Midnight Games: A Killer Instincts Novel (31 page)

Isabel raced after them, her legs so wobbly she was surprised she could make them work. But she refused to leave Trevor’s side. He was dying.

He was
dying
, and it was all her fault.

He’d taken that bullet to protect
her
.

Oh God. She was going to lose him. Just like she’d lost everyone else she’d ever cared about.

“Isabel, you have to let go,” Morgan snapped.

They were on the circular driveway now. The rear door of the sedan had flown open and the men were attempting to move Trevor into the backseat.

She wanted to tell them to hurry up, until she realized that the reason they couldn’t get him in the car was because she was clutching Trevor’s arm like a life preserver.

“Let go,” Sullivan said gently.

Swallowing, she unclenched her fingers from Trevor’s sleeve. “I won’t leave him,” she said in a quavering voice.

You were planning to
.

She ignored the accusatory voice and slid into the backseat, where Sullivan hovered over Trevor. Somehow the car started moving, but she couldn’t for the life of her pay attention to who was driving or where they were going. Her only focus, her only concern, was Trevor.

“He needs blood,” Sullivan said briskly. “How far is the hospital?”

“Ten minutes,” Morgan barked from the front seat.

“He might not have ten minutes.”

Sullivan’s response was spoken so softly Isabel knew he hadn’t intended for anyone to hear it. But she’d heard. God, she’d heard every word.

Her heart throbbed with agony as she looked at Trevor’s ashen face. His head was cradled in her lap, his hair damp, his forehead clammy and icy cold beneath her lips when she bent down to kiss it.

She looked up and glared at Sullivan. “Give him blood, then. Kane performed a blood transfusion on D in the fucking chopper back in Mexico. You can do it too.”

Sullivan’s features creased with regret. “We don’t have the right supplies.”

The Australian continued to apply pressure on Trevor’s abdomen, but the look on his face wasn’t encouraging.

Trevor’s shirt was no longer white. It was crimson, and his skin was so gray Isabel’s throat closed up to the point that no air could get in. She drew in a weak breath, then bent over and brought her lips close to Trevor’s ear.

“Don’t you dare die on me,” she whispered fiercely. “Do you hear me, Callaghan? You are not allowed to die on me.”

His eyelids twitched, and then those whiskey brown eyes were peering up at her. Glazed, slightly blank, but God, the mere sight of them sent relief shuddering through her.

When he spoke, it was in a hoarse croak. “Don’t . . . leave.”

She held him tighter. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

“No . . . you . . . you’ll use it as an excuse.” Each word seemed to take a toll on him. “You’ll say it’s your fault . . . me getting shot. Won’t let you.”

Her eyes burned from the tears. “No excuses,” she choked out. “You’re . . . you’re the only man, the only
person
, who’s ever really, truly seen me. I’ll never leave you, Trev.”

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, like he was trying to smile. “Love you.”

She swallowed the lump obstructing her throat and whispered in his ear again. “I love you, too.”

She knew the other men could hear every word being spoken in the backseat, but she didn’t care. She didn’t care about being vulnerable, or revealing the emotions she normally kept locked up. She didn’t care about anything or anyone but Trevor.

“Again.”

His wheezy command made her smile through her tears.

“I love you, too,” she repeated.

He gave the slightest of nods, and then he passed out.

Trevor woke up to find Isabel curled up on the chair next to his bed. Her cheek was resting on her palm, and her hair fell into her face, shielding her eyes from his view.

Groaning, he tried to sit up, but the streak of pain in his lower gut had him sagging back down.

The groan succeeded in waking up Isabel, who was on her feet and at his side in a heartbeat. “You’re awake,” she blurted out. “Oh, thank God. I’ll get the nurse!”

It took all his energy to grab her hand. “Wait.” His voice was so hoarse he felt like he’d smoked ten packs of cigarettes. “Don’t go.”

Her eyes softened. Blue. They were blue again. The familiar color caused a wave of peace to wash over him.

“Trev. I need to get the nurse,” she insisted.

“Not yet. Tell me what happened.”

“You got shot,” she said darkly.

“Yeah, I gathered that.” Another groan slid out. “Blanco?”

“Dead. Just like his father.”

Her matter-of-fact response brought a pang of satisfaction. He couldn’t remember what had gone down after that bullet connected with his flesh, but he did recall the bloodlust in Lorenzo’s eyes right before he’d pulled the trigger. The man had wanted to see Isabel dead. He’d
craved
it.

But Trevor had stopped him. He’d saved Isabel. He’d saved her, the way he hadn’t been able to save Gina.

“The Meiro mansion is crawling with cops,” she added. “But nobody’s come knocking on our door. Morgan and Sullivan are out in the waiting room, but everyone else is back at the White Sands. Noelle’s ready to bolt. She called a while ago and said she doesn’t want to spend one more second with Morgan or his men.”

He smiled faintly. “Should I feel insulted?”

“Nah. Trust me, you don’t want to spend time with her either. She’s mean.”

That garnered a laugh, but unfortunately, laughter and a bullet to the gut didn’t mesh well. As his stomach clenched with pain, Trevor breathed through his nose and tried to ward off his rising nausea.

