After the Storm (KGI #8)(119)

Joe snorted, having overheard Sam’s comment.

“Who would you put your money on in a bar fight? Her or P.J.?”

Donovan rolled his eyes at the juvenile comment.

Sam pretended thought, or maybe he was actually considering the ridiculous scenario. Garrett chuckled.

“My money is still on P.J. She’s ruthless. And, well, she takes shit personally. Now more than ever. Not saying that’s a bad thing. I’ve got her back and always will,” Garrett added in a more serious tone. “Sky can separate her emotions and get the job done.”

“She can still fight dirty,” Sam added. “Which is why I like her. She’s a good addition to the team. And not that this is the time or the place to discuss this, but I have someone lined up for Rio’s team. He’s down two men now and he can’t continue operating that many short. But he gets the final say. I can recommend, but it’s his team, and like Steele, they run them their way. I may sign their paychecks but I can hardly be considered their boss.”

Garrett cocked an eyebrow. “Who’s the guy?”

Sam smiled. “Not a guy. It’s a woman. P.J. and Skylar have worked out well for us. I have a qualified candidate who came highly recommended. I think she’d be a good fit for Rio and his team. She’s reclusive like they are. Doesn’t say a whole lot, but she can kick ass with the best of them. She’s a crack shot. She could take you down in hand to hand,” he said to Garrett, ignoring his snort of disbelief. “She’s also an expert in explosives. Specifically defusing bombs. She worked bomb squad for NYPD. Before that, she was in the army, a fact Nathan and Joe should appreciate. She’s good and I want Rio to take a hard look at her. If I can drag him out of his f**king cave long enough.”

“How long has it been?” Donovan demanded, impatient with the chitchat. He knew his brothers were only trying to distract him. Get his mind off the fact that just below, Eve’s fate hung in the balance. And they were at the mercy of f**king Kyle Phillips and his black ops team.

And yeah, he had to hand it to the young Marine. He was badass in his own right. But he didn’t have a personal stake in this. Donovan did.

On cue, Kyle’s voice came over the com and Donovan covered his earpiece so he wouldn’t miss a single word.

“It’s clear. And Donovan, you need to get in here. East wing. Last room. Make it quick.”

Donovan swayed, his heart nearly stopping. There was uncharacteristic concern in Kyle’s voice. The man was a robot. Programmed to do the mission and only the mission. No emotion. No feelings. Just achieve the objective.

“Oh God,” Donovan whispered even as he broke into a run, his brothers and the team running after him.

He burst through the doors, briefly took in the fact that the personnel were all on the floor, hands above their heads, facedown. He ignored them and got his bearings before sprinting down the hall of the east wing.

He ran through the open door and stopped dead at the sight that greeted him. Tears burned his eyes as he stared at Eve. Or what used to be Eve.

She was restrained in a straitjacket, sitting in a chair in the corner staring sightlessly out the tiny window that overlooked the back garden. Her hair was bedraggled. There was a bruise at the corner of her mouth and dried blood in a line down her chin. Her eyes were hollow and vacant and she was pale as death.

“I couldn’t get her to respond,” Kyle said quietly from where he stood a few feet from Eve. “She’s not there. I don’t know if she’s checked out or if it’s the meds they have her on, but something’s not right. I didn’t even get a flicker of response. She has no idea I’m even here. She just stares right through me.”

Oh Jesus. He couldn’t even muster relief over the fact she was alive. She might be breathing, but how much of her was left? Would she survive this? Would he ever get his Eve back?

“I want to know what the hell has been done to her,” Donovan barked. “Get on it. I want whoever’s in charge down here now, and I don’t give a f**k what has to be done to make him talk.”

Donovan walked quietly over to where Eve sat, still as a statue, her eyes focused on some distant point. For that matter, it didn’t appear that she was seeing anything. She’d withdrawn into herself, a shield to reality.

He knelt in front of her and then saw the restraints, the fact that she was unable to move. Furious, he grabbed his knife, but Garrett was there and gripped Donovan’s hand before he could flash the knife.

“Slow down, man,” Garrett said quietly. “It might freak her out if you brandish a knife as pissed as you are. You talk to her. I’ll cut her loose from behind.”

Knowing his brother was right, Donovan shoved his knife back into the clasp on his belt, and then he reached up to gently touch Eve’s face, hoping for some sign of recognition. But she didn’t react to his touch. Didn’t so much as flinch. Her eyes remained vacant. Empty. Lifeless.

Panic was starting to seize him and he shook uncontrollably. He wanted to weep like a baby, but he had to hold it together for Eve. She didn’t need him to be a wreck. She needed him to be strong. Her rock. The only solid thing in her current existence.

Garrett quickly freed her and they unwrapped the straitjacket until she was finally free. Her arms hung limply at her sides. It was as if she were completely unaware that she was now free. Her gaze remained fixed on some distant point out the window.