Chapter 3 #2
“CIA. MI6. Interpol. Maybe Secret Service. I don’t know which one, but she’s definitely an operative. Not sure what kind. If she’s just an analyst or a field officer. But… See those marks behind her ear.”
Colt slid his glance sideways. Noted the series of lines barely visible along her hairline. “Yeah. Some kind of weird tattoo?” It was new. He’d memorized every inch of her, and she hadn’t had so much as a birthmark marring her smooth skin.
“It’s just speculation, but I’ve heard that some operatives have a sort of barcode put on them.
A way of accessing key information in an emergency.
I’m not exactly sure how it works—how she’d access it.
And I doubt it’s anything worth getting killed over.
Most likely a secure place she’s keeping passports.
Money. A couple of choice weapons. Just enough to get her to safety. Keep her alive for a while.”
“That sounds like something out of a damn movie.”
“There’s a bit of truth in all those spy films. Trust me.” She tilted her head, giving Ellis the once over. “I’m assuming since you guys know her, she’s on our side, right?”
“Ellis is a lot of things, but she isn’t a traitor.
” At least, he didn’t think she was. Ditching him because he was the son of a serial killer was one thing.
Understandable, even if she had been cold in how she’d ended it.
Changing her loyalties… That was an entirely different beast. And not something Colt would have thought she was capable of.
Jericho winced at his harsh tone. “I didn’t mean to imply… Like I said. This isn’t the time. I just thought her company might want to know she’s okay. It looks like she’s been missing a few days, based on how deep the marks are on her wrists and ankles.”
Cannon wrapped his arm around her. “We can worry about that after Ice lets us know how bad this is. If he can treat her, here.”
“As I’ve informed you all before, the hospital is always the best choice. But you damn fools keep getting yourselves involved in dangerous shit that makes that impossible.”
Colt looked up as Ice walked into the room, one huge black bag slung over his left shoulder.
Another smaller one in his other hand. His wife, Harlequin, followed behind him, carrying a cooler.
Most likely the blood Cannon had asked the guy to bring.
Which Ellis needed before she was beyond any kind of help.
Shit, Colt couldn’t think that way. Sure, he hadn’t seen her in five years.
Hadn’t gotten so much as a text or message from her since the letter.
Had spent most of that time cursing her, torn between wanting to strangle her and kiss her.
And in reality, he hadn’t really known if she was alive or dead, but…
He knew, now, and damn it, he wasn’t about to just stand there and let her die.
Because he’d thought about her constantly.
Had woken more nights than he wanted to admit longing for her—the remembered feel of her in his arms driving him crazy.
She might have walked away, but her memories had stayed—had planted freaking roots and flourished in her absence.
So, seeing her lying there, bleeding. Her chest barely rising with each labored rasp…
It messed with his head. Tightened his chest until it was all he could do to draw in air then push it out.
A hand landed on his shoulder, and he turned as Ice moved in beside him. The man nodded, then calmly took over. Hanging some blood. Starting an IV, then taking her vitals. Hell, he didn’t even look as if he was worried. As if his heart was racing or his hands were shaking.
Colt’s were. Not a lot. Maybe not even noticeable to his buddies, but Colt felt it.
The icy slide of fear down his spine. The cold beads of sweat along his skin.
How his heart pounded against his ribs, making his pulse throb inside his head.
All his years in the service, and he hadn’t ever felt this…
Christ, he didn’t even know what this was.
Fear? Dread? Love? A deadly combination of all three?
None of which made sense. Fear had been beaten out of him long before he’d made Delta Force.
And the only thing he’d ever dreaded was making a life beyond the Teams. Cannon had helped with that.
Sent Colt a Hail Mary when he’d realized he’d have to keep going after his buddies had called it quits.
That his unit wasn’t really his anymore. Wasn’t home. As for love…
He’d fancied himself in love once. With Ellis.
But, it hadn’t been real. Hadn’t stuck. And she’d jumped ship the moment she’d learned he had a checkered past. How had Cannon phrased it?
That she hadn’t truly cared if she’d let it deter her without so much as a conversation?
So, Colt wasn’t sure if he even knew what love was, other than a giant pain in his ass.
Ice grunted, taking a moment to focus on each of them as he ran a portable ultrasound along her side.
“I’m sure you noticed the bullet wound. I thought it might have something to do with those holes in your wall, but this one’s been bleeding for a while.
Thankfully, it ricocheted off a rib. She’ll hurt like a son of a bitch, but it won’t kill her.
Most of the other wounds are minimal. Except… ”
Colt froze. Fucking froze because “except” usually meant bad news. “Except what? What the hell aren’t you telling us?”
