Zero Hour: Brotherhood Protectors World
Page 15
What was he supposed to do with her when he got there? If she was as banged up as Drea said, she’d need medical care, and he had no idea what kind was available in the sparsely populated area where he was headed.
And what about her? If she was running from an abusive relationship, she was probably terrified of men. He’d seen that before. It always made his blood boil, wondering how a man could treat a woman that way. But she had to be scared shitless, and what would make her trust him? Did she know Drea well enough for that?
Plus, he’d have to find a way to take care of her on the trip. Then, when they got to Montana, he’d have to figure out what to do with her. Hopefully, Drea would have some kind of update for him by then. He needed to know things like how long he was expected to hide Lainie away. Where she would go from there. How she’d get her life together.
Fuck. This wasn’t what he needed. He could hardly keep himself together, just taking things one day at a time. But he knew in his heart he’d do that. He was a protector by nature.
“Anything else I should know?”
“Yes. This guy is one mean bastard, and Lainie says she knows something he’d kill her to keep secret.”
Fucking great.
He swallowed a sigh.
“You know I can’t turn you down, but I’m leaving in five minutes. Can you get her to that exit by the time I get there?”
“Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Oh, and you’d better bring plenty of cash. If he somehow finds out she’s with you, he can track your credit cards.”
Jesus! What next?
“Okay. No sweat.”
“And, Zane? Thank you so much.”
He carried the last of his bags down to the truck and stowed them in the back seat. Then he placed his Glock .9mm in the console along with a box of ammo. Finally, he made sure the knife he always carried was securely strapped to his ankle. He didn’t know if this asshole would suddenly show up or what, but, like every other SEAL, he wanted to always be prepared. Then he climbed into the driver’s seat and pulled out of his parking space.
What the fuck have I gotten myself into?
He talked to himself all the way to the bank where he pulled out a wad of cash, and then all the way to the hospital, calling himself ten kinds of fool for getting mixed up in this. He could barely take care of himself, let alone someone else who probably needed constant attention.
Fifteen minutes later, Zane pulled up to the delivery door at the hospital, hopped out of his truck, and opened the passenger door. In a moment, a back door to the hospital opened and Drea stepped out, looking both ways before motioning to someone. A guy in scrubs and a white coat, probably the doctor she’d told him about, exited carrying a woman in his arms. As he placed her gently in the passenger seat and buckled her in, Zane took a good look at her, and acid washed in his throat at what he saw.
“We managed to get her dressed and got her out of there without anyone asking questions,” Lanie told him, “and we. I also gave her a pain pill, so she’s a little out of it.”
“What’s with the scrubs?”
“So we could walk her through the department and down here without anyone asking questions. I think, though, she’s done for. The meds will pretty much knock her out for a while.”
Drea had been right about the bruises, the black eye, everything, only she hadn’t been quite descriptive enough. Sonny Fitzgerald had most definitely used this woman as a punching bag. Her auburn hair hung limp, and her delicate features were pinched with pain, but even beneath all that he saw a delicate beauty. He wanted to find the man and show him what SEALs did to abusers.
He was sure without the damage she was a knockout. Not that it mattered right now. She was in desperate need, and he hadn’t been with a woman in nearly a year. Wasn’t even sure he’d know how to deal with one under normal circumstances.
“Jesus, Drea. She’s a mess. Can she even do anything for herself? I don’t—”
“It will be fine,” Drea insisted. “She’s stronger than she looks. I trust you to do whatever is necessary. Figure it out, or she’s a dead woman.”
“Who is this guy, anyway?”
“Rich and powerful. Do a search on him when you stop for the night.” She leaned into the truck and shook the woman gently. “Lainie? Lainie, this is my brother, Zane. He’s going to take good care of you, like I said. He’s getting you out of here before you can get hurt again.”
Lainie’s eyes had a wild, frightened look in them as she scanned the area, taking everything in. “S-Sonny?”
“Not here,” Drea assured her. “But we want to get you out of here before he decides to show up. This is my brother, Zane. Remember? He’s going to take good care of you. He’s the best protection you can get. I promise.”
Zane thought he could only hope that would be the truth. He stood close to Lainie but didn’t touch her, noticing how she shrank away from him. All he wanted as for her to become familiar with his presence.
Lainie wet her lips and stared a moment, as if trying to absorb it all. “Drea’s brother?”
He nodded. “And I’ll be doing my best to keep you safe.”
She swallowed. “And thank you.”
“We’re gonna get going in a second here, Lainie.” He pitched his voice low, hoping it sounded reassuring. “I want to make sure you’re comfortable in the seat and that your seat belt is fastened.”
