“I can’t believe how far away we were from Niantes,” he berated himself.“The flight didn’t seem that long to me.”
“Give yourself a break, sir,” I chided playfully.“Hawkins’ men beat the shit out of you, and that was before the hood.Neither of us knew where we were, and that was the way Hawkins wanted it.”
“When did you get so smart?”His chuckle sounded more like the Eli I’d fallen for.
“I’ve always been smart, sir.”I shot him a knowing look.“You just never noticed until now.”
“You’re probably right.”He pulled in air, and I had the sense his pain was becoming less and less tolerable.“Being in charge meant I sometimes didn’t pay attention.I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven.”I met his gaze for a moment.“For that, at least.”
“Thanks.”His lips curled.“I guess my old job will take a little longer, eh?”
“I don’t have to forgive you for the things you did before we even met, sir.”That was absurd.“But I’ll need time to wrap my head around what you’ve told me.”
I still couldn’t merge the two versions of Eli in my head.Maybe I never would.
“Fair enough.”His tone was contrite.“How’s the fuel holding up?”
My focus flitted to the gauge.“We have more than half a tank, so we’ll be fine.”
“Good.”He settled back against his seat as best as he could.“I could get used to being chauffeured around.”
***
Pulling onto Owen’s driveway around an hour later, I secured the brake and peered up at his enormous house.My brother had done well for himself, but then few people I knew deserved the success more.Cutting the engine, I glanced over at Eli.He’d fallen asleep a little over half an hour before, and knowing how exhausted he was, I hadn’t tried to wake him.I only hoped the slumber wasn’t a symptom of a bullet-related infection taking hold.
Opening the door, I slipped out and closed it behind me as quietly as I could.I might as well let Eli rest until I knew whether Owen was there.There was a car already on the long, isolated driveway, but for all I knew, he owned more than one.If he was working, I’d let us in and use his phone to call him at work.Sure, he’d be surprised at the impromptu visit, and I had no doubt he’d have many questions, but I was his sister, and he loved me.He’d want to help.
I knocked on the wooden door, glancing around anxiously at the car in case Eli had woken.In an ideal world, I’d have some time with Owen to explain our predicament before I introduced Eli, but recent events had proven the world we lived in was far from perfect.I was still musing on the idea when the door opened behind me.
“Erin?”Owen’s shocked tone radiated through me.“Oh, thank God!”Stepping over the threshold, he threw his arms around me.“I’ve been worried sick!”
“Owen?”His suffocating embrace, although welcome, was not the reaction I’d been expecting.“What’s wrong?”
Drawing away, his gaze scanned my face before it flitted to the fancy car parked on his property.“I’ve been trying to call you for hours, but your phone just rang out until, finally, I got no answer.”
Tension knotted in my tummy at the idea of him being unable to reach me.We didn’t frequently keep in touch, but I liked to think I was there for him if he needed me.
“Yeah, I don’t have my phone right now…” Standing in front of him, my situation was proving harder to explain than I’d imagined.“It’s a long story.”
“Wanna tell me about it?”His features softened with the question.“I can put the kettle on.”
“Yeah, thanks, but I need a favor, too.”Wordlessly, I turned toward the car.“He’s in there.”
“He?”Owen clarified, edging away to stare through the windshield.“Is he a friend of yours?”His wry tone suggested he knew otherwise.
“Something like that.”I sighed.“Like I said, it’s a long story.”
“What’s wrong with him?”Owen’s hands rose to his hips.“And don’t tell me that’s a long story too.”
“His name is Eli and he’s been shot.”I could probably have worked harder to sugarcoat the facts, but Owen was a doctor—he could deal with reality.
“Shot?”His face was ashen as he glanced back at me.“Bloody hell, little sister.What have you got yourself into?”
Chapter Thirteen
Angels and Demons
