Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

L ock’s eyes moved over Callie’s still body. The doctors had said she’d wake up at any moment. It wasn’t soon enough. He wanted to see her eyes. Hear her voice. And fuck, he hated seeing the oxygen mask over her face.

His fault. This was his fault. Someone had broken into his home. Drugged her. Tried to take her. And he hadn’t caught the bastard.

He should have gone into the house with her. But he hadn’t, because he’d thought his house was safe. He hadn’t counted on the asshole breaking the fucking lock on his window. How long had the guy been waiting in there to get her alone? And why hadn’t he been worried that it would be Lock who went in there first?

Was he that ballsy, or had he been watching them in the yard and Lock hadn’t noticed?

He had to have been watching and entered when the women went inside. No way would he have just broken in and waited, risking the possibility of Lock or Jace going in first.

He wanted to punch his damn hand through the wall. Let the pain dull out the other emotions. The anger. The frustration. The helplessness. That was probably the worst of it all. He wanted to do more. To take action and fix this. But he couldn’t fix anything . He couldn’t even protect the woman he loved.

The door opened and his brother poked his head in. “Can I come in?”

Lock dipped his head as he stepped toward his brother, his throat feeling too tight to get words out.

Eastern’s gaze moved to Callie. “How’s she doing?”

“No sign of respiratory issues. The doctor said she might just feel nauseous and light-headed when she wakes up.”

“That’s good. How’d you get in here?”

“I told the nurse I was her husband.” He would have told them whatever was necessary to make sure he was by her side. “Tell me you found something.”

“The stolen car was dumped a few miles from where you last saw it. My guys are going through it for prints, but they’re not hopeful.”

“Where was it stolen from?” Lock asked, gaze returning to Callie and the rise and fall of her chest.

“The parking lot of the Thai restaurant here in town. Owner left the keys inside.”

Lock scrubbed a hand over his face. “He was fast, Eastern. The same fast fucker I chased down in that alley opposite Callie’s studio.”

“Good. So we know this is one person.”

Something on Eastern’s face made Lock straighten. “You suspect someone. Who?”

Eastern’s chest rose on a deep breath and, for a second, Lock thought his brother might not answer the question. “I’m just gonna ask this once, okay? And if you tell me to drop it, I won’t bring it up again.”

A sick feeling churned in Lock’s gut. “What?”

“It couldn’t have been Jesse or Antwan, could it?”

Lock flinched. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“They’re both fast. Both well trained.”

“They wouldn’t do this. Fuck, they’re like brothers to me, and they got to town after this started. But if you don’t want to take my word for it, ask Cody. They were at Meridian tonight with Aspen.”

Eastern nodded, not confirming nor denying whether he’d ask Cody. Knowing him, he would, and it made the anger inside Lock burn hotter. “Where was Hamish tonight?”

“Lock—”

“He was in the hospital for a week, and in that week nothing happened. He’s out for a day and someone attacks her.”

“He just got out of a coma. He couldn’t have—”

“We need to stop assuming we know what he can and can’t do. He matches the physical description of the guy I saw tonight, and he could have training we don’t know about. Have you done a background check on him? Like a really fucking thorough background check?”

Something flickered in Eastern’s eyes. Something dark.

His brother wasn’t telling him everything.

Lock inched closer. “What?”

“He grew up with a dad who was a Marine. The dad died three years ago.”

“So, his father could have taught him how to fight, and this whole awkward side of him could be one big fucking act.”

“I’m not gonna lie, it’s possible.” Eastern’s jaw clenched. “I plan to question him tomorrow.”

“Good.”

“I also plan to question Aspen’s ex. Maybe he’s still pissed about the altercation at the bar.” Eastern’s gaze moved to the door and back. “I’ll man the hall until you leave.”

“Thanks.”

Eastern grasped Lock’s shoulder before heading back into the hall.

Lock returned to Callie’s bedside and lowered beside her. He threaded his fingers through hers and lifted her hand to his mouth to press a kiss to her soft skin. “Wake up for me, Cal. Let me see your eyes when I tell you I’m sorry. You should have been safe in my home, and you weren’t.”

He lowered his head so his temple touched her hand.

The slow rise and fall of her chest continued, and every second that passed made him want to yell that bit louder. Rage at the world that this had happened. That he’d come so damn close to losing her.

The door opened a second time, but it wasn’t Eastern.

Lock rose to his feet. “Jude—”

“What the hell happened? Why is my baby in a hospital bed?” Jude stormed over to Lock, eyes narrowed and hands fisted.

Lock hadn’t seen him this angry since he’d knocked on the older man’s door two years ago, looking for Callie. “Someone broke into my house through the bedroom window. They drugged and tried to kidnap her.”

“Where the hell were you ?”

“I was out back.” And he would hate himself for that for a long fucking time. Probably forever.

For a moment, Lock thought the older man might hit him. Lock would let him. He deserved it.

“You were supposed to protect her,” Jude hissed.

“I know. I fucked up.”

Jude swallowed hard. “Did you catch him?”

“No.”

Jude’s eyes darkened, and some of the anger shifted into something else…fear. Fear for his daughter. That this asshole was still out there.

“With all due respect, sir,” Lock said quietly. “You couldn’t say anything to make me angrier than I already am at myself.”

