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Mystery whimpered. She tried not to panic as she sucked back her tears and forced herself to focus, turning the knob in the other direction.
Behind her, she heard footsteps and whirled to find Reverend Grace recovered and ready to pull the trigger again. “That card is in your pocket or you wouldn’t be fighting me so hard. I’m going to blow your brains all over this fucking door and take that card. I’ll preserve my legacy. You’ll be nothing but a fading headline and dust. Good-bye.”
As she heard the door’s dead bolt finally retract, Axel suddenly appeared from the shadows in the cavernous room behind the psycho. He had his weapon drawn and gripped firmly in his beefy hands, his face fierce, his stance all warrior.
Relief swept through Mystery. Her knees almost went out from under her. “Axel.”
He didn’t look her way.
“Put the gun down,” he demanded of Reverend Grace. “Or I’ll kill you before you can twitch, you scum-sucking motherfucker.”
He didn’t turn to face Axel. “Her first.”
As the televangelist moved to pull the trigger, the door in front of her whooshed open, and Heath filled up the portal. His eyes went cold as he shoved her down toward the ground. Suddenly, gunfire echoed all around her. Her head hit the metallic doorframe. Pain ripped through her skull. She fell, crumpling on her side, and saw Axel sprinting toward her with worry and fear all over his face. Heath loomed above her.
“Are you all right?” one of them shouted.
“You came,” she managed to eke out. “I saved it. Right pocket.”
Then everything went black.
Chapter Twenty
MYSTERY woke in the hospital to the sounds of a man murmuring softly.
“She suffered a mild concussion, but she’ll be fine with rest. We’ve treated her other various abrasions and contusions. She required two stitches in her scalp from a blow to the side of the head. With a gun, according to the police report. But she’ll recover fully soon. All in all, she’s a lucky woman.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” Worry tightened that familiar voice. Though it wavered a bit, Mystery would have recognized it anywhere.
“Dad,” she managed to croak out as she struggled to open her eyes.
The sounds of scuffling came next, and she felt a strong hand grip hers with such care. “Mystery, my baby girl.”
“Excuse me, sir. This is the first time the patient has been conscious since the ambulance brought her in. You’ll have to let me examine her first.”
Her father squeezed her hand and reluctantly let go. Mystery wasn’t ready to release his familiar comfort yet and tried to reach out for him again, but her arm seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. With the lure of sleep trying to pull her back under, she simply couldn’t lift it.
The doctor moved closer. He smelled like antiseptic and latex. When he touched her cheek, he felt cool but gentle.
“Can you open your eyes, Ms. Mullins?”
Mystery summoned her strength and lifted her lashes. Everything in her view looked fuzzy at first. She focused from the blur of white all around her to the flashing lights of the monitors keeping track of her vital signs. The doctor wore blue scrubs. Beyond him, she saw the Oscar-winning director she’d always called her father. He looked haggard and frantic. No matter what the press thought, that fame didn’t shield him from normal human emotions and concerns. She froze. Did he know the truth about her parentage yet?
The doctor checked a few more vitals, read her chart, and asked questions. Yes, her head still hurt. Yes, she knew her name and what had happened in the abandoned building. Yesterday? Had she been unconscious for a whole day?
“Sedated,” said the doctor, a kind man in his forties with brown eyes and a calm demeanor. “You don’t remember coming to the hospital?”
She shook her head.
“It’s not uncommon to have lapses in memory with concussions. Your CAT scans look otherwise normal, and I’d like to monitor you one more day. But I think you’ll be able to leave here tomorrow.”
Mystery thanked him in a croaky voice. The man she’d always considered her father shook his hand, then rushed to her side as the doctor left.
“You had me so worried,” he said, his voice breaking.
“When did you get here?” It was good to see him, but he looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. He’d clearly raked his fingers through his shaggy salt-and-pepper hair a lot.
“A few hours ago. I spoke to a nurse on the phone, then I saw Heath and Axel, followed by the police. I’m just now reaching your side.”
Her stomach tightened. “So you know everything?”
He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. His face softened. “I’ve always known. Not who Julia had the affair with, but that you weren’t mine biologically. It simply wasn’t possible.”
Her eyes watered, and it immediately made her head hurt worse. “You never told me?”
He brushed the tear from the corner of her eye. “Your mother and I intended to when you were older. After she died, I meant to. I knew I should. But I never considered you any less than my daughter. I guess . . . a part of me worried that, if you knew the truth, you would.”
“Never.” Her voice sounded more like a squeak as her eyes filled again. “You’re my father and you always will be.”
Past her IV and all the electrodes for the monitors, her dad hugged her as tightly as he dared. “I worried about you so much, kiddo. If it hadn’t been for Heath and Axel, I don’t know what would have happened.”
