Men of Mercy: The Complete Story

by Cross, Lindsay

  But Jared wasn’t willing to give up Sparrow.

  “Why don't we discuss this on the helicopter. Cord will take the boat home. But we need to get you to your brother pronto.” Merc gestured to the open door of the small black helicopter.

  “Roger.” Jared picked Sparrow up and snapped her into the small padded seat of the helo. Her hands were bound behind her back, and he knew it was uncomfortable, and a small part of him enjoyed her discomfort. He made a mental note to check her wrists when they got safely in the air to make sure the binding wasn’t too tight. He climbed in next to her, staking his territory. Merc followed and sat across from them as Hunter climbed into the pilot seat and cranked up the helicopter.

  Cord pulled out in the boat and turned downriver just as the helicopter lifted off the ground. Tension stretched tight in Jared’s insides. “Tell me now. Will he live?” The words cut him up like razor blades.

  “I think so. But the doctor is there and she can fill you in when we land. It wasn't really his physical health I was talking about.” Merc scrubbed a hand over his jaw, glanced first at Sparrow and then back at Jared. Sparrow held his teammate’s gaze with her chin lifted, as defiant as ever.

  Jared didn’t miss her small flinch, but she didn't cower. His own mind was on the verge of breaking, He kept seesawing back and forth with the struggle of whether or not to believe her.

  “It's his mind. He keeps rambling and calling out your name. No one can figure out what he's talking about, but he's just…he's not really lucid right now.”

  Jared’s chest tightening until it felt like it would implode. “Does the doctor…” He couldn't finish the sentence. Couldn't even bear the thought of his brother losing it, locked up in some mental institution.

  Jared was responsible; he should've been there sooner. He shouldn’t have forced Hoyt to come with him in the first place.

  “The doctor hopes hearing your voice will at least soothe him, get him through the worst of it.”

  The hour-long helicopter ride flew by. Hunter touched down in the field directly next to their headquarters on Hank James’ property. Hank, a war veteran himself, was Hunter and Ranger’s father. He’d allowed Task Force Scorpion to set up a temporary operating base on his property last year. The setup had proved incredibly useful for their covert ops, as Hank had plenty of land with access to the river and the biggest roads.

  Jared didn’t know how many acres Hank owned on Broken River Ranch. He had multiple dwellings and structures stretched out across the property. A large tan metal building had been converted into the team’s headquarters. On the complete opposite end of the property, Hunter and his new wife, Evie, had just finished building a house. And now Jared and Hoyt Crowe had been set up in one of Hank’s other ranch houses.

  “Tell your old man how grateful I am to him for putting us up like this,” Jared said to Hunter.

  “No problem, man. He’d do it for any of us. I've got a Jeep waiting for you. Follow this road until it forks, then hang a right and you’ll be at the house.” Hunter handed Jared the keys.

  Jared swallowed, unable to speak. He was so close to seeing his brother again. But what if Hoyt never really came back?

  Merc clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Hey man, we're all here for you. I’ll come with you, make sure you’ve got everything you need.”

  “Thanks.” Jared didn't bother trying to hide the rough edge of emotion in his voice. Instead, he focused on moving forward. Without a word, he pulled Sparrow out of her seat and carried her to the waiting Jeep. Once she was secured in the backseat, Merc climbed into the passenger seat and Jared drove.

  The fall air wasn't quite as chilly down here, but it still had a bite to it. Jared gunned it down the dirt road, dust flying behind him. The trees rushed by in a haze of green and orange. He took the turn Hunter had described and pulled to a stop in front of a white ranch-style house with a long rambling porch across the front.

  “Get her for me, okay?” Jared waited on Merc to nod before exiting the Jeep and walking on shaking legs into the house. He couldn’t let Sparrow distract him now, not when he was so close to seeing his brother. He was already so confused by her.

  He slammed the front door open and rushed through it, only to come to a grinding halt. It was so silent. Was he too late? His heart sped up as fear licked down his spine. An agonized moan came from the hallway to his right. Jared ran in that direction, stopping abruptly when he came to the first doorway.

