Breathe (28 page)

Josh cursed then put the next one in labeled 4
th
floor elevators. We saw the hooded figure exit and reenter the elevator; again they seemed to know where the camera was so kept their head down. It was the same thing for the cameras inside the elevators and the lobby.

“Wait, what are they staring at? Can you zoom in on what they are looking at there?” Josh followed Dante’s request, and we all let out a string of curses when we caught sight of a familiar head sitting at a table in the otherwise empty cafeteria.

“Son of a bitch. She’s not to go anywhere without someone right next to her, I mean almost touching her at all times. Do I make myself clear?” Josh nodded.

“I am here for now, but there will be someone with both of you at all times. I can’t guarantee she won’t give you an argument but you won’t hear one from me.”

“An APB is already out for Lynn. Was that her in the video?” I shook my head.

“I don’t think so, the build is all wrong but she might have worn layers. Shit I don’t know.” I ran my hands through my hair again, rubbing the back of my neck. “I have to get back in there for her. Just keep us posted will you?”

Both men nodded, their heads bent over the computer screen talking about screen shots and body recognition software. I shook my head and pushed my way back into the hospital room where my heart was still sitting next to her son, talking in soft gentle tones, begging for him to wake up and look at her. I had caused this, and I felt powerless to help in anyway. I dragged the other chair to the other side of the bed, placing my hand gently on Tyler’s arm, trying to avoid the IV.

“You best listen to your momma Tyler, she is a very determined woman.” She looked over and grinned. I winked and smiled back. Giving her as much support as I could while praying Dante and Josh figured out where Lynn was and who was helping her.

(Kathryn)

I sat next to Tyler’s side all day, hoping he would start waking up. Dr. Carter came in at one point and took the respirator out, pleased when Tyler had no trouble breathing on his own.

“It will likely be a few more hours before he starts actually waking up Ms. James. Please don’t be disheartened that he isn’t coming out faster. He is doing really well, and I don’t have single doubt that he will wake up very soon and be the ornery young man you raised.”

I thanked him with a smile. As he left, Lily and Nathaniel entered with Daniel right behind them. Lily was dressed in her workout clothes and carried a gym bag for me. Daniel handed me the shake that I had asked him to grab while he got his dinner.

“You know I don’t agree with this woman, right?” I grabbed my gym bag, stopping to reach up and kiss Daniel quickly.

“I know, but you realize that stopping me is futile so you aren’t even going to try.” I walked quickly passed him and changed into the green tank top and black capris work out pants that Lily had packed for me and slid into my sneakers again. I pulled my hair back into a messy ponytail, not bothering to stop and brush it out. I came back out and Lily was sitting next to Tyler, Nathaniel standing behind her chair. I cocked my head at the look on his face as he watched Lily. I glanced over at Daniel who smiled and shook his head, letting me know that he saw it but I shouldn’t say anything. I frowned at him but it only made him grin wider.

“Come on Lily, if we don’t leave now Kyle will start the class without us.” Daniel grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. Giving me a kiss that made my knees go weak.

“I cannot wait until we can get back home. I am in serious need here.” I giggled then reached up to whisper in his ear.

“Me too. I have all kinds of ideas about what I am going to do to you the second we are alone.” He growled which made me giggle again, and then he turned me around and pushed me to the door with a swat to my ass. I grabbed my gym bag that had a change of clothes for after the class since I would be going to the airport to get my father.

“Mom! Hurry up. You were the one whining that we had to leave, now we are waiting on you.” I pulled her blonde ponytail as I walked past.

“Hush, you. Let’s get going.” Nathaniel drove us to the gym, parking right outside the doors. Instead of standing outside like he normally did he entered the gym with us and sat near the door so he could see who was coming and going into the gym but had his eyes on us as well at all times.

Kyle kicked our ass again but it felt good to get some of the stress out, and some of the tension that had been riding me since I got home Tuesday night after our first class. He had us sparing tonight, pairing us with higher-level Krav Maga students and I was impressed when I was able to take three of the five down quickly. Lily also must have needed to relieve some tension because she took every single one of her opponents down, some quicker than others but they all eventually hit the mats with her standing over them. Once Kyle called the class we headed to where Nathaniel sat with our bags. He handed us our waters and we took small sips while we cooled down.

“You girls seriously kicked ass tonight man.” We turned as one and grinned at Kyle. “You need to come to the more advanced classes from now on. Monday and Wednesday, with sparing on Friday.” I looked over at Lily who just nodded as she took more drinks from her water.

“Sure, Kyle. We will see you Monday then.” He gave me a high five then jogged off to the men’s locker room. Lily and I grabbed our bags and headed to the women’s locker room. Nathaniel grabbed our arms and pulled us back.

“What are you two doing?” Lily rolled her eyes toward me then turned and spoke slowly as if she was addressing a toddler.

“We. Are. Going. To. Take. Showers. And. Change. Into. Clean. Clothes. So. We. Aren’t. Meeting. My. Grandfather. In. Sweaty. Clothes.” I saw his jaw clench at her tone so was amazed when he spoke with a neutral voice.

“You aren’t going anywhere until I have cleared it.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“There is one James in the hospital. There isn’t going to be another one.” Lily rolled her eyes again, and then motioned towards the locker room before crossing her arms across her chest.

“Go ahead then, clear.” Nathaniel’s eyes flashed before he took out his cell phone and dialed someone.

“I need you to come in and clear the locker room now.” We waited only seconds before a tall muscled woman came through the gym doors. She was dressed in a conservative pantsuit with black sensible shoes. I had never seen that woman before in my life. “New hire, this morning when Josh realized there were some places we couldn’t go.”

We watched as the woman walked into the locker room. A few minutes later she came out and nodded to Nathaniel. He waved his arms and bowed to Lily.

