Untraceable (22 page)

“Why don’t I see agents sitting in their car outside?” he asked. “Bodyguards next to the door. Law enforcement of some type watching the house, Cade? David?”

He asked the questions, but his eyes remained on Heidi. They were two people meant to be together but circumstances and life anchored them far apart.

“The FBI and their profiler didn’t see Zach as likely to come to Mountain Cove. Heidi doesn’t have the money anyway.”

“Zach doesn’t know that, does he?” Isaiah’s expression revealed his exhaustion and he finally moved to the living room and carefully positioned himself in a chair. His leg in a cast, he rested it to the side.

Heidi followed him. She wanted to reach out to him and comfort him, but it wasn’t her place, and with his foul mood, she doubted he would receive it. Doubted Cade would allow it. He tried to watch over her like an overprotective father. Even Dad, when he was alive, hadn’t treated her like this. Even their oldest brother, David, didn’t act this way. To be fair, she was closest to Cade, for some reason. And he appeared to want to protect her from Isaiah, and Isaiah wanted to protect her from an actual bad guy.

She huffed.

The men in her life.

Isaiah squeezed the bridge of his nose. “You have to know your sister is in danger. What are we going to do to protect her?”

“I’m right here in the room, boys. No need to talk about me like I’m not here. I can take care of myself, so you don’t need to watch out for me.”

With her statement both men, who’d been staring each other down, turned to her. David entered the living room munching on a chocolate chip cookie. He looked at her, too.

Someone rang the doorbell and walked right in without waiting. Adam hurried into the living room. “I let Isaiah out close so he wouldn’t have to walk so far, then parked at the curb.”

Great, now Adam could stare at her, too.

“You guys sure had us worried.” He hugged Cade and then Heidi. He squeezed Isaiah’s shoulder. “Not to downplay the severity of your injuries, but good thing a broken leg was all you got out of this nightmare. You could have all been killed.”

“Does no one but me understand this isn’t over yet?” Isaiah knocked his crutches over. “Heidi took Zach’s money. He’s coming here for Heidi. Whether or not she has the money, she’s in danger.”

David put his hands on his hips. “I understand.”

“Why’d you take the money, Heidi?” Cade asked.

“To right a wrong, okay?”

He blew out a breath. Funny that her brothers’ ire didn’t bother her nearly as much as Isaiah’s.

But she was frustrated with him, too. She wanted to ask him what it felt like to be a person of interest in a murder investigation. What had it felt like to love someone who was committed to another? How could she love a man like that after everything she’d been through? Correction, she already knew she loved him with every fiber of her being, but how could she
be
with him?

“You brought the danger to everyone, not just yourself,” Leah said. She knew that better than anyone because she’d done that same thing to Cade’s family. She’d led a killer right to this house. And if Leah was pregnant she had even more reason to be concerned.

“Fine. I’ll pack my junk and leave.”

* * *

Heidi whirled and stomped away.

Cade started after her.

“No, Cade. Let me.” Isaiah attempted to stand. Not so easy with his leg.

Adam handed Isaiah the crutches he’d knocked over. He really wanted to punch a hole in a wall. He climbed to his feet, surprised to see Cade hadn’t followed after Heidi. David either.

When Isaiah had a good grip on the crutches, he started toward the stairs. Oh. Stairs. He frowned.

“I’m going after her,” Cade said. “Someone needs to talk some sense into her.”

“Cade,” Leah said. “Let Isaiah do this.”

“I agree,” David said.

Thanks for the support.
Isaiah didn’t want to complicate things with Cade, so said nothing at all. He eyed the stairs. He could do this. He left one of the crutches behind and used the rail on his right side for support.

“Isaiah.” Cade stepped into view. “I appreciate what you did for my sister. I know you did the best you could, and you probably saved her in ways we’ll never know. And if you can actually make it up those stairs, I bet she’ll be willing to listen to whatever you have to say.”

Cade’s nod of assurance was all the confidence Isaiah needed. It was a form of permission. At least that’s how Isaiah saw it. Cade finally trusting him again. He maneuvered his way up the stairs and was near exhaustion by the time he got there. He’d have to work his strength back up. Adam appeared behind him on the stairs and handed him the crutch he’d tossed.

