Sophie Oak - Found in Bliss

Holly felt her blood start to boil. She heard everything he’d said, but he was pushing her too far. “You back off, and do it now. Everyone in this town has been putting up with your crap for months. Don’t pretend that everything will be fine if Alexei is gone. You were drinking and fighting and endangering everyone in this community before he came back. You need help and everyone has done their best to give it to you, but you just tell everyone you’re fine and go back to the bar. It can’t go on, Logan. You’re a cop. You can’t be out of control.”

Logan laughed, a bitter, nasty sound. “We’re all out of control, Holly. Don’t be stupid.”

“You will use nicer tone of voice when you speak to woman. And don’t ever call her stupid.” Alexei’s tone had deepened. Holly was getting worried that he’d had enough of Logan’s bile, too.

Instead of backing down, Logan’s lips turned up in a feral smile. “I’ll call her whatever I like, asshole. What are you going to do about it?”

Caleb’s hands came out. “We’re not doing this. Logan, back off.”

One of the motel doors came open, and Holly saw Jessie standing there. She wore jeans and a T-shirt, her shoulder holster on display. There was a shiny gun resting against her left side. She quickly closed the door behind her and surveyed the group. “What the hell is going on? Alexei? I thought we agreed you would come alone.”

Alexei’s eyes widened as he looked over her. “I never say such thing. Where is Michael?”

“Busy,” she said shortly. “I’m in charge right now, and I don’t think they should be here.”

“He’s not going anywhere alone as long as someone out there is trying to kill him.” Caleb pointed to Jessie. “And you’re not taking him anywhere without us.”

“See,” Logan said with an ugly grin. “Everyone wants you gone, asshole. And take Holly and the Doc, too. We don’t need them.”

“You need many things, Logan,” Alexei said with a shake of his head. “I don’t think you will accept anything though. You will have to have patience because I am not going to leave. I live here now. I have a family here, and I will not leave them.”

“We’ll see about that.” Logan didn’t move, but he seemed to realize there were more people than he wanted around.

Jessie crossed her arms over her chest and gave a long-suffering sigh. “Alexei, we need to talk, and I don’t think we should do it with an audience. Dr. Sommerville, I mean Burke, why don’t you take Ms. Lang home, and I’ll talk to Alexei. I promise you, I can keep him safe.”

“Where is the other one? The other Marshal?” Caleb asked.

“Michael is working on the case with the sheriff. He should be back any minute. Look, this is serious, and we need to get you someplace safe. If you two are really serious about going with him, then you should go home and pack a bag. Time is of the essence,” Jessie said, her eyes going back to the door of her room.

Logan stiffened, his eyes narrowing, confusion plain. Holly saw his shoulders straighten and then relax as though he’d figured something out. He exchanged a look with Alexei, their eyes meeting and something passing between them. “Yeah, maybe you two should go do that.”

“I can handle all of this, Caleb. I will deal with Marshals, and then we can do what we planned on doing,” Alexei said, pulling a key from his pocket. He leaned over and brushed his lips against Holly’s. “ Dushka , everything will be fine.” He turned back to Jessie. “Allow me to gather my things and speak to Holly and Caleb. I will return in moments.”

Her face tightened. “All right. You’re stubborn, you know. Maybe you should all go down to your room and really discuss this. You’re putting them in terrible danger. You’re going to realize that very soon.”

“I guess I’m not needed here anymore. Looks like you got this under control, Marshal.” Logan stepped back, tipping his hat with a mocking smile. “And Alexei, hope your trip goes well. Be sure to watch out for strangers. You never know when one is going to come up from behind—or in front.”

“I am going to talk to Nate about him. He’s lost his damn mind,” Holly grumbled. She turned and saw Logan jogging out toward his Bronco. She noticed that he passed it by and ran around to the front of the motel. What kind of trouble was he going to cause now?

“Don’t to be worrying, dushka .” He took her hand. There was an air of urgency about him. He tugged her along, his eyes watching as Jessie went back to her room. “Caleb, let’s take her to my room, and we can talk.”

Alexei led her to the next door. His protectors had apparently wanted to keep a close eye on him.

Caleb talked in a low voice. “I don’t know why, but I don’t like this. Let’s call the sheriff when we get in the room. I think it would be best if we don’t tell the Marshals what we’re planning. The first chance we get, we pick up Nick and haul ass for Chicago. Once we’re there, my brother can protect you. Until then, I worry they might haul you into protective custody. We wouldn’t even know where they had taken you.”

Alexei pushed the key into the door and turned it. He looked down and gasped. Holly couldn’t see anything to be worried about. There was just a little piece of string lying in the doorway. She could see it plainly because the door faced the movie screen as all of the motel’s doors did. The whole parking lot was lit up as Doris Day searched for love. But Alexei’s face went stark white, and he ducked to his knees. “Caleb, protect her.”

The door exploded as a bullet crashed through. Caleb tackled her just as she felt it whizz by. She hit the concrete with a crash, pain flaring along her skin. Alexei got to his feet and knocked in the door with one kick. He immediately started firing, the sound cracking through the air, exploding all around her.

Holly felt her heart nearly stop. Alexei had walked in there.

“Don’t.” Caleb put an arm around her waist and rolled from the sidewalk to the cement of the parking lot, rolling their bodies between two cars. “He knows what he’s doing. We need to get to my gun, sweetheart. It’s in the trunk of the Benz.”

Alexei came back out of the room, firing as he stumbled backward. Blood coated his shirt. Holly felt the scream build inside her chest.

Alexei dove for the protection of the parked cars, coming to Caleb’s side. “I’m hit by bullet.”

“No shit,” Caleb said, getting on his knees. “That’s what happens when you walk into a room where a dude’s got a gun.”

“I thought you said he knew what he was doing? God, Caleb, you have to fix him.” Holly felt her heart in her throat. Had the danger passed? They had to get Alexei out of here. The blood looked like it was everywhere. Was he dying?

“I am only hit in shoulder.” Alexei popped up over the car for a moment, and two quick shots rang out. He came back down. “I had to see how many. There is one man. I do not recognize. I hit him in leg, but he got me, too. I thought it best to retreat. The sheriff should be here soon. I have no doubt that everyone has called.”

He grimaced as he took two more shots over the hood of the car.

“Caleb, where are you hit?” Alexei asked.

Holly gasped and looked down at Caleb. He had blood on his pants.

Caleb’s voice was steady as he talked. “It’s a through and through. He got my left gastrocnemius muscle. It hurts like hell, but I’ll live. I can’t run though.”

Calf. He was talking about his calf muscle. She was the only one who wasn’t shot. She slipped her hand into Caleb’s pocket and pulled out the keys. “I’ll go get the other gun.”

“No, you will not. You will sit here. Help is coming.” Alexei grabbed her arm. “You will be obeying me now.”