“You’re already doing a good job.” Steve clicked the turn signal as he slowed to a stop behind Slade at a stoplight. “Drew’s lucky to have you as a mom.”
“Ah, that was sweet. Thank you.” Mira turned back around. “She’s sound asleep.”
“You’re probably tired too.” Steve watched for traffic as he turned when the light changed to green. “We’ll be back at the compound soon.”
After a small pause, Mira asked, “Do you also have a motorcycle?”
“I do.” Steve grinned. “I’ll take you on a ride when things settle down.”
“That may be a while.” Mira’s voice was tinged with doubt. “Orjyll’s attempts seem to be worse since Drew was born, as are my nerves. I’m so tired of looking over my shoulder.”
“You’ve got me to look over your shoulder now.” Steve frowned. “I’ve got you, Mira. And soon this will all be over.”
“I hope so.” Mira gave a long sigh. “I probably won’t know how to act.”
Steve understood immediately what she was talking about. He knew how difficult life had been for her, and imagined even the idea of “normal,”—whatever the hell that really was, especially in their world—was too difficult an idea to imagine. “We’ll go do all kinds of things. Take Drew to King’s Island.” Steve grinned at her.
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to go there,” Mira said excitedly. He flicked his gaze to her, taking in her wide eyes that seemed full of possibility.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been there.” Steve felt her excitement and knew, without a doubt, he’d make it his mission to make sure she felt happiness and joy every single day. “But it’s cool. Have you ever been on a roller coaster before?”
“No, but I would.” Mira laughed then clapped her hands. “I would love to ride one. Does it feel like you’re flying?”
“Kind of.” Steve swore right then and there he was going to make sure she did anything and everything she ever wanted to do. That would be his goal in life. “Do you like to go fast?”
“I think so, I mean… I don’t know.” Mira’s eyes widened almost comically as she looked at Steve. His lips twitched in amusement. “How fast do they go?”
“Fast!”
Steve laughed when she squealed. “I can’t wait.” Mira angled her head back on the headrest then looked over at him again. “Can we go soon?”
“Yeah, we can go soon.” Steve would promise her anything she wanted without a second thought.
The car became quiet as they were both in deep thought. Steve focused on the road, his thumb rubbed her hand, and it just felt right. Touching her felt right. Everything about her felt right. They were still learning about each other, but he knew one thing… she would never want for anything. He would make sure she and Drew had whatever they needed.
Bright lights hit his eyes through the rearview mirror. “Dim them down, dude,” Steve whispered as he squinted. They were on a two-lane country road, the familiar back way to the compound. It was a shortcut they took all the time because it cut down on traffic lights.
They were on a straightaway, and the car sped up to pass. Steve slowed slightly to let him overtake but stayed close enough to Slade so they saw him on his motorcycle. Steve gave the van a sideways glance as it passed and then frowned when the van hit the brakes next to Slade. “What the hell is that asshole doing?”
It happened so fast that Steve barely had time to hit the brakes. The van swerved sharply, ramming into Slade and sending him flying off the road. One second Slade was there, the next he was gone. Mira screamed. He released her hand to grab the wheel, his eyes leaving the road for a split second to look at where Slade went off the road. When his eyes returned to the road, all he saw were brake lights.
With a curse, he turned the wheel hard, but still clipped the back end of the van, sending them airborne. Steve slammed his hand against Mira to keep her from flying toward the windshield, even knowing she had her seat belt on.
“Hold on!” Steve yelled as Mira screamed Drew’s name. They hit hard and rolled for what seemed like forever. The car finally stopped its roll, but teetered back and forth.
Steve felt a little disoriented but shook it off. They were on their side. Drew was crying and he’d never heard anything more beautiful in his life. “Mira!” Steve tried to get his seat belt off, but it was stuck so he ripped it off. “Mira!”
Panic thrummed through him when she didn’t answer. Pulling himself up, he looked and saw blood, a lot of blood. “Oh, God!” Steve got in a position so he could see her. She was dangling in the seat, the belt holding her in place. He moved her hair out of the way; her face was cut from the shattered windshield. He went to take her seat belt off so he could get her out and then Drew, but something cut his hand. Looking down, he stared in horror at the large piece of glass sticking out of her stomach. “No! No!”