She nodded, not saying a word, but he saw pain etched on her face.
He had to bite down on the pain in his arm when he moved her at a bad angle and did his best not to groan as he settled her. Maybe he should double up on his exercises if he was going to be carting this woman around. She didn’t need some gimp for a protector. He swallowed the bitterness, closed the door, and turned to Drea.
“I’m fine,” he assured his sister when he saw the look of concern on her face. “It’s the truth. I can take good care of her.”
“I know you can. I—” She shook her head. “Yes, you’re fine. And thank you again for doing this.”
“You’re welcome.”
Handed him a plastic bag with some meds in it plus a plain envelope.
“What’s this?” He frowned as he looked at them.
“Her medications for a couple of days plus instructions on how to care for her injuries. There’s money in the envelope. She had it with her when she got to the hospital. Apparently, she’s been hiding it away for a while. She asked me to give it to you to help pay for the trip.”
Zane tried to give it back. “I don’t want or need her money.”
Drea nodded. “I told her that, but she’s going to need some clothing and personal items, since she has nothing with her. You can use some of it for that. I put a note in to let you know what. You can grit your teeth and do it,” she insisted when he frowned. “She’s in no condition to shop.”
“Jesus, Drea.” He put the meds inside the truck console and stuffed the envelope into his pocket. “Anything else?”
“One more thing.” Drea took a cell phone from her pocket and handed it to him along with the sim card. “It’s Lainie’s. I turned it off and pulled the sim card and the battery, but you need to get rid of it. I didn’t want to do it here at the hospital. You know, just in case. I never know how these things can be traced.”
“Will do.” He nodded. “I’ll text you from the road and let you know how it’s going.”
“Thank you again, Zane.” She gave him a tight hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. You’re the best brother in the world.”
“Yeah, thanks for being a lifesaver,” the doctor added.
Zane nodded once, climbed into the truck, and pulled away from the building. Evasion was one of the many things he’d learned as a SEAL, and he didn’t trust that this Sonny Fitzgerald asshole wasn’t already lurking someplace with his henchmen waiting to see if this woman made a break for it. She certainly couldn’t do it without help, so he might be scoping out the area already, despite what Drea said.
He didn’t hit Inter
state 75 right away, on the off chance someone was on their tail, although he didn’t see how that was possible. Drea had accomplished the whole process slick as grease. He drove a few miles on Interstate 4, doubled back, and drove through a couple of busy neighborhoods before he actually headed out of town. When he was satisfied there was no one on his tail, he drove to a street with many warehouses, some of them vacant. Behind one of them, he got out of the car, dropped her cell to the ground, and crushed it beneath his heel. Next was the battery. The remnants went into a trash barrel. Then he headed out of the city, north on Interstate 75 toward Chattanooga. From there he’d head west.
He glanced over at Lainie, bundled into a hospital blanket and scrunched against the door. Somehow, he’d have to find a way for her to trust him, even for a little while.
About Desiree Holt
USA Today best-selling and award-winning author Desiree Holt writes everything from romantic suspense and contemporary on a variety of heat levels up to erotic, a genre in which she is the oldest living author. She has been referred to by USA Today as the Nora Roberts of erotic romance, and is a winner of the EPIC E-Book Award, the Holt Medallion and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice nominee. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The (London) Daily Mail, The New Delhi Times and numerous other national and international publications.
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Brotherhood Protectors
Original Series by Elle James
Brotherhood Protectors Series
Montana SEAL (#1)
Bride Protector SEAL (#2)
Montana D-Force (#3)
Cowboy D-Force (#4)
Montana Ranger (#5)
Montana Dog Soldier (#6)
Montana SEAL Daddy (#7)
Montana Ranger’s Wedding Vow (#8)
Montana SEAL Undercover Daddy (#9)
Cape Cod SEAL Rescue (#10)
Montana SEAL Friendly Fire (#11)
Montana SEAL’s Mail-Order Bride (#12)
SEAL Justice (#13)
Ranger Creed (#14)
Delta Force Strong (#15)
Montana Rescue (Sleeper SEAL)
Hot SEAL Salty Dog (SEALs in Paradise)
Hot SEAL Hawaiian Nights (SEALs in Paradise)
About Elle James
ELLE JAMES also writing as MYLA JACKSON is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of books including cowboys, intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edges of their seats. With over eighty works in a variety of sub-genres and lengths she has published with Harlequin, Samhain, Ellora’s Cave, Kensington, Cleis Press, and Avon. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, snow skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories. Learn more about Elle James at www.ellejames.com
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