After the Storm (KGI #8)(120)

“Eve,” he said gently. “Eve, honey, it’s me, Donovan. You’re safe now. I’ve got you. Travis and Cammie are safe. Your stepfather is dead, honey. He can’t hurt you anymore. You’re free.”

She didn’t respond and his dread only increased. He wanted to yell at her. To shake her until she snapped out of it. But he wouldn’t do any of those things because he’d never show her violence of any kind. She needed tenderness and gentleness and he’d give that to her and so much more. He’d give her his love and he’d never give her any reason to ever doubt that again.

Joe came back in, all but dragging a guy wearing a lab coat. It was obvious he was scared shitless and that Joe had put the fear of God in him. If that wasn’t enough, Skylar immediately got into the man’s face, and she looked damn scary. All cheerleader jokes aside, this was not a woman who looked harmless. She had death in her eyes and she flashed a wicked-looking blade in the man’s face.

“You have two seconds to tell me what the f**k you did to her, or I start carving you up into tiny pieces. And it won’t be quick and it won’t be painless. I’ll make you bleed and suffer, but you won’t die. You’ll only wish you had,” Skylar spat.

The man went deathly white and it was obvious that whatever threat Joe had issued paled in comparison to the one Skylar just issued.

Donovan had to admit, Skylar in badass mode was pretty damn impressive. Edge just smirked, pride in his gaze as he watched Skylar in action. Swanny stood back, a half smile quirking his lips as he too watched with interest.

“She hasn’t been harmed. Physically,” he hastily amended. “She’s been heavily sedated since her arrival. She came to us already medicated. She’s been this way since she got here. We were told to keep her in lockdown mode and that she was a suicide threat and that we needed to keep her in restraints because she had violent tendencies and had injured others who cared for her in the past.”

“What the f**k did you give her, and how much?” Donovan roared.

“I can give you her records,” the man stammered. “Everything is documented. Her last dose was just half an hour ago and we were instructed by her physician to medicate her four times daily and to keep her in a state of sedation until he reevaluated her when he returned.”

“Bullshit,” Donovan growled. “Just who the hell is this physician who gave you orders? The f**ker never planned to return. They wanted her kept like this.”

“I’ll give you every piece of information we have,” the man said. “Just don’t hurt my employees! They’re innocent. They’re just here to care for our patients.”

“And yet you have so few,” Skylar snarled. “This big-ass private facility and you have, what, four patients? All undoubtedly from wealthy families who pay you a hell of a lot of money to take care of their ‘problems.’ Am I right?”

Guilt flashed in his eyes, and Donovan knew Skylar was dead-on with her assessment.

“Donovan,” Resnick quietly spoke up. “Take Eve and get her away from here. I’ll handle things here. This will fall under federal jurisdiction. We’ll shut it down and handle it through the proper channels so that this place is shut down and everyone involved will be arrested and held accountable for their actions. There’s nothing for you to do here. You’ll just muddy the waters. I’ll make damn sure that Travis is in no way linked to Breckenridge’s unfortunate death. Trust me to do this. I’ll make it clean and you, Eve, Travis and KGI will not be remotely involved.”

He was asking a hell of a lot, and Donovan burned with the need for revenge. For blood. He wanted to mete out punishment on every f**ker who’d been responsible for doing this to Eve. But Resnick was right. Eve was his first and only priority. Revenge had no place in his priorities right now.

Closing his eyes, he nodded his agreement. Then he carefully cradled Eve in his arms, his heart breaking as she lay limply against him, her eyes never moving, her gaze never changing.

He hurried out of the facility, wishing he could burn it to the ground and take everyone in it down in flames. Ethan had slipped out, unnoticed by Donovan, and he was waiting in an SUV out front.

“Get to the airport so we can get the f**k out of here,” Sam said, putting his hand on Donovan’s shoulder. “The jet is fueled and ready to go. Nathan, Joe and Skylar will ride with you and Ethan. We’ll be on your six. Get her on the plane and let’s get the f**k home.”

CHAPTER 42

THEY were in the air an hour later, and Donovan sat holding Eve, cradling her in his arms. He talked to her in soothing tones, telling her of his love for her, that she was safe now. That they were going home. That Travis and Cammie were all right.

The minute they’d arrived at the airfield, Travis had been distraught over Eve’s condition. Relieved that she was alive, but then immediately devastated when he learned of what she’d been subjected to.

Donovan instructed Nathan to put Travis in the cockpit with him as a distraction. Perhaps Eve needed the familiarity of family. But Travis was a hot mess and Donovan worried that it would only make things worse for Eve. Not that she seemed remotely aware of her surroundings. But he wanted—needed—this time with her alone without having to comfort Travis as well. Nathan would take care of him.

Joe entered the lounging area of the jet while the rest of the team stayed in the rows between the cockpit and the area that had the couch and the two armchairs. He took a seat opposite Donovan and glanced up at his older brother, sympathy and understanding brimming in his eyes.