Whispers in the Dark (KGI #4)(103)

Garrett was leaning against the hood, and when he saw Sam and Nathan heading toward him, he shoved off and opened the passenger door so Nathan could get in.

“Any word on Shea?” Nathan asked when Garrett climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Bleeding has nearly stopped. Wound is still open but seems to be closing at a slow rate.”

“But how is she?” Nathan asked anxiously.

Garrett sighed. “Same, man. No change.”

Nathan closed his eyes.

“She’ll be better when you’re there,” Sam said.

Nathan hoped to hell his brother was right. What Shea had gone through was unimaginable. It hurt him to know just how much she’d endured. He’d never get over the fact that he’d promised to protect her and yet he’d been powerless to prevent her from being taken from him.

It seemed like an eternity before they roared up to the private airfield where the jet was waiting. Nathan opened his door before the SUV came to a complete stop and was already out and hurrying across the hot concrete to the plane.

Outside the plane, Steele, Cole, P.J., Dolphin, Renshaw and Baker stood guard. They may have looked relaxed, like they were waiting for someone, but Nathan saw that each was focused on an outlying area, watchful for any potential threat.

He mounted the few steps into the plane, and when he stuck his head in, he saw Donovan in the cockpit along with Ethan. He glanced to the right to see Swanny sprawled in one of the seats.

Swanny sat forward and motioned back to the sitting area. “Joe’s back with Shea.”

Nathan pushed down the aisle past the seats and into the lounge area, where there was a sofa, a table and two other armchairs. Joe was sitting on the couch, Shea cradled against his chest.

Her shirt was pulled up just over the wound on her side, and Nathan sucked in his breath at the shock of seeing his wound on her flesh.

Joe looked up and their gazes met. Joe’s lips tightened and he silently shook his head. His heart about to split wide open, Nathan went forward and gently took Shea from Joe and then crossed to one of the armchairs to sit.

A moment later, Sam and Garrett walked back, and Joe spoke in low tones to them, giving them his report. Nathan tuned them out, his concentration solely on the woman in his arms.

He smoothed his fingers over the lines of her forehead, wanting to ease the strain. He touched the softness of her cheek, traced the delicate line of her jaw.

She was so much a part of him. As much as breathing, eating or sleeping. She was there in every thought, every part of his heart and soul.

“Rest now, baby,” he whispered against her brow. He didn’t want to drain any of her flagging strength by speaking telepathically to her. She was so fragile and infinitely precious. So very precious to him. “We’re going home. I’m taking you home, where you’ll get better. I’ll take care of you. I’ll be with you every minute of the day, and we’ll put our demons to rest together.”

She seemed to relax and he cradled her close, tucking her head underneath his chin. Her breathing evened out, and he sensed for the first time that she was actually resting.

Donovan pushed his way through Sam and Garrett and squatted beside the chair where Nathan sat. “You’re getting this whether you want it or not. If we control your pain, we control hers. You both need rest, so don’t fight the effects.”

Nathan didn’t offer any protest. His side was screaming, and for Shea, he’d do whatever it took to make her more comfortable.

When Donovan was finished, he stood and told the others to prepare for takeoff. Nathan remained where he was while the others took their seats and belted in.

The drug didn’t take long to take effect. His muscles seemed to uncoil and he relaxed as the pain’s edge was tempered. He held Shea tightly as the jet taxied down the runway and then lifted off.

Home. To Tennessee. He was bringing Shea home. He just hoped to hell that she trusted him enough to stay.

He dozed lightly, Shea’s warmth as soothing as the drug that Donovan had given him. His eyes flew open when he heard footsteps.

Sam, Garrett, Joe and Swanny came through and sat on the couch and the other armchair.

“Is she doing any better?” Sam asked in a low voice.

“She’s resting,” Nathan said. “Really resting.” He glanced down at her eyelashes resting on her cheeks and his chest tightened all over again. “They broke her. Whatever they did, they broke her.”

“Bullshit,” Joe said. “She’s down but she’s not out. I don’t believe for a f**king minute that they completely broke her. She saw you through hell. She’s fierce. She’ll be okay.”

Nathan smiled at his brother’s staunch assessment of Shea.

“I’ve spoken to Resnick,” Sam said. “Things are a mess right now. A lot of fingerpointing. A lot of denial. He’s collecting evidence before it can be destroyed.”

“What about Grace?” Nathan asked quietly.

Sam shook his head. “No one knows. She wasn’t there. Resnick’s putting out his feelers. Rio hasn’t reported in, which means he’s turned up nothing yet. My guess is she’s lying low somewhere.”

Nathan tried to control the rise of anger. Where the f**k was Grace? How could she leave her sister when Shea needed her the most? How could she just fall out of contact when the two sisters were so deeply connected?