Eagle

by Janie Crouch

  “Please tell me that was enough.” Finn could barely force the words past his throat.

  Zac had the Jeep speeding out of town in the direction the tracker sent them. “It’s going to get us close, but not an exact location.”

  “How close?”

  Zac grimaced. “Maybe two square miles.”

  Finn wanted to slam his fist against the window. Henry could kill Charlie a hundred times over before they found her in a two-square-mile area.

  A desperate fear unlike anything he’d ever known coursed through him. Sitting in this vehicle were three of the most highly trained men in the greatest military in the world. But all their training, all their knowledge, all their skills . . . none of it was going to be enough to save Charlie.

  And then Aiden’s phone beeped again.

  “Oh please, God,” Finn whispered.

  “The clock restarts,” Zac said. “We still need him for three minutes.” It was a video call this time. That would be more dangerous, trying to make sure Henry didn’t know how close they were. Aiden hit accept.

  “Henry, what the hell is going on? That sounded like Charlie,” Aiden said.

  Henry’s face came into view. “I didn’t want it to happen like this, but there doesn’t seem to be any way around it. Give the phone to Finn.”

  Finn took a breath. He had to hold it together. Aiden handed him the phone.

  “What’s up with all the games, Nicholson? Is Charlie with you or not?”

  “The two of you are close, right? I know she spent the night with you.” Henry was keeping the screen close to his face, so they couldn’t see anything around him. “I need you to do me a favor, Bollinger. Talk some sense into your woman.”

  Henry turned so the camera was facing Charlie. He heard Aiden’s sharp intake of breath and felt cold sweat breaking out along his own spine.

  Oh Jesus. Charlie was tied to a chair, her small body barely upright, her breathing erratic. Her eyes were swollen almost shut, her face already bruising. Her nose had clearly been broken. The T-shirt—way too big for her, it must be his—was ripped and hanging off one shoulder.

  Holding it together took every bit of control he had. Keeping Henry on the line, not letting him know how close they were, that’s what was most important now.

  Killing that bastard would come later.

  But when Henry reached over and yanked Charlie’s head back by her hair, making her cry out in pain, Finn nearly lost it.

  “What the fuck, Henry?” he roared. Both Zac and Aiden shot him concerned looks, but he didn’t care.

  “I need the other part of that code. You’re going to talk Charlotte into giving it to me, or you’ll watch her die very painfully.”

  “What code?” He tried to buy more time. “What are you talking about?”

  “Stop with the games, Bollinger. You know exactly what code. The one she memorized before The Silver Palace burned.” He watched in helpless rage as Henry backhanded Charlie.

  Charlie’s tiny moan of pain broke his heart. He knew that sound, that feeling. It was the sound of someone close to breaking. Someone who had reached their limit. Any other civilian would’ve reached it long before now and would have already provided Henry the info he wanted.

  Finn would give everything he owned to be the one in that chair right now rather than her.

  “We all know what I’m talking about so quit screwing around. Charlotte has put up a noble fight, but it’s time to stop playing games. Tell her to give me the code.” He pressed the phone right up to Charlie’s face.

  “Finn?” The word came out of her mouth so softly he almost couldn’t hear it.

  “I’m here, princess.”

  “I won’t tell him. He can go to hell.”

  If Finn’s heart wasn’t shattering into a million pieces, he would’ve smiled at Henry’s scream of rage. The man really had no idea what he’d started. In a battle of wills with Charlotte Devereux, Finn would bet on Charlie every time.

  “What is it with you Special Forces people?” Henry yelled. “What, did you train her to withstand torture on your first date? They desked me, you know. No more combat-controller missions after I blew out my knee. Then the military fast-tracked me for retirement since I wasn’t of use to them anymore.”

  That’s right, you bastard, keep monologuing. Zac was nodding as he glanced at the GPS tracker. They almost had the location.

  “Yeah, well, I’m sure if the military could see you now, beating the shit out of an unarmed woman half your size, they would ask you back as fast as they could.”

  “I’m just taking what was owed to me. You guys are the Army’s golden boys—the beloved Green Berets. You have no idea what it’s like to be thrown aside like trash.”

