Page 16 of Embedded
“Can I?” Nicole looked at the doctor, who seemed pleased she had been able to stop his high-pitched cries. He nodded, and she carefully scooped him up and pressed him against her chest. He instantly tucked his head under her chin. His bottom lip was stuck way out, his eyes were wide, and his hiccups made him jump every few seconds, but the entire plane seemed relieved that he’d finally begun to calm down. He looked so small and broken that it crushed my heart all over again.
“He’s young. These memories won’t stay with him.” Chili kept his head down as he scrolled through his phone. “She’s great with him.” I sat and tried for long, even breaths.
The pilot finally let us know we were about to taxi for takeoff, and everyone took a seat and buckled up. It wasn’t lost on me that Nicole chose a spot a few rows back from where I was. The doc arranged the little guy’s IV as she settled back with Chase in her arms. Mark handed her a blanket, and Frank slipped into the seat next to her with his tablet. I knew he’d need to spend some time debriefing her, but he could have waited a beat.
Once in the air, I concentrated on my breathing to ease the pain. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Then I remembered my meds and swallowed a couple with a swig of water. I moved my head and shoulders around a little, then closed my eyes and let my head go back home to Shadows as I permitted myself to drift off to a drugged sleep.
* * *
My brain fired back up instantly when I felt the plane touch down. Everything hit me at once, and I whipped around to look back at my son. He wasn’t in Nicole’s arms.
“Easy, brother.” John, who had taken Chili’s seat at some point, kicked his feet out with a yawn. “The meds the doctor gave him kicked in, and he’s out cold. He’s with the nurse in the back. The doc needed to check out Nicole.”
“Nicole?”
“Yeah, she’s got a nasty cut on her head, and her cheek started to swell, probably from the altitude and such.” I glanced back at her again. I saw she fought sleep as her head bounced up and down. She had a bandage high on her forehead, and her face looked red and sore. “Mark had her studying our family photos,” John went on. “Wants to help her feel more comfortable when she gets to the house.” Mark was good at making people feel at ease, it was something I admired about him. “She’s exhausted,” John’s lips pressed together, “but worried Chase might wake up before she does. They seem to have grown close.”
“Yes, I bet they have.” I heard how I sounded but didn’t care. The last few days had been a nightmare. I leaned back and closed my eyes as I remembered the video she had broadcast to the world about how my son was a pawn in a game of power with the Cartel. That was forever out there, he’d never escape his past because of her. How could she be so reckless and all for a fucking story.
“Hey,” John hit my arm, “come on. We’ve landed at the hospital, and they’re already getting off.”
I shook the cobwebs away and looked out the window. Chase’s stretcher was being wheeled toward an ambulance that would take him to the North Dakota hospital.
“Mia is waiting at emergency with Savi and Dad,” Cole said over his shoulder as we climbed down the steps. “They’ll take the boy to x-ray first, then he’ll get bloodwork. Meanwhile, the rest of us get checked over one last time before we head to Shadows.”
“I’m fine,” I grunted as a knee-jerk reaction.
Cole turned and threw a look at me. “Well, it’s not your call or mine, so suck it up, princess,” he growled.
I knew I needed to get back in line. “Copy that.” I headed for the SUV and caught Nicole’s zombie-like expression as I took the seat in front of her. Even looking like death, she was friggin’ beautiful, and I hated it.
It was a short drive from the tarmac to the hospital, not far enough. I hated that place and shuddered at the memories. I’d gone from living my best life to being dead in that hospital. Then I had to leave my family behind and live a whole different life in Mexico, which had only brought me pain and heartbreak. Now, a decade later, I was right back in the thick of that shit again.
As always, we used our private entrance to the hospital, which was reserved for our special ops teams, thanks to Frank and Daniel. Those two made sure everything worked like a well-oiled machine. Mia waited by the door and threw herself into Mark’s arms as he hurried to see her. He lifted her and kissed her hard, then put her back down.
“I’ll let you know what’s happening as soon as I can.” She was instantly all business. Mia didn’t work at the hospital anymore, but Daniel made sure that whenever anyone from our teams arrived with an injury, Mia was in charge. The perks of the military and lots of gracious funding.
“Mia,” I called as she headed down the hall. She turned and nodded to show she knew how important it was that Chase wasn’t to be left alone.
“Copy that,” she confirmed, then looked over my shoulder at Nicole and gave her a warm smile before she hurried away.
Savannah hugged Cole and whispered something in his ear, I caught part of it. She asked if Nicole knew that Chase was my son; he said no. Everyone knew not to say a word. That was what was great about our house; secrets were never spilled. Ever. At least until they weren’t a secret, and this time it would be for me to tell.
“You must be Nicole.” Savannah smiled and slipped right into hostess mode. “I’m Savannah, Cole’s wife. It’s lovely to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you.” Nicole shook her hand, then looked embarrassed as she brushed at a stain on her shoulder that was probably left there from Chase. “Sorry we’re meeting under such circumstances.”
“You look a hell of a lot better than I did when I first met them all.” She chuckled. Savi was always great at putting people at ease, just like Mark. “Would you like to grab something to eat while the guys get checked out?”
“I’d love to, but first I need to find out what the hell is wrong with this guy before I can think about eating.” She head-pointed at me.
Savi grinned, and I could tell she was in love with Nicole already. “Now you’re speaking my language. I’ll be over there when you’re ready.”
John tried to hide his laugh as the guys scattered to leave me alone. Assholes. Daniel began to walk toward us, but Cole turned him away mid-stride.
“Thanks, Savi.” Nicole turned and crossed her arms as she looked up at me. “So, you’re pissed at me?”
“Pissed doesn’t begin to describe it.”
