Into the Mist (Falcon Mercenary Group #1)(23)

* * *

Jonah stared down at Damiano and Tyana lying on the couch in the game room. Ty was on the inside of the couch, curled into D’s body. D had a protective arm around her midsection and both were asleep.

Even in sleep, D was tightly wound, his body tense. His breaths came erratically, seemingly torn from him under duress. Nerves twitched and muscles jumped.

The two looked vulnerable. Despite their toughness. Despite the fact that Jonah knew they could take on just about any challenge. They wouldn’t be on his team if he had any doubts about their capabilities.

But right now they reminded him of the two scared, starving kids he and Mad Dog had found on the streets of Prague so many years ago. They were running on empty.

Jonah turned to look at Mad Dog who stood a few feet away. Helplessness he wasn’t accustomed to flickered uncomfortably in his mind. He was used to being able to meet any challenge no matter how great. But Tyana and Damiano mattered to him. They were his family. For the first time, he was faced with a situation where he wasn’t sure he could provide a solution.

“How much of a threat is Eli Chance?”

Mad Dog scowled. “To us? Not great, even if he did manage to locate the island. He’s nothing we can’t handle. To Ty, however…” He shook his head. “I’m afraid this has become more than a simple matter of her searching for answers. He’s gotten to her twice.”

“Fuck waiting for him to relax his guard,” Jonah said coldly. “I want to know when he eats, sleeps, takes a piss and where he does it. When you have everything compiled, bring it to me. We’re going after him. I won’t take chances with Ty’s safety.”

Mad Dog nodded. “I’ll get on it.” He paused for a moment then looked over at Jonah. “What are we going to do about Ty when we go after Chance?”

Jonah fixed Mad Dog with a stony stare. “If I have to tie her up and have the Falcon secondary sit on her, I will. She’s not to leave this island again.”

* * *

Damiano’s guttural cry woke Tyana from a deep sleep. He rolled from the couch and hit the floor. She was beside him in an instant, her arms curling around his spasming body.

“D, stay with me,” she pleaded.

“Get away from him, Ty,” Mad Dog ordered as he strode into the room.

“No. I won’t leave him.”

Damiano arched and jerked. His hand caught her in the face. Pain exploded through her head as she sailed backward several feet. She lay there, stunned at his strength.

“Jonah! Get the hell in here,” Mad Dog yelled.

She stared at Damiano in mute horror as his body contorted. When his eyes opened, he stared at her without recognition. The pupils constricted and changed shape. They were no longer human.

“No,” she whispered.

Jonah and Mad Dog fell on him in an attempt to subdue the raging beast. Two more of their security personnel ran through the door. One carried a syringe.

“Stun him,” Jonah barked.

“No!” Tyana scrambled over to Damiano as he struggled beneath the men. “Don’t hurt him.”

Mad Dog plucked her from the floor and held her kicking, writhing body away from the others. “Ty, stop. It’s the only way.”

She twisted and fought, but Mad Dog held her fast. Finally, he pushed her to the floor and put one knee in the middle of her back and held her arms behind her with his hand.

“Goddamn you, Mad Dog.”

With his other hand, he stroked her hair, the action at complete opposition to the force he was using.

Damiano let out a cry of pain, and Tyana jerked beneath Mad Dog’s body. Then all went quiet.

“D!” Tyana’s cry split the room.

“He’s all right, Ty,” Jonah said as he got up from the floor. He looked over at Mad Dog. “Let her go.”

Mad Dog eased off her body, and she crawled over to where Damiano lay, his breaths coming in quiet spurts. Tears filled her eyes as she gathered him in her arms.

“I want him confined to quarters,” Jonah said to the security men.

She shot to her feet. “Why are you doing this? I won’t let you treat him like an animal.”

“Am I supposed to stand by and let him kill you, Ty?”

“He won’t hurt me.”

Jonah reached out and cupped her bruised cheek. “He already has.”

“It wasn’t his fault,” she said desperately. “It wasn’t him. You know he wouldn’t hurt me.”

“That’s just it. He’s not himself. I won’t allow him to endanger you just because you’ve lost all objectivity.”

“We can’t all be the cold-hearted bastard you are,” she spat. She whirled around to see Damiano being carried out of the room. Jonah followed close behind. She started to go after him, but Mad Dog caught her wrist and held tight.

She stared at him with accusing eyes. “You too?”

“You’re not being fair to Jonah and you know it,” Mad Dog said quietly.

Rage simmered underneath her skin, begged to be let loose.

“Will it make you feel better to hit me?” he asked.

Her chin sagged, and she looked away. “No, goddamn it, it won’t.”

“Jonah is doing his best, Ty. Cut him some slack. He wants to help D just as much as you do.”