Chapter 27
27
CAS
D ried blood, patches of fur, and streaks of mud coated the expanse of my chest and up both arms. The heaviness of Benny’s dead weight triggered long-buried memories. Each step with him in my arms was almost too painful to endure. All I could do in the grueling five-minute sprint back to the cabin as I ducked and weaved through the trees and rocks was relate his weight to that of a dead soldier, a dead friend.
Those were the painful, ugly wounds I kept locked away, hidden from those who would see it as a weakness. Alone, I was stronger. Alone, I was free. And the sadness draining my heart due to the gravely injured dog in my arms was a rude reminder of what happened when I got too close.
After racing through town I screeched the Suburban into the parking lot of a twenty-four-hour vet hospital, barreled through the double doors with Benny in my arms. I didn’t say a single word. I couldn’t. The woman behind the desk did a wide-eyed double take before springing into action, yelling at doctors and me to hurry back. Loss engulfed me as his limp body slid from my arms onto the operating table. Staring down, I gave myself five seconds to mourn the dog who didn’t deserve the pain he was in. Four seconds—I allowed tears to well as my heart clenched for the woman who could potentially lose her best friend. Three seconds—I let one tear slip through. Two seconds—bending forward, I brushed the thick fur of Benny’s neck, silently vowing to protect her with my life until he could once again. One second—one last pat on the head, one final goodbye before someone tugged me away. Nurses and doctors huddled around him, not paying me any attention now that they had him.
I left my number, credit card information, and specific instructions on evidence I wanted collected from Benny with the wide-eyed receptionist. Following her gaze, I winced at my still-bare chest. With a final reminder to call me with any updates, I pushed through the heavy metal doors and climbed back into the SUV, desperate to get back to my Lady.
At the cabin, I paused at the first porch step to roll both shoulders, hoping to ease the painful tension in my aching muscles. Eyes closed, I mentally prepared myself for what needed to happen next. Seeing her in shambles earlier shredded a piece of my heart I didn’t even know existed, and it hurt like I never imagined emotional pain could cause. But I had to go in there. I had to take care of my Lady, even if I would rather die than see her in agony again.
A pang of dread reverberated through my core with each step toward the door.
I was a fucking marine, yet I was terrified to walk into a cabin with zero hostiles, all because seeing the woman I loved in pain had the potential to kill me faster than ten automatic rifles pointed at my chest.
The door creaked faintly as I pushed it open wide with two fingers.
Stealing whatever bit of courage I could muster, I stepped into the cabin.
Chandler’s laser-focused eyes were sad and red-rimmed. Slowly, he lowered the 9mm, allowing it to rest beside him on the couch. Still in his arms, tucked against his chest, Alta blinked at the ceiling without a single response as I moved closer.
“She can’t stay here tonight,” I said, grimacing at her blood-streaked face.
Chandler nodded.
“I’ll get her cleaned up. You pack her a bag,” I nodded back in the direction of her room. “We need to get someone from the crime lab to the animal hospital.” Just hearing it made a low sob bubble from Alta’s throat. Clearing my own, I looked over Chandler’s shoulder to focus out the back windows. “Even if that dog were on his last breath, he would’ve fought back. I bet my life and yours that there’s evidence on him. Saving him comes first, then evidence.”
Again Chandler stayed quiet, nodding as I spoke, telling me he heard it all.
Shaking out the numbness in both hands, I reached out and tucked them under Alta’s shoulders and legs. Mixed feelings of relief and trepidation swept through me as I curled her body to my chest.
Shit, she was cold.
My lips pursed at the sight of her blue-rimmed lips and glassy eyes. Shit, shit, shit. Storming to the bathroom, I gently sat her on top of the counter. I steadied Alta with one hand so she didn’t fall while I fumbled blindly behind the shower curtain with the other, turning the faucet all the way hot.
Within seconds, steam billowed through the room.
“I have to get these clothes off you,” I whispered, running a hand down her tangled hair. Blood coated her pretty red sweater and the small patch of exposed pale skin that had tempted me all night. “We need to get you warm.” And clean, but preventing hypothermia was the most important.
Taking her nonresponse as permission, I tugged the sweater off while somehow managing to keep her upright on the counter. The jeans proved challenging, but I managed to get those, her socks and boots off without incident. With a flick of my fingers, her bra fell to the ground, adding to the pile of clothes.
