Monroe, Melody S. - Verdict (Siren Publishing Classic) by Melody S. Monroe Page A

desperate-sounding cry sent hope flooding through her system.
    Through the gray smoke, she could make out Stone fumbling in his pocket. A second later he leaned over her with a key.
    He must be Superman, for the cuff attached to the bed was off in an instant and she was in his arms. Not wanting to lose hold, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Sobs of relief tore through her chest. She tucked her chin to her neck and squeezed her eyes closed.
    Stone sped out of the bedroom, down the stairs and across the living room. She coughed as tears of joy mixed with the smoke.
    “Hold tight,” he said.
    He grabbed the car keys off the counter with one hand and raced out the front door.
    Once across the porch, she gulped down the cool, clean air.
    The second he hit grass, he set her down. Without saying a word, he ran to the car, opened the back door, and was back by her side seconds later.
    “Are you okay enough to walk?”
    Dazed, she looked up at him.
    He gently pinched her.
    “Ow.”
    “Good. Come on, we need to get out of here.”

    * * * *

    Stone paced the hospital waiting room for a good three hours while the doctors treated Susan. The attending nurse wouldn’t tell him anything other than the physician would stop by when he was finished. He’d seen enough fire victims to know inhaling hot air could burn the esophagus lining, causing death. She wasn’t unconscious when he found her, but her unhealed wounds could get infected. Too bad Susan didn’t remember how much time she’d been in the burning room before he’d arrived.
    His chest tightened. He should have checked the batteries on the smoke alarm. He should have asked for a key to the neighboring town houses in case the furnished apartments were occupied by some squatter who’d dropped a lit cigarette, and he should have checked the area when they came back from the beach, but dammit, every time he turned around, someone was calling to tell him another juror had died or Susan was turning him on, twisting his mind.
    Excuses. Rationalizations. He hated them. Bottom line, he hadn’t been there for her.
    He’d failed her.
    Guilt and anger rippled through him. He should have been more cautious, should have checked up on her during the night. Maybe he had no right to be a bodyguard. Too late now. He’d not make the same mistake again.
    Stone glanced at the wall clock for the tenth time. The fire marshal said he’d have a preliminary report of what happened by tomorrow morning. Given the Feds hadn’t come up with even a fingerprint around any of the other crime scenes, he knew the local marshal wouldn’t discover any incriminating evidence at the town house.
    Frustration bit at him. Add in being scared for Susan, together with no sleep, and he was ready to punch the next person he saw.
    A large woman with a sleeping baby wrapped in a pink blanket stared hard at him as he strode back and forth across the small waiting room.
    “Sorry.” He took a seat and dropped his head in his hands.
    He was no fire expert, but houses did not spontaneously combust. Someone had found out where they were. Damn it. How? Peter couldn’t have given away their location because he didn’t know where they were. Or did he?
    His stomach grumbled. Anxiety always fueled his metabolism. He needed food. Susan probably did, too.
    “Mr. Watson?”
    Stone jerked up his head. “Yes?” He jumped out of his seat and closed the gap between him and Susan’s attending physician. “How is she?”
    “Stable, but I want to keep her here overnight for observation.”
    The muscles in his shoulders relaxed a little. “That’s no problem.” He doubted anyone would try to harm her here. “Is she in much pain?”
    “She didn’t sustain any burns, and the smoke damage seemed minimal, but the full extent of her condition isn’t easy to detect right away. Given her other injuries, she’s in more danger.”
    “I understand.”
    “We’ll need to get some information on Mrs. Watson.”
    Mrs.