The hallway outside Hannah’s hospital room was pin-drop quiet the next morning. Exactly as it should be. Then why was Gage so wigged out that he couldn’t stand still? Maybe it was because hospitals shouldn’t be quiet. But he was the reason behind the silence, and he surely should be able to shake off this unease. He’d effectively closed off access to Hannah’s room for the last five minutes by stationing former Army Ranger Cooper Ashcroft at the end of the corridor with instructions to rebuff anyone without a hospital security badge.

Gage was taking no chances with Hannah’s life. He’d called in every team member. Eryn, the only female in the group and a former FBI Cyber Security Professional, stood next to Hannah’s door. Riley Glen who’d most recently joined Blackwell Tactical after a bullet ended his sniper career with the Portland Police Bureau along with former Green Beret Jackson Lockhart and former Recon Marine Alex Hamilton all took formidable stances nearby as they waited for Hannah to prepare to depart for the compound.

Eryn glanced at her watch. “Shouldn’t we be going?”

Gage thought the same thing, but he couldn’t rush the nurse in her after-care instructions. “We’re good until someone complains about Coop blocking the hallway.”

She nodded and widened her stance as if she felt the same anxiety as Gage. She wouldn’t be defending anyone today but would serve as a stand-in for Hannah in a decoy vehicle while the rest of the team slipped Hannah and David out the service entrance in a plain white van. They’d rigged up a dummy that looked like a boy covered in a blanket, and Gage would carry the dummy to mimic holding David.

Gage resumed his pacing and ran the transport plan through his mind again for the hundredth time since he and the team created it last night. It hit him then. The reason for his anxiety. He wanted to be in the van with Hannah and David, not in the decoy vehicle. Too bad. He had no choice. If the guy outside her door last night was indeed her attacker, he would expect Gage to accompany her. If he had the hospital staked out, he would also expect to see Gage escorting her home. That meant Gage had to drive the decoy vehicle if they had any hope of confusing her attacker.

“You’re gonna wear a hole in the floor.” Jackson raised thick brows, the deep black matching his buzz cut.

Gage scowled at the guy about his same height.

“Hey, man.” Jackson held up a hand. “It’s the truth.”

After a night sitting in a stiff recliner in Hannah’s room and jumping every time someone entered to check on her, Gage was in a foul mood. The last thing he needed was for Jackson to remark on his pacing, even if Gage had hired the guy because he didn’t pull any punches and spoke his mind.

Gage took a breath. Blew it out to keep his temper in check.

Jackson shook his head. “Your attitude seems like overkill for simply moving a woman and boy five miles down the road.”

Gage spun on him. “That’s the kind of thinking that will screw up this op. Five miles or five feet—I need you focused and ready for the unexpected.”

Jackson poked out his chest and settled large hands on his waist. “You calling my ability to do my job into question?”

Gage took a similar stance but widened his feet, too. “Do I need to?”

“Hey, hey.” Shoving a hand in surfer-blond hair, Riley Glen stepped forward. “Why don’t we take this down a notch? We all know how to do the job, and we’ll be in top form at go time. You know that, Gage.”

Gage did know that, but he couldn’t shake this ominous mood. As Jackson said, this was a simple transport, and Gage needed to control his nerves or he could be the one to blow the op.

Riley faced Jackson, his expression placating. “And you know Gage respects your skills. If he didn’t, you’d be long gone from the team.”

“I suppose,” Jackson grumbled and stood down.

Riley clapped Alex on the back. “We could use one of your stupid jokes right about now.”

“Hey, I’m no standup. You get a joke when you get ’em.” A smile curled up his mouth, but Gage didn’t feel like smiling.

The door suddenly opened, and Hannah stepped out. Even though the doctor said the brain bleed was minor and cleared her to leave, Gage ran his gaze over her to make sure all was well. He had to admit except for bruises and scratches she did look good. He’d sent her wet clothes home for his housekeeper to launder last night, and it was the first time since they’d broken up that he’d seen Hannah dressed in dry street clothes. His gaze lingered on curves that had filled out since he’d last seen her, and his thoughts traveled places they had no business going.

