Chapter Forty-Seven
Eleanor paced as the medical team evaluated Wes, and his parents rushed to his side. Guilt riddled her—she should have insisted Wes stay back.
“You’re going to wear out the floor pacing like that,” Troy said.
“I’m so sorry. It’s my fault he collapsed.”Please don’t let him die,she prayed.
“You told him to be stubborn and stupid? Sweetheart, it’s the nature of the beast. Don’t you know we are invincible? Come, let’s sit outside. It’s a beautiful day.”
Eleanor followed Troy outside. A concrete table and chairs sat a short distance from the clinic’s doors and the counseling center. When she looked up at Troy, she immediately wanted to run.They’re going to fire me. I hurt Wes. They’ll send me away.
“We need to have a chat.” Troy pointed to a seat. Already at the table were Mike, Kip, Kyle, Zach, and both Ian and Kieran Chase.
“Hi, Eleanor. Thank you for joining us,” Ian said warmly.
“It’s hard to say no to Mr. Bremen.” Eleanor took a seat across from Ian and nibbled her knuckle. “This isn’t a social visit, is it?” Her heart raced.
“Sweetheart, you’re not in any trouble. We need your help,” Ian assured her.
She released the fear-inspired breath locked in her chest. Her brain began to function again. Inside, she felt like she was shaking like a leaf.
“My guess is the chemicals are buried in a well or tunnel below the kennel. And considering the, for lack of a better word, firepower at this table, you need my help to end this. Since my family appears to have violated the terms of their agreements with the Marshals, or just plain fell off the radar, I am the only way to bring them out. Or, rather, Belinda can bring them out. I guess being sick had some benefit. I lost a ton of weight.” Eleanor removed her hair from its braid, crunched it between her fingers, lowered her head and looked up.
A lascivious smile lit up her face, and she batted her eyes. “I’m Belinda West. Mr. Chase, it’s such a pleasure to meet a handsome man like you, and in this beautiful weather, you should loosen your tie, open that collar and live a little.” Eleanor leaned across the table and ruffled Ian’s hair.
Returning to her seat, she looked at the men around the table. “I will not let anyone I love or care deeply about be at risk again. At orientation, Wes and Troy both said we are family. Mr. Chase, that day at the FBI building, you said we are family. I wasn’t sure what it meant, considering my family experiences were warped. But watching all of you and seeing Wes’s parents and the horrible ache of almost losing him, I get it. What do you need from me?”
“Ellie, we will put together a plan and sit down to go through it,” Zach said.
“I need something from all of you.” She made contact with each man. “I have no intention of going anywhere, but if something happens, make sure Reed and Birdie know their momma loved them. Please make sure they are taken care of. And, lastly, make sure Wes knows I love him. Remind him it wasn’t his fault and take care of him.” Her voice was strong and sure. “This way, I’ll be able to rest in peace.”
Every operator had a letter on file of last wishes or what they wanted to say to loved ones. Ian extended his hand across the table. “Eleanor West, you are an incredible human being. I promise you will have no worries.”
Eleanor stood and walked back into the clinic, never looking back. Duncan Mulligan was at the nurse’s station writing a note when Eleanor strode toward him. “How is he?”
“Lucky he didn’t collapse on his head. He has no stamina. I’m going to let him go home on rest with short prescribed exercise periods with a PT at the fieldhouse. Protein shakes in addition to his regular meals. He can play with Reed and Birdie. Still no lifting, running, or other high-impact exercise. Therapeutic riding only with a mandatory helmet and a lift into the saddle.”
“Thank you.” Eleanor looked down.
“Ellie, you didn’t do this to him. Go walk him home,” Duncan said sternly.
Eleanor knocked on the door to his room and started to open it. Pete was with him, mid-lecture. “I’m warning you. You will kill yourself. Don’t make all those hours you prayed at Ellie’s bedside go to waste.”
Eleanor opened the door, acting like she didn’t hear Pete. “Hey you, Doc Mulligan said I could take you home. “Ready?”
“Sure am.” Wes reached out to shake Pete’s hand. “Thank you.” Pete nodded.
Eleanor walked Wes outside. He stopped as he saw the group sitting at the outside table. “Curly, we have to make a stop.” He walked toward the table. “Boss and Boss, good to see you. Have I missed anything?”
Ian stood. “We came down with Mom. She’s in the back room of the clinic going through inventory with Sam Baker. He apparently made some unexpected requests,” he said stiffly.
“That must have been a great car ride. All that bonding time.” Wes’s hazel eyes twinkled.
Eleanor pulled on his arm. “Please forgive Wes; he has to lie down, as per doctor’s orders.
As they walked away, she whispered, “Are you crazy? Kieran looked like he’d rip your head off for talking about his mom like that.”
Wes pulled her tight against him. “Remind me to tell you about Hurricane Lil. But now, I’m hungry.”