As he choked on his words, Mystery absorbed all his worry and pain. She cupped his face, wincing as the tape over her IV pinched her skin. “I was thisclose to escaping by myself, but yeah, they got me out safely. I’m going to be fine.”
She wanted to ask where they were, but her father jumped in. “I thanked Heath with enough money to live well for a couple of years. He, um . . . gave me his notice, effective immediately. He passed on a recommendation for a few capable colleagues but—”
“I knew he was going to quit.” She winced.
God, she would miss Heath so much. He’d been a part of her everyday life for over six years. But it wasn’t fair of her to cling onto him when she couldn’t cling back. He deserved the chance to make a life with a woman who could devote herself utterly to him. Maybe he’d find a nice British woman with some cats who taught primary school and would give him a few children. Mystery couldn’t picture him settling down again, but stranger things had happened.
“Did he finally admit that he loves you or did you figure it out?” her father asked.
“You knew?” Mystery blinked.
“I’ve known for a while.”
“I suspected, so I asked. I don’t feel the same way.” And she felt terrible about kissing him the way she had. She’d like to apologize to him again, but at this point, it would soothe her more than help him. “Has he already returned to London?”
“Not just yet.” Her father grimaced. “In saving you, he took a bullet. A nick in the forearm, really, but he’s just come out of surgery, so I think he’ll be here at least a few days. The good news is, Peter Grace is dead. Heath and Axel both landed a headshot, one in front, one in back. Wasn’t much left. The cross he gave your mother is part of the police evidence, but will eventually be returned to you. But the SD card you retrieved from your mother’s safe-deposit box mysteriously vanished.” He sent her an expression of mock innocence. “Regardless, the press has already run with the story that he killed both your mother and your aunt, so it’s a huge scandal. His religious fiefdom is done.”
“Do the press know . . . why that bastard murdered them and tried to kill me?” Do they know I’m not your daughter by blood? She couldn’t bring herself to voice the question.
“No,” he murmured. “The police have refused to comment about Grace’s motive or the particulars.”
Mystery breathed a sigh of relief. “Were they able to discern the events from the scene of the crime?”
“Based on th
e evidence and statements from Heath and Axel, yes. They’ve pieced together enough so they should be able to close the case, once you give a statement and corroborate their accounts. Then we’ll deal with the press. So far, they’re speculating wildly about Grace’s motives, but they haven’t come anywhere near the truth. I’ll leave that up to you. Of course, Heath and Axel know, but I’ll never tell anyone if you’d rather keep that a secret between us.”
Mystery turned that notion and its consequences over in her head as much as her weariness allowed. But really, it didn’t matter who’d donated the sperm that had created her. What mattered was she’d become the woman she was today in large part because of this flawed, artistic, infuriating, incredibly loving father in front of her. “It’s our secret.”
He smiled at her, his eyes tearing up. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Dad. I wish you could be happy someday, find that one woman who could really complete you, even if that sounds cheesy to you and—”
“It’s doesn’t, and I’m damn tired of being lonely.” He raked his hand through his hair again and forced a laugh. “I’m fifty-two, I drive a red sports car, and date women half my age. I’m a fucking walking cliché. I need to figure out what’s missing or broken inside me and fix it. Believe it or not, I’d like to be married again, maybe even have another baby. Who knows?” He shrugged. “I actually started seeing a therapist last month. It’s . . . good so far. We’ll see. I’m a work in progress.”
She cracked a smile. “That’s true. Sometimes I don’t know whether to call you a piece of work or a work of art, but you’re a wonderful father and I couldn’t have asked for better.”
“You’ve made me so proud, kiddo. I know if your mom could see the woman you’ve become, she’d smile and tell you how much she loves you. You were her everything.”
“I know, and I still miss her.”
“I do, too. I wish I had a second chance to tell her so many things, but I can’t take back the words I never said. Hell, if I had her in my life again, I’d do so many things differently. I can only say that I’ve learned and grown since then. I hope she’s forgiven me.”
“You know Mom. She didn’t have the ugliness in her to stay angry or hate. She probably wished she could understand why you strayed, but I’m sure she forgave you.”
“I’m working on understanding, too, so when I find the right woman, it won’t happen again.”
Silence lulled between them for a long moment, and Mystery couldn’t help but think about all that had happened in two short days . . . and wonder what came next. She knew someone to whom she owed a huge apology.
“So, you’ve seen Axel? Is he all right?” A horrifying thought occurred to her. “Did he get hurt, too?”
“No,” her father rushed to assure her. “He’s fine. He’s been fielding the press and spending time at your bedside, from what I understand. You love him.”
Her father’s words gave her hope. “I never stopped. Spending the last few days with him just made my love that much deeper. I feel terrible about the things I believed and said at that crappy café. I should have stopped to think . . . to realize the sort of man he is and not—”
Mystery broke off when she realized that her father probably had no idea what she was talking about.
