Run to Me (9 page)

He had no concern that the woman would remember enough to threaten him. Her thoughts would be so fractured from the drugs, he doubted she’d ever be able to function properly again. Within days, her mind would be filled with shadowed images. In a week, maybe two, a dark film would cover most of the remaining memories of her time with him. Any that were left would be scattered, like flotsam. Her description of him would be vague and unhelpful. When questioned on her daily duties, she would be uninformative and sketchy.

The injection she had received each day had been just enough to keep her in line and on the edge, needing the drug with an intensity that would make her do anything to get the reward of relief. Without her daily dosage, the withdrawal would be painful and damaging.

Sad really, that she had to go through such pain, but fitting as well. She had failed him. Her training had included intensive reinforcements that if she were ever taken, she must come back to him.

No matter how furious he was at her failure, he had to get her back. The companionship she’d provided was of paramount importance to his happiness. In the months they’d been together, he’d felt a contentment he’d never dared dream of.

Every evening after she’d been given her shot, they would have dinner together and he would share with her. She would nod as if she understood and could totally identify with his worries and concerns. He told her all the things he’d held inside himself for so long. Things he’d never told anyone else. She knew him inside and out … even if she didn’t remember.

After dinner, he would instruct her to curl up beside him on the sofa. She would sit there for hours, never complaining, never speaking unless he asked her to. And when he wanted it, a small smile would curve her lips in approval. She never commented, never questioned him, and never criticized his actions. She was the perfect companion. The perfect pet. He had to find her!

A knock at the door pulled him from his morose thoughts. Victor, one of his most trusted men, entered. A scrawny teenager, hardly bigger than a child, shuffled into the room behind him.

Of course, Donald knew that the teen wasn’t a child. This young man was malnourished and, as a result, looked years younger. It would take weeks before proper training could begin. In the meantime, he would be fed well and given only minor duties. When the time for training came, his having experienced starvation would be a huge bonus.

Knowing his place, Victor stood quietly and waited for Donald to speak. The man had been trained by the best … himself.

“What have you come to tell me?”

“Everything is in place for the exhibition.”

His heart jumped with excitement. He had been so consumed with sadness, he’d almost forgotten today’s entertainment. “Excellent.” Donald turned his attention back to the young man beside Victor. “And how is our new recruit?”

Victor touched the boy’s shoulder. “Answer him.”

After several audible swallows, the boy said, “Fine, sir.”

“Good.” Donald began a slow circle around the young man. Despite his gaunt, desperate look, he was an attractive specimen. Of course, he wouldn’t be at the compound if he wasn’t.

“Raise your shirt.”

Dark brown eyes widened. “What?”

“Do not speak unless I ask a direct question! And never question my orders! Raise. Your. Shirt.”

Skinny fingers trembling, the kid swallowed again, then raised his shirt, allowing Donald to see his torso. Though his ribs were still quite prominent, Donald knew the young man had gained a good ten pounds since his arrival a couple of weeks ago. Still, to Donald’s knowledgeable eyes, it would take another month or more before he could begin his discipline and training regimen.

“What is your name, boy?”

“Raphael …” Wary eyes skittered over to Victor and then went back to Donald. He added, “Sir.”

Donald examined the bone structure, the length of his torso and legs. Sleek, elegant … almost like a greyhound or a Great Dane. Yes, that was a good name for him. “You can keep your name.”

The boy’s eyes widened with surprise—and was there maybe a hint of arrogance, too? Donald’s heartbeat increased in anticipation. When was the last time he’d had a challenge? Not since his little kitten came to stay. This young man’s training might be even more fun than he’d first thought.

Donald nodded at Victor. The big man’s hand clamped on to the boy’s bony shoulder, pressing deep into the muscle. He said, “Lower your eyes to the floor and repeat after me: Thank you, sir, for allowing me to keep my name.”

Donald noted a small, mutinous twitch of the boy’s mouth before he lowered his head and said, “Thank you, sir, for allowing me to keep my name.”

Feeling quite pleased with himself and this new upcoming challenge, Donald turned to Victor. “Let’s go.”

