Christmas Hearts: In the Company of Snipers Read online

  Wouldn’t that be the best Christmas present of all, a family reunion? Or would it?

  Justice wiped a swift finger over his eye before the tear could slip away. No, he was dreaming. The steady man at his side was no coward like Dempsey’s biological sperm donor. This guy wouldn’t have left a wife and child behind. Justice was sure.

  He steeled his tender emotion, fighting the sadness in his gut for what Sasha was going through, clawing at him. There would be no Christmas miracle in store for the pretty little angel, or for her angel mother, either. Another tear strayed just thinking about the goings on at the fifteenth floor.

  The stranger handed over a folded, clean white handkerchief without a word.

  “Thank you, sir,” Justice murmured as he dabbed the soft cloth to his face and nose, ashamed for the soft heart he’d been born with, for loving a woman who was obviously smarter than him.

  “Don’t worry about it. My wife buys them by the bulk.”

  That small piece of information told Justice something about this guy. He must run into a lot of folks with colds or tears.

  The elevator slowed at the eighth floor where two customers, a man and a woman got on. Justice reminded them this elevator was on its way up, not down. They’d have to catch the other if they had places to go and people to meet this Christmas Eve.

  “What’s the difference?” the gentleman argued. “We don’t mind taking the ride up. It’s just going to come back down.” His tone held a cheeky superiority Justice often encountered with guests. Most were every day folks, kind and courteous, but others assumed that their wealth or position in life made them better than the staff.

  He held the door from closing. “I’m sorry, sir, but this elevator won’t be going down. Now if you don’t mind…”

  The couple exited with a huff and a mumble, and Justice hit the close-door button.

  “No one knows she owns this building, do they?” the stranger asked.

  Justice had no more defense against this man’s piercing stare than he had Sasha’s. He hedged. “Most people don’t know what’s going on with their neighbors, do they?”

  The man rocked forward on the balls of his feet. “I know I don’t, but you’ve known Sasha for quite a while, haven’t you? Eleven years?”

  Justice couldn’t meet those blue eyes again. How had he pick that number out of his hat? But he was right. Justice had met Miss Sasha the first day on the job. Eleven years ago.

  “There’s no need to worry, Mr. Sandler. May I call you Justice? In a way, Sasha is expecting me. I won’t embarrass her or endanger your job. You can trust me.”

  Justice wanted to, he did. He hadn’t picked up any bad vibes from the guy, but rules were rules, and he, the chief of hotel security, was breaking a mighty big one. He turned the man to maybe forestall the inevitable, but the elevator opened and the light from Sasha’ entry spilled into the elevator.

  Sasha stood there with Dempsey’s somber nurse. Her chin jerked up. Her eyes widened, her posture as stiff as the stranger’s beside him. Damn, he didn’t even know this guy’s name. What have I done?

  Justice lifted his fist to hit that close-door button again, but his guest had taken two very deliberate steps out of the elevator toward Sasha. He stood there, tall and poised. Coiled. Like a snake.

  The poor thing looked like she’d seen a ghost. “A-A-Alex?”

  She couldn’t believe her eyes. Her boss? Here? Now?

  Poor Justice looked a decidedly lighter shade of brown, but at least he had the good grace to step forward and accept responsibility. “This is my fault, Miss Kennedy. I couldn’t reach you by phone, and he said he knows you, that you’re his friend, and he needed to see you right now tonight, but I can escort him out if you’d prefer.” He drew in a long breath after that tremendous run-on.

  Alex hadn’t said a word yet, but he knew, darn him. He knew everything. Her heart fluttered at being found out. She’d always known he’d catch on and catch her eventually, but why tonight of all nights? “No, it’s okay, Justice. This is my boss. Come in Alex.”

  Justice turned to leave, but Sasha put an end to that. Alex had a way of getting around people. “Stay,” she said. “You might as well. You’re my friend, too.”

  His brows lifted at that small courtesy. He nodded one quick nod as if he’d known his status as a friend all along. Justice turned and locked the elevator down before he joined her, but God. Why tonight?

