Finally Home (Home Series) by Ann Vaughn

disappeared to."
    "I'll find him," Colt vowed.

    Chapter Six
     
    The two men Colt referred to as Coop and Whit met them as they walked through the door at her house.  They'd been all smiles until they saw the blood on Colt's pants and the dark scowls on both their faces.
    "What happened?" the one Colt greeted as Coop asked.
    "Tessa was attacked.  She's in the hospital but she's going to be all right," Colt explained, "where's your office, Lainey?"
    "Just around the corner," she told him.  He thanked her then disappeared into the office.
    "System is up and running," Whit told Mike.
    "Thanks. "
    Lainey watched Mike with his men and saw that they recognized as well as she did that he was hanging on by a thread...a thread that was quickly unraveling.  She knew that he'd wanted to go in after Tessa with Colt but that he stayed because he didn't want to leave her unprotected.
    "Mike?" she said, turning his attention to her.  "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
    "Not right now," he said, walking away.
    She sighed, shaking her head.  He was taking all of what happened on himself, which was the last thing he needed at this point.  She walked past Coop and Whit and went toward the stairs.  On the halfway point, she turned and looked down toward her office, saw Mike and Colt at their computers.  Her heart hurt for them; for Mike for having to helplessly watch his friend get beaten, and for Colt who had to find her like he had, and for Tessa, who had already been through enough trauma to last ten lifetimes. 
    In her room, she paused, looking down at he r bed, which was still messy from their quick exit earlier that morning.  Stepping out of her shoes, she lay down on her bed, her hand going to the pillow he'd used for the three hours he'd allowed himself to sleep.  She wanted to help him, to ease his mind so that he...
    Her phone was ringing.  Sitting up, she saw that it was from an unknown caller.  For a moment, she debated on whether or not to answer, then decided to roll the dice.
    "Hello?"
    "Your lady cop friend packs a helluva punch," she heard her "admirer" say.
    "Why did you have to hurt her?  She was only trying to protect me."
    "You don't need protecting from me, Miss Lainey.  I told you.  I love you.  I would never hurt you."
    "You didn't have to hurt Tessa.  She's been through so much.  And she has a baby boy.  You nearly took her away from him.  You could have stayed hidden.  You didn't have to hurt her."
    "I had to send your man a message.  I know who he is.  Mike Casiano.  He runs Orion Securities with your cousin, Riley.  I know who that big man who came after the lady cop was, too.  Colt Harris.  I could have taken him do wn, too; had my scope on him.  Would have been easy.  So you tell them, Miss Lainey.  You tell them I can take them out any time, anywhere.  You send them on home now."  She got up and flew down the stairs, colliding with Colt as she burst into the office, her eyes locked on Mike.
    "Don't hurt them, they're only doing their jobs," she said and she felt an instant change in the room as all four men went on full alert, gathering around her.
    "You tell that Casiano to back off.  I saw how he was looking at you.  Send him away, Miss Lainey.  I'll kill him if he touches you."
    "Who are you?  Why are you doing this to me?"
    "Because I love you."
    "That isn't love!!" she cried.  
    Mike reached for the phone but the Admirer's next words had her jerking away.
    "If he takes that phone from you, I'll shoot the first man I see.  You're mine, Miss Lainey.  I'll be coming for you."
    He ended the call and she dropped the phone as if it had burned her.  Mike stepped closer as if to touch her but she scrambled away.
    "Don't!  He can see!" she said on a frantic whisper. 
    Mike's eyes shot to Whit and Coop, who held their hands up. 
    "We did a sweep, Boss.  It came up clean," Whit said.
    Coop crossed to the window, but Lainey grabbed his arm.  "He can see!  He said if Mike