Page 117 of Direct Action

“I need him so bad, Aiden,” I panted, feeling my lungs fill with anxiety.

I felt the SUV swerve, then come to a stop.

Aiden was out of the car in a flash. My door was pulled open, Aiden pulled me out, opened the back door, and climbed in, holding me in his lap.

“You’re going into shock, Chloe. Slow your breathing.”

“My fault,” I wheezed. “I didn’t listen. I didn’t give him what he needed.”

“Slow your breathing.”

“I need him so bad right now,” I gasped. “He wants me safe.”

Thoughts were chasing thoughts. So many of them were flashing through my mind I couldn’t catch ahold of one.

“Thank you.”

“Just breathe.”

“I need to give him what he wants. Need to be safe. Love him that much. I didn’t.”

“Chloe—”

“I can’t breathe. I can’t . . .”

Words were jumbling in my head, and I couldn’t catch my breath.

I vaguely heard Aiden talking to me. In in abstract, faraway feeling I felt Aiden’s arm get tighter. But when my head hit his shoulder, everything went black.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“Want me to take her so you can clean up?” Gavin asked from the aisle as he made his way back to his seat.

The correct answer should’ve been yes. I was still covered in blood. But now that I had her in my lap, there was no way in fuck I was handing her off to someone else. Aiden had already taken care of her until I could get to her.

“I’m good.”

“Brother—”

He wisely stopped speaking when he caught my eyes.

I didn’t watch him walk away, I looked back down and concentrated on breathing as I took in the ugly red and green marks around her neck.

Then with determined effort I beat back the urge to tear the interior of the plane apart when visions—no not visions, memories—of her hanging from a hook naked invaded my mind.

My woman hanging from a hook.

Naked.

Inspected for sale.

Christ.

Aiden had told me that before shock had taken her under and she’d passed out, she was begging him to get her to me. He said he didn’t understand some of what she was saying, especially the part about not giving me what I needed. But the theme had been she’d needed me.

So, no.

Hell no, she was not waking up anyplace but in my arms.