  “The military is a machine, Henry. Anybody in for longer than a year, no matter which branch or what job, knows that. If you can’t do your part to make the machine run smoothly, you’re replaced. That’s how it works.”

  Finn had no idea how he was managing functional sentences while seeing Charlie in this shape. They just needed another minute at most.

  “Well, they shouldn’t have replaced me. They’re going to realize that when they see what I’ve done. How I fooled you all. I’m done messing around, Bollinger. The codes in Charlotte’s head are time sensitive, and I need them now.”

  To everyone’s amazement Charlie started to laugh. It was the most heartbreaking sound Finn had ever heard.

  “Well, you really shouldn’t have told me that, asshole.” The words were so garbled through her swollen lips they were difficult to understand.

  Behind the screen, Zac gave Finn a thumbs-up. They had Henry’s location.

  Henry yanked her back by the hair again. “And why is that?”

  “You said it yourself: everybody eventually breaks. But now I know I don’t have to withstand all your torture. I just have to make it past your deadline.”

  Henry had just been out-interrogated by someone with no military training whatsoever.

  This woman. Finn was getting her out of this and they were spending the rest of their damn lives together. He didn’t care what she’d done in the past. She was the most amazing person on the planet.

  Zac was communicating through their shared hand language. They were three minutes out. She just had to survive that long.

  “She’s strong,” Henry said, almost sadly. “I’ll definitely give you that, but she doesn’t really know how bad torture can be, does she, Finn? I didn’t want it to come to this. Honestly, I don’t really have the stomach for it. I was hoping she would listen to you. But I guess not.”

  Bile pooled in Finn’s gut when Henry pulled out a small blowtorch.

  “See? She doesn’t understand how bad it can get.”

  “Don’t you fucking do this, Henry.” Sweat started beading on his brow.

  No, God, please.

  Zac pushed even harder on the gas, trying to get the last of the speed out of the Jeep even though he’d already had it at its maximum.

  Henry shook his head. “I don’t want to. She doesn’t have to go through this. Explain that it’s okay for her to tell me. I promise, one ex-military man to another, that she will not die in any pain, if she tells me.”

  Zac signaled with his hands. They were less than one minute away.

  It wouldn’t have mattered if they were an hour away. Finn still would’ve said the same thing.

  “Princess, look at me.”

  One of her eyes cracked open.

  “You’ve done your part. Now it’s time to let someone else take over this fight.”

  “I don’t want to tell him,” she whispered.

  He rubbed his fingers across the screen, as if he could touch her skin. Comfort her in some way. “I know you don’t. But you’re not in this fight by yourself anymore, okay? Any of it. You and I are in this together. I need you to trust me. Tell Henry the code.”

  “Listen to him, Charlotte,” Henry said off camera. Charlie’s swollen lips tightened ju
st the slightest bit in mutiny. He wanted to tell the other man to shut the hell up. Henry wasn’t helping his case.

  “Princess, I love you. I need you to trust me.”

  Henry snatched the phone away. “I hope that works and she’ll listen to you. Otherwise it’s going to be a very painful way to die.”

  “You trust me, Charlie Devereux! For once in your damn life, please trust me!” He yelled it, wanting to be sure she heard him. She had to believe him. The damage Henry would do, even if they got to her in a minute, would scar her forever in every possible way. It wasn’t worth it, even if he did get control of the drones.

  “Was nice working with you, fellas.”

  The call went dead again.

  Whatever last bit of composure Charlie had disappeared with Finn’s face as the phone blinked off. She’d tried to be strong for so long, even after she’d passed out because of the pain, but now she had nothing left. She could barely focus enough to even remember the code.

  Henry turned the blowtorch on and held it in front of her face. Close enough for her to feel the heat, but not burn her.

  “Time is up. Decide.”

  Finn had said to trust him. Maybe it meant she was weak. Maybe it meant she didn’t want to die a horrible death. But she was going to trust him. If he said it was okay to tell Henry the codes, she would believe him.

  “I’ll tell you.”