Turning, he kicked the rest of the windshield out and then climbed through. Rushing around, he went to her side and as gently as possible, lowered the car so it was on all four wheels, or what used to be wheels. Most of the windows were smashed from the impact of the roll.
“Slade!” he screamed, as he pulled the door completely off. “Slade!”
Reaching in, he rested her head, that was hanging forward, against the seat. “Mira! Dammit, Mira answer me.” He felt her neck and found a faint pulse. Drew was still crying, actually screaming at the top of her lungs.
“Hold on, baby.” With his bare hands, Steve ripped her seat belt in half and prayed taking her out of the car was not the wrong thing to do. “Slade!” he screamed again.
As carefully as he could, he picked her up and got her out of the car, laying her on the ground. He knew he was bleeding from somewhere because his blood dripped on her face. Using his arm, he wiped his face. “Mira! Please wake up.” He felt so fucking helpless and didn’t know what the fuck to do. “I’ll be right back. I have to check on Drew. Please hold on,” he whispered to her as his eyes went to the large sliver of glass sticking out of her stomach.
Tears blurred his eyes as he ran to the other side of the car. He checked Drew out as best he could, and she looked fine. No blood, just scared, he hoped. “Please, Drew, I have to help Mommy.”
“If she ain’t dead, she will be.” A male voice came from Steve’s right. Bending down, he saw three men heading their way. It was dark so he knew they couldn’t see him, but he sure as fuck could see them. “Well, I’m not killing the kid. I’ll finish her off, but one of you can take the kid.”
“What about the guy she was with?” another one said as they came closer.
“While you finish her off, if she’s still alive, I’ll take him. I’ve got silver bullets,” another voice replied. “He’s probably fucked up from them rolling. Did you see that shit? He may be a Warrior, but it would take one tough son of a bitch to have his shit together after that. There are fucking glass and pieces of car back here.”
Steve knew which one was going to die first. Using his power, he became invisible, not knowing if they would be able to see him or not. He didn’t really give a shit, but the one with the silver bullets would die first. That he did know.
Standing up, he waited to see if he was spotted, but the dumb motherfuckers didn’t even look his way. Stepping away from the car, he walked straight toward them, and still, they didn’t seem to see him. He knew he was close enough even in the darkness they would be able to see him.
“I swear that bastard better have the rest of our money. I don’t really like killing women or kids, but damn, I couldn’t pass up this paycheck,” one of the men said, and Steve made a mental note to not kill them all. He would keep one of them alive long enough to find out where in the fuck the person who was paying them was. He didn’t have to ask who it was because he already knew.
With swiftness, he stepped straight up to the one who’d said he had silver bullets, grabbed the gun from his grip, punched him in the throat, and then shot him until the gun was unloaded. Overkill? Fuck yeah,
it was. He wished he had another clip. Dropping the gun, he watched as the others stumbled back as they cried out, looking in horror at their friend. Grabbing the closest one by the throat, Steve became visible.
“You answer my questions and you will live… or maybe you won’t.” Steve growled as he squeezed the man’s throat, but his eyes were on the other. “If you run, I will catch you and kill you painfully. Sit the fuck down.”
The man fell on his ass, his eyes wide with fear. Drew’s cries were growing louder, and Steve needed to get back to Mira. Where the fuck was Slade? Son of a bitch.
“Where is Orjyll?” Steve asked, his voice low and deadly. “Where?”
“I don’t know.” The man wheezed as Steve squeezed his throat. “Wrong answer.” Steve killed him with one blow and didn’t think twice about it.
“Where?” Steve advanced on the other man, but something caught his attention. Slade was limping toward the car and Mira.
“You got that?” Slade called out as he stumbled, but kept going.
“Just take care of them!” Steve felt such relief, but his anger tripled as he looked down at the man whose life meant nothing to him. “I’m going to ask you one more time. Where is he?”
