Laura Scott - Battle Tested

Isaac didn’t like the sound of that.

Kyle took the puppies into an examination room to assess their condition. He returned a short while later with good news.

“They’re all surprisingly healthy, and they look to be about four weeks old.” He glanced at Vanessa and Aiden as he continued, “I’ll give you some supplies you’ll need to foster them, okay?”

“That would be great,” Vanessa agreed.

Isaac had noticed how protective Aiden was of the puppies, and hoped Vanessa was making the right decision allowing him to help foster them. Not that he thought Aiden would hurt them in any way, but Isaac knew how horrible it was to be separated from an animal you’d bonded with.

He missed Beacon with an all-consuming intensity. For several days, after Beacon had saved his life in Afghanistan by dragging him by the back of his flight suit away from the burning chopper, he and the dog had hidden together in enemy territory while waiting to be rescued. Losing his best friend and Beacon’s handler, Jake Burke, had been horrible. During those endless hours after the crash, Beacon had been his only source of comfort. Although even Beacon’s reassuring presence couldn’t keep his guilt at bay.

Then the USAF search-and-rescue chopper had arrived. The pilot had done a routine flyby, then circled around to land on a small level spot close to where he and Beacon had holed up. Getting into the chopper hadn’t been easy, but by the time the rebels had begun firing at them, the pilot had gotten them airborne.

At first, he’d been overjoyed at being rescued, but when they’d landed in Kabul and he was separated from Beacon, his whole world had come crumbling down.

Not only had he failed Jake by crashing the chopper that caused his buddy’s death, but he’d failed in keeping Jake’s K-9 as he’d promised when they’d first begun flying together. Six months of red tape and politics and he still didn’t have Beacon home.

But tomorrow was the day. Less than twenty-four hours and he’d have Beacon home where he belonged.

I’m trying, Jake. Just like I promised. I’ll bring Beacon home!

Before the crash that had taken his buddy’s life, he might have reached out to God for solace. But not anymore. These days, he didn’t feel much like talking to God.

“We’re ready to go,” Vanessa said, pulling him from his troubling thoughts. “Isaac? Is everything okay?”

He nodded and cleared his throat. “Yep. All set.”

Aiden had obviously delegated himself the primary caregiver as he picked up the box of puppies again and waited for Vanessa to get the door.

Vanessa’s SUV had plenty of room for the three of them and the two dogs Eagle and Tango, not to mention the box of squirming puppies. Aiden kept the box on his lap the entire time, unwilling to let the puppies out of his sight.

Interesting how the Doberman stayed close to Vanessa’s side, obviously trained to protect her. If that was the case, why hadn’t she brought the dog to the hospital with her? Granted, an intensive care unit probably wasn’t an appropriate place for a dog, but surely under the circumstances an exception could be made for Vanessa’s safety.

Aiden took the puppies inside and began feeding them, using the commercial formula provided by Kyle. He’d barely gotten settled when there was a sharp knock at the door. Vanessa answered it, looking surprised to see the head of the Security Forces standing there, his tall male Malinois named Quinn at his side.

“Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Captain Justin Blackwood asked as he shouldered his way inside. Quinn stayed close, well trained enough not to react to the other dogs.

“Oh, I left my bag in the car while we were at the vet’s office,” she said with a guilty wince. “Sorry about that.”

Justin scowled, glancing between Isaac and Vanessa. “Tell me what happened at the hospital.”

Vanessa glanced over her shoulder, then gestured for the men to come into the living room. “I don’t want my brother to hear this.”

“Fine, but I need details,” Justin insisted.

Isaac crossed his arms over his chest as Vanessa explained how she took a shortcut out of the hospital, going through the hallway containing offices to get to the other side of the building closest to the front entrance when the lights went out and strong hands grasped her around the neck.

Hearing her talk about the attack she’d suffered made Isaac angry all over again. Justin’s expression turned grim as he inspected the red marks around her throat, already beginning to bruise.

“Did he say anything?” Justin asked.

Vanessa nodded. “I asked why and he said, ‘Because you’re in my way.’”

“In the way?” Isaac repeated. “Doesn’t make sense. In the way of what?”

She shrugged her shoulder. “I don’t know. In the way of his mission to eliminate the people who wronged him?”

“Then what happened?” Justin asked, looking at Isaac.

He and Justin knew each other from when they’d attended the Air Force Academy, but at the moment, he understood his friend was in charge of the ongoing investigation.

“I heard what sounded like a scuffle in the darkness and called out to see what was going on,” Isaac said, relating his side of the story. “I found the light switch and turned it on in time to see Vanessa fall to the floor and a guy wearing black disappear down the stairwell. I made sure she was all right and left Tango with her, before going after him. Unfortunately, he was long gone.”

“No description?” Justin asked, his blue eyes intense.

“Medium height and build. He wore a ski mask that covered his head so I can’t tell you his hair color.” Isaac shrugged. “I wish I could be more help.”

Justin raked his hand across his short blond hair and let out a heavy sigh. “No proof that Sullivan is the assailant.”

Vanessa bristled. “Boyd sent me a red rose. Who else has a grudge against me?”

Justin lifted a brow. “You were the one who said that you helped Boyd by providing first aid to him. Why would he have a score to settle with you?”

Vanessa’s dark eyes flashed with anger. “I don’t know, but I didn’t attack myself, Captain.”

“Come on, Justin, you know she didn’t,” Isaac added. “I saw him. And if I hadn’t shown up, she’d be dead.”

Justin let out a heavy sigh. “You’re right. The marks on her neck are for real, so that means somewhere deep in Boyd’s twisted mind, he’s decided to come after her.”

“And nearly killed her,” Isaac added.

“I know, I know.” Justin sounded tense.

Isaac arched an eyebrow at his friend. “Can you offer her round-the-clock protection?”

“I can have someone stationed outside the house at night, but we’re short staffed so I don’t have someone available to follow her around all day.”

“I can protect her during the day.” The offer popped out of his mouth before he had a chance to consider the consequences.

“I’m not sure that’s necessary,” Vanessa protested.

“I’ll take whatever help you can give us,” Justin said, ignoring her protest. “I’ll keep someone stationed outside the house from nineteen hundred hours until zero seven hundred.” He turned toward Vanessa. “You’re probably safe enough here at home with Eagle during the day, but don’t go anywhere alone, and keep Eagle close, too. Dobermans are instinctively protective.”

“Nessa?” Aiden’s voice from the doorway drew their attention. The young man cradled a puppy in his arms and stared at his sister with fear in his eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing to worry about, Aiden.” Vanessa crossed over to give her brother a hug. “Just extra protection for a while, no big deal.”