Isaiah moved down the hallway, looking for Heidi’s room. Sure enough, she was packing her bags. When she looked up and saw Isaiah standing there with his crutches, her eyes widened.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like? I came up here to talk to you.”

Heidi shut her suitcase. “About what? I’ve made up my mind. There’s no talking me out of this. I made a mistake and I’m not going to sit around and wait for Zach to show up.”

“My sentiments exactly.” Isaiah moved all the way into the room. “I hadn’t planned to sit around and do nothing, so I came up with a plan.”

Heidi’s wary expression wasn’t what he expected. He almost changed his mind. He’d told her that he loved her. But obviously, she didn’t return his feelings. That was okay. He’d never thought he deserved her love. But he would do this for her. Protect her, the only way he knew how. He would protect the woman he loved this time if it was the last thing he did.

“Come back with me to Montana. My family has a ranch. You can stay there.” And he wanted to see his family to tell them again how sorry he was for all the pain he’d caused. Just like Heidi, he wanted to right a wrong. “You can stay there until the authorities catch him, if you want. And maybe I can even convince you that I’m a good guy, after all.” Oops, he hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

She stared up at him from where she sat on the bed, next to her luggage. “I don’t know, Isaiah. I’m so confused. I need time to think things through.”

Isaiah leaned against the doorjamb. “About us?”

“About us. I mean if you’re taking me to Montana in hopes—”

“No, I’m not.” The pain her words caused grew in his throat, and he could barely speak. “I’m doing this to protect you.”

Suddenly Heidi stood from the bed and she moved closer to him. She pressed her hand against his chest. His heart. And he knew she had to feel his heart pounding at her touch.

“I...don’t believe you.”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t return my feelings. I’ll protect you.” She was right. Deep inside, if he didn’t lie to himself, a small part of him hoped that he could love her and she would return his love. That nothing that had happened would stand in their way this time.

“Who said I don’t have feelings for you? It’s more about trust. I don’t even know who you are.”

“All the more reason to come to Montana with me and find out. I understand why you need someone you can trust, and maybe I can be that person for you.”

Thinking of the one kiss they’d shared in the most awkward of places, he lifted his hand, pressing it against her cheek. Heidi closed her eyes, and Isaiah kissed her again. Oh, yeah, somehow he had to convince her he was one of the good guys. But what he feared most was that the price would be too high and he would fail again.

TWENTY-TWO

H
eidi strolled with Isaiah toward Mountain Cove’s small float-plane dock, where they would board the aircraft that would take them to Juneau. No airports or security checks here. They’d face that in Juneau. From there they would fly to Seattle and then on to Montana. Seeing the plane in the distance made her palms sweat. She was really going to do this.

Heidi had said her goodbyes to Grandma Katy, David and Adam. Cade and Leah had driven Heidi and Isaiah to the dock. But now the whole idea seemed surreal.

She gasped and paused, and Cade, walking behind her, nearly ran into her. He caught her elbow and turned her to face him. In the corner of her vision, she saw Isaiah stop and lower his bags to the ground. But he didn’t approach them.

“What’s wrong?” Cade asked.

“I’m worried about everyone’s safety. Are you sure this is the right thing to do?” She’d never lived anywhere else except during her college years. This had been her home forever.

“You’re in good hands with Isaiah. Put some distance between you and Zach, and wait it out on Isaiah’s family’s ranch. You’re okay with that, aren’t you?”

Heidi was relieved that Cade had gotten over his trust issues with Isaiah. “I’m not worried about Isaiah. This will be the perfect chance for me to get to know him better.” And she wanted that, didn’t she? She’d almost lost him once before and now she was getting a second chance to see what might happen between them. But going to Montana was about much more than that. It was about running away and hiding from some killer who might never show up.

Isaiah stood next to Cade now. “It’s your choice, Heidi. I just thought if you went away you would be out of danger.”

“I know. I think this is for the best.”
As long as Zach doesn’t track me down there.

She’d been such a bad judge of character too many times, and she’d made a poor judgment call when she’d taken the bag of money.

Cade and Leah walked with them the rest of the way until Heidi finally turned and hugged her brother. “I’m so excited that I’m going to be an aunt soon. I’m thrilled for you and Leah, Cade.”

