Garrett stepped into the small space, and Riley’s mouth dropped as he scanned the room, ready to attack. His eyes drifted to hers, and they widened at the sight of her. He knelt beside her as his fingers gently probed her upper cheek and eye.
She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and cry in relief. Red flags waved in her head. How did Garrett know where to find her? Was he part of the biker gang? She didn’t know, but the sight of a familiar face caused her to whimper in relief.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Garrett whispered as he took in her injuries. When he saw her arm and glanced down at her leg, his face turned a mottled red. Riley’s gaze drifted down her body to see what caused his expression to find her leg swollen.
“Riley, I have to pick you up. I need you to stay quiet. Can you do it?” he asked.
She nodded as his arms went under her butt and behind her back. She groaned at the slight movement, dreading when he lifted her.
“On the count of three, I’m picking you up,” he instructed. “One, two, three.”
Riley clamped her mouth shut and turned her mouth into his broad shoulders to keep from screaming bloody murder. Her good arm clamped around his neck to bracethe jarring moments as he spoke to himself as if he were a spy.
“Phoenix and Hummingbird, I have the package. Leaving out the back door. She has several injuries and needs a hospital.”
Riley weakly protested, and he gently shushed her as he entered the hallway. She pressed her head into his neck as he moved silently through the den. The smell of leather and spice calmed her as the back door entrance opened and another man appeared.
“Shit, they roughed her up bad,” Jameson said, letting out a low whistle. “We need a medical evac.”
“No can do.They’ll wonder why a helo landed in the middle of nowhere. We’ll put her in the back of the truck and get her to an ER,” Julio said into the coms.
Garrett glanced down at Riley, feeling guilty about thinking badly of her for taking his money. She only tried to save her sister. The woman sported bruises from her head to her toes.
“Do we have any pain meds? Can we hit her with the tranquilizer? She’s in a lot of pain,” Garrett asked, noticing every step he took caused her to wince and cringe.
“We have a medical kit,” Hummingbird assured him. “We’ll assess her as we leave the area. Watch your six and get her back here.”
Riley glared at him. “If you try to hit me with anything, I’ll press charges. I don’t know who you are, but I’ve known you for two days, and nothing good has come out of it. Leave me the hell alone.”
Jameson chuckled. “See? What did I tell you? She’s already dumped your ass.”
“She’s not mine,” Garrett said as he crossed the cornfield.
“Of course, I’m not yours. Do you have voices living in your head? Who the hell are you talking to?” she demanded as he rushed toward a vehicle while the other man covered them.
“Phoenix, we’re at the landing site. Prepare to fly in five,” Jameson said into the coms as he let the tailgate down.
“Both of you are certifiably insane. I’m not flying anywhere,” Riley struggled in Garrett’s arms.
“Easy, Riley,” Garrett growled at her, but it came off as a soft demand.
“You’ll have to hold her while I climb up,” Garrett said to Jameson. “Watch her arm and leg.”
“No, don’t,” Riley said, anchoring her arm tighter around his neck.
Jameson ran to the back of the truck and came back with a needle in his mouth and an alcohol swab.
“Do you know if you're allergic to anything?” he asked.
“No, but you're not giving me drugs. I don’t know who the hell you are. He hit me with his truck, and I’ve gotten beaten up because of him. There’s no way I’m?—”
Jameson ignored her while he swiped her good leg and stabbed the needle in, making her whimper.
“It’s all right,” Garrett assured her. “It’ll help with the pain.”
“Be advised, you have two assholes headed your way,” Matthew warned them. “Shall I delay them?”
Garrett passed Riley to Jameson, and she cried out. He jumped inside the truck, and Jameson handed her back like a sack of potatoes.
