Troy tilted his head back, his eyes holding her in place. “Gwen, I need you to understand. I want you. I want you as my partner and all that means—not my caretaker. But right now I need a caretaker. I think you are a beautiful, intelligent, and desirable woman. I need some time to get through the surgery and work through things. I can’t ask you to wait.
“I am a danger for you too. I’ve received two more calls about you. The real reason I became so angry…my anxiety. I don’t want to lose you.”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “You’re an ass,” she snapped.
Troy crunched his brows. “I don’t understand.”
“Did you think,” she knocked on his head, “to ask what I want? Because if you asked, you would hear I want you too. You are a man worthy of love and worth the wait. Do you think a dick that jumps to attention makes a relationship? If you do, you are right, I shouldn’t wait. But if you are the sensitive man who has survived unimaginable trauma and still can smile and joke… If you are the man who can design logistics and an operation like no other… If you can work with victims of horrendous crimes and make them feel safe... You made me feel safe today.” She wiped her eyes with her fingers. “And if you are the man who kissed a distraught woman in Virginia and made her toes tingle, then I am all in. I’ll wait for you until you’re ready.” Her eyes narrowed, and her fists curled, trying to hold it together.
He pulled her into his arms. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips to the crown of her head as she trembled against him. “I don’t deserve you.” Not letting go of her, he spoke, “My beauty, I promise, no more secrets.” His hand caressed her cheek.
* * *
After they retiredfor the night, Troy opened his bag and removed his Bible. His faith was always important to him, but even more so since it’d helped him make sense of what happened to him. Tonight, after speaking with Gwen, he felt gratitude. Her concern and understanding buoyed him in his resolve. In his current state, she deserved better. That was something he couldn’t live with.
“Thank you, Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. You have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions.”
After his prayer, climbed into bed and fell into an exhausted sleep.
Chapter 17
Thursday, May 31st
When music filled the room, Gwen reached out for her phone to subdue her alarm. Rolling over, she stared at the ceiling. Her hand came up to her mouth as she swallowed down a rancid-tasting burp. The antibiotics soured her stomach. She hobbled to the bathroom, cupped water into her hands and swallowed it down.
Sitting on the toilet to pee, a pain tore through her gut. “Shit,” she cried.
Russ Sommerfeld’s voice popped into her head. “Call if you don’t feel well.”
“Get yourself together; you’re being a hypochondriac,” she warned. After stripping off the shorts and t-shirt she slept in, she turned on the shower and stepped inside. Standing under the spray, she thought about what Troy said. Her bravery. What a fallacy. She gave in. She let them take what they wanted.
She slid down the shower wall and wrapped her arms around her knees. A tear turned into a torrent. It wasn’t until the water turned cool that she realized where she was. Forcing herself to her feet, she turned off the water and wrapped a towel around herself.
She quickly braided her hair and put on a blouse and slacks. As she went to button the pants, they were tight. “Too much food, Gwenny.” She remembered words from her past. Lying down on the bed, she secured the buttons and zipped the fly.
As she stood to leave, a pain forced her to bend over. “Breathe.”You’ll stop by the health center when you get to work, she cajoled herself.
Troy’s laughter rose from the first floor, bringing a smile to her face. His smile and the twinkle in his eyes amazed her more now that she knew what happened to him. She reached the top step, and as she moved her foot, her sense of balance disappeared, wrapped in pain. Her body pitched her forward into darkness.
* * *
Troy sat with Dan Bishop,head of his security team, and Matt Ciminelli, head of Julian’s team, at the dining room table, regaling them with his adventures with Julian. A set of thuds drew them all to their feet.
Bishop reached Gwen first. Ciminelli touched his comm, calling for medical and the rapid response vehicle. Troy, dazed by the sight, found Gwen lying in a contorted lump at the bottom of the stairs, blood from the back of her head pooling on the wood floor.
He moved opposite Bishop. “Gwen, open your eyes for me,” he whispered.Please.
Bishop stood to allow Logan Shepard and Terry Keene to gain access to her. Two members of 3-Romeo brought a backboard to the PAs. Bishop pulled gently on Troy’s shoulders. “Mr. Bremen, let them work.”
Troy stepped back, fear pulling at him.I can’t lose her.
Julian came down from the third floor, unaware of the situation. Hitting the landing, he exclaimed, “Merde. What happened?”
“She fell down the flight, but we don’t know why.” Terry held her head in line.
“Your call, slide her up the board,” Logan called.
“One, two, three,” Terry called.
