Sworn to Protect (Vows of the Heart) (24 page)

She glanced at Tommy. “Can I get you anything? Coffee?”

“I’d love some.”

She fetched the drinks from the kitchen and heard Tommy and Nathan talking as she approached.

“Is that the girl who was on the news?” Tommy asked softly.

“Yeah, but don’t believe the reports, it’s all a scam to frame my brother.”

“Is...I mean...are you and her...?”

“No, Tommy, we’re not an item. She’s only interested in my brother...unfortunately.”

Bethany froze right before she reached the partially closed door, her eyes wide with shock.

“What?” Tommy asked in surprise.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Nathan said, his voice lowering so much she could barely hear him. “Bethany is a very special lady, I can see why my brother is head over heels for her.”

Bethany’s jaw almost hit the floor. Oh God, did that mean what she thought it meant? Was Nathan interested in her? She suddenly felt terrible, not only was she eavesdropping, but while she was under Nathan’s roof, it was possible that she placed him in a very uncomfortable position.

Bethany stepped forward again, making sure she made noise so they knew she was approaching. The two immediately began talking about their friends, never missing a beat. As if they had practiced sudden changes in conversation several times before. Bethany gave them their drinks and returned to sit beside Ethan, holding his hand again.

Tommy and Nathan continued to catch up on gossip regarding the former members of the SEAL team. Finally, Tommy departed and Nathan followed to lock the door behind him. He returned to Ethan’s room and sat heavily in the chair.

“Nathan, you need to rest.”

“I don’t want to leave you alone, especially after…that thing….” He rose and gently, but firmly grabbed Bethany’s arm. “We need to talk and I don’t want to disturb Ethan.”

“I don’t want to leave him.”

“He’ll be fine for a few minutes.”

He
pulled her into the living room. “If that…thing…is threatening my brother…,” he growled and left the sentence hanging. “What the hell was it?”

She swallowed hard. “What…what exactly did you see?”

“A face,” he whispered, his skin turning gray. “A shadow standing behind you…it grabbed your shoulders.” He hesitated a wild look in his eyes. “I saw death and it hovered over you.” Nathan rubbed his eyes and turned away, staring at the alcohol bottles on the table. With a snarl, he swept his arm across the table, knocking the bottles to the floor and shattering them.

“It’s the damn booze! It’s
gotta be!”

“It’s not the booze,” Bethany whispered.

He turned to face her, mistrust and anger in his eyes.

“Well, maybe you could see him because of the alcohol
, but….”

“Bethany, what the hell is going on?” Nathan roared.

She cowered in fear, certain he was going to beat the crap out of her, her father would have.

“Bethany,” he said, his voice gentling. “I’m not going to hit you. I just want to know if…that thing…is trying to hurt my brother.”

“I don’t think so…actually Ethan thought it was trying to protect me. But now I’m not so sure.”

“Ethan? He’s seen it too?”

“No, he’s only felt the cold.” She finally found the courage to meet his gaze. “Like you did when you touched me.”

Nathan’s face paled again.

She sank onto the couch and covered her face with her hands, bitter sobs wrenching through her.

“Hey,” Nathan said, sitting next to her. “Bethany, you need to tell me what’s going on.”

“I can’t,” she moaned, but found herself telling him everything.

****

Nathan sat next to Bethany as she told him about Aaron’s ghost. Horror clamped around his heart and his gaze kept traveling to the tequila bottles smashed on the floor.
It’s the booze,
he told himself repeatedly.
It’s the booze and my worry over Ethan.

“Ethan thought Aaron used fear to get me away from danger
, but after tonight…I don’t know.”

Nathan timidly touched her shoulder. Feeling so helpless never sat well with him
, but it seemed like lately that was the only sensation he had known. “You said it spoke to you tonight.”

“I betrayed Aaron to Cordova. I didn’t mean to…I never knew my father’s room was bugged. But Cordova found out and killed him because of what I said. Hell, Nathan, you feared Aaron’s ghost was a threat to Ethan, he’s not. I am. I’m the one who betrayed Aaron and Ethan was tortured because of me. Now he comes back here half dead
—” Her voice broke and she jumped to her feet.

“Bethany, stop.”

She hauled on her jacket and picked up the tools she had found on Ethan. “Don’t you see? That’s what Aaron was trying to tell me. I can’t stay, Nathan. I’m the risk. I’m the one putting your brother in danger.”

“No, Bethany, you are not.” He grabbed her arm. “I also heard you say you love Ethan.”

She stared at the floor then nodded. “I do, Nathan, and that’s why I have to leave.” Bethany tore out of his grasp and walked into Ethan’s room. Nathan hesitated, uncertain if he should follow her or not. His gaze returned to the shattered tequila bottles. Damn, he needed a drink.

Bethany returned, her duffle bag slung over her shoulder.

“What the hell are you doing?” Nathan growled.

“I can’t stay here, Nathan. I won’t put Ethan in danger.” In an instant, she unlocked the door and darted out.

“Hell,” Nathan muttered, dragging his hand through his hair. He looked again at Ethan’s room. His brother would kill him if he let her go. Because of that…ghost…or whatever the hell it was…had terrified Bethany, she thought she was the one putting Ethan in danger. What he had just witnessed and felt…he agreed with her. “Fuck!” Despite his better judgment, he hurried after her.

Nathan bounded down the outside stairs to the sidewalk, glancing urgently in both directions. The day dawned gray and cold, the clouds low. He wished he had put on his jacket…and shoes. A biting chill slapped him in the face
, but it was nothing like what he had felt earlier when he touched Bethany. He shivered. Which way had she gone? She could easily boost another car and be gone in sixty seconds – if she did that, he’d never find her.