“Ah-ha,” Jackson said. “Now I get the angst.”

Gage jerked his gaze free and introduced the team. Hannah shook hands with each person and looked them in the eye, not wavering when many people would feel intimidated by the sheer size and intensity of the men. David hung behind her leg and kept poking his face out to look up at them.

“You okay, little man?” Gage squatted down to smile at the boy.

“My daddy worked with big guys like you. And he had to ’fend our country. Are you ’fending us?”

“Defend,” Hannah corrected, but she didn’t answer his question. “I’d love to get out of here before they decide to keep me.”

She tried to smile, but she’d only quirked up one corner when it flat-lined. He hated that. She was an amazing woman, and she didn’t deserve to continue to suffer. Hadn’t deserved the attack in the first place. But then, who did deserve something like that? Maybe getting settled and feeling safe at the compound would bring back her smile.

“Any questions on the plan?” he asked, though he’d reviewed their strategy multiple times with her.

She twisted her hands together. “Are you sure it’ll work?”

Every op could go sideways, and he couldn’t promise anything, so he nodded and left it at that. “Let’s get moving.”

“I wish you were going with us,” David mumbled.

Gage forced out another smile for the boy. “I’ll be at the compound before you know it, little man.”

He squeezed David’s shoulder, and then without thinking did the same thing with Hannah. She lurched back. Right. She didn’t want him to touch her. Stung big time. Eyebrows rose on the team’s faces, but they were too professional to comment.

“Let’s move, people,” he snapped to change the focus, and at their knowing looks, he wished he’d kept his big trap shut.

“Follow me, ma’am,” Riley said.

“Hannah. It’s Hannah. Okay?”

Riley nodded and smiled, accentuating good looks that Gage had seen women fawn over plenty of times. She didn’t seem to notice, but took David’s hand and stepped off behind Riley. Gage took comfort in her reaction and hated that the thought had even entered his brain.

Alex strode next to them, and after an affirmative nod to Gage, Jackson took up the rear. When they reached the corner where Coop stood duty, he fell in on the other side of the pair.

Once in his vehicle with Eryn and the dummy, Gage would take evasive driving maneuvers to be sure no one followed them. His team in the other van carrying Hannah and David would follow similar tactics. They were all in contact over comms units and would meet back at the compound, but Gage didn’t like seeing her disappear. Not even with four very capable men surrounding her.

“Let’s go, boss man.” Eryn pulled up her hood. Her dark hair was in direct contrast to Hannah’s startling red color, and Eryn’s face wasn’t as round, but with the hood up and head down, she’d pass from a distance.

Gage picked up the dummy boy, and Eryn started off in front of him, a swagger in her step. Powerfully built from hours in the gym, she didn’t have Hannah’s soft curves or feminine walk.

Gage caught up to her. “Remember to walk like a girl.”

“If only I was a girl and knew how to do that.” She socked him in the arm.

“You know what I mean. You don’t normally sway your hips as much as Hannah.”

“You noticed her hips, did you?” Eryn smirked.

“C’mon. Let’s move.” Gage resisted responding and escorted Eryn to the elevator. She exaggerated her walk.

“Seriously,” he said. “You do that outside, and I’m gonna clock you.”

She laughed and despite his unease, he smiled.

At the front door, he patted his jacket to be sure his Glock was in place. Satisfied he was as protected as possible, he stepped onto the sidewalk, praying this killer was nowhere in sight.

The compound was exactly like the sheriff had described it, and from the backseat of the SUV, Hannah surveyed every inch of the place through the spitting rain. Jackson leaned out the driver’s window and pressed his thumb on an electronic reader near a sturdy metal gate she’d expect to find at a top-secret fortress.

“Isn’t this security overkill?” she asked, her hand nervously fiddling with a strap on David’s car seat where he’d fallen asleep.

