Page 43 of The Handler
I grip the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. My emotions are ruling my head. I have to be logical. Gabe and Katherine are perfectly capable of keeping Amy safe. No one will know she’s at their remote lodge. Gabe has military training. I could keep listing all the reasons I shouldn’t worry, but it won’t change a thing. I call Gabe. “She’s on the way.”
“I’m walking to the truck now. The drive to Aspen and the flight time are nearly the same. Katherine made arrangements for me to meet the pilot on the tarmac and escort Amy personally.”
“You carrying?”
“Of course. I’ll take care of her as if she was mine. No worries, brother.”
“Katherine’s not going with you?”
“We’ve just got another foster trio. Six, nine, and twelve. She’s staying with them.”
I have so much respect for Gabe and his wife taking on the kids who have no one else. An image of Amy rounded with my child flashes like a photograph before my eyes. We’re on the edge of the fertility age limits, but it’s possible. I can see it so clearly—as if it was already true. A little girl with Amy’s sweet brown eyes, inspecting presents under a Christmas tree. Stockings hanging on a mantel. Midnight in our bedroom, playing naughty elf games and trying to be quiet. Fuck. I want that to be real. It knocks the breath out of me.
Gabe is saying something. I try to focus. “…still searching but haven’t found her yet.”
“Who?”
“Betty. The innkeeper.”
“Right.” The woman is probably dead. “Just make sure Amy isn’t alone for a second.”
“No one is getting their hands on my friend. Amy means the world to Katherine. I don’t disappoint my wife. Ever.”
I would love to be able to say the same thing. I’m working on it. One problem at a time. “I’ll have my phone on. Call me as soon as you have her.”
Gabe makes me another promise I half hear because while I’m desperate to keep Amy safe, I’m completely distracted by thoughts of our future and the situation with Blake. I’m halfway back to the hospital when my phone alarm buzzes. She should have landed. I keep driving, controlling my panic with every passing second. When the phone rings, I put it on speaker. “Got your girl.”
“I’m a woman, Gabe.” Amy’s voice comes through loud and clear.
“You’re safe?”
“I’m fine,” she answers. “An hour on a private jet is no hardship.”
I’d love to have her get used to that, but I’m a retired guy on a fixed income now. I’ll spoil her in other ways. But I can’t think about that right now. “Call me when you get home.”
“Will do, boss,” Gabe replies before ending the call.
Back at the hospital, Blake has been moved from recovery to ICU. Alex leads me from the ER waiting room to the new floor. The rest of the team is seated in an echo of a faux airport lounge from downstairs. I don’t know if I like this hospital’s modern, everything-is-fine feel. The exhausted faces of fearful family members don’t match the vibe the decorator went for. We cross to the back corner where the guys huddle.
Eliot and Cade were already in to see Blake for a short visit. There’s a grim look in Eliot’s eye, but his report has a hopeful tone. Likely, he’s trying to keep it together for Cade.
“This is going to be a long road.” I don’t want to keep saying that, but it has to sink in eventually. “I know you guys want to live here twenty-four seven, but the reality is, they’ll be checking you into a room to recover if you try.”
“We aren’t leaving him alone.” Cade crosses his arms, I assume to keep from punching me, and I’m grateful. I’m barely holding on as well.
“I was going to suggest we rent a hotel room, or maybe a small house on a month-to-month. You can stagger your coverage.” Sleep and showers will go a long way toward sustaining their vigil.
“Any word on Brambilla?” Eliot asks.
“Multiple agencies looking for him. Aside from the attack on Blake, I’m pretty certain he ended the woman who owns the place where he’s been staying. But I have serious doubts about them finding him.” I meet Eliot’s gaze. “To be honest, I hate Amy being anywhere near that town without me.”
“I’m sorry we can’t continue to help with her protection.” Eliot turns to Cade. “Blake needs everything we can give him right now.”
“Don’t apologize,” I say. “I want to support you, but I have to find this fucker. For Amy and for Blake.”
Stone places his hand on Cade’s shoulder. “The house is a good idea.”
Cade nods, his entire body slumping under the acceptance that Blake isn’t walking out of the hospital anytime soon.