There were a few people out, most Nathan recognized on sight. His gaze almost slid past her the first time. Bethany was already two blocks away and walking with a long stride. She had put her jacket on
, but left her hair tucked inside it and had pulled up the collar. But the top of her auburn head was unmistakable. Nathan jogged after her.

The cold allowed her to walk with her shoulders hunched, keeping her face down, so others wouldn’t get a good look at her. Nathan rapidly closed the distance, slowing when he was a pace behind her.

“Bethany,” he said softly, gripping her shoulder.

She squeaked in fear, barely suppressing a scream, and spun.

“Easy. It’s just me.”

She immediately relaxed and dragged in a breath. “Nathan, you scared the crap out of me. I didn’t hear you.”

“Old habits die hard.” He studied her a moment, her face pale and tear stained. “Bethany, don’t do this. You don’t know what it will do to my brother. You can’t leave him.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry, Nathan, I don’t want to leave him – but I love him too much not to.”

“Still, it’s not safe out here. You need to come back.”

She shook her head stubbornly, just as he knew she would. “No way. I won’t put him in danger again.”

“Bethany, you didn’t do this to him. He did. He’s the one who broke into Cordova’s company—”

Suddenly, her emerald eyes ignited. “You knew about this?”

Aw hell!

“You knew about this and you didn’t tell me?”

“I’m sorry, Bethany—”

“Shit, Nathan! I ought to kick you in the balls right now.”

He held up his hands. “Bethany, please, someone will see us out here. Let’s go back to the apartment and figure something out. We’ll find a safe place for you, so at least Ethan won’t worry.”

She wavered uncertainly.

“Look, after what I saw, I’m almost inclined to agree with you. I don’t know what this…thing…really is and you know I don’t want to endanger either of you. Come back and I’ll call in a few favors with my SEAL team. Okay?”

Her shoulders slumped and she ducked her head. “Okay.”

“But just make sure you understand one thing, Bethany.”

“What?”

“If you leave, you’re going to tear Ethan’s heart out.”

She squeezed her eyes closed and wiped away a tear.

“Come on,” he said and gently took her arm.

With a heavy sigh
, she fell in step next to him.

They returned to his apartment and Nathan locked the door behind him. He moved to the couch and sat heavily, dizzy and nauseated.

“You should be resting,” Bethany said.

“And have you vanish without a trace? No way.” Damn it, there had to be some way to convince her to stay. “I need to check on Ethan,” he said and started to rise.

“I’ll do it,” she said softly and put her bag down. “You stay put.” She walked into Ethan’s room. Nathan hoped she wouldn’t return. Maybe sitting with him would convince her.

No luck. She returned, tears in her eyes. “He’s fine. He’s sleeping.”

“Did he wake up?”

“He opened his eyes and looked at me
, but I don’t think he was truly conscious.”

“Bethany, if I have to give Ethan any more blood, I will really need your help taking care of him.”

“Nathan please, I don’t want to leave but what choice do I have?”

Shit! She was right. But he stubbornly shook his head.

“When Ethan wakes up, he’s going to kill me. We were just starting to repair our relationship. This will destroy it.”

“You saw it, Nathan. You saw it, you felt it, and the first worry you voiced was that it was a threat to your brother.”

“All right!” he barked, holding up his hands. Damn, he was getting a headache. “I’ll call Tommy back and have him take you somewhere safe.”

“Where?”

“My cabin in Aspen. I haven’t been there since....” His voice faded and a terrible pain assailed him.

“Since?” she asked, frowning. Suddenly
, her face paled. “You mean the cabin where you and Ana...?”

Nathan nodded slowly. “No one has touched the place in four years
, but the utilities are still on. I never got around to dealing with it.”

“Are you sure about this, Nathan?”

“Yes. No one will be able to track you there.”

“Except for Ethan.”

“Bethany, he’s not going to want to talk to me after he finds out I let you leave. Look, you’ve got the cell I gave you. I’ll give you one of my extra laptops too. We’ll stay in touch via email and I’ll let you know what’s going on.”

She nodded slowly.

“I’ve got everything I need to make you a new ID. We can get you and Tommy on a plane tonight.”

She nodded miserably. “Nathan?”

“Yes?”

“When Ethan
wakes up, tell him what happened. He might not be so hard on you if he knows the truth. He believed me when I told him about Aaron.”

“I can only pray he will believe me too.”

“Yeah,” she said, her tears renewing. “Especially when you tell him that I am so sorry for doing this to him.”

****

Ethan fought the pain and clawed his way back to consciousness. Something, he knew in his heart, was terribly wrong. He blinked rapidly, trying to focus his vision and saw Nathan smiling at him.

“Welcome back. How do you feel?”

“Like something the cat dragged in.”

“That’s because it did.”

He glanced around the room, but didn’t see Bethany. He tried to sit up.

“Whoa!” Nathan said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Where’s Bethany?”

Nathan ducked his head, refusing to look at him and Ethan’s heart jumped to his throat. “Where is she?”

“Ethan, just relax.”

Alarm rose within him. He pushed himself up to his elbow and groaned. “Where is she?”

“Ethan, lie back and I’ll try to explain. She said she told you about Aaron.”

Fear blazed a mindless path through him. “Oh God, she saw him again, didn’t she?”

“Yeah…and so did I.”

“What?”

Nathan did his best to explain, but by the time he finished Ethan feared his stomach would rebel completely.

“I wanted to blame it on the alcohol,” Nathan said softly. “Bethany thought that I was able to see him because of the booze
, but it wasn’t an hallucination. I broke every damn bottle in the house, Ethan, I haven’t touched a drop in two days.”