Eleven
Two days later, Solene sat next to a hospital bed stroking Deacon’s hair, wondering how her life had changed so much in so little time. Noel’s basement held a medical suite in addition to the firing range and dojo. At least it kept Deacon out of harm’s way while he healed. She brushed his dark hair again, feeling so much for him she didn’t know what to do.
Nearly two months after watching her best friend fall in love, she’d succumbed to that same pesky emotion with a hitman who had the worst sense of timing ever.
She looked up as Hammer and Noel entered the room.
“How is he?” Noel asked.
“He woke up a few times to tell me to be careful and not to trust Vi, then he passed out again.”
Hammer scowled but said nothing.
Noel sighed. “The nurse said he’s recovering. Mostly blood loss. The bullet lodged in his leg and had to be surgically removed, but he’s on the road to recovery. It nearly nicked a major artery. But nothing a few weeks in bed and a good woman won’t cure.” He smiled at her. “You two were lucky.”
“I know.” She frowned. “I’m still confused about Vi.”
“She’s a traitor,” Hammer growled. He’d spent the past two days trying to track her down. He hadn’t found anything, and he’d returned like a wounded bear ready to turn on anyone who approached.
“I don’t think she is.” Solene had gone over and over what had happened two days ago, as puzzled now as she’d been then. “When she found me in the closet Deacon had shoved me into—with orders tohide,” she growled, still annoyed with how he’d dumped her inside and gone out to face the danger alone, “she didn’t have a lot of time. She told me not to trust what I saw, and she gave me a knife even as she marched me out to Burleigh. It was an act.”
“Says you. Because those hidden cams Deacon installed cut out just when she appeared. I have no reliable feedback to go off of,” Hammer spat. “Oh yeah, and Vi drugged me when I was protecting you. Twice.” He stalked to the bed, staring down at Deacon with brooding intensity. “You said she made a deal with Burleigh.”
“I’ve been thinking about it. I think she was a plant, or maybe she was working both sides. She could have killed you, Hammer. She could have hurt me or let Burleigh’s men kill Deacon. But she saved us both. She wanted whatever Burleigh gave her on that phone. She wanted to talk tohim, whoeverheis. And you said Big Joe is fine. She lied about nearly killing him.”
Noel shook his head. “She lied about a lot of things, unfortunately. Burleigh isn’t the end of this. But he’s one step closer. I think we’ll find a lot once we dig through his townhouse.”
“Townhouse?” Deacon said, his voice hoarse.
She blinked down at him, and he gripped her hand. “Thank God. You’ve been lazing around long enough.” She had to clear her throat to rid herself of the emotion balled there. “Slacker.”
He smiled, and the fog in his gaze cleared. “Hey. I have a hot woman fussing over me and sack time away from General Cavanaugh. Freakin’ dictator.”
Hammer gave a ghost of a smile. “You got that right.”
“Hey.” Noel walked forward and took Deacon’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “We were worried there for a while. You lost a lot of blood.”
“It was a ploy to get Solene to admit she loves me. You know, a dying man’s wish…” He glanced at her, one brow raised in question.
“I think I’ve already proven how much I love you,” she said drily. “Remember?” As she’d hoped, he got the reference. His face brightened, the big dope. Solene had to chuckle. She couldn’t believe she’d resorted to a reminder of kinky sex to admit to loving him. “Yeah, that’s really what it meant.”
He beamed.
“Not quite as good a declaration of love as shoving me in a closet and confessing you love me before telling me to shut up and stay put, though.”
Hammer cringed. “Oh man. That’s awful.”
“Really?” Deacon gripped her hand so tightly it hurt but having him back made it all worth it. “Because the way she declared it to me involved—”
She slapped a hand over his mouth. “Never mind. Suffice it to say I’m keeping him. And if he wants to stay with me, he’s mostly retired from his old job.”
“Mostly?” Hammer stared down at them, looking confused.
“Well, he’s going to teach me how to throw a knife and do some of those fancy moves. But he’s going to be living here, full-time,” she warned Deacon though she spoke to Hammer. “Plus, he’s going to be my food director in the new place I’m opening downtown. A sandwich and soup shop, I think. I’m looking for a manager for Ash Daycare. Interested?”
Hammer violently shook his head.
“And this shop will sell nutritious food, right?” Deacon teased.