  Dr. Jane Hartsfield stood with her back to the door. Hoyt lay on his stomach on the bed with his eyes closed, the sheets kicked off, his skin pale and sweaty. An IV and various other electronic devices were hooked up to him.

  Fresh white bandages covered most of his body, including the left side of his face. Jared watched as Hoyt twitched in his sleep, his eye darting beneath a closed lid.

  Hoyt jerked and screamed out loud, twisting as if in agony. “Jared! Don’t leave me.”

  “Hoyt, this is Dr. Hartsfield, and you’re safe here.” The doctor tried to place a hand on Hoyt’s head, but he just bowed up off the mattress. “Hoyt, listen to me. You are safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  “Not her. Not her, please. Make him stop.” Hoyt’s cries tore something dark loose inside Jared and he had to grab onto the doorframe to keep from falling to his knees. Hoyt jerked and the IV pulled from his arm, spilling Hoyt’s blood.

  Jared pulled himself from his stupor and dove for his brother’s arm. Dr. Hartsfield grabbed a bandage. “Hold him still, I’ll have to tape that one shut.” Jared couldn’t manage to speak. His brother was as pale as death, tossing his head back and forth on the pillow.

  She bandaged his hand. “You need to talk to him. Let him hear your voice.”

  Jared was lost and locked in his own world of regret. “What can I say?”

  “I don’t care. Just talk and hold him still.” The doc went about checking all the electronics as Jared stared at his brother, his mouth suddenly dry.

  “Hoyt, it’s me, Jared. I’m here.” Hoyt stilled, but as soon as Jared stopped speaking, he started to thrash again. “I’ve got you brother. You’re safe, with me. Don’t worry about anything. I’m going to take care of you, but you’ve got to calm down before you hurt yourself.”

  Hoyt seemed to settle, and even though Jared didn’t have a clue what he was saying, he kept on talking.

  “That’s good,” the doctor said calmly. “Can you grab his other hand? I need to replace the IV, and it’s the second time I’ve tapped that arm.” Dr. Hartsfield walked around the bed and started touching Hoyt’s arm, searching for a vein. Jared leaned over and took his brother’s other arm, holding him to the bed.

  Hoyt’s breathing was shallow and rapid, and sweat drenched his hair and pillow. “Can’t you give him something for the pain?”

  “I have. He shakes it off faster than most. I’ve avoided tying him to the bed, but if he keeps thrashing around like that, I’ll have no choice.” Doc met Jared’s gaze, communicating silently with them. The last thing a soldier rescued from captivity needed was to be bound.

  “Okay, I’ll hold him. Can you give him something to calm him?” Jared felt so helpless as she inserted the needle into Hoyt’s other arm.

  “Yes, I will as soon as I get the IV in.” She taped the needle to his skin then plugged the tube into the free end. When the clear liquid from the IV bag started to flow, Dr. Hartsfield pulled a syringe out of her pocket. “This is a sedative. I can give him a dose every four hours. We are just going on three right now. I’ll give him this one dose early, but he can’t take much more. If he doesn’t start to calm, I’ll have to admit him to the hospital.”

  Jared swallowed and nodded. A hospital meant involving the police. Which would entail handing Sparrow over to them. “I’ll stay with him. Get him to calm down.”

  When she looked at him, there was pity in her gaze, and Jared hated it. “I hope so. He’s been through a lot of trauma, both physical and mental. I’ve done what I can for h
is injuries, now it’s up to him on the rest.”

  “Will he wake up?”

  “There is nothing stopping him from waking once the sedative wears off. But Jared, there’s no guarantee your brother will be the same man he was before.”

  Raw acid burned Jared’s throat and made his eyes water. All Jared had ever wanted was to protect his younger brother. That's why Hoyt smiled more than Jared. That's why he laughed more. That’s why he was able to sleep at night when Jared’s rest was wracked by nightmares. Hoyt had been so young when they escaped Crowe Mountain; Jared had thought the memories of their captivity long erased from his mind. And he’d done his best to keep it that way.

