“Andres,” Jago instructed one of his men. “Make certain there’s no one else inside.”
“Yes, sir.”
I headed toward where Fallon was crouched, hovering over her sister and even rocking her. As I couched down, Fallon lifted her head. Seconds before, she’d been one of the strongest andfiercest warriors I’d worked with. Now, with tears in her eyes, she appeared so vulnerable.
“How is she?” I brushed hair from Brooke’s face and grabbed the flashlight, turning it on, but keeping the beam a few inches away. Her face was ashen, her lips almost blue. What bothered me almost as much were the bruises on her face. Her right eye was swollen, her clothes tattered. Fuck me. I wanted to kill the bastards.
“She’ll be in a coma soon. She’s bruised. They beat her, Navarro. They beat my sister.”
“Do you trust me, Fallon?”
She bit her lower lip, darting a look over my shoulder to where Jago stood. When she finally nodded, I offered a comforting smile.
Andres returned, showing items he’d retrieved from the bunker. A vial, a pill bottle, and what I knew was an insulin bottle.
She reached for what he had, her hand shaking the entire time. A slight gasp left her lips. “They took her medicine. She’s had several days of medicine.” She peered up at me with a certain amount of hope.
“Let’s go. We need to get to the hospital.”
After handing Fallon the flashlight, I slipped my arms under Brooke and rose to my feet. With the frail girl pressed tightly against me, for the first time since I’d allowed the darkness to strip away my humanity, I understood the importance of having a family.
There were so many memories, some laced with laughter and joy while others were too dark to tolerate. Having Brooke in myarms and Fallon by my side was the closest thing to a true family I’d experienced in over twenty years. Even though Rafael had done his best to make me feel like one of his own.
With soldiers flanking our sides, we made it out of the compound without issue.
Yet with every step we took, the howls and snarls of the beasts behind the fence were a continuous, damning reminder this was no life for anyone of Fallon’s talent and beauty or Brooke’s innocence.
Yet in the back of my mind, I knew both women would be considered cartel aristocracy with targets forever placed on their backs. The way of every crime syndicate. The blood was royal, heirs worth money.
It was too late for me, but the two women who hadn’t asked to be brought into a world of violence had their entire lives ahead of them. If there was one decent thing I could do in my life, it was helping them return to what they loved.
That would all depend on the Brain and Farid Fassi.
For now, both women would be placed under my protection.
Where they would remain.
At least I’d made my decision about Barcelona.
They were both coming with me.
CHAPTER 24
Fallon
Freefalling.
I’d never experienced the heady sensations, but in my mind, the experience was freeing. Damning. Terrifying. I threw out my arms, embracing the rush of wind against my face, savoring the tickling sense of floating.
All while sensing the crushing end.
Death.
Shuddering, I opened my eyes and immediately sensed Navarro had left me alone.
I felt the ache in my bones.
And in my heart.
