I motioned forward and our guys used explosives to blow the doors off the warehouse. From there, things moved quickly. We stormed the building almost silently. Down a dark and long narrow hallway, we ran toward the lights at the end. Shouting could be heard all around us.
My heart raced in my chest. We were so close.
“Marcos!” Nico shouted from down the hall.
I pushed passed the guys in front of me and took point, racing down the hall. I burst through a doorway, into a nightmare of a scene. Bright lamps were pointed at a bed in the center of the room, satin sheets covered the mattress, and in the middle of it all, was a very bruised and battered Maya.
She lay on her side, her body curled up as she slept—I hoped she slept. “Maya!” I shouted, falling to my knees besides the bed. I reached out gently to tuck her hair behind her ear and feel for a pulse. “Gracias a Dios.” I let out a relieved sigh. It was faint, but it was there.
“Maya,” Nico spoke softly. He climbed on the bed beside her and gently turned her on her back. “Maya, baby. Little Dreamer, wake up.”
She stirred and blinked her eyes open.
“Come on, Little Dreamer. Come back to me,” Nico murmured.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Leonardo walk into the room, followed by Jason. Jason slid to his knees on the other side of the mattress, watching as Nico coaxed our girl awake.
“Nic.” Maya gasped his name, a light breathy sound that showed just how weak she was.
“I’ve got you, Little Dreamer. Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
Her body was limp as Nico lifted her into his arms. “Maya, stay with me,” he murmured to her unresponsive body.
Nico
Myheartpoundedinmy chest as I raced through the halls with Maya in my arms. Marcos and Jason were hot on my heels, but the only thing I could think about was getting Maya to the waiting ambulance. It was a stroke of genius that Jason has reached out to Griff to have him on standby. Maya was in horrible shape.
Outside, the cool night air nipped at my arms, and I knew it would be worse on her naked body. I didn’t have time to wrap her in my leather jacket; I ran as fast as I could to the ambulancethat was backed in. The back doors opened and our club doctor Griffen was jumping out.
I carefully stepped into the back of the ambulance and set Maya down on to gurney. Dr. Griffin jumped back into the ambulance as a lady dressed in an EMT uniform walked in the back bay from the driver’s area. “Hey, I’m Marlene. How’s she doing?”
“Not good. Were you filled in?” I asked.
Marlene nodded. “Yes. I know the score. So I’m asking was she responsive when you picked her up?”
“She woke up long enough to say my name before she passed out again,” I said.
“That’s good,” Griffin said.
The ambulances back doors slammed shut and someone got in the driver’s seat. I looked over to see my cousin, Giovanni, behind the wheel. He gave me a nod. “We ready?”
“Hold on,” Griffin said. Him and Marlene got to work hanging bags of fluid from an IV pole before they slowly and carefully arranged Maya on the gurney. Marlene covered her in blankets while Griffin stuck the needle into a vein at the crook of her arm.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“She’s severely dehydrated, so basic saline and then antibiotics. There’s not too much I can do from the back of a moving vehicle, but we’ll keep her stable,” Griffin said, before he turned to the driver. “You know to take us to the back door of Mourningside General?”
Giovanni nodded. “Yes, and I’ll turn everything off as we get closer.”
“Good,” Griffin nodded. “Let’s go.”
Giovanni put the ambulance into drive and slowly moved forward.
I sat down out of the way, while Griffin and Marlene attended to Maya. They had to hold on to the overhead grab bars whileGiovanni drove us out of the bumpy parking lot, but soon we were on a smooth highway and racing home.
Maya moaned as Griffin pressed on her belly through the blanket. “Maya, does that hurt?” Griffin’s voice was commanding.
Maya moaned again, her eyes blinking open. “Please,” she muttered.