“Alta.” I held her chin and tilted so her glassy gaze met mine. “I’m going to put you in the shower, okay? It might sting at first since you’re so cold, but we have to get you warm.”
The hot water pricked my numb fingers, sending jolts of pain through them as I lowered her into the tub. Angling the shower head for the water to rinse the dried blood and dirt off her arms and chest, I rinsed my hands too. She was still unresponsive, so I shifted through the stupid amount of half-empty bottles along the tub in search for shampoo.
With a muttered curse, I gave up reading the tiny labels and snagged a bottle of something that looked like shampoo, squirting a massive amount into my palm. Gentler than I ever thought I could be, I massaged the soap into her scalp and pulled it down to the tips of her hair. Twigs and leaves floated along the bottom of the tub as I rinsed out the thick suds.
I made quick work of cleaning her face, neck, and chest before tackling her blood-caked hands.
“You gotta be fucking kidding me,” I muttered under my breath as I scrubbed and rewashed beneath her fingernails to remove the last bits of Benny’s blood.
The color in her cheeks returned, as did the pretty pink tint of her lips as I rinsed her one more time to make sure all evidence of the night was washed down the drain.
The shower handle squeaked as I shut it off.
“I need you to stand up so I can dry you off,” I whispered against her wet ears. “I can’t do this without your help.”
Her faint nod was all the acknowledgment she gave before leaning forward and using the sides of the tub as leverage to help her stand. Easing her out, I wrapped a large multicolored towel around her shoulders. With another, I kneeled at her feet to wipe up the streams of water still pouring off her onto the wet floor.
Steam billowed from the bathroom as we stepped out into the small hallway. Chandler wisely kept his eyes on his cell phone as we shuffled toward her room.
“Everything all set?”
“Just waiting for you two,” he said with a sigh. “Working on the evidence piece now.”
Less than five minutes later, I had her dressed in some old sweat pants I found in a bottom drawer and my marine’s sweatshirt that was discarded on the floor.
Alta in my arms, I marched out of the cabin with Chandler at my side, gun at the ready. Neither of us relaxed until we were situated in the Suburban with the doors locked. It was a false sense of security, but it was better than being in the cabin, where the asshat had already proved he could break in and do whatever the hell he wanted.
I needed to tell her about the note we had found inside, but not now. Hell, she wouldn’t even remember it right now. Still not a single word. And who could blame her? Fuck, I was traumatized, and I’d known the dog only a little over a week.
Curled against my chest, Alta shifted to taking deep and even breaths halfway to our cabin.
“She fell asleep,” I murmured to Chandler as we pulled to a stop.
“That’s good. It’s been a hell of a day for her,” he said, sounding just as exhausted. “I feel like a complete fuckup that I haven’t caught this guy yet, for her sake.”
“It’s not your fault,” I sighed, tugging her closer. “This guy is so fucking evasive, but we’ll get him. I’m willing to bet my left nut that Benny scored us some blood evidence of some kind.”
“I’ve never seen you like this, so connected.” Back against the driver door, he watched me watch her. “Not many women can put up with our level of issues.” His eyes shifted to look out the windshield. “I think it’d be nice to find someone who knew how fucked up you were but wanted you just the same. And after getting to know that one in your arms, I don’t think it has anything to do with her past. It’s just her. She’s so na?ve, so innocent that she only sees the good in us.”
“Yeah.” Careful not to wake her, I brushed a lock of strawberry-blonde hair from her forehead. “Nothing can happen to her.”
“Nothing will happen to her.”
“I still don’t trust myself sleeping with her, but I don’t want her to wake up alone.” Defeated, I hung my head. “Will you?— “
“No sweat, man.”
“With your clothes on,” I added through gritted teeth. Fucking hell, this was torture.
“With my damn clothes on and hers,” Chandler chuckled. “Like I would risk getting on your bad side.”
Both brows rose high on my forehead. “You would, and we both know it.”
“Where’s the fun in being predictable.”
“I’ll kill you if you touch her.”
“Is that a bet?” he said with a face-splitting grin.
Narrowing my eyes, I shook my head. “No, motherfucker. It’s a promise.”