Oh, God, please keep them safe.
She was doing this for them as much as anyone. She couldn’t stand to worry about Leah and the baby and the chance Zach would show up to harm them. Next, Heidi hugged her sister-in-law.

Leah squeezed her hard. “This is all going to work out. You’ll see. And remember, the FBI will catch Zach, and all because of the details you guys shared with them.”

Heidi nodded and waved goodbye to them. Sucking in a deep breath, she and Isaiah walked the length of the dock to the float plane sitting in the water.

The pilot came around to assist with their luggage. Heidi didn’t recognize him. Usually Billy flew them to Juneau. Maybe he’d been busy this time.

When he stood upright and faced them, the air whooshed from Heidi’s lungs.

“Zach,” she whispered.

He pointed a gun at her. “I came back for my money.”

“I don’t have it. I turned it over to the FBI.”

“Unfortunately, I believe you. If I can’t have my money, then I want you. But I can’t trust you, can I?”

In a flash, Isaiah threw himself in front of her, gunfire splitting her eardrums.

“No!” The scream tore from her lungs.

On the dock, she held a bleeding Isaiah. Around her, men wrestled Zach to the ground. Heidi didn’t care about any of that. Isaiah blinked up at her, his eyes out of focus.

Oh, God, please, don’t let Isaiah die
. Tears streamed down her face.

She’d had a second chance with him and she’d thrown it away because she’d been too afraid to trust. “Oh, Isaiah, I’m so sorry. I’ve been such a fool to hold back my love from you. I know who you are and your past doesn’t matter. That’s how God looks at us, so who am I to hold that over your head?”

His eyes closed.

Heidi held him tighter. “Stay with me. Stay in the land of the living, please. I...love you. I think I always have.”

Though his eyes remained shut, he grinned at that. Her heart skipped.

“Why did it have to take me almost losing you again to be willing to love? I’m ready now, to risk my heart and my life again. So you have to be all right.”

Isaiah opened his eyes and looked at her, all pretense stripped away. She saw nothing but love. “The price was worth it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I knew it would cost me something to convince you I’m one of the good guys.”

“I’ve always known you were a good guy. You didn’t have to take a bullet for me.”

“Oh, but I did.”

Then it was over. Isaiah closed his eyes.

* * *

Isaiah woke up to bright white surroundings and the smell of a sterile environment.

A heaviness he couldn’t shake clung to his thoughts and he blinked a few times to remember where he was. He was in a hospital. That much was obvious.

Someone moved from the chair on his right and was at his side, squeezing his hand.

Heidi.

She smiled at him, ran her hand down his face. Man, that felt good. Maybe he should stay right here in this hospital bed, though he wouldn’t want to keep aching all over like he did at the moment.

Cade stepped into the room, followed by David and Adam. Leah lingered against the back wall with Heidi’s grandmother.

“You’re a real trouper, you know that?” Cade said. “You took a bullet for Heidi. You saved her. I knew I could trust you to keep her safe.”

Isaiah scraped a hand down his face. “What about Zach?”

“They got him,” Heidi said. “Jason wasn’t too far away so they snagged him, too. Not sure about the pilot, but Zach was just crazy enough to come back. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”

Cade moved in closer. “Just want you to know how glad we are that you made it. You’re one of us. You’re like a brother to me.”

“And me.” Adam nodded.

“And me.” David crossed his arms.

“I’m not going to say you’re like a brother to me, I’m sorry.” Heidi laughed.

Isaiah’s heart was full. How could they know that’s all he ever wanted? To feel as if he was one of them. “You guys are too good to me. I always wanted to be part of a family of heroes.” Part of the Warren family. That more than made up for the mistakes of his past.

“And you were the hero this time.” Leah winked at him from across the room.

“But I want to know why you’re not going to tell me I’m like a brother.” Isaiah’s grin nearly hurt his face.

“Um, could you guys give us a moment?” Heidi eyed her siblings.

They chuckled and filed from the room.

“This is why.” Heidi leaned in and kissed Isaiah thoroughly, holding nothing of her feelings back this time. And he pulled her closer, wanting to give her his whole heart.