on at the time."

Harry then asked, "His sister is looking at you with wide eyes. Are you sure she's not a spy for him?"

The thought hadn't crossed his mind about Megan. He'd been fascinated with the curve of her hips. As he thought about her, nothing came to mind but she was being honest. "I don't think so, but I ran a background check on her to be sure."

"Let us know if anything changes," Harrison said.

Conner stared at Olivia who blushed and turned her attention toward their mom.

Gabe needed to get Megan out of here before anyone asked him about them. He had no answers at the moment other than he wanted to spend more time with her and there was no way she was a willing spy for her brother. He shook his father's hand and once he finished, he turned and hugged his mother one more time. "Mom. Dad. I'm glad you're good."

His father said, "Take care of Megan, Gable. In turning in her own family, she chose to do the right thing. I admire courage in a woman."

Wise words though his father lived in a different era with his comments sometimes. Gabe choked on his thought. "I will, Dad."

With a yawn, his father said, "Come back tomorrow. We're both tired, but we want to talk at length with your pretty woman."

How he didn't blame Megan at all was exactly what he always expected of his father. He nodded and said, "Yes sir."

"Your father seems nice." Megan followed him to the door.

"Now." He nodded at his friends who waited in the hall. He'd speak to them tomorrow about the jobs they were doing for him. Right now, he held out his arm that she latched onto from the simple gesture. "Growing up he was demanding. Age has mellowed him."

As they cleared the first door and headed to the elevator, her face went white and she stopped midstride. Then she tugged his arm. "Wait."

"You're pale." He placed his hand on the small of her back.

She pointed toward the elevator corridor with a lot of people who passed each other. "My brother. He was just there."

He glanced everywhere but saw no sign of Maddox. With all the people, it was hard to see everyone. He turned her around and walked her toward his parent's room. "Let's get back. Olivia and Conner and Harrison are there."

She nodded and tugged on his shirt. "Call 911."

He picked up his phone and dialed as he glanced at Megan's pocketbook. If Maddox was here, he knew they were here. He opened the door to hold it. "Conner, guard the door."

His former Marine friends all stood taller and on edge while he explained to the police.

Harrison ensured his parents beds were together and asked, "What's happening?"

Megan answered his friend at the same time he talked to the police. "Maddox is here."

"What's going on?" His mother asked with a yawn.

Megan hugged her waist, but his mind raced. "This is all my fault."

"How?" Megan placed her hand on his back the moment he hung up the phone. He stared at his mother and father who held hands.

The image of standing in the desert as he reached for Maddox. In that flash, Belle screamed and he turned. A second later in his memory the explosion rocked and he fell backward. When he had looked for Maddox, he was gone.

"This is not your fault. I'm sure you did everything you could." Her words brought him back to the present.

His friends guarded the door until the police knocked.

After the police took their statements, and they went to check, Megan whispered to him, "I should have put him in a mental institution or something. Now I'm afraid of what he'll do and afraid of what happens if he's not arrested."

He reached out and took her hand. "You're with me now. I'll keep you safe."

It seemed too soon as his family and friends and Megan huddled together to play cards. Minutes ticked past until his sister put her hand down and said, "The police are back."

The officer nodded. "We've checked the halls and have police assigned everywhere. We haven't seen Maddox Murdock. He must have escaped."

Or he knew he couldn't get through his defenses. Again he glanced at Megan's pocketbook. If he wanted to track someone he'd use their phone. He hugged his parents and placed his hand on his friend's back to "Harrison, you're in charge of my parents. Stay in contact with the police. He cannot get to them."

He picked up his hand of cards and said, "Relax, Gabe. Go home with your girl. I've got this."

His jaw ticked, but seconds later he turned to his friend guarding his sister. "Conner..."

Conner waved him off and stared at his sister. "I'll keep Olivia safe. Go."

Everything was in order. He placed his hand on her back and asked, "Ready, Megan?"

Without a word, he guided Megan through the door, with security. In silence they made their way to the parking garage. "Where are we going?"

She must be scared. He winked at her. "Home, to check on your cat."

The moment he opened her door, she said, "Gabe, I swear I saw him."

"I believe you." He closed her door and hopped into the driver’s side. He started the engine. "The bigger question was why was he at the hospital."

She placed her bag on the floor. "I don't know."

He glanced at it one more time. "Has he ever used your phone?"

"My cell phone?" She reached inside her bag and fished it out. As she stared at it, she bit her front lip lightly. "I think he did at Mom's funeral."

He reached out and took it from her. "I'm going to trash your phone and we'll buy you another."

Without more explanation, he opened the car door, placed it under the tire, closed his door and reversed. The crack of electronics rang in the air. "You ran it over."

He opened his door and confirmed he’d smashed it into shards. Done, he closed the door and drove off, "I think he installed a tracker."

She glanced backward. "If he's following me then he knows we are in the parking lot."

"Buckle up." He sped faster.

If Maddox had a tracker in her phone, he’d already know he'd take her home, but starting now, Maddox would have no idea of his next move.