“I need to get the nurse,” Isabel said firmly.

He tightened his grip on her hand. “Wait.” His tone was equally firm. “First I need you to tell me that I didn’t imagine it.”

“Imagine what?”

“You telling me you loved me. Telling me you’d never walk away from me again.” He met her eyes. “Did I imagine it?”

She went quiet for a moment and then a small smile lifted her lips.

“No, you didn’t.”

Warmth suffused his heart. “So if I let go of your hand, you’re just going to leave the room to find the nurse, right? You’ll find a nurse and come back, right?”

“I’ll come back.”

“Promise?”

Still smiling, she lowered her head and brushed her lips over his. “I promise.”

“Where will we live?”

Isabel snuggled close to Trevor, being careful not to jostle him. They were lying together in his hospital bed, despite the surgeon’s orders for him to get some sleep. But, of course, the stubborn man refused to heed the doctor’s command.

“Wherever we want,” Trevor said in response to her question.

“What will we do?”

He planted a kiss atop her head. “Keep working. Be together. Love each other. Get married.”

“That’s quite a list.” She hesitated. “Is that what you want, to get married?”

“Yes. Do you?”

“Yes. But only if you rock the proposal. No hot sauce spaghetti, thank you very much.”

He laughed, his arm tightening around her. “I’ll order takeout, I promise.” Now he was the one hesitating. “Do you want kids?”

Isabel thought about it for a moment. “Yes. I want kids.”

“Good. Me too.”

A little laugh slipped out. “Is it weird that we’re matter-of-factly going over these details? Like this is nothing more than a business arrangement?”

Trevor grabbed her hand and brought it underneath the thin blanket covering their lower bodies. “Trust me, there’s nothing businesslike about it. This is
all
pleasure, sweetheart.”

Heat rippled through her when she felt his heavy erection. His hospital johnny meant there was no barrier between her hand and that impressive cock, but Isabel found the strength to slide her hand out from under the blanket.

“You’re recovering from surgery,” she said sternly. “Sexual shenanigans are forbidden.”

“Says who? Hasn’t anyone ever told you that sex is the best medicine?”

She propped up on one elbow and kissed his cheek. “You’re two hours out of surgery, Trev. You’re not getting any action for at least twenty-four more.”

“You’re a sadist.” He shot her a crooked grin. “But I still love you.”

She still wasn’t used to hearing those three words come out of his mouth. And every time he said them, a part of her wanted to ask, why? Why did he love her? Why didn’t he care about all the baggage she brought to the table?

But she was making an effort to push those old insecurities aside. She’d meant every word she’d said in the back of that car—she wasn’t leaving him. Nope, not going anywhere.

Her worst fear had been realized when Trevor almost bled to death in her arms. She had a man who loved her. A strong, kind, incredible man who
loved
her, and she was going to be a coward about it? She was going to push that amazing man away because she was scared of getting hurt again?

Well, losing Trevor tonight would have hurt. It would have hurt more than anything.

Not having Trevor in her life, she’d discovered, was the most terrifying thing of all. And it was well within her power to avoid that scary fate—all she had to do was open her heart.

“Just so you know, I’m gonna try hard to stop being such an overprotective ass,” Trevor said, interrupting her thoughts.

She arched one eyebrow. “Really? Because it was beginning to seem like Caveman Trevor was here to stay.”

“Oh, he’ll definitely be making an appearance or two.” The humor in his eyes died. “This whole time . . . I’ve been freaking out, scared I was going to lose you. I hated knowing you were putting yourself in danger and that if something happened to you, I might not be able to save you. Same way I couldn’t save Gina.”

“Trev . . .”

“No, let me finish.” Shame filled his expression. “It was borderline disrespectful on my part, Iz. You don’t need me to save you, and you certainly don’t need me breathing down your neck during a job. You can protect yourself.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “You do realize I would’ve been shot if you hadn’t jumped in front of Lorenzo’s gun, right?”

“I know, and it would’ve killed me to see you lying in this bed instead of me, but I need to accept that your job can be just as dangerous as mine. And as I recall, you took a bullet for me in Bogotá, so if anything, I was simply repaying the favor.”

The sincerity ringing in his voice made her chest tighten with emotion.

“So, yeah,” he finished awkwardly, “I promise not to be such a controlling ass all the time.”

“Well, I promise not to be such a coward.”

“You could never be a coward. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, sweetheart.”

“And what am I?” came a sardonic voice. “Chopped liver?”

Their gazes moved to the doorway, where Noelle had appeared like an apparition. In her black leather pants, off-the-shoulder sweater, and knee-high boots, she marched into the room like she owned it. Isabel didn’t bother asking how Noelle had managed to get into the ICU when it was reserved only for family members.

“You? You’re the scariest woman I’ve ever met,” Trevor said drily. “How’s that?”

Noelle smirked. “It’s perfect.”

With a laugh, Isabel sat up. “You taking off now?” she asked her boss.

“Shortly. I came to remind Callaghan of the little deal we made back at the ranch.”

