Page 38 of Heart in Waiting
He whistled a happy tune as he headed toward her office. She had a surprise for him, or at least he hoped she did. Her tone had indicated it would be something special. Truthfully, he just wanted to be with her and the rest didn’t matter. His heart had been waiting on her for a lot of years. Finally, his patience would be rewarded. Reese held his heart in her grasp. If she loved him too—that had been worth holding out hope for.
Reese’s office door was shut. He lifted his hand to knock, but the sound of voices on the other side stayed his hand. If she was still in her meeting, he didn’t want to interrupt. She had said she wasn’t sure how long it would be exactly. Perhaps he should wait a little while longer. He could go check on Halie and Paige. His friend might be able to give him an update on everything. Reese couldn’t because of the privacy laws, but he was worried about Halie too. He’d watched the girl grow up, and he hated that she was sick. He turned to head in that direction but stopped when he saw Paige heading toward him. She trembled with each step she took. Terror was etched across her face.
“You have to help her,” she said frantically. Paige yanked on his shirt and clutched the fabric in her hand. “He has her.”
“It’s okay,” he said in a soothing voice. “I need more information. Who are you talking about.” Dane didn’t know anyone Paige would be so scared for other than her daughter. Did the girl’s father show up and take her? He’d never met him, and she hadn’t ever told him his name.
“Nolan,” she nearly screeched his name. “He took Dr. Jackson.”
Dane didn’t think. He reacted with every instinct he’d honed since his training in the police academy. He’d heard voices in her office, and he was willing to bet on his life they were in there. Reese’s life would depend on his next move. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and shot off a quick text to Carter. He might still be at the Roseland Hotel, but Dane hoped he’d made it back to Envill. He needed his partner.
“Do me a favor and let hospital security know about the situation. Run to the nurse’s station. They’ll have the means of contacting them. Then I want you to go sit with your daughter. She needs you and you need her.”
Paige nodded and ran to do as he instructed. Dane checked the gun in his shoulder holster, and then the one around his ankle. He wasn’t sure what he might have to do, but he wanted to ensure both weapons were ready before he stepped inside that office. He took a deep breath and then turned the knob. Dane tapped the door lightly with his foot and held his gun steady in his hand.
“Reese,” he called out.
He heard some mumbles, but nothing more. Slowly he rounded the corner and entered the office. Reese sat in her office chair staring at him as he walked inside. Nolan held a knife to her throat with one hand and covered her mouth with the other.
“So good of you to join us little brother,” Nolan taunted. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
Dane turned his gaze toward Nolan. “We’ve been looking for you. Glad you decided to finally show your face. Now we can take you back to where you belong.”
“I have no intention of going to that prison cell you have waiting for me. I’ll die first.” He moved the knife so it slid across Reese’s neck. A small cut formed at the tip, and a tiny trail of blood dripped down. She remained still and expressionless so he had no idea what she was thinking.
“I’d be happy to help you with that.” Dane wanted to kill him for hurting her. He had to keep his focus or Reese could die. “Drop the knife.”
“I wasn’t born this morning,” Nolan mocked him. “You drop your gun.”
“You have a thing for knives, don’t you? Isn’t that what you used on Claire too?” Dane inched a little closer. He had to maneuver himself until he could shoot at Nolan and not hit Reese in the process. “You should have ran to a country that wouldn’t extradite you. Why do you keep making the same mistakes?”
“I can’t let you have her.” Nolan yanked on Reese’s hair. Dane clenched his jaw tight and reminded himself not to react. “She is mine. You’re not good enough to touch her.”
Dane laughed. “Nolan, you psychotic bastard. She’d not yours, and you’re not going to hurt anyone ever again.”
“So, you think that you can stop me?” Nolan’s smile turned menacing. “Why? Because you’re in love with her?” He tilted his head slightly and grinned wider. “You didn’t think I knew that, did you? I remember how you looked at her during the prom. It’s why I dated her, and it’s also why I paid special attention to your friend Paige.”
Dane cursed under his breath. He couldn’t let Nolan goad him into a reaction. When everything was all over, he’d worry about Paige. Her life wasn’t in any immediate danger. Reese, on the other hand, could lose her life at any minute if he did something foolish. He took another step to his left and aimed his gun at Nolan’s shoulder. If he hit him right it would make him drop the knife. “I’m going to say this one last time: drop the knife.”
“Then we’re at an impasse because I have no intention of doing that. Killing her—yes—so you can watch the love of your life die.”
Dane didn’t think. He pressed the trigger and prayed his aim was true. Nolan flinched as the bullet hit his shoulder, and he jerked backward. Reese broke free of his grip and moved away from him. Dane rushed forward and punched him in the face several times until his eyes drooped shut.
“Stop,” Reese said. “He’s unconscious.”
She reached for her phone and dialed it. “We need emergency personal in my office. We have a man down with a gunshot wound and he’s going to need immediate surgery.”
After she set the phone down, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tight. “I’ve never been so scared.”
“Shh,” he whispered as he cupped the back of her head against his chest. “I have you.”
“I love you,” she said a little breathlessly. “I didn’t think I’d ever love anyone, but somehow you sneaked your way into my heart.”
“I’ve loved you since we were teenagers. Nolan was right about that, but I never realized how observant he could be. God, he’s a bastard.” Dane wanted to kick him while he was down, but held back. He could be the bigger man and walk away from his evil brother. In the end, he won after all—Reese loved him.
Carter rushed in, stopping short when he caught sight of Nolan and shook his head. “I raced here to find you have it all wrapped up with a bloody bow.” Hospital staff rushed in after him and took Nolan to surgery. “Make sure you keep him sedated until we can handcuff him. We’re not letting him get away a second time.”
Dane laughed. “I’ll leave the clean up to you. I’m taking Reese home. She’s taking the rest of the day off.” He’d check in on Paige and Halie later. There was a lot he had to talk to her about.
“I don’t have a say in this?”
He shook his head. “You promised me a date. I think I’ve earned it.”
She laughed and let him lead her out of her office. Finding Nolan in her office hadn’t been how he’d thought his lunch date with her would go. In some ways, it was better. Now that she was safe, he could blow out a relieved breath. Nolan couldn’t hurt either one of them ever again. They had a chance at a happy-ever-after. His heart was no longer in waiting—love had finally arrived.
