No Reason to Run, page 6
Oh, God, Oh, God. They had to get out of here. Heart pounding in her chest, she snatched Chloe up. She spotted her cell and duffel. It required effort but she managed to pick everything up without loosening her grip on the shivering body in her arms. Olivia’s ears were ringing but she could make out the sounds of screams and an alarm. She shook hard enough to make her teeth chatter.
“Hold tight, baby,” she whispered to Chloe. The rising smoke and ensuing madness made it hard to navigate. She had to decipher which direction pointed to the exit.
Chapter 11
Shane took note of the hour on his watch for the tenth time. According to the schedule he’d checked on his phone, a bus to Charlotte would leave shortly. It was the only bus going to North Carolina this early. He wasn’t sure why he still waited. It wasn’t like he needed to physically watch the bus depart to know she got off safely. His cell chirped. Tempted to ignore it, he answered with a short. “Yeah?”
“Code princess engaged, sir.”
Shane froze, his gaze moving from the clock on his dash to the entrance of the bus station. He’d programmed the code for Olivia prior to leaving his home. He expected her to shred his card in defiance or use it once if only to request instructions on how to pay him back. Never once did he contemplate her actually using the emergency code he’d set for her. He’d informed his PA Diana only moments ago to reach him immediately if the code was used.
What the hell could have happened in a half hour to cause the stubborn woman to ask for help? He stared at the entrance of the bus station as if he could see inside. Thoughts ran through his mind when flames suddenly shot from the roof of the building followed by an explosion of sound. He tensed in disbelief watching people pour from the doorway. “Holy fuck.”
He lunged from the car barely shutting the door behind him. He listened to the snap and crackle of an out of control blaze followed by several loud booms implying structural damage.
“Sir?”
Diana’s voice penetrated the ice he’d wrapped around his emotions the minute the explosion went off while he bumped into people as he ran toward the smoke and flames. His heart pounded in his chest. “Is she on the line? Do you have her, Diana?”
Christ, fear like never before ate at his gut.
“The line is open, sir, but no response.”
Which could mean anything. He shoved hard at a man blocking his way. Too many people were scrambling around. Screams and terror filled the air. It reminded him too much of his last mission with his team. He didn’t need any reminders of that cluster fuck.
Sweat broke out on his temple. A sharp pain shot up his right thigh. His bad leg protested the strain. Shane ignored it to study the crowd. Where the hell was she? “Olivia.” He yelled out her name, looking in the face of every blonde woman going by.
A security guard stopped his mad flight by stumbling in his path. Shane turned on his heel and snatched him by the uniform shirt. “What the hell is going on?” Sirens could be heard in the distance.
The guard stuttered and tried to break away. His face paled as Shane used his hold to shake him. “What happened?” He repeated harshly, heart in his throat.
“Bomb. Some fool had a bomb.” The guard pushed against Shane’s chest until he freed himself. Shane let him go. The man continued without a backward glance.
Police units roared to the front, sirens blaring and parked with a squeal of brakes. Soon they’d block off the scene and he wouldn’t be able to get closer. With determined steps he strode forward. No one was stopping him from going in and finding Olivia and her daughter.
“I have her, sir.” Diana spoke in his ear.
At the entrance, he felt the heat against his skin. The air smelled of ash and burned metal. Diana’s words had him hesitating. “Repeat that.”
“I have her, sir. I’m patching her through.”
The line hummed and he heard Olivia’s voice. “Shane.”
She sounded shaky but alive. Alive was good. “Where are you, princess?”
Steeling himself against the smoke, he pulled the collar of his shirt over the lower half of his face. He shouldered through a few more fleeing people.
“There was an explosion. The man.” Her choppy words broke off with a cry.
“I need you focused, princess. Are you and Chloe okay?” The little one would be traumatized by this. The thought renewed his intensity as he surged forward.
The inside of the bus station revealed pure mayhem. People scattered in every direction, two bodies on the ground definitely not moving. A bus turned on its side. Glass and concrete rubble everywhere he scanned but his gaze continued to search for one woman carrying a child. His eyes began to burn. Shit, he had to find them soon.
