by Cara Carnes
“I’m sure you are. Heaven forbid you ask for help or do anything but what you want.” Brant pulled on some gloves. “What mess are you into this time? You’ve been gone for weeks, leaving Rachelle to handle the house and Cliff.”
Dallas doubted Rachelle or Cliff had even been out to the house since they’d crashed at his mom’s house. Cliff never moved off the sofa except for when he went to hang out with his friends. Rachelle was supposedly cooking at the Warrior’s Path mess hall, but she spent more time talking and flirting than she did cooking.
“Not sure how that’s any of your business, Doctor Burton.” She punctuated the title with a bite of anger as she pulled her wrist from between his fingertips. “Don’t bother with the pulse and blood pressure check. I’m fine.”
“Right. I suppose that bullet wound in your head isn’t a problem either.” He reached around and pressed two fingers at the back of her head.
A low growl rose from Dallas as Kamren flinched. She didn’t cry out, scream, or move away, but she glared up at Brant. “Great bedside manner there, Doc. Get your hands off me. I don’t need your help; it’s only a graze.”
“So you’re a doctor now, too?” Brant pulled his hand away and ripped off the bloody glove. He reached for a suture kit on the table beside him.
“You aren’t touching me. Go crawl back under whatever rock they found you under.” Kamren blinked rapidly as she tilted her head to the left, then the right. She shook it and blinked harder. Lips thinned, she rolled to the side of the bed nearest the window and away from Brant. She stood.
Dallas vaulted toward her as she tumbled forward. His hands locked around her upper arms and held her in place before she could fall. He settled her onto the bed and took sentry position at the side, forcing her into place.
“Can the judgment, Burton, or get the hell out,” he clipped.
“Typical Kamren. She already has you snowed,” Brant commented. He sighed and regarded Kamren. “I’ll set aside our differences if you will. Jesse could probably stitch you up, but he’s likely not sutured anyone for years, if ever. I don’t have to be your friend to treat you.”
“I’d rather take my chances on bleeding out,” Kamren returned.
“Let him treat you,” Dallas whispered. “He won’t mess with you. I won’t let him.”
“What makes you think I trust you to have my back?”
“You trusted me with this.” He motioned to the backpack. The fear and pain in her eyes mitigated any hesitation he’d had earlier. “You wanted my word I’d keep it safe. You have it. I promise I’ll keep you and whatever is in that backpack safe if you let them treat you.”
“Why?”
“Because I can, and it’s the right thing to do. Because no one should fight battles alone.” He waited until she nodded slightly and relaxed deeper into his grip. “Are you going to sideline the attitude and be a doctor, or do I need to kick your ass, Burton?”
“Very well, I drove all the way over here. I might as well take a look. What happened?”
“We haven’t gotten the details, but drones captured two vehicles attempting to ram her off the road. They succeeded a quarter mile from the gate. A shootout occurred.”
“More injuries? Why didn’t you mention that?” He looked over at Marshall.
“County coroner took them away,” Nolan said. “I’m sure you saw the fire department outside. There was an explosion. I’m thinking she sustained a proximity injury.”
Brant sighed and raised his voice. “Can you hear me, Kamren?”
She squinted but nodded. “My ears are ringing. Stitch the graze, and then you can go.”
“Stop being so damn stubborn and let me finish the exam. The sooner I do, the sooner I can go. Fair enough?”
“Yeah, fair enough,” she shot back.
“She’s hearing you well enough, despite the ear ringing,” Marshall observed.
“Not necessarily,” Brant turned to face away from her. “The old man made them all learn lip reading, said every good hunter understood prey wasn’t just the animal variety. He was a crazy coot, and Kamren here was his shadow. The best thing that ever happened to them was the day that bastard died.”
Dallas tensed when Brant turned halfway into the conversation, intentionally letting her lip-read the last of his statement. The woman paled. A low, feral-like growl rumbled from her as she stood and almost teetered over in an attempt to lunge for Brant. Marshall intervened, keeping her upright. Nolan and Jesse cursed.
