Badass: Deadly Target (Complete): Military Romantic Suspense by Leslie Johnson, Elle Dawson

there.
    Stepping out of the bathroom, I follow the murmur of voices back to the kitchen. “Anything about Sacramento Bank and Trust?” I hear Jax ask, then an answer from Dave I can’t quite hear. “What about the murder of a woman, last name Hewitt?”
    My heart squeezes in my chest; the words are like a physical blow. For the past hour or so, I haven’t even thought about my mom. Terrible. She died today and I’m crying over a cut more than crying over her. And there is no time to mourn now, I’ll have to do that later. Much later.
    Dave is speaking. “Nothing but the attacks on the news right now. I’ll put ears on the scanner for the other.”
    “Be listening for two fugitives too.”
    “Shit, man. Those two fugitives being you and the girl? What are you in to?”
    “Not sure, but it’s bad and I don’t think the explosion at home office is a coincidence.”
    There’s a scrape of a chair and I step closer to the door, listening intently. “How’s the girl connected?” Dave asks.
    “Don’t know, man. Can’t pin her. Not sure what to believe. Not sure which side she’s playing.”
    I take another step and the wood groans beneath my foot. “I hear you, Mia,” Jax says, and I exhale, scowling at the open door. “Come let me check your cut.”
    Chin raised, I walk into the kitchen with as much dignity as I can muster and plop back down in a chair. Dave is running water in a large bowl, pouring Epson salts in, swirling them around. When he’s finished, he sets it in front of me. Lifting my foot, he removes the bandage and inspects the wound.
    “Needs stitches, but I better not close it up completely in case of infection. We’ll soak it and use butterflies and a bandage. While it soaks, I’ll run to the store and get you some clothes, shoes, whatever else you two need.” He grabs a pen. “What are your sizes?”
    I sink both of my feet into the warm water and take the pen and paper from him, writing everything down. “Thank you,” I say when I hand it back.
    “No problem. Jax is my man here, saved my ass more than once.”
    I smile up at him. “Well, thank you for saving mine. The salt water is already making a difference.”
    Jax steps over to my bag and pulls out the box. I open my mouth to protest, then think better of it. He digs to the bottom and pulls out several hundred dollar bills. “Use this,” he tells Dave, even while Dave tries to protest. He shoves it into his hand. “Use it. Clothes. Shoes. Toothbrushes. Shit like that. Then I’ll hit up Craig’s List, see if I can find some wheels for cash. Might need your help later making the trade. Going to head to a safe house for the night.”
    “I’ve got an old truck you can—”
    But Jax is already shaking his head. “Don’t want anything coming back on you.”
    “You got enough for a car?” Dave asks, eyeing the box.
    “Plenty for now.”
    Dave frowns, looks at me, then back at Jax. “Alright.” He picks up an iPad and taps the screen. “Code’s 7591 if you get locked out.” He hands the tablet to Jax, then picks up some keys and is out the door.
    “That’s a good friend you have,” I murmur, knowing I don’t have anyone in my life that I could turn to like that. I have friends, but nothing close to this bond. I don’t even have anyone to feed my cat. My cat! Poor Libby, she’s going to starve. Then I look at the clock on the stove and realize I’m completely over reacting. I should still be at work right now, would be still at work for a couple hours on a normal day. In that other life, I’d just be taking my mid-afternoon break.
    It feels like I’m stuck in a time warp. Was it only a couple hours ago that Mom called?
    “Dave’s the best,” Jax says, pulling my attention back to him. “Did a couple tours with him. Salt of the earth. Injury knocked him out and he retired.”
    “He doesn’t look disabled.”
    One side of Jax’s mouth lifts. “No, he doesn’t. Doesn’t look at all like a man who was