“We’re. Fine.” She gasped and choked each time she spoke.
“Where the fuck are you?” The layer of calm he used to get through in the past was remarkably absent. He considered the possibility of a secondary incendiary device. They’d all be screwed then.
A hand grabbed onto his arm. Shane jerked and turned around.
“Here.” Olivia stood beside him, a pale bruised mess, her body trembling. She held Chloe in her arms.
Frightened blue eyes peered up at him from her shocky face. A shudder of relief ran through his body. Without question, he wrapped his arm around Olivia’s shoulders and directed them back toward the exit. The crowd lunged forth jostling them as they approached the narrow hall leading to the outside. The kid cried out and Shane tightened his hold.
Smoke billowed toward the ceiling. A cart of some sort engulfed with flames shooting from it lay on its side. The inside of the building sustained serious damage. Stores collapsed on themselves and rapid mini explosion followed in succession. Fucking chaos.
“Almost out, Chloe.” He heard Olivia’s raspy voice murmur followed by a cough.
“I’ll call back later, D.” He ended his call with his assistant and gave his attention to the two in his grip. “Hold my shirt, princess. It’s gonna get rough.”
Shane used his free arm to push and clear a path. Determined to get them all out of here, he added force to steam roll them through. Fresh air hit his face none too soon and they were out on the walk way. He inhaled deeply tasting ash in his mouth. Fire trucks had joined the row of police cars. Yellow clad men rushed past.
A familiar face dressed in turnout gear headed for Shane. Brody McKenna walked with a brisk stride, his yellow helmet under his arm. “They hurt?” He stopped in front of them, the frown on his face showing lines of strain. Other firefighters raced pass.
“Princess, let’s get you and the kid checked out.” Shane tried to pull back but she had a death grip on his shirt.
Her face buried deeper into his chest and her fist thumped his stomach. Fortunately, her body pressed close enough to make the blow ineffective. “Chloe, I told you.”
Shane smiled. “Right.” Looking down at the top of her daughter’s head, he said, “Come on, kid. Face up so we can check on you.” He intentionally needled Olivia in hopes of kick starting her spirit.
Instead, Shane got a surprise. “I want Mr. Snuffles.”
Chloe titled her head and her tearstained face met his. Dirt streaks marred her cheeks and he felt unchecked rage building. Her wounded blue eyes blinked at him and her lower lip poked out in what even he had to admit looked cute.
It also marked her first comment to him directly. “Did you leave a toy on the bus?” Remembering the destruction inside and the possibility of the toy escaping unscathed, had him cringing.
Her head shook back and forth. “No.”
A small line of blood ran down her temple. “Brody, they both need medical attention.” Olivia protested but never lifted her head up. Brody attempted to gently pry Olivia’s arms loose. Shane winced as her nails clenched and bit through the fabric of his shirt to pierce his chest.
Brody tugged again and received a solid kick for his efforts. As odd as the situation was, Shane found himself grinning. “Easy, he’s a public servant doing his job.”
Brody gave Shane a glare for his laughter.
“I’m fine.” Olivia’s statement was muffled in his chest.
Picking up on her mother’s emotions, Chloe’s tears turned into a wail which cut off abruptly from a hacking cough.
“Chloe needs to be seen, Olivia.”
Her head flew up fast as she pushed back to see Chloe. Shane moved his jaw out of the way just in time. A tremor ran through her body. He took the opportunity to reach for Chloe in her slackened hold and transferred the little girl to Brody’s waiting arms catching mother and daughter both off guard.
Chloe screamed and Olivia struggled to move away.
“Mommy.”
Her little arms reached over McKenna’s yellow clad shoulders but he was quick and hustled over to a parked ambulance. Shane let go and Olivia chased after the pair. An EMT caught up with her. Olivia dodged the emergency worker, her attention on getting to her daughter. When the man grasped her arm above the elbow, she shoved him hard. He must have increased the pressure because the two looked like they were grappling in a wrestling match. Olivia’s arms slapped around, fighting the attempt to get her settled.