  He turned off the blowtorch, thank God, and walked to the laptop on the table nearby.

  “I only get one shot at this. If you give me the wrong code, I swear to God I will burn off every inch of your skin before you die.”

  Charlie was too exhausted to even respond with a sarcastic comment about his melodrama. God, everything hurt so badly. She couldn’t see, could barely hear. She’d long since lost feeling in her arms, which were tied to the chair. She had swallowed so much of her own blood she was afraid she might vomit it up again.

  “Code, Charlotte.”

  Should she give him the wrong one? If she was going to die anyway, should she try to do what was right, despite what Finn had said?

  Trust me, Charlie. For once in your life, please trust me.

  He’d sounded like he was begging. Had she done that? Had she reduced that strong, powerful man into begging for her trust? Made him beg again, the way he had before, when he’d told her not to marry Brandon? She hadn’t trusted him then.

  This time she would.

  She gave Henry the code. Perfect and complete, praying she wasn’t making a mistake that would get thousands killed.

  She trusted Finn.

  Henry typed it in and waited, riveted to the screen in front of him, oblivious to everything else. Charlie felt a hand wrap over her mouth, touching her so gently it wouldn’t possibly stop any noise if she really tried to yell.

  Then she heard him. “I love you, princess.”

  Finn was here.

  He kissed her temple, then stepped away. Zac lifted the entire chair, with her in it, and moved silently back, Aiden and Finn now standing between her and Henry. She couldn’t stop the moan of pain that fell from her lips at the movement, but those had been so frequent it didn’t even draw Henry’s attention.

  He laughed, still staring at the screen. “I’ll be damned, I didn’t think you would do it. And honestly, I didn’t think Bollinger would tell you to give me the codes either. Some people just can’t see the bigger picture.”

  “Oh, I think I can see the bigger picture just fine,” Finn said. “It involves you spending the rest of your life behind bars for treason.”

  Henry straightened and spun, reaching for his gun, but the guys were expecting that.

  Zac stepped in front of her, another line of protection, so she couldn’t see what happened. But a moment later, three shots rang out. Somebody fell to the ground, but not any of the three standing in front of her, between her and harm’s way.

  Now that Finn was here, and she knew she was safe, staying upright and conscious was becoming more and more difficult. If her hands weren’t strapped to the chair so tightly, she would’ve already fallen out of it.

  Then Finn was next to her, his large hand holding her head, so she didn’t slump any farther to the side. Aiden crouched beside him, and a few seconds later her wrists were free. Finn eased her from the chair onto the ground, cradling her head in his hand the whole time.

  “He’s dead,” Zac said from across the room. “I’m calling it in and requesting an ambulance.”

  “I’m glad he’s dead.” Her words came out all mushy. She knew she shouldn’t feel that way about someone dying, even Henry, but she did.

  Finn slid a little piece of hair back from her eyes. “I’m glad he drew on us first so that I didn’t have to commit cold-blooded murder.”

  She wasn’t sure if he was joking or not, so she didn’t ask.

  Agony was spiking down her spine and white dots floated in her vision. It hurt to swallow, to breathe, to think.

  “Go ahead and rest, princess, you deserve it. I’ll be right next to you when you wake up. Trust me.”

  “I do. I’ll always trust you.” The words hurt. Everything hurt so bad. But she wanted Finn to know that. There was so much more she wanted to tell him too. She tried to get the words out.

  “I-I . . .”

  He laid beside her so they were face-to-face and pressed his lips in the most gentle of kisses against hers. “Hold that thought, princess. I promise, we’ve got all the time in the world to say the things we have to say to each other.”

  She held on to those green eyes—eyes that held the promise of everything—until she couldn’t hold on any longer and the pain pulled her under.

  The hospital put Charlie in a medically induced coma almost immediately upon her arrival. It was for the best, Finn knew that. It was a precaution to make sure the swelling from all the blows she’d taken to the head didn’t do any further damage. Her concussion was severe.

  Henry was damn lucky he was already dead. Because seeing Charlie so silent and still was unbearable—so much worse than when Finn had her in his bed a month ago when she was sick. He wanted his hurricane back. Even though he may never get a moment of rest or peace, he wanted her in full force.

