They land in the garbage along with the rough, prison-issue white briefs. “Oh, Trev…” Dani skims her hands over my ribs, circling me and cataloging every bruise, every scrape and cut. “Come on. You’re still freezing.”
Until she said the words, I hadn’t noticed. But once I’m under the spray, I realize just how bad off I am. By the lack of steam in the room, the water’s not much above warm, but my hands and feet feel like they’re on fire, and I grit my teeth. Dani’s worried enough about me already, and I don’t know how to tell her about the past…however long it’s been.
The scent of soap gradually replaces the stench clinging to me, and I close my eyes and focus on the sensation of Dani’s hands on my skin.
“Hey, tough guy. You’re looking a little unsteady there. Put your arms around me,” she says softly, and when I do, she washes my hair. “You don’t have to tell me what happened unless you want to. But you do have to forgive yourself.”
I open my eyes to find her watching me, and I can’t hold it in any longer. “You almost died, Dani.” As soon as I say the words, I lose control, sobbing as I bury my face against her neck. “You never should have come for me.”
“I willalwayscome for you,” she says as her lips brush my ear. “Always. Because that’s what you do for the person youlove, Trevor. You show up. You fight. You don’t give up.” She’s crying now too. I can feel her shoulders shake, feel the shuddering breaths as she struggles to regain control. “I love you.”
Her admission shakes me to my core, but she doesn’t stop. She repeats it over and over again.
“I love you. I love you. I love you. You’re it for me, Trevor, and you always have been.”
My legs give out, and Dani sinks down to the floor with me, the water running over us as we hold on to one another. I want to say the words back to her, but I don’t know how.
* * *
She hasto help me dress, and I lean on her as we head for the main room with the rest of the team.
“For fuck’s sake, sit your ass down, Trevor,” Ryker says. “You look like shit.”
“Yeah, I’m going to give The Crypt a terrible Yelp review. Accommodations left a lot to be desired.”
Dani isn’t having any of my gallows humor, and frowns at me as she accepts a cup of coffee from Graham.
“Sorry, Danisaur.”
Ryker snorts. “Danisaur? That’s fucking perfect for her.” When Dani turns her icy stare on him, he arches a brow. “You’re the one who convinced Dax and Ford to send you on this mission. You’re a damn fierce woman, Dani.” Ry offers her his hand and, after a minute, Dani shakes it.
Ronan passes me an MRE, and the scent of brisket and cheesy potatoes makes my stomach growl. No one says much as we eat, and when I finish my first meal, Ronan’s right there with a second for me.
The coffee’s every bit as good as it was on the mission to Afghanistan to liberate Ripper, even without West here, and after an hour, the exhaustion has caught up with me. Otherwise, I feel almost human. Though the distance between me and Dani is growing by the minute. She picked at her food. Even gave me her dessert of grainy cappuccino pudding.
I want to take her back into the bedroom, shut the door, and demand she talk to me, but before I can get up, a ringing sounds from one of the four laptops set up on the coffee table across the room.
Ryker taps a few keys, and the screen flickers to life, showing Dax and Ford in Dax’s office.
“He’s there,” Ford tells Dax. “Looks like shit, but he’s alive.”
“Thank fuck,” Dax mutters. “Trevor, when you get back, we’re goin’ to have a little talk about why you never told us you grew up best friends with the head of JSOC.”
I gape at the screen. “I was arrested, extradited to Venezuela, and locked up in The Crypt. You had to finance a rescue mission, find people to risk their lives for me, andthat’swhat you have a problem with?”
Dax pulls off his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose. This ought to be good. He’s pissed at me, and I’d rather he just spit it out.
“Yeah. That’s what I have a problem with. We’re family, Trev. I don’t give a flying fuck what shit you got yourself into. Whatever it is, we’ll fix it. For you and Dani. That’s what we do. That’s whatfamilydoes. And I didn’t have to find people—”
“Dax, I got this,” Ry says. He turns to me, and flecks of gold flare in his multicolored eyes. “Listen up, Moana. Not likely you’ll ever hear me say this again.”
Ryker McCabe commands attention simply by existing. Looming in front of me with his hands on his hips, he’s scary as fuck. I push up with a groan so I can look him in the eyes.
“When we found out about Ripper, you didn’t hesitate. Didn’t think twice about going with us, risking your life to get our brother out of that shithole. Back in September when those two bastards were after him, you not only called in Pritchard, but you rounded up every single member of this family to be there to support him. I’ll never forget that.”
Graham snorts. “You never forget anything, Ry.”
Ryker gives the kid the side-eye and continues, “You’re family, Trevor. Whether you want to be or not. You and Dani. You’re stuck with us now. Dax didn’t have to find anyone to go on this mission. All he had to say was ‘Trev’s in trouble.’ If West and Inara hadn’t been unreachable, nothing would have kept them off that plane, and they’re both fucking pissed they couldn’t be here to help. Ford only stayed in Boston to work his contacts and smooth things over for your return. Family shows up. No matter what. Are we clear?”
