Page 82 of Help Wanted

Chapter 15

Zane was arguing the value of a boat with its owner when he got the call. Happy for a distraction, he stepped away and answered Brady with more enthusiasm than he really felt.

“What’s up?”

“We have a big problem,” Brady said, sounding out of breath. His first thought was that Kenley had bailed. That she hadn’t even given him a chance and had gone back to Hasher Bourne. But he hadn’t thought her loyalitis, as she called it, would allow her to abandon him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I got in late this morning. I parked out back to load up the boat that’s going to Toms River.” So far nothing was out of the ordinary. “I went into the office to take a piss before I left and I heard Kenley. She was upset and yelling. When I looked in through the window on the door, I could see a guy holding a gun on her.”

Zane zoned out for a full minute. When he was back Brady was going over the facts. Kenley had been robbed while on the job. Someone had hurt his Kenley?

He would kill them.

He was just formulating a plan when he caught the word bail and he snapped to attention.

“Wait. What about bail?” he asked.

“I need you to bail me out of jail. I freaked out when I saw her in danger. I guess my training kicked in without me knowing it, and I kind of, I don’t know, lost my shit. The asshole was unconscious and bleeding when the cops got there. Scott was off duty. They took me in.”

“Where’s Kenley now?”

“They took her to the hospital. She was really shook up. The officer said they would probably release me if my story checks out with hers or the other guy, but I need to get out of here so I can get to the hospital to make sure she’s okay.”

“All right. What do I do?”

“Here. Talk to this nice lady,” Brady said before Zane could get any more details. There was a shuffling sound and then a woman’s voice came on the other end.

A few minutes later he had posted bail and Brady was released.

Zane explained the situation to his customer as he booked a flight. He hadn’t unpacked. His bag was still in the rental car. Within ten minutes he was driving back to the airport. He needed to get to Kenley.

Zane checked in with Brady a few times during his delay in Charlotte. Kenley had been given some anti-anxiety meds and discharged. Brady had taken her home so she could sleep. Brady had a busted-up hand and would need to check in with the police again in the morning.

Zane was already planning to give him a large bonus for beating the hell out of the guy and for saving Kenley. Every time he thought about what could have happened he felt sick. Once he even picked up his airsickness bag.

This was all his fault.

He’d left her there by herself. He should have been there with her. He should have been there to protect her. Despite Brady’s reassurance that she was fine, Zane wouldn’t relax until he’d seen her for himself.

Without a second’s hesitation about the time, he knocked on Kenley’s door late that evening. He heard the clanking as Kenley disengaged all the locks, and when she opened the door his heart took over.

* * *

She wasn’t sure how she felt about Zane being there as she unlocked the door and opened it. Without asking, he stepped into her home, closed the door behind him and pulled her into his arms.

He felt so good. So safe.

She cried into his big chest uncontrollably as he apologized and kissed her hair. She wanted to ask him what he was apologizing for, but she couldn’t stop sobbing. She’d held it together all day, but now that he was here, she broke down.

Their misunderstanding seemed so stupid and petty now.

“I should have been here with you. I shouldn’t have left you on your own. I should have security or something.”

“You couldn’t have known this would happen. It’s not your fault.”

“What about the other things I’ve done? The hiding and avoiding you. Am I allowed to apologize for that?”