  The tiny, battered, still woman on the bed wasn’t his hurricane.

  Zac and Annie had stayed with Charlie while Finn had gone home to shower, change, and see Ethan. They’d had an important talk before going to Grandma’s house, so Finn would be free to stay at the hospital.

  When he got back, Mrs. Devereux was in Charlie’s room. Of course, she would be; Sheriff Nelson knew how to get in touch with her now since Charlie’s condo had burned down.

  He took a deep breath and stepped inside the room, praying the older woman wouldn’t kick him out. He wouldn’t be able to bear it. “Hello, Mrs. Devereux. You probably don’t remember me, but—”

  “Finn!”

  The small woman stood and pulled him into her arms for a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. Of course, I remember you.”

  “Oh.” He couldn’t figure out anything else to say. He’d always thought Charlie’s parents hated him.

  “Can you tell me what happened?” she asked. “Sheriff Nelson called to say Charlotte was in the hospital, but he didn’t have many details. That nice Dr. Griffin explained that they were keeping Charlotte asleep to help with the brain swelling and to give her body a chance to heal, but look at her, Finn.”

  He already had, and he knew what Mrs. Devereux was feeling. “It’s hard to see her like this. But she’s strong. Dr. Griffin—Annie—is confident Charlie will wake up with no problems once they begin tapering down the meds.”

  Mrs. Devereux sat back down and patted the chair next to her. “Tell me what happened.”

  During his time in the Army, he’d been a part of missions where a fellow soldier had been hurt or died. When Finn had come to offer his condolences or well wishes to the families, sometimes months afterward, he’d never been able to talk about specifics bec
ause of security. He’d never dreamed he’d be in a similar situation involving Charlie. But he couldn’t give Mrs. Devereux the whole truth.

  “There was a crazy person at her work,” Finn finally settled on. “He attacked her.”

  “Did they arrest him?”

  “I understand he died during the altercation.” He hoped Henry was burning in hell.

  “This happened at her school job?”

  “No, not at her tutoring job. Charlie’s other job.”

  “Other job?” Mrs. Devereux’s lips pushed together into a thin line. “I knew it. I knew she’d been working somewhere else besides just teaching. Where?”

  Shit. He wasn’t trying to blow the whistle on Charlie. But damn it, if she was working this hard to help provide for her parents they probably deserved to know that.

  “Mrs. Devereux, I think we should wait until Charlie wakes up and talk about it then.”

  “Ha!” she scoffed. “Have you met my daughter? Do you honestly think she’s going to give up information to me without some sort of knockdown, drag-out fight?”

  No, he didn’t. He just didn’t want to be in the middle when it happened.

  But then all the energy seemed to drain out of the woman. She watched him with the same blue eyes he saw every time he looked at Charlie. “It’s not fair for me to be upset about her having another job. I haven’t asked. I knew she was working hard, but I deliberately haven’t asked. Every month the medical bills get paid for Milton and that has been what’s most important.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “But I look at her now, beyond the bruises, and I see how wrong I’ve been to just live with my head in the sand. I see how tired she is. How thin.”

  Three weeks ago, she’d been worse, but Finn wasn’t about to mention that. Charlie had been wrong not to let her mom know how desperate things had gotten.

  “She has a second job as a bartender.” He didn’t mention The Silver Palace specifically in case Mrs. Devereux was familiar with the place. Because although he wanted some of the burden off Charlie’s shoulders, he wasn’t stupid.

  “The care for Milton is expensive. It was necessary for him to be at that facility when he was part of the experimental drug trial eight years ago. But now he doesn’t need to be anymore. There’s nothing they’re doing for him there that we can’t do ourselves with just a little bit of help. He and I talked during his lucid times about moving back to Oak Creek, to be closer to Charlie. And because this has always been where we considered home.” She sighed tiredly. “Milton was always the one to make decisions in the family and I was happy to let him. But I think because of my unwillingness to make decisions, Charlie has paid the price. Literally.”