Safe at Last (Slow Burn #3) (35 page)

“Gracie says to question them all and not spend too much time on each one. She said that when you questioned the first one, he immediately thought of where the others were and how many. If we can get that kind of information from all of them, we can take them out for good.”

Dane’s sharp gaze flew to Gracie. It seemed to soften and admiration was reflected in his eyes.

“Are you sure this isn’t too much for you?” Dane asked quietly. “You should be getting to the hospital right now. You’ll need stitches. A lot of them,” he added wryly.

Gracie shook her head. “This is important. They’ll never talk. But they don’t know what I can do.”

Dane merely gave a nod and then stalked back over, pulling Isaac, Capshaw and Caleb away. After only a few seconds of conversing, they left the first guy entirely and moved on to the second, asking him the same questions. Each time Dane would glance at Gracie and she’d give a nod to let him know she’d picked up information.

The longer it went on, the more worried Zack became. Gracie was growing visibly weaker and she was completely pale. She didn’t even have the strength to hold herself up and so Zack slid his arms around her, anchoring her against his frame, careful not to cause her further injury by aggravating her wound.

His jaw was tight and pained from clenching his teeth so tightly. It was all he could do not to haul Gracie out of there that instant and get her to the hospital. But she soldiered on, focusing her efforts on each of the men being questioned.

As she’d said, no one talked. They sneered arrogantly at each question and told Dane to fuck off. Dane was barely keeping it together. The tension was explosive and it looked as though the team leader was precariously close to taking out each and every one of them.

When the last man was questioned, Dane strode back to Gracie and then hunkered down so he could look her in the eye. He took one of her hands and gently held it, his expression gentle.

“Tell me, Gracie. Can you identify these men? Are they the same men who took you and beat you?”

She swallowed hard but slowly nodded. “I remember them,” she whispered.

Dane looked almost . . . disappointed. He sighed, resignation lining his face.

“I’d prefer to just kill them,” he said bluntly. “God knows it’s what they deserve. But if you and Lizzie can both identify them, then we have an airtight case against them. And we have the others to go after now. Were you able to get enough information? Can you tell us enough to find them?” he asked Gracie.

Again she nodded.

And then Dane was all business again. He stood and barked orders to call it in to Ramirez and Briggs. Two ambulances were called, though Gracie insisted that Eliza be the first to go.

Gracie kept gazing anxiously in Eliza’s direction, worry etched in every facet of her face. In response to her silent question, Zack gathered her more closely in his arms and gently lifted her and carried her over to where Eliza was being tended to.

When Gracie saw that Eliza was conscious, she lost it. Tears streamed down her face and she struggled from Zack’s hold and wrapped her arms around the other woman.

“Thank God,” Gracie said brokenly. “Thank God. I was so afraid we were too late.”

Eliza held on to Gracie for a long moment, tears glimmering in her own eyes. Then she carefully pulled away, also mindful of Gracie’s injury, and she looked solemnly into Gracie’s eyes.

“I understand I have you to thank.”

Gracie shook her head vehemently. “No. It was Ramie who was able to find you. And Ari . . .” Gracie swiveled and waved her hand at the captive men in various places on the floor. “Ari did the rest.”

Dane snorted. And then he sent pained looks in Caleb’s, Beau’s and Zack’s directions.

“It would appear we have three Valkyries hell-bent on saving our asses at every turn.”

Eliza grinned. “Is this where I say ‘yay girl power’?”

Ramie pressed forward, though she was careful not to touch Eliza. Once had been enough for Ramie to endure Eliza’s torture. She wasn’t eager to repeat the experience.

“Are you truly all right, Eliza?” Ramie asked anxiously.

Eliza’s entire face warmed as she glanced between Ramie and Gracie. “Thanks to very dear friends—
girlfriends
—yes, I’m fine. Can’t say I won’t have nightmares after this, but give me a few days and I’ll be back on the job.”

Then she glanced fiercely at Dane as if daring him to refuse.

“I want in on the takedown, Dane.”

Dane’s jaw clenched as though it were the very last thing he wanted to allow, but he nodded tightly. “Of course. But only after you’ve had a few days to heal. It will take that time to coordinate a takedown of this size. They have no reason to suspect we know where they’re hiding. They believe they’re invincible and impervious to any danger.”

