Chapter Eleven
Minutes felt like hours as Riley lay in the dark. Her stomach growled, reminding her she had forgotten to eat this morning. Thankfully, no one entered the room, and she tried to count the minutes until her two hours were up and Stitch opened the door.
Using her good arm, she lifted herself up and dragged herself across the room. She gritted her teeth and breathed out her mouth to keep from screaming holy hell as her leg protested the slightest movement.
“Come on, ya big baby, you have to get prepared to protect yourself,” she chastised.
The bucket reeked in the air-tight room and the tiny room seemed to go for miles as she made her way to the opposite corner.
She almost laughed at herself for her own foolishness.
She deemed her arm broken and possibly her leg.
Her pants seemed uncomfortably tight, but she imagined her mind played tricks on her because she held her bladder for what seemed like forever.
Outside the door, she heard the sound of boots running and braced herself for the bright light.
It fell silent suddenly, which worried her even more.
She pressed on, holding her good arm out to locate the wall, feeling nothing.
She placed her hand on the floor and gritted her teeth as she scooted a bit further.
Pain shot up her leg like a lightning bolt, making her stop and pant.
The light flickered on, and she wished she remembered to drag the vomit-filled bucket to throw on the already foul-smelling man. The knob jiggled, and the door swung open.
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 brace the 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.
“It’ll take a few minutes and then she won’t feel anything,” Jameson instructed. “I’ll be hightailing our asses out of here, so brace yourself and her.”
Jameson jumped into the driver’s seat, and they took off. Garrett held Riley close as she fought the drugs. Sheer terror showed in her eyes.
“He only gave you a bit of morphine to help you until we can get you to the hospital. I won’t leave your side. Tara found me and told me about the bikers. We came to rescue you,” Garrett explained, hoping to ease her fears.
Riley no longer fought, and her muscles relaxed, giving in to the drug. Garrett concentrated on the landscape around them, searching for any signs of the bikers. “Where did the assholes go?” he asked.
“They’re at the gate. One has a phone out, making a call. I’m jamming the frequency. You’ll lose me for ten minutes. Keep your eyes out,” Matthew told him before everything went silent.
Garrett brushed the hair from Riley’s swollen cheek, feeling like an ass. He thought of her as a money-grabbing bitch like all the others, and she used it to save her sister. Then, sacrificed herself to ensure Tara got away.
They turned onto the main road when Matthew pulled out behind them. Julio and Rebecca led the way to the hospital. Instead of stopping at Ember’s Community Hospital, they continued on to two towns over. Rebecca jumped out and glanced in the back of the truck, seeing the battered Riley.
“All right, Garrett, listen to me. Keep your trap shut and do what I say. If not, you can pack your bags and leave tonight. I’ll take care of the woman. If you do as I say, you can stay.”
His chest expanded as he got ready to hurl a few swear words her way when Jameson came around the other side.
“Trust us. Rebecca knows what she’s doing,” he assured him.
Garrett watched as staff ran out with a gurney.
“I’m Rebecca Rhodes with the CIA. I have an injured witness in my custody, and she needs medical help. I’ll need to speak with your administrator to ensure we have your full cooperation.”
Staff went to work, gently moving Riley from his arms and onto the bed. Rebecca followed one of the staff members inside while Julio and Matthew took positions on either side of Riley. They led them back to a triage bay.
Garrett tried to insert himself between the curtains when Julio’s hand stopped him. “Let them do their job. Matthew already informed them about giving her the morphine. You can stand outside the curtain with me while Matthew makes other arrangements.”
Garrett glanced at the unconscious Riley and closed the curtain as they cut the clothes from her body. He listened as they worked on her.
“She suffered a concussion yesterday,” he said, recalling they may not have the information.
“Matthew has given her medical records and redacted her name to Jane Doe. They know about it,” Julio informed him.
He sighed in relief. This team seemed to have it together within minutes. The more he worked with them, the better he liked them.
“Do we need a rape kit?” the nurse asked. Garrett tensed as Jameson sent him a sorrowful glance.
“We need her permission first. She has bruises along her ribcage and swelling in her leg and arm. Let’s get a CT for any internal injuries and see what we’re dealing with,” the doctor said before leaving the room.
A few minutes later, two people appeared to take her to the X-ray department. Garrett followed them down the hallway with Jameson until they reached the double doors, which indicated they must stop.
Rebecca approached the two men. “Garrett, I need you to go to the store. Riley will need some clothes to slip on and off. Jameson will go with you. Julio and I will stay with Riley,” she said gently.
“Why don’t you pick it out and I stay here,” he suggested firmly. “She doesn’t know you.”
“She knows Matthew. He and Rachel went to the ranch to pick up Tara. Riley will need you to remain calm, and anyone can see you’re on edge.
I’ll keep you posted on her condition. I texted her size to you.
Get her something comfortable like sundresses, nightgowns and such.
Her leg and arm will be swollen for some time.
She doesn’t need to deal with wrestling with clothes.
Pick up some things for Tara, too. Rachel sent you a list,” Rebecca said, pushing him toward the entrance.