“That’s it. Get out, Burton.” Marshall grabbed the man’s shoulder. “Whatever your beef is with her, I won’t let you take it out on a patient in my facility. I didn’t think you had that level of asshole in you.”
“You have no idea who she is, what she’s done,” Brant said. He took a deep breath. “But you’re right. Every doctor knows when to refuse treatment to someone. I’m afraid I can’t be of help, not with her. If I’d known it was her, I wouldn’t have come.”
They’d known the Burton family for years; they’d grown up with the entire brood, which rivaled their own in size. Dallas stood there stunned as the man left. He’d never seen such a vehement reaction, which left him more than curious as to why. It underscored his initial curiosity. Why didn’t he remember Kamren from growing up? She was about his age.
Kamren rose to a sitting position. She reached out for the backpack he held. He took a step backward and set it on the windowsill. Her gaze locked onto the pack, but he noted the watery depths. Her lower lip trembled. She blinked rapidly, but no tears fell.
He glanced at his brothers. There was more to Kamren Garrett than met the eye, but did they have the time or resources to figure it out? More importantly, did they even want to? He leaned toward no, but then guilt dragged him closer to yes.
Finding his son was the main priority, though.
But he didn’t like what’d just happened. If Brant was treating her like trash overdue for getting tossed to the curb, what were others doing? He hadn’t been raised to stand aside while someone needed help. Based on what they’d seen tonight, Kamren needed the kind of help not just anyone could provide.
He couldn’t let anyone suffer alone, defenseless. No matter what she might be wrapped up in, she deserved a leg up.
Help.
“I’m thinking we’ve found Rachelle’s problem,” Jesse commented behind his hand.
It was a shit move, one Dallas didn’t appreciate. He looked down at the woman, who’d tensed with the ensuing silence. Her gaze tracked between them, as if watching for clues as to what she was missing. He sat on the window ledge beside the backpack and waited for her gaze to settle on him.
A blue so light it was almost ice peered at him with undisguised anger and resolve. She expected to be turned away. Why had she come?
Jesse donned a new set of gloves and got to work using the suture kit. One way or the other she was going to get stitched up, even if he and his brothers had to hold her down to accomplish it.
“Why were you coming here?” he asked slowly.
“It doesn’t matter, not anymore. None of it does.”
Her voice had been stilted, a bit muddled at first. He recognized the response to damaged hearing. It’d happened to him and several others at the compound multiple times. He looked up at his brothers and lifted his eyebrows. Would they be dicks to her, too?
Dallas was half tempted to hunt Brant down and teach him some manners, but that’d leave Kamren alone and his protectiveness had suddenly been roused by the recent events. Whatever demons lay beneath the surface, she deserved to be treated respectfully.
“Jesse will confirm it, Kamren, but I think your eardrums are damaged. Settle back and he’ll take a look, okay?”
“They’ll heal,” she said. “Give me my backpack and I’ll leave. Coming here was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
“Why did you come?” he asked.
“I wanted to make sure Rachelle was safe, that she was okay with her and Cliff being here and out
of danger.” She shrugged. “I shouldn’t have come.”
“Rachelle is safe,” Jesse said as he entered her line of sight. “We’ll get a room for you. You can check in on her after you get some rest.”
“No.” She shook her head, then grabbed it. “I need to get back to Marville.”
“I’m thinking that’s not a good idea. You took out three Marville Dogs. The sheriff’s out in reception to get your statement.”
“Okay,” she said. “Do me a favor and keep the backpack safe. When I get out, I’ll get it back.”
“When you get out?” Jesse asked.
“From jail. Prison. The pokey.” She looked around. “That’s what happens to killers.”
“Correct me if I’m mistaken,” Nolan said as he directed her focus to him. “But they were after you. They exited their vehicles with weapons drawn. They fired first. If you hadn’t responded, you wouldn’t have survived. Whatever you’re involved in, returning to Marville isn’t an option.”