“That’s where they’re wrong,” Zack said darkly.

“Are you all fucking crazy?” Wade roared.

Gracie jumped, startled by the outburst. Eliza turned warily to look at Wade, who up to a few moments ago had been cradling her in his arms against his chest. But of course as soon as Eliza had felt steady enough she’d put up one hell of a fight and demanded Wade put her down. Eliza wouldn’t take kindly to appearing weak in front of her team. Even if that was the very last thing any of them would ever think about such a fierce woman.

Wade was seething in anger and he shook his head back and forth, harsh expletives muttered under his breath the entire time. But it was Eliza he directed his fury at.

“You were just goddamn tortured. They
waterboarded
you. You’re in no condition to mount a full-scale assault on this organization. What the fuck are you thinking? You should be in the goddamn hospital, for Christ’s sake!”

Eliza smiled. “That’s the way I roll, I guess.”

“You need a fucking keeper,” Wade muttered. “Someone with more sense than you so he can keep you out of trouble.”

Eliza snorted. “I’d like to see a man try it.”

Wade’s eyes glittered at the challenge in Eliza’s voice and he stared her down but Eliza didn’t budge one inch. Defiance was bright in her eyes but so was anger and rage. Zack could well understand Eliza’s need for revenge. It was a bitter, all-consuming taste in his mouth as well. He wanted these assholes to pay for every single woman important to DSS who’d been hurt by complete cowardice.

Eliza glanced at the group around her as though searching for someone. Fear and concern furrowed her brow.

“Ari? Where is Ari? Is she all right?” Eliza asked in a panicked tone.

“She’s fine, Lizzie,” Dane soothed. “Beau is seeing to her now. It was hard on her. It always is. But she seems to be recovering more quickly this time.”

Eliza sagged in relief. She hugged herself tightly as though she were cold. Wade slipped his arms around her from behind and pulled her against him so she’d absorb his body heat. She acted as though she didn’t even notice.

She closed her eyes wearily. “I’d never want my freedom at the cost of one of your lives. I couldn’t bear it.”

“Too fucking bad,” Dane said rudely. “You risk your life for us all the goddamn time. So suck it up and deal when we do the same for you.”

Eliza smiled ruefully. “Okay, boss man.”

Then she frowned as if only just realizing that Wade was surrounding her, his arms wrapped tightly, trapping her against his body. She immediately shoved away, putting distance between them, and she scowled her displeasure at Wade.

In the distance the wail of multiple sirens sounded. Dane tensed and glanced back at the contained prisoners.

“Fuck, this is going to be a long goddamn night,” Dane grumbled. “I hate paperwork and dealing with cops, even if they’re on our side. I just hope to hell no reporters show up.”

THIRTY-THREE

ANNA-GRACE
lay on her side on the stretcher in the emergency room, half dozing, fuzzy from the pain medication. She wasn’t complaining, though, because her wound required a lot of stitches and she was glad for the most part she’d been completely oblivious to what was going on.

It wasn’t hurting, a fact she was thankful for. Because when the adrenaline had worn off in the aftermath of Eliza’s rescue, the pain had screamed through her back, catching her completely off guard. She’d nearly hyperventilated on the way to the hospital, until the paramedic administered oxygen and then very nicely injected morphine into her IV.

The rest of the ride was a warm, fuzzy haze, her only memory arriving at the hospital and Zack’s head appearing above hers when they unloaded her stretcher from the ambulance. He’d been grim and worried and lines of strain were evident in his face.

She’d given him a goofy smile and said, “Don’t be sad, Zack. I’m a Valkyrie.”

She nearly groaned as that memory came back to her. God, could she have been any more ridiculous? And apparently she hadn’t been particularly quiet with her declaration because she’d heard laughter from several different sources.

Despite not minding the state between awake and sleeping, she forced her eyelids open and saw Zack slumped in a chair right next to the head of her bed. Her arm was outstretched and his hand was curled around hers through the bars of the bed rail.

She studied their clasped hands a moment, pondering how right it felt. As though they hadn’t spent the last twelve years apart.