Brody had an easier time of it. He won Chloe over by making funny faces and had her calmly sitting on the edge of the truck while he swabbed the cut on her forehead.
Shane came behind Olivia and waved off the frustrated attendant. “As soon as Brody’s done he’ll take care of her, too.” The man nodded after cutting Olivia an evil stare.
Firefighters exited the building with men and women huddled under their arms. The flames spread over the roof of the building but more firefighters had hose aimed over the blaze.
Brody placed a small butterfly bandage on Chloe’s cut. Shane ran a soothing hand down Olivia’s back. “Chloe’s going to be alright.”
She looked at him with blank eyes and Shane cursed under his breath. “Sit.” He gently applied pressure to her shoulders causing her body to follow the motion.
Brody seated her next to Chloe and Olivia immediately wrapped an arm around her daughter. They both looked terrified. Shane squatted in front of them ignoring his friend while he attempted to figure out what the hell happened and if it connected to the threatening text she received.
“Olivia, I want to ask you a couple of questions.”
She coughed and put her hand on her throat. Brody wrapped a blood pressure cough around her arm. “He had a bomb,” she blurted.
“Okay.” Shane pulled her hand away from her throat and rubbed her fingers. “Did you see which bus?” Was it the bastard she was running from?
Her head moved in the negative. “No. Maybe, I don’t know.”
“It’s okay. Did you notice anything about the person with the bomb?”
“He…he was just some guy in a suit. And then he left his briefcase and the poor coffee guy.” She broke off as tears ran down her cheeks.
Shane tightened his hold on her hand and scooted closer until he practically rested between her denim clad thighs. He used his free hand to rub her leg. “It’s okay. Take a deep breath.” Her chest rose and fell but her eyes still darted around watching the emergency personnel rushing to help other people. Some injured more than she and Chloe. A lot more. “Oh, God, Shane. He…” Unable to finish, she turned to Chloe to make sure she wasn’t listening.
Chloe licked a grape lollipop and talked a mile a minute with Brody. She wasn’t listening to their conversation at all. Brody had two nieces and the girls loved him. It didn’t surprise Shane that Olivia’s daughter would gravitate to the calm firefighter.
He moved his hand from her thigh to her waist and caressed her hip. “Try not to think about that part.” Doctors had told him that often enough during his recovery when he came home in pain from his injury. Didn’t matter though. At night in the dark all those thoughts you tried not to think about during the day would rear their ugly heads.
Olivia leaned forward slightly, pressing into his touch. Her vanilla scent teased his nostrils. “What else do you remember?” He kept massaging her with the firm touch of his hand. Grounding her with sensations.
Another deep breath. The rise of her chest in the tee shirt brought his attention back to her breasts. The pink tee strap top from earlier now sported a small tear visible above where his hand rested. She faced him and her mouth wobbled. “The coffee attendant chased the guy in the suit. Everyone watched because he ran with the briefcase. He just wanted to do a good thing and give back the briefcase.”
Her tone trailed off on a soft hiccup. Shane looked up at Brody who watched Olivia closely. Brody removed the cuff from her arm and slid a plastic mask over her face, the strap catching on her hair. She winced and tugged on her hand in his grip. Shane let her go but instead of adjusting the strap like he expected, she grabbed his shoulder.
“It’s just oxygen, miss.” Brody paused and glanced between the two of them a question in his eyes.
“Her name’s Olivia and the kid’s her daughter, Chloe. Olivia, this is Brody.”
“I wanted a coffee.” The mask muffled her voice but he figured out the words.
“Shhh. We’ll talk later.”
No longer distracted by her candy, Chloe jumped from the truck and came towards him. “Mr. Snuffles in your truck.” Her hands gestured wildly. “Man go boom.”
Shane held still aware of how closely everyone waited but Chloe crept closer and leaned her weight against his side. Her head brushed her mother’s hand on his shoulder. “Go back your house?”