Jackson cast a glance in the rearview mirror. “Gage likes his privacy. And if that’s not enough reason, our work requires us to keep a well-stocked arsenal that we don’t want anyone to get their hands on.”

Gage had mentioned his business was training law enforcement officers, but she didn’t really get what that meant until now. And the privacy thing? Why did Gage need this type of privacy? A red flag for sure, and one that told her to be watchful until she figured it out.

They wound down a long driveway into a clearing surrounded by tall pines. A single-story log house sat to one side under a towering maple tree casting shadows over the building. The grounds were manicured and utilitarian, but there wasn’t a single flower in sight. Masculine, she supposed. Still the grounds looked like a normal homestead, and Hannah saw no evidence of the training facility.

Jackson opened one of three garage doors and pulled in. He’d no more than removed the keys when he hopped out. Alex to her left and Coop in the front seat followed suit. They stepped to the open door and formed a protective barrier, their expressions focused and frightening in intensity.

“Want me to carry the boy?” Riley asked from his seat on the other side of her, a ready smile following his words.

“I’d appreciate that.” Hannah returned his smile. “He didn’t get much sleep last night, and I’d hate to wake him.”

Riley seemed like such an agreeable guy and less intense than the others. Though he still had a solid build, he was the only blond among them. Maybe his lighter coloring made him seem less intimidating, or was it his personality? She didn’t know, but she felt as if she could relax around him. The others, including Gage, not so much.

He picked up David, and she followed them into the house while the other men moved outside and closed the garage door. She could only imagine what they were doing, but she suspected they were standing strong, their hands on sidearms, waiting for danger to rear its ugly head.

She couldn’t imagine doing their job, but it gave her better insight into what Nick’s life must have been like. Sure, she’d met his teammates who were all imposing, but they were talking and laughing at social functions, not in the fierce intensity of a life-or-death situation like this one.

Hannah stepped into a large kitchen with white cabinets and granite countertops. A short, plump woman came bustling into the room followed by a bashful little girl. Mia, Hannah assumed. She had wispy blond hair held back with a bright purple headband to match a T-shirt paired with khaki shorts and sandals. She looked to be about a year or so older than David, and she carried the same underlying look of sadness that Hannah often found in David’s eyes.

“The poor dear, all tuckered out.” The woman rested a hand on David’s back and peered at Hannah. “I’m Opal Bailey, Mia’s nanny and basic housekeeper. You must be Hannah and this is David.”

“Yes.” Hannah immediately liked this woman with waves of motherliness rolling off her.

“The precious thing hiding behind me is Gage’s daughter Mia. Say hi, Mia.”

“Hi.” The word slipped out in her squeaky little voice.

Opal turned to Riley. “Let’s get David up to bed, before I show Hannah to her room.” She whirled around and rushed through a family room, Mia’s tiny legs running to keep up. She stumbled near the stairs, appearing to be dizzy, before righting herself.

At the end of a long hallway, they stepped into a warm and welcoming bedroom. Riley gently laid David on the bed.

“Thank you,” Hannah said and received another kind smile before Riley departed.

Hannah settled David in, and then followed Opal to the room next door, painted a lemony yellow, a color that surprised her for a single male’s home.

“Gage’s mom decorated the room.” Opal gestured at the space as if reading Hannah’s mind. “Would you like to rest or have a cup of coffee with my freshly baked strudel?”

Hannah didn’t want to be sleeping when Gage arrived. “Coffee, please.”

They returned to the traditionally decorated kitchen, and Hannah took a seat at the large granite island next to Mia, who still hadn’t said anything except hi. Hannah waited for Opal to try to discuss the attack, but she didn’t say a word and hummed while she went about cutting a large piece of strudel and pouring rich black coffee in a pair of handcrafted mugs. Hannah opened her mouth to ask Mia a question, but the girl scooted to another stool looking like a frightened puppy, so Hannah opted to remain quiet. Opal served them each a piece of strudel, with milk for Mia and coffee for Hannah.