Isabel’s shoulders tensed, and she noticed Trevor’s jaw doing the same. No mistaking what Noelle meant. She was cashing in on the carte blanche favor she’d weaseled out of Trevor.

With wary brown eyes, Trevor slid to a sitting position. He winced as he got settled, a sight that infuriated Isabel. Damn Noelle for coming here and interrupting his recovery.

“So what do you want?” he asked darkly.

Noelle sauntered over to the foot of the bed and tapped her bloodred fingernails on the railing there. “I haven’t decided yet, but I’m sure something suitable will pop up in the future.”

Isabel saw Trevor’s eyes cloud over when the blonde did not elaborate.

“By the way,” Noelle went on, “I can’t say I approve of this blessed union, but clearly Isabel has made her choice and that choice is you, Callaghan. So I can either kill you, in which case I’d be losing one of my best operatives because Isabel would definitely quit—”

Isabel snorted. Quit? She’d claw Noelle’s black heart out if the woman went after Trevor.

“—or I can suck it up and let this happen,” Noelle concluded.

“How considerate of you,” Trevor said sarcastically.

“I thought so.” She smirked. “Isabel’s one of my mine—you understand what that means, right?”

He rolled his eyes. “It means if I hurt her, you know a hundred ways to kill a man, seven of which involve the testicles.”

Noelle was practically beaming. “He’s learning.” The blonde glanced at Isabel. “Oh, and feel free to take the Vermont chalet. You’ve always liked it. Callaghan grew up in the mountains, so he’ll like it too. And that way I’ll know where to find him.”

With that, Noelle turned on her heel and strolled out of the room.

“That woman fucking scares me,” Trevor remarked.

“Me too.”

“What did she mean, take the Vermont chalet?”

Isabel shook the cobwebs of disbelief from her head. “I think she just gave us her house in Vermont.”

“Are you serious?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. That’s sure as hell what it sounded like, though.”

She cuddled closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder as he stroked her hair. A comfortable silence settled between them, and it was several minutes before Trevor spoke again.

“I love you, Isabel,” he said thickly.

Her heart skipped a beat. “I love you too.”

“With that said . . . I don’t ever want to live in a house that belongs to Noelle.”

“I don’t know, Trev, it’s a really nice house . . .”

“Yeah, full of booby traps and cameras and little robots that pop out of the closets at night and murder you in your sleep.”

She burst out laughing. “Good point. So I guess that brings us back to the question that started this discussion . . . where will we live?”

“Wherever we want.”

“And what will we do again?” she teased.

His gorgeous eyes twinkled. “Keep working. Be together. Get married.”

She frowned at him. “You forgot the loving-each-other part.”

Trevor’s lips were warm as he brushed them over hers in a sweet kiss. “Trust me, sweetheart, I didn’t forget.”

•   •   •

“How cute. Could it be? Does the heartless killer actually have”—Jim Morgan offered a mock gasp as Noelle stepped out of Trevor’s room— “a
heart
?”

Setting her jaw, Noelle brushed past him and continued along the fluorescent-lit corridor. She couldn’t wait to get out of here. Hospitals were too damn bright. Always left her feeling far too exposed.

Jim fell into step with her. “You’re really not going to explain that grand gesture you just made to the happy couple?”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” she answered coolly. “And by the way, eavesdropping is punishable by death in some countries.”

She felt those blue eyes piercing her. Probing.

Gritting her teeth, she jammed the elevator button and waited. Ignored the man at her side.

“I got your message,” he said gruffly.

She stiffened.

“Wasn’t that a blast from the past.” He lowered his voice. “I didn’t think you remembered that number.”

Slowly, Noelle met his eyes. “Like I could ever forget.”

Neither of them spoke. Neither of them moved.

The elevator doors dinged open, breaking the spell.

Noelle strode into the car. She expected Jim to walk away and head back to Callaghan’s room, but he marched right into the elevator with her.

The doors closed.

“So listen . . .” He shifted awkwardly.

Noelle masked her surprise. It was incredibly rare to see Jim let down his guard this way.

“Thanks for stepping up when I was out of touch. For letting my crew use your safe house. I owe you one.”

“You certainly do.”

He chuckled. “When can I expect you to collect?”

“Whenever I damn well please.” She paused. Curiosity got the best of her. “Where were you, Jim?”

“The Himalayas.”

She frowned. “Why?”

“Why do you think, Noelle?”

It took her a moment to make sense of those pointed words. When understanding dawned, her hands trembled with rage. “You’re still looking for her.”

“I never fucking stopped.”

Bitterness whipped through her body like loose cables being flung around by the wind. She stared into his familiar blue eyes, saw the anger in them, the shared resentment, the spark of triumph.

“I hate you,” she whispered.

“Right back atcha, baby.”

Their eyes locked.

Noelle almost went for the knife in her boot.

The elevator had nearly reached the lobby.

“Except,” Jim continued with the smug cock of his head, “you don’t hate me at all, do you, baby? That’s just what you like to tell yourself.”

Her nostrils flared. “I—”

The doors opened with a chime.

Jim Morgan stalked out of the elevator and walked away.