Holiday Defenders: Mission: Christmas Rescue / Special Ops Christmas / Homefront Holiday Hero. Debby Giusti

him, Nick. And you didn’t manufacture the vest that was supposed to protect him.”

      Knowing how tenacious her brother could be, she asked, “Did Zack ever mention the vests after you spoke initially?”

      “No, but we’ve only talked a couple times since I redeployed home.”

      Liz shook her head with regret. If only her brother had been more forthright.

      Keep Zack safe, Lord. Keep Nick safe, as well.

      * * *

      Once the newscast concluded, Nick turned off the television. “I’ll load some supplies into your SUV in case we need to leave in a hurry. Why don’t you recheck Zack’s files? We may have missed something on the first go-round. Does he have a Facebook page or Twitter account? Is he on LinkedIn? Or any new social media site other than his blog?”

      “Not that I know of.”

      “What about your parents? He might be holed up with them.”

      “Dad retired five years ago. He and Mom moved to Florida for sunshine and golf. Zack wouldn’t drive that far, especially if the children were still in Tennessee.”

      Lizzie paused for a moment. “The only negative comments I’ve heard from Zack recently were about the Doyles. Zack could never let go of Dad’s concern that Colin Doyle pulled a bit too much weight in town.”

      “Your father was a good judge. Mr. Doyle probably pushed for some special favors, which your dad wouldn’t have allowed.”

      Sitting at the table, Lizzie placed her fingers on the keyboard. “While you pack the car, I’ll search for information about Colin Doyle in Zack’s documents.”

      As Nick loaded the supplies, she studied various files and then shook her head when he came back inside. “Nothing comes up. Maybe I should recheck the sites Zack opened recently.”

      Lizzie clicked the search history prompts and scrolled down the list of websites. “I didn’t notice this before. It’s a URL for a newspaper article.”

      Once the text appeared, she leaned closer to the monitor. “It’s a short piece about Harold Doyle. Remember him?”

      Nick pursed his lips. “Not sure if I do.”

      “Colin Doyle’s nephew. He was in my high school.” She glanced up at Nick. “According to the article, Harold gave a speech to the Rotary Club, in Tyler, Tennessee, on Veteran’s Day.”

      “Wonder why they didn’t invite someone with ties to the military?”

      “Maybe that’s why Zack saved the article. He never had anything good to say about Harold.”

      “A party boy and not too bright?”

      “That’s right. Yet he graduated from Lassiter High with honors. That got to Zack. He always suspected someone had doctored his grades. As I mentioned, Dad never had much good to say about the Doyles, which probably rubbed off on my brother. Of course even back then, Zack was always on the hunt for a story to investigate.”

      As much as Nick didn’t want to dig up the past, he had always wondered if Judge Tate had ever revealed the truth. “Did your father question Harold’s grades?”

      “I don’t think Dad knew, although Zack ranted enough to me. Said he felt sure someone in the school administration had been swayed because Harold was part of the Doyle family. Funny, though—”

      Her brow knit as she stared up at Nick. “After you left town, Zack never mentioned Harold again.”

      Nick shrugged. “Your brother probably uncovered some new controversy that turned his attention away from high school.”

      “Maybe Zack was trying to determine why you ran away.” Liz hesitated for a long moment. “Is there something I should know, Nick?”

      “Of course not.”

      “You never told me why you left.”

      Ignoring her comment, Nick pointed to the kitchen door. “I still have a few more supplies out back to load into your car.”

      Leaving her without even a backward glance, Nick headed for the rear storage area. He kept bottled water and packets of dehydrated food along with extra blankets and sleeping bags, most of which he’d already packed in the SUV.

      “Nick!” she called after him.

      He couldn’t turn back to her, and he couldn’t tell her what happened after the prom.

      You’re not good enough for my daughter. The judge’s words echoed in his memory. They were true then and they were true now.

      Lizzie deserved someone who could provide her with a home and family and security for the future. He’d done well in the military, but he couldn’t come back to Lassiter and be who she’d want him to be. He had to be true to himself first or he wouldn’t be good for anyone. His father hadn’t understood duty or honor or the importance of putting your life on the line for a higher cause, for freedom, for country.

      Her father, Judge Tate, had seen through Nick’s false bravado, and although his admonition had been difficult to accept, the judge had forced Nick out of the downward spiral he’d been living in his youth. Nick had never regretted the decision he’d made that night.

      Until he and Lizzie had reunited.

      Now he had to struggle with what common sense told him. He wanted to follow his heart, and his heart was focused on Lizzie. But a relationship between them would never work—something he couldn’t let himself forget.

       SEVEN

      Hot tears stung Elizabeth’s eyes when she heard the door to Nick’s cabin shut with a bang. He had turned his back on her again and the questions she needed answered. Questions about why he’d professed his love and then left town without explanation.

      She’d heard the emotion in his voice that night. In the years since, she’d tried to convince herself it had been nothing more than the shallow ramblings of a teenage boy being carried away in the moment. Didn’t that fit with the revelation that he’d only taken her out as a favor to her brother? She’d called herself a fool for believing Nick and had tried to forget him.

      In hindsight, she realized his bad-boy image may have been the attraction. She’d been young and impressionable and had seen Nick as better than his actions at the time.

      He’d been drifting through life, but she’d always known he would make something of himself. She was proud of who he had become. Her only mistake had been giving him her heart.

      Frustrated, she went to the window and pulled back the curtain. Heavy clouds covered the moon and darkened the night even more.

      Staring into the distance, Elizabeth saw lights. On the access road. Heading toward the cabin.

      Her heart stopped. She dropped the curtain and backed away from the window.

      The kitchen door opened. Nick was yelling at her.

      “Headlights on the mountain road. They’re coming. Get the children.”

      Once again they raced to grab the little ones, taking the stairs two at a time. Snatching them from the bed, they hurried downstairs and snagged the tote bags, laptop and coats on their way out the back door. Joey stirred in her arms, but remained asleep.

      Mary Grace peered at Liz over Nick’s shoulder, her eyes wide. “Where are we going, Aunt Lizzie?”

      “Someplace safe, honey. You don’t need to worry.”

      Lizzie’s heart broke.

      They had to save the children, but would they escape in time?

      * * *

      Nick eased the SUV out of