Caught by Emma Louise

Chapter Ten

“I told Darcey to take the rest of the day off,” Crew announces as he invades the quiet of my office. I don’t look up at him, not wanting to get into more shit with him after the disastrous meeting from earlier. “And I told Felix to do whatever he feels necessary to make sure they stay safe.” That gets my attention.

“Explain,” I grunt.

“She needs help, and we’re giving it to her,” he says calmly, leaning back with his arms resting loosely on the arms of the chair. He looks calm and relaxed, but I've known Crew long enough to notice the hard set of his jaw; he’s pissed at me. I get the feeling he’s almost daring me to argue with him, like he’s itching for me to start a fight so he can try to put me in my place for being a dick earlier. “It’s the least we can do for her.”

“Why is that?”

“She does plenty for us.”

“That’s what we pay her for, isn’t it?”

“Do we pay her to listen to Felix and all of his woman problems? Do we pay her to clean up around here because we’re like a bunch of frat boys who have just moved out of home for the first time?”

“That’s not—”

“Or do we pay her to put up with you being an ass to her all the time?”

“Crew—”

“I know we pay her, but she’s one of us now. The guys love having her here, and it isn't just because they don’t have to do their own paperwork anymore.”

I don’t have anything to say to that. She’s been an asset to the place; the changes she’s made have been nothing but helpful. The guys might love having her here, but I just can’t get my head out of my ass when it comes to.

“I get that you have an issue with her, but she’s a good woman. She took that last job for her kid, so she could provide for her. It's time to cut her some slack because she isn't going anywhere; she’s one of us now. You need to suck it up, buttercup.” He smirks, slapping his hands down on the seat as he pushes to his feet.

“You knew? About the kid?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“You never said.”

“Why would I?” He smirks down at me. “You obviously don’t like Darcey. Why would you give a shit if she had a kid or not?”

“Whatever.” I finally manage to grind that one word out past my clenched jaw, cutting off this stupid conversation. He’s right, I don’t care if she has a kid or not. “You’re footing the bill for whatever it is Felix does, though.”

“He’s tailing her home right now; he had a free morning anyway. Although...” He trails off, leaving me with no choice but to bite at the carrot he’s dangling in front of me.

“Although what?”

“Maybe sending Felix after Darcey wasn’t the best idea. We both know he’ll be trying to get in there with her. I’m pretty sure he has a crush on her,” he says, sounding mildly amused at the thought.

“I’m sure her boyfriend will love that,” I mutter back to him.

“Boyfriend?” Crew asks, his brow wrinkled in confusion. The sound of a ringing phone cuts into whatever he’s about to say next. I watch as Crew pulls out his phone, looking at the screen with his brows pulled together. “Delaney, what’s up man?” he says, letting me know it’s Liam, an old military buddy on the other end of the call. Whatever he says to Crew has his body locking up tight and the air in the room turning arctic. “I’m on my way.” He’s halfway out the door as he speaks. I’m on my feet following without thought. Whatever is happening is not good. “She’s in the hospital,” he growls over his shoulder at me as we rush through the empty reception area.

“Who?”

“It’s Darcey. She’s been attacked. Again.”

I don’t have time to get my seat belt clicked into place before Crew is peeling out of the parking lot and heading toward the hospital. The sound of a call echoing through the car’s sound system eats into the tense silence.

“What’s up, boss man?” Felix’s too chipper voice fills the car, and the carefree greeting has me wanting to put my first through the glass at my side.

“I told you to watch her.”

“Pardon?”

“Darcey,” Crew practically snarls her name. “I just got a call from Liam Delaney telling me she’s hurt. A neighbor found her in a pool of blood outside her apartment; she was unconscious. Paramedics took her to the hospital.”

“What the fuck?” Felix asks, his voice a surprised bark. “She walked inside. I saw her walk inside—”

“Did you see her go inside her apartment?”

“I didn’t...” I can hear him swallow as he tries to gather himself before speaking again. “I thought ... fuck!” he roars, and I hear something crash to the floor through the phone. “I’ll meet you there.” The line goes dead. White hot anger simmers deep in my gut. He was supposed to be watching her.

For the rest of the short drive, I work to blank everything from my mind. I don’t think about what we’re potentially going to find when we get there; it can’t be good if she’s in an ambulance. This is what I’m good at— locking everything down; no thoughts, no feelings.

Crew pulls up at the front entrance to the ER, and I’m out of the truck before he has time to stop fully. The details that Liam sent through are seared into my mind, so I don’t waste time stopping at the desk to ask for directions. Bypassing the elevator that has a crowd of people waiting, I take the stairs three at a time up to the fourth floor. Slamming my way through the doors, I’m surprised to find the hallway is deserted. The only sound is the heavy thump of my boots on the tile floor as I search for the room Darcey is in. My breath is coming in harsh breaths, and it isn't just from the run upstairs. Panic starts to claw at me the longer it takes to find her.

A door at the end of the corridor opens, and a nurse steps out. I catch a glimpse of the back of Felix as he stands near the foot of the bed. He must hear my approach because he turns to face me, and it’s like a punch to my gut. He looks wrecked. His face is blanched an unnatural shade of pale, and his hair is a mess.

“What the hell happened?” I ask as he steps out. I have the insane urge to push him out of the way, to go make sure she’s okay.

“Fuck, man...” I’m not used to seeing him like this. Felix is usually a cocky shit, he acts the clown, but I've known him more years than I can count, and he’s cold as ice inside. We all are. We don’t see the things we’ve seen and done the things we’ve done in the military without becoming hardened to pretty much everything.

Whatever has happened to Darcey, it can’t be pretty.