Two in the Afternoon by Cora Cade Page B

Cal.”
    Everything stilled and became crystal clear. “Where is he?”
    â€œAt the local hospital in Mumford. I’m on my way to pick you up.”
    An eerie sort of calm settled over her. Taking her keys from the purse over her shoulder, she stepped out into the too bright sun, locking the service door behind her. “Is he conscious? And do they have Bo?”
    Gabe sucked in a breath at the end of the line. “He’s been badly beaten. Danvers thinks possibly with a tire iron or a ball bat, and he’s in and out of consciousness right now. The dog is with Masterson—he’s going to be fine, but he got in the way trying to protect Cal. Looks like a broken leg.”
    When she started her car, her brother swore softly in her ear. “Molly, I need you to stay put. Do you hear me? This has Pratt written all over it. He took out a fucking Army Ranger to get to you. Do not make yourself an easy target right now.”
    â€œFuck you, Gabe. I’ll be at the hospital when you get to town.”
    With those final words, Molly hung up on her brother and dropped her phone to the seat beside her. She wasn’t about to let Cal sit in a hospital bed alone while she was tucked away, waiting like a good little girl for her brother. He took out a fucking Army Ranger to get to you. She couldn’t let the guilt overwhelm her, but she felt the weight of it press down on her aching heart.
    With a steady hand, she shifted into gear and left the Drunken Duck’s parking lot behind her.
    Gabe Ryan listened to the dial tone as his headstrong sister hung up on him. Under different circumstances he would applaud her spunk, but right now his only thought was for her safety. After Danvers had given him Eversman’s name, he’d done a thorough background check on his sister’s new boyfriend. Callum Eversman was a top-notch soldier on the verge of being recruited by the CIA according to his contact. At thirty-two, he’d completed college prior to joining the Army. He’d been a Ranger for over ten years, and was highly respected by his fellow soldiers. The man was smart, built like a brick house, and smitten with his sister, if Danver’s and Masterson’s assessment was correct. And those two were always right.
    Gabe knew Cal had been ambushed in an effort to get to his sister. Judging by the soldier’s background, it would have been several guys orchestrating the attack. Pratt was fucking crazy, but not stupid. He would have sent men after Cal and then someone after his sister once she was unprotected.
    Dialing his team, he put them on the lookout for Molly and prayed that he could get there in time to stop Pratt.
    When Molly pulled up to Lainey’s cabin on Lookout Point, she noticed Chris’s classic Camaro parked next to Lainey’s staid rental. Under normal circumstances she might have felt bad about busting in on them, but she didn’t even feel a twinge of sympathy as she banged on the door.
    When Chris opened the door, he was fully dressed, if a bit rumpled, and Molly was thankful for small favors. “I need Lainey.”
    One look at her face had Chris reaching for her. Stepping out of reach she pleaded, “Please don’t.”
    She couldn’t be touched right now. She was too raw and exposed for anyone to lay a hand on her. All of her emotions were right there, under the surface, and if Chris comforted her she would crumble.
    â€œOkay. Let me get her.” He waited a beat, leaving the screen door open for her, but let it swing shut when she didn’t move.
    When Lainey arrived at the door, she was freshly showered with her wet hair loose and disheveled around her face. She was barefoot, wearing a warm yellow sundress. At first glance, Cal’s sister looked pretty and relaxed, but upon closer inspection Molly noticed the tension radiating from Lainey. She looked like she was in a great deal of pain, the tight lines around her eyes and