“I really don’t know!” the man cried out when Steve started to reach for him. “He moves around a lot. He’s never at the same place.”
“Where was the last place you saw him?” Steve glanced from the man toward the car. When the man didn’t answer, Steve kicked out, his foot blasting him in the chest and knocking him flat as he kept his foot on his chest.
“At an old warehouse down on Monmouth Street in Newport. I think the address was 2400.” The man coughed and choked from the pressure Steve pushed against his chest. The man’s phone began to ring.
“You gonna answer that?”
The man awkwardly reached in his pocket for his phone. “It’s him,” he said, looking up at Steve.
Steve reached down and grabbed the phone. He hit the button and put it to his ear. “Is she dead?”
“I’m going to find you, and when I do, your death will be nothing compared to what I did to the three pieces of shit you paid to kill a woman and a child.” Steve’s voice was harsh and filled with deadly promise. “I will hunt you down, believe that, motherfucker.”
“Steve, isn’t it?” Orjyll’s voice had a soothing quality to it and Steve couldn’t wait to silence it.
“You know exactly who it is, asshole,” Steve growled into the phone. “Get your shit in order, old man, ’cause I’m coming for you.”
“I’ll be waiting.” The phone went dead, and Steve crushed it with his hand. He then leaned down and punched the man in the face, knocking him out cold. He wasn’t ready to kill him yet; he still wanted answers.
He ran toward the car to see Slade sitting next to Mira, holding her hand. He looked up at Steve and shook his head. Steve looked at him, stunned. “Why aren’t you doing anything?” Steve knew exactly why but refused to acknowledge it.
“Steve?” Her voice was so weak he could barely hear her.
“I’m here.” Steve fell to his knees when Slade moved out of the way and dragged himself toward Drew. “You’re going to be fine.”
She shook her head. “I’m not.” A tear slipped out of the corner of her eye. “Please take care of Drew. Let her know how much I loved her….”
Mira coughed. Blood splattered out of her mouth, covering her lips. “Shh.” Steve tried to keep the sob back, but it escaped. “You can tell her yourself.”
“Promise me you’ll find him. I don’t want Drew living the life I lived.” Mira’s words were wheezed. Her eyes kept closing and then would pop open with a fear that Steve would never forget.
Steve could hear the rattle in the back of her throat and knew what it meant. “No!” Steve gently took her face into his hands. “You can’t leave me.”
“I’m sorry,” Mira whispered, her breathing coming in fast, short gasps. Drew cried, and Mira’s eyes moved that way before looking back at Steve. “I’m scared.”
As carefully as he could, he pulled her toward him and held her tight. “I’ve got you, Mira.” Steve kept his tears in check as best he could. He would be strong for her, but there was no way he could let her go.
Chapter 32
Steve stood in front of Sloan’s desk while the Warriors stood behind him and yet, with every fiber of his being he didn’t want to be here. He couldn’t even focus on what Sloan was saying. His mind was elsewhere… as was his heart.
“What?” Steve finally focused, seeing Sloan’s mouth moving.
Sloan stared at him for a long moment then sighed. “You could lose your Warrior status, Steve. You did not have permission to change her.”
“I don’t care.” Steve’s voice was monotone because, in truth, he didn’t care.
“You could do time for what you did.”
“I don’t care.” His response was the same, spoken the same. “Can I leave now?”
Sloan glanced at Becky, who was next to his desk. Steve let his eyes flicker toward her, but didn’t want to see the expression of sadness he knew was on her face. “I’m going to fight for you, but I want you to know exactly what you may be up against.”
“I know and I don’t care.” Steve stood straight, his eyes staring straight ahead. “Anything else?”
“I know what you’re going—” Sloan started, but Steve stopped him because he didn’t want to hear the bullshit.
“No, you don’t.” This time his response held more emotion.
Sloan nodded. “You’re right. I don’t.” Sloan looked like he wanted to say more, but instead, he closed his mouth. Finally, he indicated toward the door. “Go.”
Steve didn’t hesitate as he rushed to get the fuck out of there.
“Sloan, tell him or I will.” Jared’s voice stopped Steve immediately.
