Page 28 of In Hiding

The kid swallowed so loud they all heard it in the quiet corridor. “But I couldn’t stop it. I should’ve been able to do more.”

“You did,” Jake added. “You found me. You called the ambulance. You were the one who tied your belt around her leg to slow the blood loss.”

“Because she told me to. I would never have thought of that.”

In the soft light of the hall, tears shimmered in the boy’s eyes. The look of helplessness in them stabbed at Jake’s chest. Feeling powerless wasn’t good for anyone, let alone an adolescent desperately trying to become a man. It resonated within him with a frightful strength.

Beside him, Damien stepped forward and laid a hand on Will’s shoulder. “You can stay here tonight. Let me show you where.”

“But—”

“You’ll see her first thing in the morning. You can deliver breakfast in bed, if you like.”

Jake watched his old mentor lead the boy away. “Your father...”

She chuckled softly. “Is a law unto himself. I know.” Stepping in front of him, she turned serious. “You knew my husband, Richard Riley.”

It was not a question.

Riley? Married? He almost didn’t believe it. “I knew him. Yes.”

“And you knew my father.”

“Word travels fast around here, then?”

“I’ve always thought so.” She hooked a thumb over her shoulder toward Sarah. “With one notable exception. What do you know about her?”

Unwilling to lie but uneasy about revealing Sarah’s past, he shrugged. “She hasn’t told me very much, just hired me to do some work around her estate.”

She studied him for a long moment, her piercing blue eyes turning the color of steel. “Hm...” She sounded entirely unconvinced. Did she see him as friend or foe?

A small cough from the room behind caught them both unawares. Stevie spun while Jake stepped around her and went to Sarah’s bedside. Still ghostly pale, she stared up at him with half a dozen questions in her eyes.

“Rest,” he insisted. “Will and I are here. We’ll stay the night.”

She licked her lips.

“There’s a cup of ice on the side table,” Stevie explained. “Wet her lips but don’t let her drink too much. I’ll give you a minute, but no more.”

He found the paper cup and lifted out a chunk of ice. As instructed, he ran it over Sarah’s lips. Her tongue darted out to lap up the water, grabbing his attention. “Better?”

She hummed. “Thank you.”

“You gave us both a fright.”

Her eyes widened. “You? I scared myself.”

The memory of her pleading with him to protect Will from his father should she die whispered through his mind. He doubted he’d ever forget the terror in her beautiful green eyes. “Your son was beside himself but brave.”

“I know.” She smiled weakly. “Thank you, for staying.”

“It was no trouble.” He set the cup back on the side table and took her hand. “Rest. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

“Jake.” She held tight. “Will you take the job?”

He smiled, remembering back to their conversation this morning and her offer. Reaching out, he smoothed the hair from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. Two white butterfly bandages had been placed over the bump on her head. “I’ve considered your offer, Ms. Andersen, and it would seem you require my service more than you thought.”

She laughed and then coughed. “It would seem so, Mr. Langley.”