Noni swallowed. “Is it?”
“Hell yes, it is,” he said quietly. “Keep talking. Was there anybody else with her?”
Noni blinked and tried to remember. “There was a soldier and I guess pilots. Um, I can’t remember much after she shot me full of stuff. Some weird drug. Everything turned sparkly.”
“Did she ask questions?”
“I think so.” Noni reached up and rubbed her aching eyes. “I think she did.” It was all such a bewildering blur. “I think she asked about Ryker and Heath?” None of it was coming back. “Maybe something about Franny being in Montana?” God, had she told Madison where everybody was? “We have to warn them.” She tried to move again, but her body just wouldn’t cooperate.
Denver continued rubbing feeling into her arms, his movements gentle. “My brothers are here at the cabin, so even if you told her about South Dakota, it doesn’t matter. Nobody is there.”
Noni’s breath caught. “What about Zara, and, um . . .”
“Anya,” he murmured. “They’re here as well. Everybody is safe.”
She tried to focus again. It was like a blanket across her brain. Nothing. “What about Montana?”
“They’ve been given a heads up,” Denver said, his lips near her ear. “Everyone is safe there. Not only do they have land mines and missiles, they also have escape routes that are undetectable.”
Wow. That was a little crazy. She took a deep breath, surprised that even her throat felt cold. “I can’t remember what I told Madison.”
“All right. At what point did she untie you from the chair?” he asked, his tone soft and soothing.
Noni shook her head. “No. That’s not right.” It’s like the entire night was one dark pit in her head. “She left me, and I rolled over to the letter opener.” She coughed, her brain fuzzing. “I think I ran out trying to follow the plane.” God, she felt stupid. “I was so out of it.” Her chest felt like it was trapped in a vise. “Denver.” His name came out on a sob.
He turned her, pressing her face into his neck and rubbing his broad hand down her back. “Let it out, baby.”
She couldn’t help it. While she wanted to be tough, she needed this moment. The tears started and wouldn’t stop. She cried for Talia, for fear, for everyone being hunted by Madison and Cobb. She cried because she and Denver might not win.
She was cold and scared, and her daughter was lost.
In the end, she just cried.
CHAPTER
30
Denver let himself out of the bedroom quietly, noting the snow billowing around outside in the cloudy daylight. His brothers used twin laptops, typing and reading the screens while sitting on the sofa, legs extended, in front of the crackling fire.
Ryker looked up first, his bluish green eyes weary. “How is she?”
“Terrible but asleep,” Denver said, moving to the fresh pot of coffee on the counter. His body still felt like it had gone through a cement mixer, and his heart hurt. There was no other way to describe it. “I’m pretty sure she told Madison about South Dakota, so we need to scrub that place.”
“Already did,” Heath said, tilting his head toward his screen. “Fried the entire security system and then changed all ownership documents. There’s going to be a house fire in about an hour. Had to hire local muscle, but they don’t know who we are, and they’ll get out of there soon.”
Ryker rubbed his hands down his face. “I liked that house. Too bad we have to burn it.”
Denver poured himself a large mug of the thick brew. “There will be an investigation.”
Heath shook his head. “These guys know what they’re doing. It’ll look like an accident. Faulty wires in the garage next to paint cans. And paint remover.”
Denver took a big drink and grimaced at the strong taste. Ryker enjoyed his coffee in a jet-fuel type of way. “I can tell Ry made the coffee.”
Heath grimaced. “No shit.”
Denver took another big gulp, over the rim of his cup watching his brothers watch him. “What?”
“You okay?” Heath asked, his greenish brown gaze narrowing. “You can’t be.”
