“Where are they?” There was demand in Wilson’s tone.
Mack arched an eyebrow. “Safe. I need the room, gentlemen, while I speak with Gideon and the doctor. Marc can show you the report, Rory’s clothes and the photographs we took of her body when we first were trying to save her life.” He waved them away dismissively.
Gideon could see that just the reminder that the police had denied the women a safe house and guards had upset Mack all over again. The moment they were out of the room, Paul began to work on Rory again. Her cough seemed to have become worse. The more she coughed, the more it seemed her lungs and bronchial tubesspasmed. More little flecks of blood appeared on her lips. Gideon tried breathing evenly, using a support method, pushing the images into her mind, hoping to ease the panic building in her. He didn’t dare ask Paul questions or seek reassurance. She needed the doctor’s full concentration on her alone.
Red, you can breathe. Do it with me.He placed her palm over his left lung and inhaled deeply.Think about breathing. Nothing else. Only that. We’ve done this together many times. Merge with me. Stay with me.
He wouldn’t allow himself to feel anything but how they belonged together. How they fit. She seemed so far from him. Then Mack was there. Breathing. Deep breath in. Let it out slowly. Jaimie joined them.
That’s it, baby, stay with me. We’re just breathing. You know how. You can do this with me.
Hard.She gasped the reply.
Gideon felt how difficult the struggle was, as if air couldn’t get into her lungs. Her tubes were too restricted. He felt Paul’s presence as he worked, but he didn’t acknowledge it. His full concentration had to be on getting her to stay with the mechanics of just breathing. She was exhausted already. He was certain the beatings she’d taken had contributed to the difficulties of weakening her lungs even more.
Javier, Ethan and Lucas suddenly joined in. He felt the strength of their combined breathing, pushing the air through Rory’s narrowed tubes with him. Then Jacob Princeton. He was their underwater specialist and had lungs that were amazing. His added breathing aided tremendously.
That’s it, Red.Gideon pressed her palm tighter against his lung.Feel that.
Can’t find air. Burns.
You’re finding it. It just feels that way.
Rhianna and Rose joined them, synchronizing with all of themeffortlessly. Kane and Brian and lastly Marc joined the breathing circle from the other room. Through Gideon, his entire team had surrounded his woman, helping her to breathe while Paul worked to widen her airways.
That’s it, Rory. You’re breathing again. The air is getting to your lungs. You feel that, baby? That burn is easing up.
Panic was beginning to subside. Just a little. Just enough that Rory was more aware of Gideon. That’s what he needed from her. That awareness that he was with her. That he hadn’t left her side and she wasn’t alone. The more she was able to see around her, or feel, she would be cognizant of the others aiding her. He wanted her to see that they had rushed to her aid not only to look for her when she had been kidnapped but also now, when she’d been unable to breathe. She was a fellow GhostWalker. Not only would she always have him, but she would have a family.
Rory had to see for herself that his family could be hers. If she never did accept his team for herself, Gideon would have to be okay with it. She was going to be his wife. The center of his universe. He wanted her to love his family, but time took care of a lot of issues. She would have her other friends when he ran his missions, even if she didn’t accept his people.
Mack might persuade her to join them as a GhostWalker on the team. If that happened, Gideon would need to come to terms with how he felt about it. He was protective, and having Rory in the danger zone would divide his attention when he needed his concentration wholly on his work. That was something to be discussed between them before it would ever go on the table with Mack.
Air slid smoothly through Rory’s bronchial tubes to her lungs, and Gideon felt Paul pull back. Paul had managed to open the tubes so her lungs could bring in enough air for her to breathe adequately. The team continued to breathe with her for a few more minutes, ensuring she was able to quiet the spasming and coughing.When the burning sensation had disappeared and the panic had ceased entirely, one by one his team members slipped away.
“She’ll need her asthma medication. I’m going to rest again before I work on the blockage in her lungs. This isn’t going to take away the asthma, Gideon, but it will make things much easier on her,” Paul said. He sounded tired, but not at all the way he’d been before. “Don’t let her talk. Get the information from her and just give it to them. She can tell them tomorrow or the next day. Keep in mind her internal organs have taken a beating. She had internal bleeding as well as other injuries. They meant to kill her, Gideon.”
Gideon was certain they had planned to kill her from the moment they’d taken her. “Thanks, Paul. I appreciate everything you’ve done for her. I know it isn’t easy on you.”
Please tell him thank you from me.
“Rory wants me to thank you as well, Paul. Get some rest.” Gideon leaned over Rory after Paul left the room. “You need to go back to sleep. Paul says Whitney did place some kind of an obstruction in your lungs, and he’d like to see if he can remove it. It won’t take away your asthma, but it will certainly improve your ability to breathe. You’ll have to be in much better shape than you are now for him to do that, Red. And under no circumstances are you to speak aloud.”
I need to tell Larrsen what those men believe I have. And I think I might have it.
Gideon brushed back her hair. They hadn’t washed the congealed blood out of it. They hadn’t had time. That was for another day. “Tell me, sweetheart.”
They kept asking about a notebook. Over and over. At first, I thought they had something to do with Whitney, so it didn’t make any sense. They kept hitting me over and over. The man that felt angry and kept silent began cutting me with a knife. That only confused me more, because I realized it was a cop. It was Detective Ramsey.
Rory fell silent. Just that little bit of effort to speak to him telepathically had exhausted her, as Paul had predicted.
Gideon continued to stroke back the hair from her face, his fingertips lingering in the mass of cherry-colored strands. Her eyes had been closed, but she struggled to open them, lashes going up for just a brief moment so she could look straight at him.
You shouldn’t touch my hair, Gideon. I’m a mess. It’s disgusting.
Her lashes drifted down again. He couldn’t help smiling at her reaction right in the middle of telling him something important she wanted to convey to the detectives.
Nothing about you is disgusting, Red. When the doc gives me the go-ahead, I’ll wash your hair for you. Tell me what you think you have that these men want from you so you can sleep. Paul wants you to rest as much as possible.