  “I don’t know what you need, Alex, but this is a bad time.” She wouldn’t break down, not in front of the male she respected more than any other. She refused. She stiffened her spine and she absolutely refused!

  “You need help,” he said, those steely blue eyes trapping her with their honesty, “so I came.”

  That didn’t help! The second the sob crawled up from her heart and choked out of her throat, he leapt to her side and cradled her head against his powerful chest, his strong hand splayed across her back like a tether holding her to him. Like she might collapse. Like she might fall apart and scatter all over the floor. She didn’t mean to notice, but the man smelled good, of winter, wind, peppermint, clean linen and spice. Kelsey was so lucky to have a man like Alex in her life.

  So. Damned. Lucky.

  “I’ve got you,” he said softly, just holding her up, just not letting her weak knees fail her. Just being there, not letting her go through this night alone. That was Alex, no safer port in a vicious storm when he needed to be, but a vicious storm unto himself when times called for it. He was a walking, talking paradox of a warrior, mad, tough, yet tender, a predator of the highest order with an uncanny sense of exactly who his people were, what they needed, and when they needed it. Like now.

  She clung to him, shuddering as her heartbreaking truth came home to roost. “She’s dying,” broke out of her heart. “She’s… she’s leaving me.”

  He held her tighter. “Are you sure? How long?”

  “Maybe days, hours. Maybe less.” Sasha closed her eyes, ashamed she’d hidden the precious secret of her daughter from her friends, that Sheila and Justice had to witness her falling apart. Just so damned ashamed. Dempsey was a child to be proud of. If there was a sinner in the room, it was Sasha, for compounding her transgression with deceit. For not bragging and letting Dempsey shine like the bright star that she was. A thousand ways Sasha wished she could go back in time and correct her prideful choices.

  Alex had recognized that pride the first time they’d met. He’d nicknamed her Mother shortly after she’d signed onto The TEAM, but he had no way of knowing then how much the endearment from an honorable, but grumpy male meant at that time in her life. From the start of their sometime rocky relationship, he’d had total confidence in her to get things done and cover his six, as his guys were prone to say. So she’d done just that. She’d served him, and she’d protected her work family, and she’d do it all again, but…

  She’d also kept something intrinsically important from him, the trust in him to have her back. To cover her six. To let him help her.

  He eased her out of his arms a half step, stooping to peer into her face. “I would’ve been here sooner, but Kelsey’s sister showed up at the last moment.”

  “Louise?”

  Alex nodded, a glint of perturbed aggravation flitting through his mercilessly sharp gaze. “Yes, Louise,” he growled softly. “She and Phil will be here until New Years.”

  Louise was compelled to talk, but Alex had never been blessed with the desire to listen. He preferred succinct, to the point answers from his team. The only one he had truly listened to was Kelsey.

  “I’m sorry,” Sasha said between sniffles, but she wasn’t. Not really. Not tonight. The world could take care of itself for a change. She dried her tears and led him to Dempsey’s room, motioning for Justice to join her down the hall. “But how did you know?” she had to ask.

  At the door, Alex stopped her. He tipped her chin up, his eyes two soft pools of devotion. “I’ve known since you hired on, Mother. I’ve jus
t been waiting for you to share, but when you didn’t come forward, and I’ve given you plenty of time to do that—” reprimand whispered in his tone, “—I knew it was time I came. We don’t leave anyone behind, remember? Not even our bravest who think they can fight the world alone.”

  She should have known. No one fooled Alex.

  “Mr. Stewart,” Jenna exclaimed from the easy chair nearest the bed, her eyes rimmed red as she lifted to her feet. “It’s good of you to come.”

  “It’s an honor,” he returned, grasping both of her hands while he pulled her in for a hug. “Can I get you anything to drink, Jenna? A cushion for your back?”

  She shook her head, pulling away. “It’s not me who needs the comforting, it’s Sasha. Dempsey and I have been having one of our girl talks. She wants to make sure someone takes care of her mama when she’s gone.”

  If Sasha could have rolled her eyes at that outlandish girl talk statement, she would have, but tall, stoic Justice Sandler chose that moment to speak up. “That’d be me, ma’am,” he said, his voice clear and strong at her other side. “I’ll take care of Miss Kennedy. It’d be an honor and my privilege.”

