She shifted, and a gasp of pain escaped in a loud rush. She tried to lift the arm that was clutched against her chest, and it was then that Ethan saw how swollen and misshapen it was.
“Oh shit.”
“My arm,” she said haltingly. “I broke it when the car hit us.”
“Holy f**k!” Sam exclaimed. “Rachel, how the hell did you manage to escape with a broken arm and run through the damn woods and down a river to the lake. I assume that’s what you did, hit the lake and take a ride down the shore until you got here?”
She smiled, but it was obvious she was hanging on by the barest thread. Her breathing was erratic and shallow, and she looked pale and shocky.
“Those self-defense moves Garrett and Donovan taught me when Ethan was away so much.”
“You’re shitting me!” Garrett said. “Hell, and to think we teased you for being such a girl.”
“That’ll learn you,” she said faintly. “I did good. Just like you taught me.”
Her words were slurring now, and her eyes slid closed, then opened again like she was battling to stay conscious.
Garrett reached out to touch her hair. “You did just fine, sweet pea. Just fine.”
Behind Ethan, Sam was on the phone demanding an ambulance for Rachel.
“Baby, I need you to stay awake for a little while. Can you do that?” Ethan asked in a gentle voice.
He wanted to touch her. God, he wanted to hold her, but he was afraid to move her, afraid he’d hurt her more, but most of all he was scared to death she’d reject him.
She nodded slowly. “I’m tired. I hurt.”
Garrett stroked her hair, and he glanced over at Ethan, sympathy bright in his eyes.
“I know you hurt, baby. Just hold on a little while longer, okay? Can you tell me if you’re hurt anywhere else?”
She touched her face with trembling fingers. “Jaw aches where the jerk hit me. I kneed him in the balls.”
Sam laughed, but it came out weak and shaky like he was battling the same emotion so raw on Garrett’s face and so agonizing in Ethan’s soul.
“I’m okay otherwise. I think. Hard to tell. Arm hurts so bad.”
She was whispering now, and her head slid to one side.
“We need to get you out of this corner,” Garrett said. “It’ll hurt, sweet pea. God, I’d do anything not to hurt you, but I don’t know how to do it otherwise. Sam’s called an ambulance, but it’ll be easier if they don’t have to cart a stretcher down the stairs.”
“S’okay,” she slurred. “I’m just so glad y’all are here. I was so scared.”
Ethan closed his eyes and bowed his head. Garrett laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed comfortingly.
“You try to get behind her as much as you can,” Garrett said in a quiet voice. “I’ll get her legs. We’ll lift her out and get her upstairs.”
“I’ll get some blankets and pillows,” Sam said.
For just a moment, Ethan’s and Rachel’s gazes met and held for a long moment. Beyond the physical pain, Ethan could see wounded uncertainty, nervousness and deep sadness. He’d give anything in the world not to have been the cause of her sudden hesitation with him. Even if he understood it completely.
“I’ll try not to hurt you,” Ethan whispered as he slid his hands underneath her arms.
As careful as he and Garrett were, he felt her cry of pain to his soul. He gathered her against his chest, and Garrett carefully positioned her arm down her body.
Ethan inched up the stairs, turning sideways so he didn’t bump her into the wall. Sam had gone ahead, turned on the lights and placed a blanket on the couch.
Ethan eased down, holding her carefully. Sam tucked the blanket around her and they settled down to wait.
Sam’s cell phone went off, startling Rachel. She flinched and let out a low moan.
Sam yanked the phone to his ear. “Sam here.”
Ethan watched closely as Sam’s eyebrow went up.
“Yes, we found her. We’re waiting for an ambulance. She’s hurt, but I think she’ll be okay.”
Another pause.
“No, that’s fine. Go where you’re needed. Nail those sons of bitches to the wall for me. We’ll be at the hospital waiting for a full report. Check in when you can, okay?”
Sam shoved the phone back into his pocket.
“What the hell was that about?” Garrett demanded.
“That was Sean. They’ve arrested two men in the vicinity of the wrecked SUV. They think they’re our guys. He’s hauling them in for questioning now.”
Ethan’s nostrils flared. It took everything he had not to react, but he didn’t want to disturb Rachel.
“I want those bastards,” Ethan said in a low voice.
“Tell Sean . . . one was a tall skinny guy. Dark hair. Mustache. Other . . . he drove . . . was one with gun. Shorter and stocky. He shot at me.”
“Son of a bitch,” Garrett muttered.
Rachel was fading. Her eyelids fluttered and slowly closed, only to jerk back open again.
Garrett sat on the other side of the couch and said in an overly loud voice, “Is there anything else you can tell us, sweet pea?”
She stirred lightly against Ethan as she fought the veil of sleep. Ethan rested his cheek against her head and tried by sheer force of will to infuse his strength into her.
She opened her mouth as if to speak, and then her brow crinkled in pain. With a barely audible sigh, she lost the battle and slid into unconsciousness.