Chapter 12
Olivia couldn’t believe it. Someone used a bomb at the bus station. One minute she’d been watching the cart attendant chase the guy and the next. God, she breathed deeply. The poor man was dead now. Both of them, she assumed, since they’d been standing so close together. There could be others dead. The bus parked in the spot had been full. Those passengers waiting to go wherever they planned.
“Olivia.”
Shane’s voice pulled her from the fog of memories. She glanced at him, reassured by his presence. Chloe leaned on him, her head nestled on his shoulder. He seemed to take it all in stride. Muscles poised for action while he maintained his awkward stance practically kneeling between her legs. The heat of his body warmed her chilled limbs through the denim. Even in this position, his height put them eye to eye.
His eyes weren’t cold now. Glowing with concern, the gray color lightened like the sky after a mid-day storm. Olivia pretended she belonged to him. Pretended it was alright that she and Chloe absorbed the strength his presence emanated. It was the only way to contain her rising fear. She’d once wanted to belong to Brian in that way. Enough. She had to quit fantasizing.
She pushed the mask up from her face though she’d enjoyed the burst of air pouring into her starved lungs. “Your wife is lucky.”
The fireman standing over them snorted while pushing the mask back in place. Olivia peeked at him from the corner of her eye. He wore a smile that revealed a dimple in one lean cheek. His green eyes flashed with humor.
“What?” Shane appeared aghast.
Chloe jerked but Shane reached up and rubbed her daughter’s back until she settled. More of Chloe’s weight slumped forward as her daughter literally climbed into his lap drawn to the safety he represented.
“Your wife,” Olivia forced herself to repeat. The green-eyed monster took a huge bite out of her but she continued. “She’s lucky to have you.”
“Princess, you’re nuts.” A grin curved his lips upward. “I told you last night I’m not married.”
Heat warmed her cheek. She couldn’t recall what he’d said exactly but the feminine touches in his home denoted some sort of female visitor.
“Man, it’s all that girly decoration your mom and Eden set-up.” Brody chuckled. “Your place looks like a fu-“ He stopped the curse in time but Chloe’s eyes stayed on Shane. “Your place looks like a funny woman lives there.”
Olivia snickered at the substitute wording. She appreciated his tact. “Eden?” Shoving the mask up once again, her look questioned them.
“Shut it, Brody.” At last Shane’s growl was directed at someone else.
“Hold still.” Brody flashed a light in her face. Poked at her some more. “How do you feel? Breathing okay?”
She nodded waiting for a response to her question.
“Eden’s my sister.” Shane rose to his feet, shifting Chloe in order to secure her over his shoulder. His hand cupped Olivia’s elbow bringing her to her feet. She swayed slightly and caught both men frowning.
“Brody?” Shane kept his eyes on her but spoke to his friend.
Brody removed the mask entirely and grasped the back of his neck. He sighed. “You already know my recommendation.”
“McKenna, get over here.” The deep voice rang out drawing their attention.
Several firefighters gathered in a circle with police officers huddled nearby. Olivia noticed dogs in vests with a few of the uniformed men. Brody turned and waved a hand in a waiting gesture.
“Take her in and get them both looked at, Shane.”
Take them in. Olivia gasped. “No. I’m not going to the hospital.” She couldn’t. Hospitals had records. Brian would find them. Both her hands landed on Shane’s chest. Her fingers brushed Chloe’s legs. “We can’t.” She locked eyes with him as the gray orbs misted over.
Brody gaped at her reaction but she paid him no mind. Shane had to listen to her.
His hard stare searched her face. Frustration flashed across his features. “I’m taking them home, Brody. The lady doesn’t want to go to the hospital.”
Olivia swallowed thickly. Shane wasn’t going to force them.
“If you’re sure she’s fine.” Brody brushed a light hand over Chloe’s tangled curls. She never stirred. “Chloe seems fine to me.” His brow quirked in Olivia’s direction. “I don’t like this one’s cough. If either of them experience dizziness, double vision or vomiting, you take them to the hospital and I don’t care what she’s worried about.”
