Page 10 of Wounded Hearts

Chapter 6

As he pulledinto the car park at Fortis Security, Drew felt a weight lift when he spotted Zack’s Range Rover and Dane’s BMW X7. Smithy had been quiet on the ride home, but Drew could still see the layer of sweat on his brow. Knowing someone was here who’d more experience with this sort of thing made him feel better.

Both Zack and Dane had suffered from PTSD in varying degrees. Zack from his time as a Taliban prisoner and Dane from losing his men. Neither had suffered in the same way Smithy now did. His trauma wasn’t just from things seen overseas in his role as an SAS operator but from what had been done to him by Rhea Winslow.

Blowing out a breath he looked in the rear-view mirror and saw Smithy had made no attempt to move. “Hang tight, buddy.” Drew exited the car slowly not wanting to startle his friend and cause him more pain. He approached Zack and Dane who stood just outside the front entrance, looking worried.

Zack stepped forward. “What happened?” His voice held the concern that his body didn’t show. Zack was a good leader and one who cared about his people.

Shrugging, Drew shook his head still not having a clue what had set his friend off. “I have no idea. One minute he was fine, the next he freaked out. Started lashing out at people and saying something about a woman. It was awful. He was completely out of it. Craig helped me get him to the car and called you.” Drew looked up as he saw movement behind Dane to see Lizzie just inside the door looking worried.

Dane followed his gaze. “She was with me when Zack called. She wanted to see if she could help as they went through much of this together.”

Zack strode to the car while Drew stayed with Dane. “You think she might be able to help?”

Dane looked back at his oldest sister again, a look of pain in his eyes for just a split second. Lizzie had been through so much at the hands of the Divine Watchers. More than any of them, and much of that had started with Smithy kidnapping her while under the influence of the mind-altering drugs Rhea had used on the men she’d forced into modern slavery.

“I don’t know, but she doesn’t blame him. He’s the one who can’t forgive himself. He hates himself for what he sees as his doing.”

“Umm, Drew.”

Something about Zack’s tone made Drew turn. Zack was staring inside the back of the car with a shocked look on his face, which was very un-Zack. Drew was moving before he knew it and felt Dane behind him peering inside to see what had caused his boss to react that way.

“What the hell?” Mara was in the rear footwell of his car in a tiny ball, her head on her bent knees and fast asleep. Immediately he softly opened the car door so he wouldn’t startle her. Drew crouched and moved a silky piece of hair from her face. “Mara, wake up beautiful.”

Her head rose slowly, and she blinked sleepy eyes at him that made him want to take her to bed so he could wake up to that beauty.

“Oh, I fell asleep.” She glanced around then up at the men surrounding her. Zack and Dane had stepped back, but Smithy watched her silently. Mara gave Smithy a gorgeous smile that had him catching his breath and it wasn’t even aimed at him.

“Thank you for not ratting me out.”

At Smithy’s answering nod, Drew realised he’d known she was there and hadn’t reacted to her presence. He opened his hand palm up to her. “Let’s get you inside.”

Mara uncurled herself and took the offered hand. She’d lost so much weight her collar bones protruded and her hands, once strong from her job as physio, were thin and fragile. Nothing, however, could take away from her beauty. He stepped back as she stepped awkwardly from the car, her long dress around her ankles.

He placed a hand on her hip to steady her and felt her flinch at the contact. His eyes immediately flashed to hers and he saw shame there before she masked it. He recognised that look, it was the fear and shame of a woman who’d been beaten by a man she should trust. Rage filled him and the urge to go back and beat Brayden Wells until he had the same look in his eyes almost overwhelmed him. He hid his fury, burying it where he could deal with it later and offered her a reassuring smile. Mara stood there for a moment looking unsure.

“I’m just going to talk with Smithy,” Zack said excusing himself.

Dane followed, placing a hand on Drew’s shoulder as he did. “Good to see you again, Mara,” he said, and she looked surprised that he remembered her. How did she not know she wasn’t an easy woman to forget?

“You, too.”

He and Mara watched as Zack, Dane, and Smithy walked inside. Lizzie moved forward, speaking to Dane in a low tone. Her eyes moved to him and she pinned him with a look he couldn’t read before they moved further into the building.

“Let’s go inside and get you warmed up.” As he spoke, he slipped off his suit jacket and draped it gently over her shoulders. It swamped her but at least she’d be warm.

Mara seemed to burrow under it as she pulled it closer around her and rubbed her face against the fabric. “Thank you.”

Together they walked inside, and he held the door as he showed her through to the kitchenette. He nodded to the glass table and chairs. “Take a seat and I’ll make us a cup of tea.”

“Still take sugar?” he asked as Mara sat, referring to her penchant for three sugars in her tea.

Her lips tipped slightly. “Yes.”

Drew made them both tea and placed a packet of chocolate Hobnobs in front of her.

“Thank you.”