As if sensing her silent perusal, his eyes opened and then he became more alert, leaning forward so his face was closer to hers. With his free hand he smoothed his palm over her cheek, so much love and concern in his eyes that for a moment she couldn’t breathe.

This was not the look of a man who’d brutally betrayed her.

And so she had to ask. Because she had to know. It was suddenly the most important thing in the world to her.

“Zack?” she said softly.

“Yes, baby, I’m here. Are you all right? Are you hurting?”

She shook her head but stopped when that
did
hurt.

“Where did you go?” she asked in a quiet voice.

He didn’t pretend to misunderstand, nor did he ask for clarification. For a moment his eyes went so hard that she shivered. His hand trembled around hers and he swallowed several times as if trying to compose himself.

“I intend to tell you all about it,” he said in a controlled voice. “There’s a lot we need to talk about, Gracie. A lot you have to know. But not here. Please give me that much. The doctor said you’ll be discharged soon. They aren’t keeping you overnight. Just sending you home with antibiotics and pain medicine and instructions to rest and not aggravate your wound, which I fully intend to ensure you do. I swear to you, I will tell you everything when we’re alone.”

There was a pleading look in his eyes and for a moment he looked so very vulnerable. Her heart clenched and she squeezed his hand just to have an anchor.

“Okay?” he whispered.

“Okay,” she whispered back. “How is Eliza? And Ari?”

His lips quirked into a half smile. “Eliza is raising hell because they want to keep her overnight for observation and she’s not having it. However, Wade has threatened to sit on her and they’re currently in a standoff and neither is budging. The rest of us are just staying the hell out of the way. I think Wade is going to win this one.”

Anna-Grace smiled, imagining well the clash of those two stubborn wills.

“And Ari?” she prompted.

“Beau took her home,” Zack said. “She was okay. Just very weak.”

Anna-Grace heaved a sigh of relief.

“You scared the hell out of me,” he said starkly, abruptly switching the focus to her. “Don’t ever do that again, Gracie. My heart can’t take it. Do you have any idea how helpless I felt knowing I couldn’t get to you in time? Why in the hell did you do it?”

She shrugged. “It was the right thing to do.”

Zack closed his eyes. “Jesus.”

“I couldn’t not do anything,” she said defensively. “Eliza helped me. She was there because of me. Being tortured because of me.”

She couldn’t control the pain in her voice and she broke off, averting her gaze from Zack.

“For whatever reasons, my powers reasserted themselves when Eliza needed us the most. Maybe it was God’s way of saving her. I don’t know. But I knew that between me, Ramie and Ari we could find and save Eliza, and I was not going to just sit there while they killed an innocent woman. Especially a woman who has given so much of herself for others.”

Zack smiled ruefully. “I shouldn’t have even asked. Of course you would. You’re incapable of turning a blind eye to anyone in need.”

He caught her gaze and again she was consumed in a wave of so much love that she trembled under its force.

“You’re still my Gracie,” he whispered. “You haven’t changed a single bit from that beautiful girl I fell in love with so many years ago. That I still love. Will always love.”

She stared at him in shock, incapable of responding. How could she respond? What was she supposed to say?

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. It just remained open as she stared helplessly at him.

He pressed a gentle finger to her lips. “Shhh. Not now. You don’t have to say anything right now. It will wait. Until we’re home and I can explain everything.”

The door to her room opened and a nurse came in smiling at Gracie. “Are you ready to go home? I have your discharge instructions and your prescriptions. As soon as I take out your IV, you’ll be all set. Just make sure you go straight home and rest. No strenuous activity whatsoever. If you put any strain on those stitches, they’ll come out, and we don’t want that happening.”

The rest was a blur because all Anna-Grace could focus on were Zack’s words. The vow in his voice. The utter sincerity ringing in his words. And how very close she’d come to telling him she loved him too.

And if that wasn’t messed up, she didn’t know what was.

THIRTY-FOUR

THE
drive home was silent and strained. Anna-Grace kept looking sideways at Zack but he stared straight ahead, his hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel. His anxiety was palpable and once again she was struck by the vulnerability he displayed.