“Dane’s going to want a full report and a say in how this goes down.”
“Fuck what Dane wants. She’s mine. This has nothing to do with Dane. She isn’t technically a client. Therefore, whatever is done will be done my way, my decision.”
Zeke’s eyebrows went up, but he wisely didn’t push the point.
Isaac carefully opened the back door, not wanting to awaken her with a sudden noise. She’d already endured far too much fear and stress. He wanted to end that shit for her right now. But he also knew that she wasn’t someone who was going to trust very easily. He would have to be patient and extremely gentle with this woman.
He hesitated, almost touching her, as he stared at the tiny ball she’d curled herself into. She looked so fragile he was afraid to touch her. Hell, his hands were enormous compared to her bones, her hands, her arms. What if he hurt her unintentionally? But no way in hell would anyone else be the one to carry her anywhere.
Holding his breath, he gently smoothed one hand up her arm, testing her awareness. But he shouldn’t have worried. She didn’t so much as flinch. She was clearly beyond her limits, and guilt surged freshly through his veins.
She was a fucking miracle. He was still numb and in disbelief that he was here, whole, no evidence of having been shot, instead of in a morgue where his teammates would have the unfortunate task of identifying his body.
Knowing he needed to hurry, he slid his other hand beneath her soft body and then moved the hand resting against her arm so that he could put his arm underneath her legs. He lifted her effortlessly and began to back out of the vehicle, paying close attention to her every breath, movement or facial expression.
She still hadn’t shown any sign of rousing. This both worried him and relieved him. Holding her close to his chest, close enough that he could feel both their heartbeats, he strode toward his vehicle even as he gave orders to his teammates.
“Get rid of my SUV and then disable the tracking device. I’d destroy it, but Beau would throw one hell of a fit. But make it disappear for a while. When it’s safe . . . someone can retrieve it.”
When it’s safe. Now there was a leading statement. Knowing as little—which was nothing—about the situation he was now squarely in the middle of, having any idea when it would be over was the least of his concerns. Knowing what he needed to know in order to keep her safe and protected against harm? That was his number one priority. She’d saved his life without knowing a thing about him other than that he was dying a foot away from her. There was no way in hell he would allow her to suffer or be afraid a single day longer.
“What do you want to do, Isaac?” Shadow asked as Isaac carefully laid the woman in the backseat of their SUV.
When Isaac was satisfied she was as comfortable as he could make her, he turned back to see all three of his teammates gathered around him, their expressions concerned and questioning.
As much as he hated the idea of leaving the woman he considered his, as crazy as the idea of her belonging to him may be, his responsibility, to anyone’s protection but his, he knew he couldn’t simply disappear without giving Dane and Beau an explanation. He dragged a hand through his hair and muttered a curse. Then he pinned the three men with his intense stare.
“I have to go in and let Dane and Beau know what’s going down and that I’m out of commission for a while. I need the three of you to take her to my place and lock it down. I don’t want her out of your sight even for a second. I’m trusting you to ensure nothing happens to her. I’ll make it quick and be back as soon as possible, but I need you to do this for me.”
“You know we’ll do whatever you need, man,” Zeke said quietly. “Even after. This isn’t something you should be doing alone. That’s not the way we work and you know it.”
“But this isn’t an official assignment,” Isaac began.
“Shut the fuck up,” Dex said rudely. “Granted we haven’t worked for DSS as long as the rest of you. We’re the new recruits. But we’ve been here long enough to know that this isn’t the way shit ever goes down. We’re a team—family—and that means not leaving you on your own just because she isn’t an official fucking assignment. So suck it up. Can’t speak for the others, but you’ve got me as long as you need me. I’ll have your back and whatever you need done. All you have to do is say the word.”
Zeke and Shadow didn’t say anything, but their expressions said it all. They weren’t going anywhere either.
Isaac breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thanks. I really appreciate this. Let’s move out. I need you to take her to my place. One of you stays on her every single minute. I don’t want her waking up alone and terrified. The other two need to scout the entire perimeter and make damn sure no one’s poking around. This won’t take long at HQ, and I’ll meet you back at my place as soon as possible.”
“You got it,” Zeke said. “No one will get close to her, Isaac. Swear it to you on my life.”
Isaac gave him and the others a chin lift. “That was never in doubt. Dane only hires the best, so even if I didn’t already know how steady y’all were, just the fact that he hired and put his stamp of approval on the three of you would be enough for me to trust you with my life—and hers.”
Dex tossed him the keys to the other SUV and Isaac stole one last glance at the woman who’d miraculously healed him. He hated leaving her even for a short while, but he had no choice. Clenching the keys in his fist, he forced himself to turn and start walking to the other vehicle.
“Keep me posted,” he said, turning back for a moment. “I want to know if she comes around, how she is.” Then he sucked in a breath and stared at his teammates, not caring what they could read into his tone or expression. “Keep her safe for me,” he whispered.
“You know we will,” Dex said in a quiet voice. “Now go so you can get back to her.”
FOUR
ISAAC parked in the garage where DSS was headquartered in downtown Houston and quickly got out. He needed to make this short and sweet and then deal with whatever the consequences were. He didn’t give a shit whether he had Dane and Beau’s stamp of approval or not. It wasn’t even negotiable. If they wouldn’t stand down, he’d simply walk away.
He jerked in surprise at that thought as he got out of the elevator on the floor of the DSS offices. Quit? Walk away? From a job that was his entire life? The job that consumed him to the exclusion of all else? Never would he have imagined any scenario where he’d choose something else over his job—his teammates—his . . . family. But he wouldn’t even have to think twice in this situation.
She needed him and he owed her more than he could ever repay. It was also obvious she was in serious trouble, and if he didn’t protect her, who would?