they’d both been killed, it wouldn’t have mattered to the shooters. They would have achieved their goal of getting rid of Sarah.
Ten minutes into the silent drive, he glanced at her. “Hey.”
“Yeah?” She looked at him and he focused back at the road.
“So, this is pretty random, but would you be interested in eating dinner with me at my parents’ house?” When she didn’t answer, he looked out of the corner of his eye. “Sarah?”
“Um . . . that’s really nice, but . . . why?”
He laughed. “Because I’d love for them to meet you. And . . . I promised my dad I’d talk to my sister. She’s got some issues going on, and I . . . could use a buffer.”
“A buffer?”
He wanted to smack himself. “I mean, I’d love for you to come regardless, but yeah . . . I’m being a huge chicken in a sense. I’m literally scared to death to talk to my sister and hope that if you’re there, you’ll give me courage and keep me from saying something completely stupid.”
She gaped. He shrugged.
“Well, when you put it that way,” she said, “I’d almost feel guilty if I didn’t come.”
“Great. I’ll let them know you’ll be there tonight.”
“Tonight!”
“What? Does it matter when we go?”
She huffed a slight laugh. “No, I guess it doesn’t.”
Gavin spun the wheel to the right into the hospital parking lot. Once parked, he kept an eye on their surroundings, a little worried that things had been quite calm. He wasn’t sure about the reason for the attempts on his life and Sarah’s unless the general’s speculation was correct, but the efforts to get rid of Sarah—or him—had failed, so no doubt another attack was imminent. He just didn’t know from where. Or how.
And it made him antsy.
Once out of the truck, he stayed close to Sarah, placing a hand on the small of her back. Her warmth seeped into his palm, and he realized how much he was coming to care about this woman. He’d liked her right off when he’d met her in Kabul. Now that he was actually getting to spend time with her, he knew he’d do anything to protect her.
Including keeping his mouth shut about her father’s involvement in his presence.
While he knew it was the right thing to do, he still struggled with the guilt. He didn’t want to keep anything from her, but he didn’t want her to die, either.
Because if the threats were valid—and he had no reason to believe they weren’t—it was only a matter of time before someone would strike again.
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Sarah studied Gavin out of the corner of her eye. He’d been quiet since entering the hospital. As well as watchful, all at the same time. Once on Michelle Nelson’s floor, he pulled his phone from his pocket. “I need to make a quick phone call.”
“Sure. I’m just going to head on over to the waiting room.”
He hesitated, then nodded. She noted that he followed her to the room but didn’t enter as he pressed the phone to his ear. He was sticking awfully close. She supposed she should be grateful since it appeared someone might be trying to harm—kill?—her, but she found it kind of unnerving, if she was honest.
She shook off the observation, instead focusing on the two detectives and Caden huddled with Mrs. Nelson’s family in the corner next to the coffeemaker.
She scooted closer, hoping to be able to eavesdrop. Gavin lifted the phone to his ear, then snagged her gaze. The knowing look there sent heat into her cheeks. But it didn’t stop her. She snitched a cup from the stack and filled it, moving slowly, adding cream and sugar. Stirring.
“. . . can’t believe this happened,” the girl to the right of Caden said.
“Is she able to talk?” Detective Attwood asked.
“Yes,” an older woman answered, “more so in the last twenty minutes. She keeps asking about Brianne. We don’t have the heart to tell her the truth, but I think she suspects she’s . . . gone.”
Detective Bancroft settled a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. “Do you think she’d be up to talking to us? It would help a lot if she could.”
“If she’s awake, I’m sure she’d like to try.”
Sarah caught Caden’s eye and he narrowed his. She sipped her coffee and fell into step behind them as they made their way to Michelle’s room.
Caden dropped back. “What are you doing?” He kept his voice low.
“Not investigating—just waiting, like you said I could do.”