Victor opened the door for Donald. They walked out of the bedroom, Victor and the boy at least five feet behind him.

With a spring in his step, Donald headed down to the courtyard. At last the people responsible for his unhappiness would be punished. This kind of entertainment always put him in a better mood. Then he would see about getting his kitten returned.

Impotent fury pounded through Ethan as he gazed down at a helpless, terrified Shea. She’d been unconscious for much of the flight from Mexico to Florida. When she’d woken, she had been quiet and watchful. It was when they arrived at the small private clinic that she’d gone wild, kicking and screaming like a feral animal. Fortunately, she’d still been tied, but the stark fear in her expressive face cut deep.

Now, she lay strapped to the bed, but her eyes … God, her eyes held such desperate panic. Her expression reminded Ethan of a trapped, helpless animal. He could only imagine what was going through her mind. Gasping sobs and small helpless whimpers were the only sounds she’d made. He’d tried several times to get her to talk. So far, she hadn’t uttered a word.

Ethan pulled his eyes away and turned to the gray-haired man standing beside the bed. “There’s got to be something you can give her.”

Barely over five feet tall, Dr. Lawrence Norton was one of LCR’s leading physicians. The older man’s normally twinkling eyes were dimmed with concern. He had known Shea even longer than Ethan had. They’d been friends from the start of her service to LCR.

“I can’t give her anything until we know what she’s addicted to. From the look of her buttocks, she’s been getting regular injections of something. Based upon what you’ve told us about her memory loss and behavior, we can’t risk giving her something that might exacerbate what’s in her system.”

Slumped beside her in a chair, Ethan caressed her hand, hoping that somehow, the sane, beautiful woman he’d known was somewhere inside her and would feel comforted. “Shea, I know you’re scared, but I promise you … I swear on my life, no one is going to hurt you. We’re going to find out what the bastards were giving you, and then we’re going to make you better.”

Green eyes, once bright with joy and love for him, glittered with helpless anger. He knew exactly how that felt. How it was to have no escape. How it felt to wake each morning, knowing captivity was a part of his life and he couldn’t get away no matter how he tried. But he’d been in prison and had deserved to be there. How much more difficult was it for Shea to not know her captors? She believed they’d taken her for evil reasons and trusted no one.

“Can’t you at least give her something to sleep?”

“Not until we know something.” Dr. Norton looked at the heart-monitoring machine and jerked his head toward the door. “Can I talk to you a few minutes?”

After one last squeeze on her hand for reassurance, Ethan followed the doctor into the hallway. With his back propped against the wall, he blew out a weary, frustrated sigh. “I feel so damned helpless.”

“I think she feels safer with you.”

His head snapped up at the doctor’s words. “What makes you say that?” He’d seen only the hot blaze of hatred in her eyes.

“Because she calms down as soon as she sees you. She listens to you talk. She may not be speaking, but wherever you go in the room, her eyes follow you. When you took her hand a minute ago, her heartbeat slowed.” The doctor raised his hand before Ethan could start questioning him. “Now, I’m not saying she remembers you, but for some reason, there’s a level of trust for you that she doesn’t have for anyone else. I think she knows you don’t mean to harm her.”

“What should I do?”

“Stay with her till she falls asleep. We’re rushing the lab work as fast as we can. Last time I talked to our lab guys, they were having a hell of a time identifying what they’d found in her blood.”

Shoving his hands through his hair in frustrated anger, Ethan thanked the doctor and headed back into Shea’s room. Something flickered in her face. He didn’t know if it was because of what he’d been told, but Ethan could swear he saw relief.

A heavy weight of weariness pulled at him as he slumped in the chair beside the bed. He’d only taken the time to shower before coming back to her room. Since the clinic was exclusively for LCR operatives and family members, the accommodations were similar to those of a small hotel, along with an advanced medical facility. He’d borrowed some clothes from Gabe until he could go out and get some. His appearance was the least of his concerns.

Stroking her hand, Ethan spoke softly, “You need some sleep, Shea. It’s been hours since you’ve rested. I’ll be right here. No one will hurt you, I promise.”