“He’s not in the right mind frame,” Sloan replied, with a shake of his head.
“For what?” Steve turned and walked back to the desk. When Sloan remained silent, he turned to Jared. “Tell me what?”
Jared looked past Steve to Sloan, his eyebrow raised. Rage sparked to life in Steve’s chest, threatening to rise as he turned to Sloan.
“Blaze got more information out of the man you didn’t kill.” Sloan sighed and stepped around his desk to stand in front of Steve.
“Which showed a lot of restraint,” Sid hissed in anger. “Because that fucker deserved to die like the other two.”
Steve agreed but kept his mouth closed, waiting impatiently for Sloan to finish. He was ready to lose his mind with rage.
“We have a location where we think Orjyll may be.” Sloan watched Steve carefully, which is exactly why Steve didn’t go off the rails. He kept his cool.
“Where?” Steve was damn proud of himself because inside, he was ready to tear something apart and as soon as he found out where the son of a bitch was, he was gone.
“Go take care of business, come back here, and I’ll let you know the plan.” Sloan reached out and clasped Steve’s shoulder. “Go. We’ll wait until you’re ready.”
“I’m ready now.” Steve shrugged his shoulder away from his touch. “The longer we wait—”
“It’s been three days.” Sloan took a step back, giving Steve the room he needed. “We’ve been watching the place, and there’s still activity. Another day won’t make or break anything.”
“No! This needs to happen now!” Steve shook his head. “No one leave. I’ll be right back, you tell me the plan, and we go. This has to happen.”
Steve didn’t want to hear anything other than, “Fine, okay, we’re back in five and we ride.” He glanced around at everyone. His eyes fell on Adam, who watched him closely. “Don’t let them do this without me,” Steve told him point-blank.
“Never,” Adam vowed, then thumped his chest hard with his fist. It was a Warrior promise that wouldn’t be broken.
Steve ran out of the room and down the hall toward Slade’s office,
his body strung with energy. He was totally healed from his wounds, which hadn’t been many. He slowed, seeing Ronan leaning against the wall outside the door.
“Did you know?” Steve asked him before entering.
“Yeah,” Ronan replied, with a frown.
“It’s happening,” Steve growled, his eyes narrowing. “Wait for me.”
Steve opened the door and walked inside. His gaze went directly to Jill, who sat in the corner on a chair holding Drew. Thank God, she had not been injured. Jill and Slade had taken her to the hospital for MRIs and every test known to man to make sure she was okay. And she was perfect. Slade, however, was still limping. He had waited too long to have his leg reset after it had been badly broken. By the time it was all said and done, Slade, along with another doctor, had rebroken and reset his leg, but it may have been too late. Time would tell. His respect for the doctor knew no bounds because he had looked after the ones Steve loved the most before even considering fixing himself. He would never be able to thank him enough.
Steve leaned down and kissed Drew on the forehead as his focus went to the table. Kira stood, blocking her face, but he knew Mira lay there. Her body trying to heal, fighting with everything possible to heal itself.
Turning, Kira’s eyes met his. She stepped to the side, giving him room to move, but he shook his head. Kira walked up to him and grabbed his arms.
“She needs to hear you. She needs to feel you, Steve,” Kira urged him.
“I have to go take care of something, but I’ll be back,” he said, his eyes still on Mira who lay so still, her skin so pale in the fluorescent lights. He swore to himself that if she didn’t make it, he wouldn’t be able to survive. And just then, Drew’s little voice sounded behind him. His eyes closed tightly as his head dropped, but he would have no choice. He had to survive for her; he had promised.
“She’s going to make it, but you need to help her.” Kira pulled his arm until he was next to Mira’s bed. “She needs to know you’re still here.”
The room became eerily quiet as he stared down at the woman he loved, and he knew everyone had left them alone. He reached out and touched Mira’s cold cheek as he searched her face. “Please open your eyes, Mira,” Steve whispered, his throat tight with emotion. “I can’t do this without you. I don’t want to do it without you.”
Invisible Warrior (The Protectors Series) Book #11 Page 20