“I’ll talk to them. It was a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstandings don’t end in car explosions and body bags,” Dallas said. His brothers laughed. “Okay, clarification. Civilian misunderstandings don’t end in car explosions and body bags.”
“I have to return, I have things to do.” Kamren moved to stand again, but Jesse settled a hand on her shoulder. “Besides, if Rachelle’s out here, they need help at the Sip and Spin.”
“Rachelle is more than covered. Riley hired her to cook at the Warrior’s Path mess hall weeks ago,” Dallas said.
“Oh.” She settled back down as Jesse pulled out an instrument and started looking at her ears. Dallas drew out his phone and sent a text to Vi and Mary.
Dig into Kamren Garrett’s background. I want everything on the entire family. Something’s up.
On it. Nolan already requested.
He pocketed his phone and waited out the exam, remaining near her bedside despite the angry glares she sent his direction. She huffed a ragged breath when Jesse started poking and prodding her left side.
“We’ll do x-rays to verify, but you have a couple cracked ribs, probably from the collision,” Jesse commented. He glanced over at Dallas. “Did you hit her ribs?”
“No, I was too busy trying to save my nuts,” he admitted.
His brothers chuckled. Red swept up her face, a cute tinge of pink along her upper cheeks.
“Sorry about that,” she muttered.
Marshall returned, but remained out of her visual field. Arms crossed, he whispered. “I gave the security footage we captured to Sheriff Patterson. He’s satisfied for now. Brant said we should keep her away from Rachelle and Riley.”
“Why?” Jesse asked.
“He refused to say anything more, so we need to find out,” Marshall replied. “Riley didn’t indicate an immediate dislike or problem with Kamren when I called.”
Which Dallas found interesting. He’d withhold judgment for now. If she’d truly come to make sure her little sister was okay, she couldn’t be that bad. “Kamren, what’s in the backpack?”
“It doesn’t matter now. Dani’s right. The answers might not be worth the hassle, not anymore. It’s not like I can change anything now. Dad’s dead.”
He felt the clench of loss in a tightening in his chest. Not a day went by he didn’t miss his old man or wish he was around offering words of wisdom Dallas had been too stupid and young to appreciate until it was too late.
“We need to run some tests and then get her some painkillers. She’ll stay here where she can be observed for the night. It appears she’s fine other than a lot of bruising and slight eardrum damage. I want to run tests, just to make sure.” Jesse motioned toward the small bathroom. “Kamren, do you want to clean up and change? I’ve got some scrubs you can put on.”
She glanced around the room, then over at the backpack. “Okay, but I take that with me.”
Dallas looked at the mud- and shit-covered bag. He really wanted to figure out what was in it. “I promise I’ll keep it safe. No one but me will touch it. I’ll go find a different pack for you to transfer the contents into after you shower, okay?”
She chewed on her lip, studying the bag, then him. “You promise?”
“I promise,” he repeated.
“Okay, but don’t open it until I’m out.”
“Fair enough.” He picked it up and motioned toward the door. “There’s a supply area two halls over. I’m going to get a replacement pack. I’ll be right back.”
She warily nodded her head. He headed out of the room as a mission list formed in his mind. Someone was hot on his heels, but he didn’t bother looking to figure out which brother. It didn’t matter.
Riley lurked outside the medical entrance. She glared at the two posted guards, who clearly hadn’t let her in.
“What happened?”
“She’ll be okay. She’s got eardrum damage,” Dallas said. “Brant refused to treat her.”
“He didn’t.” She paled and her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes. He warned us to keep her away from you and Rachelle.”
“Well, I don’t exactly like the bitch,” Riley admitted. “I wouldn’t shoot her or anything, though I’ll probably yell at her if she can’t hear me.”
“Why don’t you like her?” Nolan asked.
“Erm, because she’s a bitch?” Riley’s eyes widened. “I’m not down for liking bitches, especially those who are like that to their little sisters.”
“I’m thinking you’d best stop calling her a bitch,” Dallas warned.