  Now that decision had been taken out of his hands.

  * * *

  Sparrow stood just inside the door, watching Hoyt struggle, with Merc holding her arm. From the doctor’s haggard expression, she could tell Hoyt had been doing that for a while now. Anguish ate at her. Jimbo’s handiwork had left deep wounds, wounds from which Hoyt might never recover.

  Sparrow swore right then and there that she would kill Jimbo. He’d tormented enough people to deserve death. When she heard the warning the doctor delivered to Jared, a knot of dread unfurled in her belly. Jared already blamed her for this. There would be no escaping the blame if Hoyt was never in the right mind to explain.

  Jared led the doctor from the room, brushing past Sparrow with a look of rage. She backed up a step and bumped into the solid wall that was Merc. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he anchored her where she stood. “You go nowhere without him.”

  Jared returned a second later without the doctor and grabbed Sparrow’s arm in a bruising grip. “Where did you set up the room?”

  Merc gestured to the second door past Hoyt’s. It had large heavy-looking locks. Merc inserted a key and opened the door. “We thought you’d want to keep her close. Your bedroom is connected through a shared door.”

  The room was much larger than her own, and besides the sturdy four-poster wooden bed, there was a dresser and two nightstands. Another shut door stood on the right side of the room. Merc followed her gaze and said, “That door goes to Jared’s bedroom.”

  Jared's grip tightened painfully on her shoulders as he propelled her forward. “Thanks for setting this up.”

  “Anything I can do to help. I'll stick around for a while and make sure everything is okay.”

  “No need. I’ve got this.” Only Jared wasn’t looking at Merc when he spoke. His ice-cold gaze had locked on to her.

  “You sure it’s a good idea to be alone with her right now? I’m more than happy to stay.”

  Jared finally broke his stare and looked at Merc, who was leaning casually in the doorway. Oh, how she hoped he would stay.

  “I’ve got this. I’ll check in later.”

  Sighing, Merc pushed away from the door and handed Jared the key. “Roger.”

  After he left, Sparrow became aware of just how alone they were. And just how dependent her life was on the man standing before her. A man who once again looked like he wanted to strangle her.

  Dammit, she wasn't some simpering female. She didn’t do this thing, and she'd be damned if she cowered under his misdirected anger. “I didn't do anything to your brother. You know it. Deep inside you know it.”

  “My brother says you did. Who do you think I believe?” Jared’s voice cracked with emotion.

  “Your brother was out of his mind with fever. He didn't know who I was.”

  “Shut up! My brother is half dead, but he’s still asking me to keep him away from her. Her. Who is that if not you?” Jared advanced on Sparrow and she retreated until her knees bumped into the footboard.

  She was trapped. “I swear, he—”

  Jared roared his fury and Sparrow wished in that instant she could run away. But she was imprisoned between the animal he had become and the bed.

  “One more word out of your mouth and I'll tie you to the bed. Do you understand?”

  She trembled and cursed herself for the fear. Her whole life she’d been fighting bullies who tried to keep her down. And now she had to fight the man to whom she’d willingly given her body and soul. “You wouldn't.”

  Jared collected himself, but that crazed fire in his eyes was still there when he yanked her up by the arms and tossed her onto the bed. He grabbed her wrists and bound them to the center of the headboard. Then, without another word, he turned and left room.

  “Jared! Don't do this!” She was so angry with him, and yet what remained of her heart was breaking.

  He returned a few minutes later with more bindings. “I'll do to you what you did to me. Let's see how well you like it.

  He grabbed the closest ankle and she kicked out, but her efforts were futile against his strength. He bound each foot to a separate bedpost, leaving her spread eagled and half naked. “You're going to regret this. I swear to God you’ll regret it.”

  He knelt on the bed, his grin humorless, and wrapped a gag around her mouth, effectively silencing her comeback.

  Sparrow was completely vulnerable to him. Humiliation swamped her. She'd trusted this man so much, and he still didn’t trust her. He still didn’t believe that what they felt for each other was real. And she had no idea how she could change his mind.

