Mission to Protect by Terri Reed

Author:Terri Reed
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-01-11T18:37:48+00:00

EIGHT

Heart pounding in his ears, Westley dove to his knees beside Felicity where she’d fallen to the kitchen floor. Dakota whined. He’d dropped to his belly, his nose stretched out to Felicity.

Her eyes were closed. Westley couldn’t tell if she was breathing.

Please, Lord. I can’t take another death.

Lungs frozen in dread, he pressed his fingers against the tender skin of her neck. He felt the steady thrum of her pulse beating there. She was alive. The tight vise that had gripped his chest expanded, allowing him to breathe. Had she had a seizure? That would explain Dakota’s behavior. Some dogs had the uncanny ability to sense an oncoming seizure. Westley had never seen it happen and hadn’t known Dakota was that sensitive.

He yanked his phone from his pocket and dialed 911. He quickly explained to the dispatcher the issue and gave the address. Keeping the line open, he set down the phone and placed a hand to Felicity’s cheek. Her skin was clammy.

The pungent odor of the salad dressing invaded his senses. His mind replayed the scene in his head. Dakota had acted strange immediately after Felicity had opened the dressing bottle. If the dog’s disobedience wasn’t enough, he’d attacked her salad bowl, sending it flying.

A knot of apprehension twisted in Westley’s gut. His gaze flew to the dressing bottle still standing on the dining table. Had the contents been tampered with? Had Dakota picked up a deadly scent?

Fear sidled up and choked him.

The sound of sirens rent the air. He jumped to his feet and ran to the front door, opening it wide and urging the paramedics inside.

“She’s got a pulse but it’s weak,” he told them. “I think she may have been poisoned.”

“Westley?” Justin rushed to his side. “I heard the call come in.”

Glad to have his captain’s support, Westley told him what had happened while the paramedics tended to Felicity. “The dressing. It needs to be tested for poison.”

“I’ll take care of it and Dakota,” Justin said. “You go with Felicity.”

Westley nodded and hustled after the paramedics as they loaded Felicity into the back bay of the ambulance. Taking a seat on the bench next to her, he took her hand. “Felicity, stay with me, okay?”

She looked so vulnerable lying there with an oxygen mask covering half her face. He hated seeing her like this. He wanted her to wake up and chew him out again. He wanted to see her smile and hear her laugh. Feelings he’d been trying to contain bubbled up, escaping the compartment he’d stuffed them into. If he was being honest with himself, he would admit that he’d grown to care for the young staff sergeant. No, care wasn’t the right word. He was falling for her in ways that terrified him. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. She had to be okay.

He bowed his head and silently prayed like he’d never prayed before.

At the hospital, Felicity was whisked away behind the closed doors of the emergency room.

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