  Sasha directed her scolding to her mother instead of Justice. He was just being nice, but she did level a stern glance his way. Nice or not, now was not the time or place for that kind of talk. “I’m fine, so drop it, both of you. This night’s about Dempsey. It’s too soon—”

  “No, it’s not,” Jenna came back at her. “Dempsey can’t leave until she knows you’ll be okay, and Justice is a good man. She likes him, Sasha. He’s been keeping an eye on you for years now. Why can’t you see that?”

  “Enough, Mom,” Sasha declared, her jaw clenched at the eerie calmness in her mother’s tone. For God’s sake, it wasn’t as if Dempsey was just going shopping for shoes and would be right back, as if this night wasn’t ripping her heart out. Sasha swallowed hard, embarrassed that she wasn’t in charge like she was at the office. There she was in control. She could direct and manage and manipulate—not—not here.

  Look at her, her heart screamed out. That’s my baby. What will I do without her?

  Out of nowhere, Justice moved into her side, crowding her, close enough the back of his hand brushed her knuckles. “It’s okay, ma’am. I’m here and I’m staying.”

  Sasha didn’t honestly care where he was or what he thought, so she said nothing. It didn’t seem to matter. His fingers intertwined with hers and for the first time, she held on tight.

  Alex leaned over Dempsey, her smaller hand cupped in his long, capable fingers, his gaze tender and soft. “She has your complexion, Sasha. You weren’t always silver-haired.” He made that a statement.

  Why her hair color mattered right there and then, Sasha didn’t know. Maybe he was astute enough to notice both Jenna and Dempsey were brunettes, but she admitted, “I lost my color when I was twenty-three. Stress I guess.” God knew she’d had enough of it.

  “You want to see some baby pictures, Mr. Stewart?” Jenna asked, that rare moment of lucidity obviously lost.

  “I’d love to,” Alex answered, not moving from his post even as Sasha took up guard duty at Dempsey’s right. If it was in any way possible that Jenna was somehow in touch with the spirit world—if what she’d said was true—that Dempsey’s spirit was on the verge of leaving—Sasha wanted to be there when it happened. She couldn’t look away; she wouldn’t take the chance. She’d brought this sweet child into the world and she’d be there when it was time to give her back. God had better be damned happy to get her if He knew what was good for Him. If He meant to call her home tonight…

  Sheila Kramer took up sentry duty at the door, not intruding. Jenna kept rattling on about the family album and baby pictures. From there she digressed to murmuring about kindergarten, first grade, and high school. The prom. College. Still not making sense. Sasha couldn’t look at her. Dempsey had never gone to school. Sasha took a deep breath and let her mother ramble on and deal with what was happening in her way.

  The night turned sacred and holy as minutes flew by too quickly.

  Chapter Four

  Alex’s phone rang seconds before midnight. Easing his hand into his pants pocket, he retrieved his cell, flipped the screen up and spoke calmly. “Stewart.”

  His gaze scrolled to Sasha, colliding with hers. They’d worked so closely for so long, it was hard not to detect the steel, the determination glowering on his face. His lips pinched together in that alpha male way that he had.

  “Make it happen,” he replied to whoever had just given him a lengthy monologue. Snapping his phone shut, he restored it to his pocket. “You’re about to get company.”

  Her brows closed together. “Who?”

  He inhaled slowly, his chest lifting, expanding under that tight, white shirt. “Now. A doctor friend of mine. He knows all about Dempsey’s condition. He’s in D.C., and he’s on his way over. He says he can help.”

  When Justice’s hand tightened, Sasha allowed the tiniest tendril of hope to unfurl and blossom. But then she squashed it. She’d been down this road too many times in the past. It went nowhere and that blossom was nothing but a noxious weed that would end up strangling her. She owned the best researchers money could buy. This time, Alex was wrong.

  “And another thing,” he kept going like the damned tenacious Devil Dog he was. “Kelsey’s coming over later. She wants to be here for you.”

