The US marshal was most likely a victim of Bluff’s spotty cell coverage, but being without contact after everything that had happened caused a cold chill to trickle down her spine. That uneasy feeling gripped her again as she rocked Angelina.
Tommy Johnson was shot and she couldn’t help but blame herself. If she had stayed away from Bluff none of this would be happening. Her stress levels were climbing through the roof and another big part of that had to do with the man down the hall. Colin would be back any second with questions she couldn’t answer. And especially not without speaking to Marshal Davis first.
Angelina whimpered in her sleep.
“It’s okay, sweet girl,” Melissa soothed, wishing it were that simple in all areas of her life.
Thinking about the possibility of Colin realizing the little girl was his daughter sent another tremor racing through Melissa. She couldn’t allow him to put the pieces together, to know about Angelina. She’d done a great job of hiding the little girl’s face so far. Could she keep it up until Marshal Davis showed? He had to show. He was her ticket to a new life, a safe life.
Melissa needed to get out of Bluff and disappear. Witness protection never sounded better. Although, there was no way she could leave without knowing Tommy was going to be okay. And she didn’t dare risk Angelina’s life by walking out the hospital door alone. Melissa was no fool. Richard was out there, somewhere. He would make good on his promise to destroy her and everyone she loved if he saw her.
Suddenly, the walls felt like they were closing in because if Colin figured out that Angelina was his, there’d be no walking out that door without him.
Okay, breathe.
The world seemed like it was crumbling down around her. All she had to do was let her baby sleep while Melissa obstructed the view of her face until her handler called. She could do that. She’d been through so much more in the past year. Melissa wanted to run, to escape in her car and disappear. She wasn’t fool enough to go outside without protection.
Richard had nothing to lose. He was already wanted by the federal government. And now, a sheriff who happened to be her childhood friend lay on an operating table because of Richard—because of her. Icy tendrils gripped her spine as her pulse raced. She checked her cell’s screen again. No messages.
Melissa stood up and then crossed the waiting room. Maybe she could find another place to sit and still be safe? On second thought, she seriously doubted it. The hospital had security but not the caliber she needed to keep Richard at bay. There was no place to hide from him except here with the O’Briens, where Colin could protect her and Angelina.
A panicked feeling made Melissa pace even faster. Everything inside her wanted to run out that door and keep going, except her heart. That stubborn organ wanted to be near Colin because he was the only person who’d ever made her feel safe. She’d taken that for granted when they’d been together before. But then, what had she had to run from? She’d had no idea what kind of monster lurked in Bluff a year ago. Any creature that she could conjure in her mind paled in comparison to Richard. He was worse than a monster. He was pure evil.
The scuffle of boots sounded in the hallway and she didn’t need to turn around to know that Colin had entered the room. She faced him.
“Dallas,” she said, startled. In an attempt to recover, she added, “It’s good to see you again.”
“You, too, Melissa.” Dallas stood behind his brother.
Melissa hoped he couldn’t hear her heart thudding against her ribs at the thought of two O’Briens in the room. If either one of them got a look at her daughter it was over.
It wasn’t a selfish desire that had her wanting to keep Angelina a secret. Although she had that, too. It was survival. Either of them figured out paternity and Colin would follow her to the ends of the earth to find her and his child. But then, she hadn’t really thought this through because this whole room would be filled with O’Briens soon.
Her chest squeezed thinking about it. She was trying to move away from danger, not put everyone in front of the firing squad. As long as Angelina was resting, Melissa should be able to hide her true identity. Sleep, my little angel. Sleep.
Melissa couldn’t allow herself to think about anything but Tommy being okay. Finding her handler ran a close second.
“I take it no one’s come in with an update?” Dallas asked as Colin moved by the window and stared outside.
She desperately wanted to ask him to move away from there.
“Not yet,” she said. “I’m really sorry about what happened to Tommy.”
A few tears free-fell despite her attempts to force them back.
“It’s not your fault,” Colin said under his breath.
She wasn’t so sure.
“I can help you with your daughter if you’d like a break,” Dallas said, offering to hold her.
“No,” Melissa said too quickly. “I just don’t want to take a chance of waking her with everything going on.”
The blanket slipped with movement and she secured it back in place. With Dallas standing close and Colin on the other side of the room, it was going to be a challenge to keep Angelina’s face concealed.
Dallas’s right brow raised but he didn’t immediately comment.
“I never knew how little sleep any of our parents must’ve gotten until my son, Jackson, came into my life,” he finally said, and then motioned toward chairs near Colin. “At least sit down.”
“You have a child?” she asked as she glanced at the chairs and then at Colin. Angelina stirred and Melissa’s heart dropped. Please, little angel.
“And a wife,” Dallas said.
“What?” Melissa didn’t mean to sound so shocked. She smiled at him as she moved to the farthest wall and took a seat.
“A lot has changed since you left,” Dallas said with a glance toward Colin.
“Well, congratulations,” she said. “You looked very happy when you mentioned your family.”
Dallas smiled and took a seat next to her.
“What’s her name?” He motioned toward the baby.
“Angelina,” she said quietly. Out of her periphery, she saw Colin’s reaction as his entire body tensed. It had been a moment of weakness that had her needing to use that name—the name that she and Colin had said they’d use if they ever had a daughter.
Dallas seemed to pick up on the added tension when he changed the subject by asking if Melissa wanted anything to drink.
“No, thanks,” she said. “I’m still shocked at hearing you got married. It’s good. And I think it’s amazing that you have a son.”
“It’s funny how everyone tells you that you won’t sleep when you have a baby, but no one says that you won’t mind,” Dallas said, that O’Brien pride written all over his features.
“I couldn’t be happier for you, Dallas.” She would bet any one of the O’Brien boys would make a great father, and her heart especially believed that about Colin. A wave of sadness crashed into her. She checked her phone again. The sooner she heard from Marshal Davis, the faster she could leave.
“Thank you. He’s a great kid. I hope you’ll swing by the ranch and meet my wife, Kate,” he said, and that comment netted a harsh look from Colin.
“I’d like that,” she said, even though the words were hollow. Liking the idea wasn’t the problem. She’d be Bethany soon enough and would never be allowed to look back. And especially not while Richard was a free man. Probably not after, either, considering