Page 37 of Embattled Ever After

“Hey! Wait. Hey, you!”

Duncan turned at Alex’s call in time to see her start jogging down the sidewalk after one of the homeless. The bundled man glanced back, then disappeared around a corner. Alex tried to speed up, but her heeled boots were no match for the icy sidewalk. In spite of the nimble way she took off, the ice got the better of her. Duncan’s heart lurched as he watched her feet slide out from beneath her. She crashed to the cement on her side, her hip and elbow seeming to take the brunt of her fall.

Duncan hurried to her, as quick as he dared, but she’d already rolled up into a sitting position by the time he reached her. “What the hell, Alex? Are you okay?”

Tears were dripping down her cheeks. She dashed them away with her gloved fingers. “I think that was Aiden. The guy that passed us.”

Duncan glanced down the street, but the man had long disappeared. He’d seen the homeless do that before, it was as if they faded into the landscape itself.

In spite of the pain in his hips, he went down on his knees beside Alex. “Whoever it was, I don’t see them now. Are you okay?”

She cringed and flexed her right arm. “Yeah, I think so. Damn, that was stupid. He moved so fast though. As soon as I saw the shape of his face, I took off after him, but it was like I was standing still.”

Duncan sighed and used his cane to lever himself up. Then he held a hand down to her. “I didn’t see him. Come on. Let’s get you off the concrete.”

Alex took his hand and he hoisted her up. She gasped and brushed against the seat of her pants. “I think I cracked my ass,” she moaned.

“It wasn’t cracked already?”

She snorted and shook her head at him. “Lame, Wilde.”

His mind eased, he tugged her into an easy hug. Alex leaned against him for a moment. “I’m sorry I took off,” she murmured. “I could have sworn it was him, but maybe I’m seeing what I want to see.”

Duncan sighed. “I’ve thought the same thing a time or two, but I know it’s not him. I would think that if he returned to Denver, he would have contacted someone. Or one of the guys would have seen him.”

Alex nodded, her eyes clouded with aggravation. “I know. He just seemed… familiar, and it wasn’t one of the men in the meeting earlier.”

Duncan wished he could ease her mind, but he refused to lie to her. “I seriously doubt we’ll see Aiden again, Alex. I think he’s long gone.”

Sniffing, she nodded her head. “I know you’re probably right, but I have to hope otherwise. I’ve had nightmares about the look in his eyes when he realized he was in restraints that day. I would never hurt a person like that deliberately.”

He cupped her cheek in his palm. “I know you wouldn’t. Those were extenuating circumstances. You were protecting your staff.”

With another nod, she looked down the street, obviously trying to get hold of her emotions. After a couple of heavy breaths, she gave him a smile. “Let’s go soak our bones. I’m about frozen through.”

That sounded perfect to Duncan. “I know it’s a little late, but want to grab some lunch to take back to the house?”

“Sounds like a plan. I’m in the mood for Italian. What’s good around here?”

Chapter Eleven

Damn it.

Aiden cursed as he went around the corner, then darted into an alcove. He pressed himself against the brick, knowing that they couldn’t see him here as long as he was still.

What a lame ass attempt.

The problem had been, he was focused on Duncan and not the doctor. She’d gotten too close and she’d seen him, even under the homeless disguise.

It had been a little humorous when she’d chased him in heels, but the humor had snapped away when she’d fallen. He hadn’t meant for her to get hurt.Fuck. Lingering on the corner, he waited until she sat up and seemed to be okay, then he bolted.

Duncan hadn’t seen him, he was sure.

It was supposed to have been a simple tagging operation. Bump into the target, attach the tracking chip and disappear. Yeah, no go on that.

After about twenty minutes, he stepped out of the alcove.

Denver thrived around him, oblivious to what was going on in its heart.

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