Garrett stepped out of reach, studying her unfocused eyes. “Is she in a trance?”
Emma tried to move forward and was instantly hindered by Dage grabbing her around the waist and putting her back against the far wall. She pushed at him but didn’t try again. “I don’t know, but you were right about the trigger.”
Dessie slammed herself against the bars, snarling, her hair flying in every direction. She grunted and tried to maneuver her small body between the bars but couldn’t come close. She shrieked and started kicking the bars.
“Damn it.” Garrett moved toward the door. “She’ll hurt herself.” Stepping inside the cell, he spun her around and banded an arm over her torso, trapping both of her arms. Then he lifted her up. “Stop it,” he commanded at her ear.
Her struggles increased, but she couldn’t cause any damage while he was holding her so close. She’d also stopped screaming now that he held her, but frustrated grunts rolled from her chest. He pivoted to face his aunt so she could see Dessie’s eyes. “Should we use a sedative, or do you think she’ll wind down?” There was no doubt in his mind that Dessie was out of hers.
Emma’s gaze was narrowed as she watched Dessie struggle uselessly against Garrett. “I’d hate to sedate her again. With that tumor in her head, I’d prefer to keep her conscious, if possible.”
Garrett settled his stance to better balance himself and held on to the human as she fought with everything she had. Without her brutal knife, she didn’t have a chance against him. “Dessie, it’s time to stop now.” He spoke against her ear, keeping his tone as calm as possible.
Her bucking and kicking back were impressive, but he kept her off the ground so she couldn’t find purchase. After almost thirty minutes, her movements slowed, and her head began to hang, but she kept trying to free herself, sobbing loudly now. Something in his chest hurt at the raw sound, but he shifted his weight to continue holding her aloft.
Then her sobs quieted.
He kissed her ear. “It’s okay. Just let yourself relax. It’s over, and you’re safe.” Risking the pain in his still-healing arm, he lifted his hand and smoothed her sweaty hair back from her face. Her struggles intensified for a second, and he wanted to turn her around to face him, but he couldn’t give an inch. “Knock it off, Des.” He met Emma’s worried gaze over Dessie’s head. “How long does an episode last, anyway?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Dessie’s body went limp.
“There we go.” Garrett moved toward the cot.
“No,” Emma said. “I need to see inside her head. Maybe the tumor has decreased again, or perhaps that just happens when she can actually stab you.” She gestured to the outside door. “Or the tumor activity isn’t related to her actions. Who knows? I don’t, but I want to find out.”
Garrett turned.
“I’ll take her.” Dage opened the door wider.
“I’ve got her.” Garrett flipped Destiny around and tossed her over his good shoulder, careful not to jostle her. He hadn’t had a choice earlier, but nothing else was going to hurt her on his watch. She mumbled against his lower back but didn’t kick out any longer. His head ached, and his arm hurt like bees were stinging him, but a fresh pain swept beneath his skin and tunneled deep into his gut as she let out another soft sob. Whoever had fucked with her brain was going to die, and it was going to take a long time for them to get there.
Emma looked at his expression and stumbled. “Whoa, Garrett—”
Dage grasped her arm and steadied her. “I’m with you, G.”
Garrett strode up the stairs, keeping a hand on Dessie’s legs in case she came back awake. She tried to kick out again, her movements feeble. “She’s not calming down,” he muttered. If she had time to rest, she might even attack again. “I think we’re going to need a sedative.”
Dage opened the door to the main medical facility, and Emma swept through.
“Let’s get her on the table for the scan, and I’ll give her a light sedative.” Emma hustled toward a counter in the far corner near a machine that was eons more developed than a PET scan.
Garrett laid Dessie on the soft mattress, careful to cushion her head. She thrashed back and forth, her hands coming up to strike him.
Emma smoothly injected the sedative into Dessie’s upper arm. The woman went limp with a soft sigh.
Dage reached for Velcro restraints beneath the mattress and gave Garrett a hard look when he started to object. His uncle was right. Garrett nodded and secured Dessie’s other arm and ankles, making sure the straps weren’t too tight.
Emma fetched a tablet from the counter and a screen came alive behind Dessie’s bed. “I need to access all of her earlier tests.”
Records began popping up on the screen, and an address caught Garrett’s attention. Then another. He straightened. “Em? Would you bring up a map of the medical facilities where Dessie sought help?”
Emma paused. “Sure.” She clicked buttons and a map came up with dots. “Huh.”
Garrett stiffened. “Well. That’s a nice straight line from her school to the diner in California. Where she met me.” So much for it being a coincidence. Fury caught him hard and squeezed his chest.
Dage studied the map. “Definitely a direct line. So she was herded toward you.” He looked down at the sleeping woman. “Or she knew what she was doing.”