Jude stepped closer. “I—”

“Dad.”

They both turned.

Callie. Her eyes were open.

The smell of cleaning products tinged the air. It was a familiar smell, but not in a good way. It reminded her of the night she’d lost her baby. Of lying in a hospital bed, feeling empty and alone.

She kept her eyes closed.

Why was she in the hospital? She’d been outside with Lock, Jace, and Elle, then what?

Voices pricked at her ears. Loud voices. Angry but also familiar.

“You were supposed to protect her.”

Dad…what was he doing here?

“I know. I fucked up.”

Lock. He sounded angry…angrier than she’d ever heard him.

She opened her eyes.

Ouch . Light hammered into her head.

Then it came back to her…the breeze from Lock’s bedroom. The hand over her mouth.

Someone had tried to kidnap her. But he hadn’t succeeded. He couldn’t have. Because she was here, in the hospital, with Lock and her dad.

“With all due respect, sir, you couldn’t say anything to make me angrier than I already am at myself.”

She squinted through the light and forced her gaze to focus on Lock and her dad.

Her father stepped into Lock’s space. “I—”

“Dad.” She pulled the oxygen mask off her face as both men looked at her. “It’s not his fault.”

Lock rushed to her side and took her hand. “Callie! How do you feel?”

“My head hurts, and I feel a bit sick, but that’s all.” She squeezed his hand before turning to her father, who was now at the end of the bed. “The person who broke into his house, that’s who’s to blame.”

Her father’s hands wrapped around the bed railing. “I hate seeing you like this.”

“But I’m okay.” She turned to Lock. “I am okay, aren’t I?”

“The doctor said you’ll be fine, you might just be a bit light-headed and nauseous.”

Oh, she was definitely those things. “What happened after he grabbed me?”

A muscle in Lock’s jaw twitched. “Elle screamed, and Jace and I ran in there. The guy had already carried you out the window, so I went after you. I grabbed him, we fought, but he got away.”

He got away. So he was still out there. “Did you see him? Do you know what he looks like?”

“No. He was wearing a balaclava. But Eastern’s looking into a couple of people.”

She opened her mouth to ask who but stopped when a wave of dizziness washed over her.

Lock’s fingers tightened around her hand. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She wasn’t. She felt terrible. But guilt already played over Lock’s features, and her father was giving off the most intense worried vibes. There was no part of her that wanted to make them feel worse.

Lock’s phone rang and he pulled it out, frowning at the screen. “Is it okay if I—”

“Answer it.” She gave him a small smile, and he stepped back from the bed. She turned back to her father. “It’s late. You should be at home, in bed.” She had no idea what the time was, but by the darkness outside, it was either really late or really early.

“I’m exactly where I should be.” He moved around the bed and touched her hand. “I’m glad you’re safe, baby. You scared the hell out of me.”

“I’m safe with Lock.” She tilted her head and lowered her voice. “Please don’t blame him.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Fear makes me need someone to blame, and he was all I had.”

She squeezed his hand. “Lock’s on our side. And if there’s anyone we want on our side, it’s him and his brothers.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Oh, Dad.” She forced herself up into a sitting position, closing her eyes against the pain in her head, ignoring her father urging her to remain lying down. Then she looked her dad in the eye. “I’m not going anywhere. Okay?”

He blinked back visible tears. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

“I’d expect nothing less.” She looked down to see the slight shake in his hands. “You need to go home and get some sleep.”

“I’m not leaving your side.”

“What if I promise to visit you tomorrow?”

“No. I’ll visit you. And I’m bringing a meal.”

“Dad—”

“I’m bringing a meal, Callie.”

She sighed. “Thank you.”

Her father pulled her into a gentle hug.

He’d just left the room when Lock got off the phone.

“Everything okay?” she asked, not really sure she wanted to know if it wasn’t.

“Yeah, just organizing a new lock on the bedroom window. Jesse and Antwan are working on it.”

“They’re good friends.”

“They feel like shit for not being there tonight.” He lowered to the chair beside her. “I’m sorry.”

“Lock—”

“I should have gone into the house with you.”

“You can’t be everywhere, all the time.”

“It’s my job to protect you.”

She reached up and cupped his cheek, letting the warmth of his skin seep into her hand. “You did. You protected me. I’m here and safe because of you.”

“If Elle hadn’t screamed—”

“But she did. Is she okay?”

He placed his hand over hers and turned his head to kiss the inside of her wrist. “She’s fine. Worried about you.”

The door opened and a middle-aged woman stepped in, red glasses on her nose and clipboard in her hand. “Miss Ward, you’re awake. I’m Doctor Feldon. How do you feel?”

“Pretty good, considering what happened.”

“Yes, being drugged with chloroform is more dangerous than a lot of people realize. Fortunately, the tests show you’re both okay.”

Callie frowned. “Both?”

“You and the baby.”

Every muscle in Callie’s body froze, sending a chill down her spine. There was a beat of silence where she wasn’t sure if she or Lock even breathed. She didn’t look at him. She couldn’t take her eyes off the doctor.

“I’m pregnant?”

“Yes. The test is fairly accurate. You’re early, but definitely pregnant.” The doctor frowned. “You didn’t know?”

Pregnant. A baby was growing inside her…and that was terrifying.