She grimaced. "Tastes like metal."
"I think they used ketamine." I took the water from her again, and then I put her back in a supine position with her head on my lap. "It'll work through your system."
She closed her eyes briefly before forcing them open again. Her gaze roved over my concerned features. "They were so fast."
I smoothed her brow, pushing hair away from her face and rubbing her temples. "And quiet. I didn't even hear the car in the driveway."
"They were further down," she sighed, still rubbing the inside of her elbow. "There were two men who looked like normal delivery guys. I went to meet them to tell them—" she stopped.
"Tell them what?" I prompted.
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter."
It didn't, but her pause was suspicious. "Let's get you cleaned off," I suggested. I pulled out a few cleansing wipes from the med kit, and after wiping down her arm and taking another look at the injection site on her neck, I made her drink the rest of the water. She looked defeated, her shoulders slumped and her eyes not meeting mine.
I hated whoever had done this to her. Ordinarily, I didn't bother with strong emotions likehate—too much effort. Life was too short. But these assholes? I hated them. I wanted to get violent with them, to punish them for making Evelyn a target, for putting her and her family in harm's way. And then my thoughts turned on me, cannibalizing myself for my own ineptitude and inability to do theone thingshe actually needed from me. I couldn't take risks with her safety just because I selfishly wanted to stay around her. Not after this. I had to call Ghost and ask him to come now. I didn't want to, but the only thing I wanted less than sharing Evie was seeing her hurt again.
"When can I fall asleep?" she mumbled into my neck. She'd shifted so she was on my lap and I had my arms wrapped around her with her head on my shoulder.
I checked the pulse oximeter. Ninety-two—still on the low end, but that was to be expected for a little while. "When you don't want to sleep anymore," I replied with a hint of amusement.
She sighed, her ribs expanding and contracting against my stomach. "But you're comfortable."
"I'm getting soft eating Nan's cookies and not going to the gym," I smiled.
"You are soft," she breathed out, nuzzling my neck. My heart fractured. I wasn't soft, I was selfish. Dreading it and resolved to do it all at the same time, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and tapped the emergency number Tabitha had given me.
It only rang once, and then a young woman answered with a cheery, "Summit Tactical Solutions. This is our after-hours line, do you have an emergency?"
Evie picked up her head, staring at me. "What are you doing?"
I ignored her and said, "I need to get through to Ghost. He's supposed to be here in two days, but we need him here, now. Evelyn was attacked here at the farm, despite security measures."
"Is the asset injured?" she asked brightly, like that wasn't a ghastly question.
"I've given her medical care and she's stable," I said tightly.
"Please hold, and I'll see if I can contact him. He is a contractor, so we may not be successful. Can I patch you through to Tabitha if that's the case?" the cheery voice asked.
I had to wonder what kind of woman took a job as a secretary for a bunch of… whatever these guys were. "Sure," I replied.
"Benjamin," Evie said, rearing back and hooking me with a look of censure. "I'm fine."
"You're not," I replied steadily. "And we've had too many close calls as it is."
Her forehead creased, and something like hurt crossed her features. "I see."
She didn't see. She didn't see inside of my conscience where guilt was at war with anguish, where my need to keep her safe was clashing painfully against my selfish desire to stay with her and keep her to myself. I hadn't realized just how deeply I was dreading Ghost's team coming here and taking over until I was directly facing it.
Now that I was, there was something oddly final about it. Like this had all been a dream full of wildflowers and honeybees, and when I woke up, I'd be in my real life again. Scheduled surgeries, empty relationships, filling the void with parties and events, and lying alone in my bedroom at night. A hollow ache began to spread from my chest to my stomach.
Ghost's voice asked, "What happened, Frost?"
Evie wouldn't look at me again. She slid out of my lap and brought her knees to her forehead, wrapping her arms around her shins. I swallowed. "Two assailants posed as grocery delivery men. I assume they stole the car and phone to match her delivery app." I looked at Evie to confirm, and she lifted her head, nodding. "I didn't find her until after they were gone. They sedated her—I suspect ketamine—and restrained her so they could take an intravenous sample."
"Is she injured?" Ghost asked. He didn't sound nearly as worried as I felt. There were obvious baby noises in the background, and a toddler shrieked loudly somewhere near him, so I assumed he was dad-ing with the phone on speaker.
"Not seriously. They were fast about it. Efficient," I said wryly.