“Ethan?” Her voice was low and raspy.

His heart jumped at the first words she’d uttered in hours. “Yes?”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Shea, baby, I’m trying to protect you. I know you don’t believe that, but I am. Some bad men took you, gave you drugs … made you forget who you were … your life.” Unwilling for her to be tied up and without hope any longer, he untied the restraint on her right arm, took her hand, and held it against his mouth. “We have a history together, Shea. You have a life … a very valuable life. I’m not going to let you throw that away because you’re afraid.”

“I’m not afraid.”

He smiled against her skin. That statement actually sounded like Shea.

“Okay, not afraid. Maybe confused.”

“I don’t believe anything you say … but tell me again how we met … how we know each other.”

He caught a glimpse of the tray of food she’d refused earlier. “On one condition. You eat something.”

She twisted her head and stared at the tray. “It’s drugged.”

Ethan snorted, picked up the plate of food, and slid it on the small swing table beside the bed. “It’s not drugged.” Lifting the silver cover, he sniffed appreciatively. “They have a great cook here.”

“I don’t—”

“Tell you what … I’ll eat a bite for every two you eat.”

She bit her lip and then nodded.

Wasting no time, he cut a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth. As he chewed, he cut another piece and held it to her mouth. He almost whooped in delight when she opened her mouth and took the bite he offered.

Within minutes, they’d demolished the chicken, mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables. A feast by no means, but the most either of them had eaten in days. A small amount of color already bloomed on her cheeks.

“You haven’t told me anything,” she said.

He pressed the button on the bed to put her in a more comfortable position, then rearranged the pillows. “Settle back and I’ll tell you.”

Surprising him, she snuggled into her pillow and looked up at him expectantly.

As he settled back into the chair, a small smile kicked up at his mouth.

“Why are you smiling?”

Because, for a moment, she looked like the old Shea. For the first time since seeing her again, he felt as if he were talking to the woman who’d stolen his heart all those years ago. “I was remembering the day we met.”

Her eyes fluttered as she fought sleep. “Tell me,” she whispered.

“It was just down the road from here … at the training facility. I walked into a room and heard the most joyous laughter. I turned around and saw three beautiful women. All three were drop-dead gorgeous, but it wasn’t until the one in the middle laughed again that I realized who was the most beautiful.”

“I laughed?”

She asked the question as if surprised. God, that broke his heart.

“Sweetheart, you have the kind of laugh that makes everyone smile. It’s one of those deep, luscious, full-bodied laughs that’s just a natural part of who you are.”

Her emerald-green eyes darkened, became more haunted. “I don’t remember laughter.”

“You will, Shea. I promise, you’ll remember how to laugh.”

What looked almost like a small smile played around her lips as she whispered, “I’d like that.” Her eyes fluttered closed and she finally slept.

Taking her hand, he held it against his face and wished with all his might that things could have been different for them. By the time he’d realized he couldn’t live without her, he’d broken her heart and pushed her into the arms of his best friend. Cole had been decent and honorable, so much better for Shea than Ethan ever could have been. And from the moment Cole met Shea, he’d loved her.

Ethan had told himself it was Shea’s fault for pushing. What they’d had together was incredible. A chemistry that could set the sheets on fire, but also an ability to read each other’s thoughts and actions. Their partnership as LCR operatives had been legendary. Working together, they’d been unstoppable. If only that had been enough for Shea. She had wanted more. She’d wanted promises … she had wanted forever. And the way she’d tried to ensure their forever had been his breaking point. Unfortunately, he’d almost broken her instead.

Ethan stood and, reluctantly, tied Shea’s hand again. If she woke and was the wild creature she’d been before, she could hurt someone or herself. He couldn’t take the chance.

He headed toward the bedroom he would be staying in until it was determined what could be done for Shea. Noah was on his way, and Ethan hadn’t had a chance to discuss Shea with him. He didn’t know what Noah had planned but was determined that Shea wouldn’t suffer anymore. If that meant Ethan spending the rest of his life protecting her, then that’s what he would damn well do.