“Whatever, you’ll see. She’s an ice cold one, too.” Riley shrugged. “I’ll tell Rachelle she’s alive. She’s been gone for weeks. She does that, you know. Leaves for weeks at a time. Poor Rachelle has to handle the farm, Cliff, and hold down a job to pay the bills. It’s disgusting.”
“Why the hell can’t Cliff help?” Dallas asked.
“You haven’t hung around him yet,” Nolan commented. “He’s a lazy shit.”
Yeah, Dallas had noticed that, but it still didn’t answer the question. Was there a reason he didn’t do anything, or was he just plain lazy? “We can do something about that. I think it’s time he starts handling some chores.”
“Good luck with that. I can’t get him to go over to their farm and help me tend things.” Riley crossed her arms. “Nole’s right. He’s a lazy shit.”
“Leave Cliff and the farm to me,” Dallas said. “I’ll work the Marville case with you and Jud. That’s what you all wanted anyway.”
He’d read into their intentions when Jud asked for help. No operative as elite and downright deadly as Jud needed help handling anything. The man had operated as a lone wolf for his entire career. “But I’m back on the leads when they come in.”
He didn’t bother clarifying which leads. They all knew his thoughts would remain on finding his son. Dallas was a liability, though. As time dragged on, he’d become more desperate to find him, which meant his focus was hindered.
He was hindered.
For everyone’s sake, he’d have to trust Vi and Mary and his brothers to take the lead on finding his kid. They’d flag him in when they found something actionable. And they would find something.
Until then he was on training duty with Riley. Pride rose within him. She’d been working her ass off and had done everything they asked with gusto. She trained in hand-to-hand with him and Gage and Jud. She trained on weapons with anyone who offered.
She’d already spread word around Resino and Marville that she was available to help with whatever problems people had. So far there hadn’t been much in the way of serious situations. Jud had received warnings from all the Masons to keep Riley out of messy problems. The former assassin was more than capable of handling anything and everything little sis got into, which was the only reason Dallas and his brothers hadn’t balked at the idea of Riley taking up detective work.
“Mary said HERA had spit out some intel. I know you’re taking a backs
eat, but your input on the briefings would help,” Marshall said. “We’re boots on the ground, but you can still be read in.”
Dallas regarded his brothers with a mixture of pride, love, and shame. They wouldn’t understand what he’d done when he left The Collective. Jud knew. Or suspected. But the man had held true to his word and said nothing. That truth, however, was a time bomb, and Dallas wasn’t sure when it was set to explode. It would, though. He just hoped like hell he could figure out a way to diffuse it first.
“What about Kamren? We can’t leave her alone,” Nolan said.
“I’ll be here,” Addy offered. “Jesse went to get knock-out juice so she’d rest. I’ll handle our new guest.”
Dallas regarded the kick-ass operative who’d quickly become an integral part of The Arsenal. She’d taken an immediate liking to Kamren, a reaction he not only hadn’t expected, but also didn’t understand. He grunted his response as he headed out.
Kamren was a mystery he might want to solve, but she’d have to wait.
5
Although Kamren wanted a shower, Jesse didn’t want to risk water getting into her ears. So she settled on a sponge bath, which took quite a while because of all the blood caked onto the side of her face like a second skin. She probably resembled a Walking Dead extra. Oh well. She’d given up worrying what others thought of her a long time ago.
Her heart constricted. Rachelle was secure.
She entered the hospital-style room and noted the filthy backpack and a new, still-in-the-package military-style one. She sat and gingerly opened the new one. So many pockets and cool zippers. When was the last time she’d had anything new?
She swallowed.
This wasn’t hers.
She’d borrow it long enough to get her other one cleaned up. Likely, if Dani was still talking to her, she’d get it cleaned up free at the Sip and Spin during a shift. The sooner she got back to Marville and handled the Marville Dogs, the better. She carefully transferred the contents into the new pack and shouldered it on. Pain shot up along her left side, but she breathed through it and kept going, just like Dad had taught her.