Hannah felt utterly safe in Gage’s compound, and with the safety, her appetite returned. She devoured the strudel and polished off the coffee.

“You like it, then?” Opal grinned.

“Sorry for inhaling it like that, but my appetite has come back.”

“Another piece?” she asked.

“Would it be rude to accept?”

“It would be rude not to.” Opal chuckled.

Hannah glanced at Mia who was watching her, and when Hannah looked away, the child forked a small bite of her food and chewed.

Hannah slid her plate across the island to Opal for a refill just as the door opened and Gage walked in.

“Right in time for some strudel,” Opal said.

“Just coffee for me.”

“Daddy.” Mia hopped down from her stool and, in an awkward gait, ran to her father.

“Hey, Bug.” A wide smile crossed his face, and he scooped her into his arms and turned in a circle.

She curled her arms around his neck. On one rotation, Hannah saw a soft smile of contentment on her lips. She let go of his neck and rested her head on his chest. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.” A faraway look claimed Gage’s eyes, and a burning desire to know what he was thinking caught Hannah unawares.

She suspected his thoughts resembled hers much of the time. Like pondering how much easier parenting would be with a partner. Coaxing his child into a happy state when she missed her mother. Telling her it was okay to be sad, and even more importantly, telling her being happy didn’t mean she loved her mother less.

Gage took a seat on the stool next to Hannah and settled Mia on his lap. Hannah retrieved Mia’s strudel and milk and set them in front of her. She shot Hannah a suspicious look and eased back into her father’s hold.

“Thank you is the right thing to say, Bug,” Gage said to his daughter.

A sullen thank you came from her mouth. Though not heartily meant, Hannah smiled at the timid girl.

“Where’s David?” Gage asked.

“Asleep.”

“Not surprising. He didn’t sleep very well last night.”

“Which means you didn’t either.”

Opal placed the strudel in front of Hannah, and she took a big bite, taking the time to savor the tart raspberry flavor this time.

“No worries. I’m used to it.” Gage took a long drink of his coffee. “Blake called. He said his team is done processing the cottage, and we can pick your things up.”

Her appetite vanished, and she set down her fork.

“Now, don’t you dare make Hannah go out there to retrieve her belongings.” Opal planted her hands on ample hips. “You can take me, and I’ll pack it all up for her.”

“That’s not necessary,” Hannah protested.

“Necessary, no. But I insist.” Opal’s face firmed with resolve.

“Thank you.” Hannah said. “Someday maybe I can pay you all back for your kindness.”

“Nonsense,” Opal said. “We’re glad to help, aren’t we Gage?”

He nodded. “Besides, the doctor said you should rest.”

“I will, but it feels so good to be safe that I want to enjoy it for a little bit.”

Mia’s eyebrow quirked in a question mark, and Hannah instantly regretted her words. She didn’t want David to worry, and now she’d made this child worry.

“How old are you?” Hannah asked to change the subject.

Mia looked confused for a moment then muttered, “Seven.”

“David is five. Maybe you can play with him when he wakes up.”

The shy little girl didn’t respond but turned her attention to her strudel again. Hannah had to admit that Mia’s reserved manner deflated a bit of her happy mood. Children usually responded well to her, and she wasn’t used to striking out with them.

Gage set Mia on the stool next to him and faced Hannah. “I need to head out and meet with the team. Maybe you’d like to come along and see the compound.”

“I should be here when David wakes up.”

“Don’t worry about him.” Opal jutted out her curvy hip where her hand still rested. “I’ll keep an ear out for him.”

“Then, yes,” Hannah said, thinking fresh air sounded good. Going with this very handsome man who she’d once loved sounded even better.

“Great.” He got to his feet. “Blake mentioned a few other things I need to bring you up to speed on.”

Right, this wasn’t a simple trip together, a chance to get fresh air. It was the opportunity to discuss how in the blink of an eye her life had been torn apart.