“Now you may go in my lady.” Lily smacked the back of his head as she walked past. He rose up and grinned boyishly as he rubbed his head. I raised my eyebrows towards him, and he ducked his head, shuffling his feet. I followed Lily into the locker room, grabbing one of the private stalls and washing quickly, then changing into my jeans and yanking a black long sleeve shirt over my head. I brushed my hair and dried it the best I could with the handheld dryers that the gym provided, pulling it back up in a ponytail once it was drier. Lily did the same next to me, dressed in a pair of skinny jeans, and a pink cashmere sweater. She put on some light pink lip-gloss and spritzed some of her favorite perfume.

“Ready yet diva?” She turned and smiled at me.

“Hey, it’s been awhile since we have seen grandpa. I want him to think I am pretty.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders as we walked out of the locker room, Nathaniel and the new woman security guard falling in behind us.

“Your grandfather has always thought you were the prettiest girl he had ever seen. He is very proud of you. You don’t have to dress up to impress him, and you definitely don’t have to be nervous. He loves you very much.” She laid her head on my shoulder as I walked her out of the gym and to the car waiting at the curb. Nathaniel ran ahead and opened the doors, the woman climbing in the front while he helped us in the back.

He pulled out into traffic that was thankfully light as we headed towards the airport. The woman turned and introduced herself as Jane then turned back around and stared stonily out the windows. I glanced over at Lily who just shrugged and stared out window on her side. I pulled my phone out of my gym bag and texted Daniel.

              K: Just left the gym, on the way to airport.

              D: Okay, thank you for update. Everything is the same here.

              K: Love you. xx

              D: Love you too. More than you will ever know.xxx

I smiled at that last text before I pulled up the airport information on my phone. My dad’s flight was on time and would be coming in at Gate E5. I relayed that information to Nathaniel who nodded to let me know he heard me but didn’t speak. I settled back against the seat, watching the streets of New York fly by outside the window. It only took us thirty minutes to get there and I was jolted out of my thoughts when Nathaniel pulled up outside of the arrival gate. Josh was waiting and he opened my door helping us both down. There was an airport security guard standing not too far away, glaring at Josh but never made a move to reprimand us parking there.

“Wow, you make friends everywhere you go don’t you?” Josh glanced over at the guard and grinned.

“That was actually Dante.”

“Dante is here too?”

“He’s at the gate already. He’ll escort your father down to the baggage claim.” He checked his phone when it vibrated. “The plane is here and starting to unload. Let’s get you all inside.” He led us through the revolving doors and towards the baggage claim area. I clasped my hands, wringing them together nervously. I hadn’t seen my dad since before we left for Paris, and it had been several years since I had seen him without Crystal tagging along making everyone miserable. When I caught sight of his dark hair peppered generously with grey I stood up on my tiptoes to catch a better look.

“Grandpa!” Lily spotted him about the same time I did but she had no reservations. She ran from Josh’s side, straight for her grandpa. He held his arms open and crushed her to him, laughing at her exuberance. His blue eyes shone as he looked up at me. I grinned and ran to him like Lily had. I threw myself in his warm arms and breathed in the woodsy smell that was my father.

“Two of the prettiest girl in the whole world running into my arms. I am a very lucky man.” I looked up at his grinning face. His eyes were twinkling down at us, his beard pretty much grey, and closely followed by his hair. His eyes and smile was just as young as I remembered them to be, belying his age while his hair refused to lie.

“We are so very glad that you are here, Dad.” He wrapped one arm around each of our shoulders, pulling us into his side as we walked towards where the bags were starting to come in on the rollers.

“So, tell me why this tall, dark, gentleman escorted me from the plane, and why I count at least two other guards standing around waiting for us.” His eyes were clearly not aging.

“It’s a long story dad. Let’s get your bags and I will explain on the way to the hospital.” He released his hold on Lily and I long enough to grab two black suitcases out of the sea of black suitcases with Dante’s help and we all moved to the doors. Nathaniel was still idling at the curb with the airport security guard glaring our way. Dante and Josh helped Dad put his bags in the back while Lily and I climbed into the SUV, dad climbing in behind me. Josh and Dante walked to the black car in front of us, got in, and led the way back to the hospital.

“Okay, Kathryn. Spill. What’s with the extra security?”

I spent the entire drive back to the hospital and the ride up in the elevator explaining the events of the last six months. He was silent as we walked to the room where Daniel still sat next to Tyler holding his hand and talking to him in his deep voice. He stood as we entered and smiled when he saw me behind my father.

“Well at least I don’t have to worry about whether he loves you. That look said it all. Jason Scott, Kathryn’s dad.” He reached across Tyler to shake Daniel’s hand. Then he turned his focus to Tyler. He pulled the chair I had been sitting in and picked his grandson’s hand up and did what I always do, brought it to rest against his bearded cheek. “Okay young man, it’s papa, you need to start waking up now. You have us all scared to pieces here. I didn’t fly all the way from Colorado to sit here watching you sleep.”

(Daniel)

Her father was a handsome, rugged, slightly older version of Kathryn. Except her eyes and hair, everything else was from the man sitting in front of me. I narrowed my eyes as I watched his interaction with Tyler. Clearly he was a man who cared deeply for his daughter and his grandkids, which didn’t meld with the idea I had of him. How could he let his wife control his life and destroy his child so much?

I turned when I felt Kathryn’s arms come around my waist. I pulled her closer with an arm around her shoulder and pressed a kiss to her hair.

“How was class? Did Kyle kick your ass again?”

She laughed and shook her head. “No, I actually got to kick some tonight. Lily knocked all of her opponents on their asses tonight. The girl was insane.” The girl under question was standing by her grandpa’s chair, with her hand on her brother’s blanketed leg. She looked up and grinned at her mother’s praise.