Bristling, she straightened her spine. “And bring trouble back to your house? With Parker there? No way.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you or Parker,” Lane said.
“No,” she said, with a little shake of her head. “You have your family to look after—” Lane opened his mouth to interrupt, but she held up a hand and kept going. “And even though I’m a part of that family, I’m not your responsibility.”
Lane snorted. “But you’re his?”
Duke stood and faced off with her brother. “I’m the reason trouble came knocking at her door, and I’m the one who wants to make things right. But it’s up to Suzy what she wants to do. I’ll respect her decision, but I hope like hell she picks me.”
Heat engulfed her face, and if she wasn’t sitting in a hospital room with her brother, a sheriff’s deputy, and an unconscious woman she’d throw herself at Duke right now.
A raspy cough from the bed caught everyone’s attention. Heather’s eyes lifted and she cringed. “He’s a big baby when he doesn’t get his way. You better stay with Duke.”
Suzy gasped, but she resisted the urge to fly to Heather’s side. Instead, she stepped to the side to let Duke get to his sister.
Duke sniffed, holding back the tears rimming his eyes, and a grin split his handsome face. He rested a hand on her arm, gripping the bed rail with his other hand. “You always have to make an entrance, don’t you? You’ve probably been laying there, waiting for the best time to speak and let us know you’re awake.”
Heather’s attempt at a smile came out more like a wince. “Someone has to keep you in your place. Might as well be me.” Shifting she tried to sit up.
“Don’t move around too much,” Suzy said.
“I’ll go get the doctor,” Spencer said. “Glad you’re awake.”
Heather waited until the deputy left before she asked, “What in the world happened?”
“You fell off a horse.” Duke smoothed back a piece of wayward hair. “Hit your head real good. You have a concussion but no other injuries. You’ll feel like shit for a few days.”
“Lucky me.”
“You are lucky,” Lane said. “Someone set off a homemade bomb. You and Suzy both could have been killed.”
Heather squeezed her eyes shut and a tear fell down her cheek. “I’m so sorry. I put everyone in danger.”
“It wasn’t Mason,” Duke said. “He’s been back in Texas this whole time.”
“Then who?”
“It’s Chrissy.” Duke glanced behind him and locked his gaze with Suzy. “And I’m pretty sure you aren’t the target. Haven’t been this whole time.”
Terror settled on Suzy’s shoulders as her new reality took root. Someone wanted her dead and there was no telling how far they’d go to hurt her.
But one thing was true. Duke would do anything to keep her safe, and she didn’t plan to leave his side.
Disconnecting the call,Duke leaned against the doorframe in the waiting room and pinched the bridge of his nose. He’d hoped to leave the rest of his family out of the shitstorm that had descended on him and his sister, but with Heather admitted into the hospital for the night, that wasn’t possible.
His mother had taken the conversation better than expected and had assured him that she’d pass the news along to the rest of the family. She’d begged him to return home, bringing Heather with him, but he wouldn’t be run out of town. He had too much here to fight for.
He had Suzy.
A bit of tension melted away at the thought of her. She’d agreed to stick close to him until the danger had passed, and he planned to use the time wisely. To really get to know her and let her see the kind of man he was.
The kind of man he wanted to be for her.
“How’d the call go?”
Lane’s abrupt presence set him on edge. He shoved his phone back in his pocket then crossed the room to plop into a chair. “As good as can be expected, I guess.”
“You tell her you think your ex is responsible?”