He laughed. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear that. I believe he said something about an apology as well. But I’ll leave that to you two.” Her father released her and eased back toward the wall.
Then Axel filled her vision, and for a moment, she was struck speechless. He looked so vital and masculine in a dark blue shirt that showed off his broad shoulders and bulging chest. He carried himself with a quiet confidence that still made her melt. For the second time in her life, he’d rescued her from a life-or-death situation. He’d always be her hero. Now she simply hoped that he wanted her to make him her man.
“Marshall.” He stuck out his hand to her father, and they shook. “Press conference handled. I hate those flesh-eating bastards, but your PR firm helped a great deal. They’re waiting for you.”
“I’m grateful for everything. I know it’s absolutely none of my business, but I think you’re wonderful for my daughter. You’d make a great son-in-law, too.” He grabbed something from his pocket and winked. “I brought that item you asked for.”
As Axel took whatever her father held, Mystery tried not to gape. Her dad had not just said that. She bit back a groan, vowing to clobber her father later.
With an apologetic grimace, her father slid across the floor and kissed her forehead again. “I’ll see you in a bit. Once I’m gone, say what you need to. And be happy.”
“Bye, Dad.” She put just enough bite in her voice to reinforce the fact that she’d have words for him later.
Pressing her lips together, she watched him clap Axel’s arm again and leave the room.
Then Mystery didn’t know what to say. The old her might have feigned sleep to avoid the embarrassment and potential rejection. She wasn’t that girl anymore.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” he answered, the syllable a low rumble from his big chest as he shoved the something her father had brought in his pocket. His voice had always melted her, and today was no exception.
“I’m sorry if he embarrassed you.” Mystery wanted to cringe almost as much as she wanted to know what her father had given him.
“Not at all. I need to talk to you.” He sounded beyond serious. His square face and blue eyes had gone solemn.
She swallowed. “First, I have to say a couple of things, if you’ll let me.”
He gestured to her. “Ladies first.”
Mystery nodded, took a deep breath, gathered her courage—and jumped off the proverbial cliff. “First, you rescued me again, and I’m grateful. Thank you so very much.” She shook her head, hating that she teared up and her head felt as if it were splitting open and she probably looked as appealing as the bottom of a shoe. But he was listening. Nothing else mattered. “Words are totally inadequate to thank you for all you’ve done for me. I’m better for knowing you, Axel. You were the first person who told me I could accomplish anything I wanted in life. You taught me to climb a mountain—literally. After you rescued me the first time, I started climbing them alone figuratively because I finally believed I could. After you opened my eyes, I learned to defend myself, I published books, I embraced life. I learned to do almost everything, except to live without you. I just couldn’t do that.”
He reached behind him with that huge wingspan and dragged the rolling chair over to her bedside, then thumbed the tears from her eyes. “Princess—”
“Let me finish, okay?”
“Sure.” He brushed the hair from her face, caressing her head in a slow, soothing motion.
“Before you saved me this time, you taught me what sex felt like and how wonderful being adored feels. And I screwed up everything. I think deep down I was always that scared nineteen-year-old who wanted your affection and never believed I’d have it. I’m sorry I ran out on you. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you at the café or listen to you or . . .” She drew in a shuddering breath. “Do anything that proves how much I love you. I made mistakes. I’ll always make them. But these last few days with you have taught me that if I want forever, I have to fight for it. So I’m asking you for another chance. Let me get things right this time. I’ll never leave you again.”
He eased closer and swallowed. “You’ve taught me a few things, too. You know, I really didn’t know what the hell listening to my heart felt like until you. I was a soldier. I knew order and rules and discipline. You, Mystery, burst into my life and gave me lovely chaos. I saw the world through new eyes. Every moment with you has been an adventure. I could do with a bit less adrenaline going forward.” He smiled softly at her, his blue eyes so tender she teared up all over again. “But until you, I never believed I’d have anyone to call my own.”
“Axel . . .” She wanted to get out of this damn hospital bed and hug him. Frustra
tion that she couldn’t welled up.
“I’m sorry I lost my temper after lunch and let you go. And you’ll never know how badly nearly losing you yesterday scared the hell out of me. After that son of a bitch nearly shot you, I ran across the room and scooped you up in my arms.” His face tightened, as did his grip on her hand. His eyes swam with tears. “I knew I couldn’t live without you another moment. And I knew I loved you. Well, I knew it when you left the café, and like an idiot, I’d failed more than once to see the other half of my soul right in front of me. Never again. You’re mine.”
His expression, the warm glow of his blue eyes, told her that he meant every word. Her heart nearly burst. A huge smile broke across her face. “And you’re mine.”
He leaned in and kissed her so gently it made her chest tighten and her heart soar. “I knew how to fight for forever, but
