Page 29 of Lone Star Hostage

“We’ll just see about that,” Jesep snarled, taking out his phone.

Victoria caught onto his hand to stop him from making a call. “I asked for the protection,” she said. That was possibly a liethough Billie supposed she could have done it in the ambulance or after she’d arrived at the hospital.

“Why the hell would you do that?” Jesep yanked back his hand. “I was told the kidnappers are dead. Aren’t they dead?” he asked, aiming that at Billie.

It was a rhetorical question, but Billie answered it anyway. “They are. Ellis and Craig Dumfries.”

Victoria made a sound that sounded like a mix of a soft moan or gasp, and it was loud enough to get their attention. Everyone turned toward her.

“What?” Presley said. “Do you know them?”

She shook her head, but there seemed to be some kind of recognition in her eyes. “No. Did you find out why they kidnapped me?”

Presley didn’t get a chance to answer that before Jesep spoke first. “Because they’re greedy sonsofbitches who thought they could get rich, that’s why. And they’re dead. That’s means you can leave here since you’re not in danger.”

Victoria nodded and took her time answering. “But I don’t feel safe yet. I wanted a bodyguard in case someone else tries to take me.”

“You’ll be safer at home,” Jesep insisted, and his voice was very close to a shout. “Away from this…place. Away from them.” He tipped his head to Billie and Presley. “Ari and I can help you get to the car. Come with us.”

Dr. Jenkins hurried back into the room, and he stepped between Jesep and Victoria. “Your wife was severely injured. She can’t leave.”

Jesep seemed ready to gear up to dispute that, but Olivia took him by the arm and eased him back. “Why don’t you arrange to have Victoria transported to a hospital in San Antonio? That way, she’ll be close to home, and she’ll get the medical care she needs.”

Jesep glanced around as if figuring out if this was a battle he could win. He must have decided the answer to that was a no because he backed down, and he released a slow breath.

“I’m sorry,” Jesep muttered to no one in particular. “I’m just very worried about my wife. She just survived what had to have been a horrible ordeal. We went through a trauma, too, not knowing if she was alive. Not knowing if she’d be allowed to come home.”

Billie hoped that wasn’t lip service, a spiel meant to get the doctor to let down his guard. No way would Angel fall for it though, and with Victoria confirming that she wanted a bodyguard, then at least she would have some protection even if she was transferred to another hospital.

“Billie, Presley,” Victoria said, shifting her attention to them. “Thank you again for rescuing me. I’ll be in touch.”

It was clearly a goodbye, but they didn’t budge.

“I’ll be all right,” Victoria tacked onto that, glancing at Angel.

Presley stared at her for several long moments before he finally turned and walked away. Billie was right there with him, and she seriously doubted he was ready to face his boss and the cops, who were no doubt still in the ER waiting area. She spotted the sign for a breakroom just ahead, and she took hold of his hand to pull him inside. Thankfully, it was empty, but so they’d have a little privacy, she moved him to the corner away from the door.

“Feel free to vent,” Billie offered.

She thought he was going to take her up on that. That riot of emotions was still there in his eyes, vibrating in every part of him. But he didn’t vent. He sighed, closed his eyes and leaned against the wall.

“Shit,” he finally said.

“That expresses my sentiment, too.”

She didn’t pepper him with questions about how he was doing or what he was feeling. Billie just waited him out, and little by little, she felt some of the tension melt away.

“After my mom was killed,” he finally said, “I, of course, gave some thought to my bio-mom. But I never wanted to find her. I always figured if she abandoned me that she wanted nothing to do with me.”

She heard the hurt that was still there over that abandonment. It likely always would be. Billie had felt some of that when her own dad had stepped out of her life after her parents had divorced. It was one of those little holes in the heart that never healed.

“I don’t know what to do about Victoria,” Presley said. “I don’t know what to feel.”

“You don’t have to work it all out now,” Billie assured him. “It can be a process with no timetable on it.”

One that would likely involve learning who his bio-dad was, too. Victoria had seemed to be on the verge of spilling that when Jesep and her stepkids had burst into the room.

“Thanks,” he muttered, opening his eyes and meeting her gaze. “I’m sorry you got dragged into all this personal crap.”

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