Page 96 of Speechless
His fists clenched. “You’re not taking her.”
Hadley's face turned stony, and his hand slipped down to his waist and the bulge of his weapon. “We have a good friendship, Doc. Let’s not ruin it by doing something stupid. I know what you’re feeling, and I’d be distraught if it was my girl in this position, but you can’t help her if I have to lock you up for obstructing a court order.”
Obstructing a court order? Fuck that, they’d have a warrant on his head for triple homicide. Connor stood his ground. “She’s borderline agoraphobic. Even with me with her, she’ll panic.”
One of the goons cleared his throat. “No civilians.”
“The fuck did you say?” Connor snapped. “Civilian, my ass.”
“Just doing our job, Sir.” Goon Two spoke up. “We are aware this is a delicate situation, and we don’t want to cause undue stress to the patient, but we have our orders and a court-issued warrant for Penelope Abernathy.”
“Fuck your orders, fuck the warrant, and fuck you.”
“Connor,” Hadley warned.
He heard the vibrating purr of Zeke’s truck cruising steadily down the street and almost cheered. The silver beast pulled up behind Hadley’s SUV, damn near rapping bumpers together, and Sarah streaked from the vehicle like a dark-haired bullet. “Connor?”
“I’m afraid you need to step back, Sarah. This doesn’t involve you.” Hadley offered her a sad smile which wasn’t returned. “Don’t get involved with this.”
She snorted, cheeks pink with the cold despite her purple wool hat and matching scarf. Her hair caught the breeze, lashed around her face. “Too late for that, asshat. What the fuck is going on?”
“We’re going to need those strings pulled,” Connor said numbly. He started to shiver as the cold ate into his bones. “They granted the petition.”
Her eyes flashed to black fire. “Motherfucker!”
“Language, Sarah.” Zeke lumbered up behind them, appearing bigger than usual in his winter gear. “Is there an issue here, gentlemen? As far as I’m aware, we had some time before a petition was requested. Written statements were requested only last night if I recall correctly?”
“The petition was put forward and granted early this morning.” Goon One told him, eyeing the giant cautiously.
“Really? Well, that’s going to pose a problem, isn’t it? My father will be displeased it went ahead so quickly without being given a chance to review the case in its entirety.” Zeke rubbed one massive hand over his sturdy jaw. “Incredibly displeased, considering he cancelled several vital meetings last night so he could study the matter today.”
Goon One scoffed, his smile holding a sneer. “I’m pretty damn sure your father won’t have any say in the matter.”
Interestingly, Hadley’s face had turned a sickly shade of green and was slowly fading to white. “Mark, shut up.”
“My father has a say in a great deal of matters,Mark.”
Obviously inclined to butting heads with other men, Mark stepped forward. “Maybe so, but unless he’s on the Supreme Court and can overturn Judge Swinton's order, we have a patient to collect and deliver to her new residence.”
“Judge Swinton, huh?” Zeke whistled as though impressed. “Christ, I haven’t seen Uncle Bobby in, hell now, must be a year or more. Christmas, year before last, wasn’t it, honey?” he asked Sarah, sliding his arm over her shoulders as she grinned.
“I believe so. Long past due for another family visit.”
Mark turned beet red.
“See, my father and Uncle Bobby have been best friends for the better part of fifty years. Poker buddies, golf buddies. You name it, they’ve done it. Now if you’re wondering, and you gotta be by now, my father is John William Fairfax, Senior. That’sSenatorJohn William Fairfax, Senior. Just in case you were curious. I’m lucky I didn’t get stuck with John William Junior, but that fell to my brother, thank God.” Zeke held his hand out with a shit-eating grin. “Zeke Fairfax.”
“Fuck.” Hadley breathed.
“Yeah, that’s my thought on the situation. If you’ll excuse me, I have a couple phone calls to make. Connor, if you’d take Sarah inside, I’d appreciate it. Too fucking cold to stand around out here.” Hard eyes pinned the agent and the goons. “Up to you whether you let these assholes in.”
Grateful for the excuse to get back inside, Connor ushered Sarah through the front door and barely had time to snag Luna by the collar before she leaped through to get to the strangers causing a ruckus outside her door. He looked over his shoulder, jerked his head at Hadley. “Inside. Yourfriendscan find alternative shelter. They’re not welcome in my house.”
Goon Two closed his eyes and looked disappointed he wouldn’t take advantage of the warmth, but Mark’s anger bubbled under his skin like a contorting mask. Not one to easily control his emotions when he was riled up, Connor decided, and not a man he wanted near his Jenna.
He shut the door in their faces after Hadley stepped inside. This time, there was no friendly welcome from the dog. In the intuitive way of animals, she singled Hadley out as the cause of the upset and showed her displeasure. Displeasure in the form of lots of pearly white teeth.
Hadley remained still, not moving an inch as she strained against Connor’s hold on her collar. “Is she liable to rip my throat out if I move?”