  But she would die before she let him see how much he was hurting her.

  “You can look at me like you want to kill me all you want. But you'll stay like this until I'm ready to deal with you.”

  Jared strode from the room and slammed the door behind him, the ominous click of a lock snapping into place sealing her fate.

  Chapter 24

  Jared shoved his hands through his hair and stormed down the hall. His mind was twisting in so many directions he felt ready to explode

  Part of him already regretted his actions against Sparrow, but part of him was still imagining her slicing her blade into his brother’s flesh. If he stopped and asked himself, really asked himself, he didn’t believe her capable of it. Not unless she was the best actress who had ever lived. Maybe those were simply his brother’s feverish ramblings…

  Jared turned the corner back into his brother's bedroom to see Hayden James, Hunter and Ranger’s little sister, sitting on the edge of the mattress, holding Hoyt’s hand and stroking his arm and face.

  “What are you doing in here?”

  She looked up at his voice, tears streaming down her face. “Who could do this to him?”

  Jared wished he had a straight answer for her, because with every minute he doubted it was Sparrow.

  “Don't worry. I think we’ve got her.”

  Hoyt drew in a shuddering breath, twitching even as the sedative flowed through his veins.

  Helpless agony surged through Jared, completely taking over his logic. He wanted to hurt something or someone so bad his entire body shook.

  “Her? You think a woman did this to him? Women love your brother. I can't believe one would actually be capable of hurting him.”

  “Before my brother passed out, he all but pointed his finger at her.” The words delivered in a voice that was shaking more than he’d like, and the memory of finding Hoyt chained up in that rotten shack sent another shiver through him.

  Hayden wiped away her tears with a shaking hand, her pale blue eyes haunted. “I want to see her. I want to see the person that did this to him.”

  “No, you stay away from her.”

  “You're not the only one that loves him, you know?”

  Her statement caught him off guard. Jared pulled his head out of his ass and studied her. She was caressing his brother with such gentleness.

  Hayden was in love with Hoyt. How had he not realized that sooner? Hoyt had been the one to stand by Hayden after her betrayal this summer. She’d been taken advantage of by one of their Team members, who’d been married at the time. And who’d also been Hayden’s brother’s best friend. Still, while Jared had known they were close, he’d assumed it was more of a big brother kind of relationship.
<
br />   Apparently, Jared wasn’t as good at reading women as he’d thought.

  “Hayden, I don't want you near her. Do you understand?”

  Her gaze hardened. “If she really did it, I want you to hurt her. Hurt her like she hurt him.”

  He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. There wasn’t a chance in hell he could hurt Sparrow. Not even if Hoyt woke proclaiming her guilt. He was in too deep. “I'm not sure how long you've been here, but I think it's time for you to go home.”

  “I'm not leaving him.”

  What the hell was up with all of these stubborn women in his life? “Do I need to call your brothers? You know they’ll listen to me.”

  “You can call the entire police force of the state of Mississippi, cause that's what it will take to drag me from your brother’s side.” Dammit, tears were building in her eyes again and that vulnerable little tremble started on her chin. A chin she poked out stubbornly.

  “Your dad then. You shouldn't be here.” But he hadn’t chosen the right words. He knew that instantly from the triumphant gleam in her eyes.

  “Daddy's the one who told me to stay as long as I needed.”

  Motherfucker, the girl was good. “You could give your brothers a run for their money, you know?”

  She nodded and sniffled. “They say the same thing.” And then her gaze softened. “Why don't you go take a shower and clean up? Not to be indelicate, but you look like hell.”

  For the first time in the last forty-eight hours, Jared took notice of his appearance. He’d been traipsing through the woods for days without a shower or bath. He didn't need to take a big whiff to guess how he smelled. But he didn't want to leave his brother.

  Hayden must have sensed his thoughts. “I'm not leaving his side. If anything changes, I'll come get you, but I think you're pretty safe to take a quick shower. Besides, do you want him to see you like that when he wakes up?”