“But if something goes wrong—” Nica closed her eyes, not even wanting to think about the possibility.
“Nothing will go wrong,” Ridge said with the kind of certainty that came from years of tactical planning.“We know what we’re doing.”
“Then tell me who it is.It’s obvious you’ve figured out who it is if you’re willing to set a trap.”The demand came out stronger than she felt.“If you’re all so confident, tell me who’s behind this.”
The silence stretched too long.Her brothers were good at many things, but poker faces had never been their strongest suit, at least not with her.
“You know,” she said, the realization hitting her like another bullet.“You know who’s been terrorizing me, had me shot, and you won’t tell me.”
“Nica—” Ridge started.
“No.”She was fighting the IV line, still trying to sit up fully despite the pain tearing through her chest.“You don’t get to keep me in the dark anymore.Not about this.Not when it’s my life we’re talking about.”
“It’s because it’s your life that we’re keeping you out of it,” Shiloh said.“You’re safe here.There are guards outside your door around the clock who’ll keep you safe.Soon, this will all be over.”
“What if you’re wrong?”The question came out softer than she intended, fear creeping into her voice despite her anger.“What if something happens to Gabe because I’m stuck in this bed and can’t help?”
“Then we handle it,” Dane said simply.“That’s what family does.”
But as her brothers stood there—solid, capable, determined—Nica couldn’t shake the feeling that they were all walking into something bigger and more dangerous than any of them realized.And the man she loved was at the center of it, playing the role of bait in a trap that might close in on him and get him killed.
And there was nothing she could do about it.Nothing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Gabe stood inthe hospital parking lot, the early morning air crisp against his skin as he slipped his wedding ring onto his finger.The simple gold band felt heavy, weighted with the knowledge of what he was about to do.He pressed his palm against his chest, feeling the burden of what he was attempting.He couldn’t blow this, so much depended on him giving the performance of a lifetime.It was time to end this farce, end the phone calls, the break-ins, the tormenting and stalking of his wife.This performance needed to convince Banner, needed him to believe that Gabe was falling to pieces.
Three floors above him, Nica lay recovering from surgery, the gunshot wound that had nearly taken her life a stark reminder of how far Banner would go in his besotted quest for revenge.For vengeance.Gabe’s jaw clenched as he forced himself not to look up at her window.Every instinct screamed at him to go to her, to hold her hand and tell her everything would be okay.But he couldn’t.Not if this plan was going to work.
She knew what they planned—well, at least part of it—because she’d caught on to her brothers when they’d visited.Knew he planned to use himself as bait to draw out the man who’d made their lives a living nightmare for months.But no more.If this plan worked, Banner wouldn’t be able to stay hidden, he’d want to come out to gloat.And then they’d have him.
His phone buzzed—a text from Mike.He was coordinating with the FBI component of this sting:Ready when you are.Seconds later another from Rafe, the sheriff:All set.Break a leg, Doc.
Gabe almost laughed at the irony.Break a leg.If this went wrong, Banner might break more than that.
He straightened his shoulders and tugged at the lapels of his jacket before walking through the hospital’s automatic doors, nodding to the security guard standing beside the reception desk.Just like any other morning.Simply Dr.Summers heading to the weekly staff meeting.Nothing unusual at all.
The conference room was already filled when he arrived.Dr.Claudia Henley, the chief of staff, sat at the head of the table shuffling through her notes.The nursing supervisors clustered together, coffee cups in hand, while the department heads found their usual seats.Normal.Routine.None of them knew this was just the calm before the storm he was about to unleash.
“Good morning, Gabriel,” Dr.Henley called out.“How’s Nica doing?”
The concern in her voice was genuine, and for a moment, Gabe felt a stab of guilt for what he was about to do to these people—his colleagues, his friends.But Banner’s spies were everywhere.Everybody had a weakness, and Banner had found ways to exploit some he’d never expected.Which meant he couldn’t trust anybody.All the more reason this performance had to be flawless.
“She’s alive,” he said curtly, taking a seat near the back.“No thanks to the people in this town.”
A few heads turned at his tone, but nobody said anything to his biting comment.The meeting began as scheduled.Budget reports, staffing issues, new protocols—the usual administrative minutiae.Gabe sat in silence, the tension building in his shoulders, letting the rage he’d been suppressing for weeks begin to simmer.
When Dr.Henley called for new business, he stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.
“I have something to say.”
The room fell silent.All eyes turned toward him, and Gabe could see the concern already creeping across familiar faces.Good.He needed them worried.Once all was said and done, he needed themtalking.
“Someone in this room—who knows how many people in this whole stinking town—is trying to destroy me.”His voice was louder than necessary, carrying the edge of hysteria he’d been practicing.“You think I don’t know?You think I can’t see what’s happening?”
“Gabe,” Dr.Henley said carefully, “perhaps we should discuss this privately…”
“No!”He slammed his palm on the table, several people jumping at the abrupt sound.“I’m tired of the whispers, tired of the looks.You all think you know what happened in California, don’t you?Think you’ve got me all figured out.”He grabbed the back of his chair and flung it across the room, and it slammed against the wall, before clattering to the floor.
