Military K-9 Unit Christmas. Valerie Hansen

      She stood as he ended the call, using the arm of the chair for added balance. “I’ll need to get permission to leave the base and be gone for who knows how long. And I’ll need to borrow a car.”

      “Leave that to me. When you put Stryker back in his kennel, tell Sylvia to cover your duties while I make a few calls and adjust staffing.” He was stripping off his white lab coat to reveal a light blue shirt beneath.

      Rachel was almost to the door when Roark stopped her by calling out, “Fielding. Change into the civvies you keep in your locker and grab a warm jacket in case we’re still gone after sunset. I’m going to contact my commanding officer, Lieutenant General Hall, and explain the emergency situation so there won’t be any misunderstandings about both of us being away.”

      “Are you sure you want to do this?”

      “Absolutely. You’re clearly in no shape to drive and I’m escorting you to the hospital to see your sister. Period.”

      “It’s very kind of you to offer, Captain.”

      “You’re welcome, Rachel. And please remember to call me Kyle while we’re away from the base.”

      “Of course... Kyle.”

      “Get going. We need to hit the road in minutes, not hours.”

      “On my way.” So many poignant memories were whirling through Rachel’s mind as she changed into jeans, a T-shirt and a lightweight jacket that she hardly gave thought to anything but her sister.

      Angela. Dear, sweet, clueless Angela. What a waste her life had been after she’d fallen for Peter. He’d been bad news from the beginning but Angie would never listen, never see him for what he really was: a mean, ruthless bully with a temper to match.

      The difference between that man’s psyche and that of the trained attack dogs in their program was self-control. A K-9 could be called off by his handler. Once Peter lost his temper and began to inflict suffering, there was no stopping him until he was physically spent. She knew him well. She’d been on the receiving end of his wild temper and vindictive actions more than once.

      The price she’d paid had been high. He had cost her the only family she had left in the world.

      Kyle drove his military SUV as fast as the speed limit allowed, plus a tad more. The caller from the hospital had not minced words once Rachel had handed him the phone. Her sister was in critical condition with broken bones and a damaged heart and might not live long. He knew what it was like to be cheated of a chance to say goodbye. To express love and devotion one last time. He’d been too late to kiss his wife or his little girl and it still galled him, especially at this time of the year. Sadly, the anniversary of their deaths coincided with Christmas celebrations that were supposed to be joyous.

      Well, they sure weren’t happy times for him. Not anymore. He didn’t try to fake it, either. There was no sense pretending to be having a good time when he wasn’t. He didn’t expect others to stop enjoying themselves, but he made it clear he did not want to be included. When Christmas Day arrived he was more than willing to take over kennel duties and give most of his enlisted staff the day off. No longer having a family of his own hurt worse on that particular day than at any other time.

      Rachel said very little as they drove. Kyle saw her tense against the seat belt and pull her purse into her lap as he wheeled into the hospital parking lot and stopped. Before he could walk around to open the passenger-side door, she was out and jogging toward the front entrance. “Wait.”

      Rachel didn’t even bother to shake her head; she simply kept going, making Kyle wonder if she’d heard him. He’d seen plenty of shocked reactions demonstrated by both humans and K-9s who had been traumatized in battle, and that was exactly how his vet tech was behaving. She was trapped in a zone between fight and flight, determination and panic, and that conflict had rendered her temporarily deaf and mute.

      Catching up as she passed through the automatic-entry doors into the lobby, Kyle caught hold of her arm. She wheeled, wild-eyed, as if his touch was an attack.

      He immediately released her, palms facing out, hands raised. “Simmer down. They told me your sister is in the ICU on the fourth floor.” He pointed. “Elevators are over there.”

      Rachel stared at him for a moment before he saw recognition light her blue eyes. “O-okay. Hurry.”

      “You need to act calm even if you don’t feel it. The last thing your sister needs is to see you in hysterics.” Kyle pushed the up button for the elevators. “Take some slow, deep breaths and get it together. What’s got you so spooked?”

      “You wouldn’t understand.” The elevator doors swished open. Rachel jumped on ahead of him, faced front and repeatedly punched the button for the fourth floor.

      “Try me.” He noticed she was focused not on him, but on the narrow slice of lobby she could see behind him. Worry masked her usually sweet expression, and panic dampened the spark in her eyes.

      When she slammed the heel of her hand against the control panel, Kyle cautioned again. “Whoa. Beating those buttons to death won’t make them work any faster, you know.”

      “We have to go! Now.” She was leaning to one side for a final glimpse as the doors slid smoothly closed. “I think I just spotted Peter.”

      Whirling, Kyle took a defensive stance, but it was too late. The elevator was moving. “The guy you asked about on the phone? Why didn’t you say so?”

      “It was just for a second. This guy was wearing a black T-shirt, jacket and a baseball cap so I couldn’t see if his long hair was pulled back, but everything about him fit what I remember.”

      Her lower lip quivered when her gaze met Kyle’s. “What am I going to do? I want to be brave for Angie’s sake but the thought of facing that man makes me sick to my stomach. She must be in terrible shape to take the chance of sending for me.”

      Take the chance? The more he learned, the less he liked it. “Why were you and your sister estranged?”

      “It’s complicated. We don’t have time for the whole story.”

      “Okay, fill me in later. Right now, the important thing is your reunion. Obviously, she wants to make peace or she wouldn’t have asked for you. So, make the best of it.”

      The shiny metal doors slid open on their floor. Rachel stepped into the hallway, looked around and froze.

      Kyle placed his hand lightly at her waist. “You can do this. Come on. ICU is this way.”

      She didn’t move. “What if...? What if I was right and I did see Peter? He can be violent and he could be right behind us.”

      “If he is, I’ll take care of him.”

      “You’ll watch my back?”

      “Of course. When you and your sister want privacy, just say the word and I’ll step outside.”

      “Outside the room, maybe. Not outside the hospital. Not that far away. Promise?”

      “I promise,” Kyle said, frowning.

      Rachel blinked back tears. “I wish we had brought Stryker or another K-9 for self-defense. Peter VanHoven is more than Angela’s significant other. He’s also a sadist with a hair-trigger temper. I’m positive he’s the reason she’s in intensive care. If he is around here we won’t want to cross his path.”

      “You’re that scared of him?”

      “Let’s just say I’ve experienced Peter’s foul moods firsthand. And I have the scars to prove it.”

      “I’ll stick close.” Kyle had already been entertaining an urge to protect and shelter her. Now, it blossomed. It had been a long time since he’d allowed himself to feel proprietary toward any woman, let alone a beautiful one. Why had he failed to notice how truly attractive this vet tech was before?

      Kyle’s