Not bothering to answer, Dan made his way over to them. Stopping in front of Eden, he frowned. “You okay?”
Eden didn’t answer yes, because she refused to lie. Instead she responded with, “I-I will be.”
Surprisingly, given the circumstances, the powerful man smiled. “Yes.” He nodded. “I believe you will be.”
After calling Sergeant Murphy and Garrett to explain what happened, Murphy instructed Alex to get her out of there. He told Alex they’d stay back and wait for the other authorities to arrive, and Eden was more than happy to go along with that plan.
About five minutes into the walk, a wave of dizziness hit Eden, causing her to sway.
“Whoa.” Alex wrapped his arm around her just before her knees gave out.
“I’m…fine.” Okay, even to her that sounded weak.
With a muttered curse, he bent down and lifted her into his arms. Holding her tightly against his chest, Alex carried her like that the entire rest of the way to the chopper. Eden didn’t even have the strength to argue.
“Guess it’s all just…c-catching up…to m-me.”
The sweet man squeezed her a little tighter. “We’re almost there.”
Swirls of grey and black began floating through her mind. “Alex?”
“Yeah?”
Eden rested her cheek on his chest. “Need you to…c-calm your…thoughts. P-please.”
“Shit.” His troubled voice rumbled. “Sorry.”
“Want me to carry her?” Dan offered from a few feet ahead.
“No,” Alex shot back. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Almost instantly, the greys became muted. Lighter. “I’ve got her.”
Though he was trying his best to not be angry, it was impossible to shut it down completely. Every few steps, Eden would sense a flash of his fear. His fury.
By the time they got to the clearing where the helicopter was waiting, she was spent.
Dan got in first, taking her just long enough for Alex to climb inside. As soon as he sat down, Dan transferred her back to Alex’s arms.
Spotting the empty seat next to them, she said, “There’s p-plenty of…room. You d-don’t have to…hold me.”
“Yes, I do.” His response was definite.
Eden could feel Alex fighting to control his thoughts and emotions. He held back pretty well, for the most part. But no matter how hard he tried, some things still slipped through.
As they flew across the night sky, small snips of moments combined to form full scenes. Images of Alex and the others at the station came first.
In one of the frames, Eden saw two women she’d never met before. The one with auburn hair sat next to Dan, holding his hand. Eden guessed it was Mia, Dan’s wife.
Sitting across from them was a pretty blonde with green eyes. She had her eyes closed and was scribbling a picture on a sketchpad. When Eden saw what it was, she gasped.
“Those women,” she whispered up to Alex. “They helped you…find me.”
“Yes.”
Eden settled against the warmth of his embrace and closed her eyes. “Remind me to…thank them.”
Alex kissed the top of her head before resting his cheek there. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
A barrage of emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Alex’s guilt and self-hatred were at the forefront.