  The pent up glacier in Sasha’s heart calved a mighty iceberg that hurt, it was so big and cold. So sharp. As usual, Alex sounded sure of himself. Her pulse raced at the thought there might be one last miracle in this life for Dempsey. That damned tendril kept twining around her heart, delving into the forgotten chambers and all those locked places. Sprouting. Believing. A mighty tremble shook her to her core. “When?”

  “Raj will be here in fifteen minutes.”

  She gulped, her child’s future on the line—again. The problem with hoping against hope? It brought despair just as surely as it brought faith and a bucket full of expectations. Unrealized expectations. Crushed dreams and heartache. Could she possibly endure more tests when all others had failed? Could she do this to Dempsey?

  No doubt about it.

  “Yes,” she whispered to Alex, nodding though he hadn’t asked anything of her other than to let an unknown doctor come over. Like friends… “I’m sorry,” she breathed, her eyes brimmed with—whatever. She’d fought this secret war for so long, and she was tired of feeling guilty for past digressions. Finally, someone had come to help her fight. To her rescue. And it was killing her.

  Alex left his post, but only long enough to take it up again, this time at Sasha’s side. He did something very un-Alex-like. He tugged her into his shoulder and pressed a kiss to her temple. “You’re falling apart.”

  Well, yeah.

  She closed her eyes, absorbing the strength of a damned good man, afraid she’d bawl if he said what she thought he was going to say. Bingo.

  “You’re not alone, Sasha. All you’ve ever had to do was ask.”

  “But I…” Asking for help was not her forte. She bit her lip to stop her foolish pride from blurting out any more of her deepest darkest secret—her ego. Her pride. But her sin didn’t matter anymore, did it? Only Dempsey mattered.

  Sasha turned into her boss and caved into the comfort and warmth of this hard man’s body, needing him to understand what had driven her to the edge of this lonely precipice. “I didn’t want to be a bother,” she rationalized. “I… I thought I could handle it by myself. I’m rich enough. I know people and…” God, did she dare? She sniffed, what was left of her pride was shredded to the point of humility. This was no time to hold back. Alex had seen through her. He already knew. “I was… I was ashamed to tell you what I did,” she squeaked. How pathetic was that? To fall so far from the noble façade she’d created, the self-righteous disguise she’d hidden behind year after lonely year. “I was so dumb back then. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t…”

  T
he dam burst. “If I hadn’t wanted to be seen with that college jock…” she choked. “If I hadn’t gone to that free-for-all frat party… If I hadn’t been so…” Lonely? That was the wolf that had driven her, the desperate need to belong.

  Even back then, she’d never fit in. Geeks and techno nerds weren’t part of the popular scene. They were shadows. Wanna-bees. Square pegs in a round hole society. Alex had already saved her once, the day he’d hired her. The day he’d given her that nickname out of his sheer annoyance with her. Only inside The TEAM had she found her niche in the world. Her one safe place. Those elite snipers needed her, and, in their way, they loved her. She knew that.

  And now… But now…

  She sucked in a mighty hiccup, her vision blurred with tears. She’d betrayed their trust. What would they think of her now?

  Alex’s big male hand pressed the side of her head gently back to his lips. Another soft kiss. Another trickle of tears. “Open your eyes, Sasha. Do you honestly think one single member of my team—our team—will think any less of you for keeping Dempsey to yourself? Do you think they’re that shallow?”

  Thank God, Alex’s phone chimed again, halting an answer. That was the problem. From the start, she should have trusted her friends to have her back. They were all men and women of honor. She wished she had.

  He placed his cell to his ear, a question in his eyes. “Stewart.” He nodded once, then whispered, “Well? My friend is in your lobby. Do I tell him to stay or go?”

  She swallowed hard. “Stay,” she rasped, her throat dry. Alex was right. Dempsey needed help, and if there was any chance that this doctor could save her, well, Sasha was ready to sell her soul.

  Just when she tipped her finger to the end of her dripping nose, Justice put a folded tissue gently to it. That small act of kindness nearly did her in. “There, there. Take a deep breath, Miss Sasha.,” he murmured, soft and low. “You’re going to be okay. So’s Dempsey. I’ve got a good feeling about this guy. If anyone can help you, he can. I’m glad I let him come up to see you now.”