Ice snorted. “Easy, there Colt. Christ, you’re touchy today. Haven’t seen you this worked up since…”
His voice trailed off as he glanced at Ellis’ face. True, he’d met Ellis a few times, but… That had been years, ago. And only on a couple of furloughs. Or maybe when they’d been at the same compound. At a briefing for one of their joint ops. Surely, the man didn’t remember…
Ice narrowed his eyes, focusing back on her wounds as he continued to work.
“Something you should know about PJs. We never forget a face. Names don’t matter as much as faces.
Knowing if you’ve accounted for everyone in a photo you were shown once before leaving is crucial—ensures no one gets left behind.
And I’ve seen this girl before. With you, in fact.
So, remind me how close you were. What she means to you. ”
“Why? Will it change things?”
“Seriously, man? Cannon called me. That’s all I need to know. I’ll do everything within my power to keep her alive. Make her well. But I might be a bit gentler with details if she’s more than just a stranger knocking on the damn door.”
Shit. Gentle with details? That didn’t sound good.
Cannon moved in on the other side, holding Jericho’s hand.
“Her name’s Ellis Baker. She was Military Intelligence.
Had a knack for codes. For obtaining information and delivering it—going the extra mile and uncovering the kind of intel people thought they’d erased.
A hacker. Rumor had it she’d been transferred to some joint unit with DoD.
But we’re thinking it might not have been the Department of Defense she ended up at. ”
“Understood. She’s a fellow soldier. And her relationship with Colt?”
Cannon glanced at Colt, sighing. “They were…involved.”
Colt huffed. “What Cannon’s trying to say is, the woman ripped out my heart and left it to rot in the desert sun.”
Ice winced. “Ouch. Though, it sounds as if you might have some unresolved feelings for her. Like I said. You never get this worked up unless your heart’s involved.”
“I’ll deal. So, out with it. What aren’t you telling us?”
Ice grabbed a needle, threaded it. “Most of her injuries are pretty standard fare. I’m guessing she got shot when she made her escape. The bruises and cuts aren’t serious. But those spots on her ribs…”
Colt frowned. He hadn’t noticed any marks on her ribs. He leaned in. They weren’t all that obvious. A few raised blisters. “What about them?”
Ice looked at Cannon, exhaled, then turned to Colt.
“Looks like they used some form of shock treatment on her. Not sure what from, but those are electrical burns. Thankfully, they aren’t serious,” he added.
“The ultrasound isn’t showing any necrotic tissue.
Good news, since we’d definitely be heading for Harborview if they were any worse.
If it had caused extensive trauma beneath the skin.
But… I don’t need to be a genius to deduce she’s been tortured.
Someone wanted information. And they weren’t going to stop until they’d either gotten it or killed her. ”
Someone had shocked her? Put probes on her? Or used tasers? Possibly stun batons?
He’d kill them. Simple as that. Shove those damn probes up their asses.
Then, he’d get serious. It didn’t matter that he and Ellis weren’t together.
That she’d left him. He’d loved her—was pretty damn sure a part of him always would.
That she was seared into his DNA. So, it was only natural he’d want to see justice served, no matter the personal cost. It didn’t mean anything other than they obvious—that you couldn’t take the military out of the man.
“Easy, Colt.” Cannon’s hand on his shoulder. Squeezing. “We’ll figure this out, but getting worked up—”
“I’m not worked up. I’m motivated.”
“Either way, we need to get some answers before we go off hunting. Seeing how Ice didn’t haul her ass out of here the moment he saw her means she’s going to be fine.
Out of it for a while, but fine. Which in turn means, we’ll be able to ask her questions once she wakes up.
Until then, we’ll implement our other strategies.
I’ll take Jericho. Make it look as if we opted to take Ellis to the hospital. Hopefully buy ourselves some time.”
He turned to Six. “Six, based on how badly she was bleeding, I’m betting there’s a trail.
Wait for Midnight, then the two of you follow it as best you can.
In fact, take Rigs, too. And if Addison’s not out with Blade on a call, have Rigs bring him.
That mutt could be extremely useful. Chances are, whoever was after her will be executing a full-scale cleanup.
It’d be nice to know where they were holding her before all the evidence is gone.
But don’t engage unless challenged. This is strictly information gathering, for now. ”
He turned back, once again, focusing on Colt. “We’ll call in reinforcements. Whatever it takes to keep her safe until we know what we’re up against. I’m just asking for a bit of time. Okay?”
“Whatever you say, boss.” He stared directly into Cannon’s eyes. “Just understand this. Once we know who they are, I am going hunting. And I don’t plan on coming back until I’ve evened the score.”