buddy,” Ethan said, shaking Jake’s hand again. “You’ve done more than enough.”
“Hey, E, I need to—”
“Later, okay?” He started down the hall with Monroe, turned and said, “Go home, Jake. Get some sleep.”
“Hey, I don’t take orders from you anymore,” Jake said in reference to their childhood roles. Ethan had played an army major and Jake a sergeant. Even then, they’d dreamed of serving their country.
Ethan waved him off and disappeared outside.
Jake glanced at Detective Dunn, who stood rigidly beside the E.R. doors pressing buttons on his cell phone. Dunn was tall, husky and angry-looking. Sure he was. A brother had just been killed, possibly a friend. Jake had lost his share of those in Iraq.
“How long have you been a cop?” Jake asked.
“Ten years,” Dunn said, not looking up.
“Before that?”
“Military.”
“Yeah. Me, too. Which branch?”
The E.R. doors burst open and a young nurse glanced at Jake, then Detective Dunn. “Who came in with Miss Strand?”
“That would be me,” Jake said. “Jake Walters.”
“She’s asking for you.”
Detective Dunn raised a brow.
Jake shrugged and followed the nurse. Dunn shadowed Jake—a bit too close, in Jake’s opinion.
The nurse hesitated beside a curtain and turned to Jake. “We had a hard time calming her down and didn’t want to oversedate her because of the head injury, so please don’t upset her.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The nurse slid the curtain open. “Robin? This is Detective Dunn and Jake, the man who brought you in.”
Robin slowly opened her eyes.
“I’m Detective Dunn.” Dunn identified himself.
“You wanted to see me?” Jake said.
She looked at Jake and furrowed her eyebrows as if she struggled to focus. Then she frowned. “You. You were in the street. When I was… I was running.…” Her breathing quickened and she looked like she was going to hyperventilate.
The nurse eyed the blood pressure monitor. “It’s okay, Robin.” She motioned to Jake. “Please leave.”
He hesitated, not sure what had just happened or how to fix it. “Sure. Okay.” Then he shot Robin a comforting smile. “I’ll be right outside.”
She looked away, the nurse hovered over her, and Jake walked out, running an anxious hand through his hair. What had just happened?
He’d frightened her; that’s what.
A burn started low and spread through his gut. Jake’s memories surged to the surface. Her terrified expression looked way too familiar.
It reminded Jake of what he feared most. Becoming his old man.
Robin might have drawn a blank on ninety-nine percent of her life, but for some reason Jake Walters had spiked panic in her chest.
Being chased, threatened.
She knew the man named Jake, wearing a leather jacket and a silver chain that peeked out from beneath a black, V-neck T-shirt, hadn’t threatened her. She’d never forget the sparkle of those amazing blue-green eyes as he’d leaned over her.
Everything will be okay.
Her panic eased remembering the sound of his voice.
She’d been running for her life. She knew that much. But who had she been running from, and why had Jake been there?
A sudden bang made her grip the sheets to her chest with white-knuckled fingers. She’d heard that sound before. Twice.
Red filled her vision. Oozing across the floor. Blood?
“Robin?”
Robin glanced at the nurse.
“Someone dropped a tray. That’s all,” the nurse said.
Robin nodded. She remembered her name. That was a good sign, right? Or had someone told her Robin was her name? Rats.
“You’re safe now,” the nurse said.
Hardly. Robin knew it deep in the core of her bones.
“I have to remember. I have to…” Images flashed across her thoughts so quickly, she couldn’t hold onto any of them.
She felt vulnerable and terrified. Come on, Robin, you remembered your name, you can remember the rest: your friends, where you work, maybe a boyfriend?
Did she have one? She hoped so. He’d protect her, right?
“She’s right. You’re safe, Miss Strand,” Detective Dunn said.
She glanced at him. His voice didn’t calm her, not like Jake’s. Detective Dunn was a bulky, tough-looking man with a permanent frown, and almost vicious glint to his eyes.
Oh, cry. You are so overreacting.
“Are you afraid of Jake?” Detective Dunn pushed. “You think he tried to hurt you?”
“No, I’m not afraid of him. I’m…” Robin shook her head and closed her eyes.
“Do you remember anything that can help us?” the detective said.
“Yes. No. I’m not sure how real it is.”
“Real?”
She opened her eyes. “It looks like a dream, in my head. It could have happened, but maybe not. I’m sorry. They tell me I have amnesia.” She fingered a gold locket at the base of her neck. “Sounds stupid.”
“We’re getting ready to move her to a room,” the nurse said.
“I’ll check back later,” the detective said. “But I have to ask, are you sure Jake wasn’t trying to hurt you?”
She thought it odd that he asked. “I’m sure.”
“Even though you can’t remember what happened?”
“What do you want from me?” Her voice went up an octave.
“Please,” the nurse said to the detective. “We’re trying to keep her calm.”
“Sorry. I’ll be close, ma’am.”
She didn’t care if Detective
