Crazy for Her(96)

“Tell them to stand down, little brother, so we can help you,” Andre said softly.

Eli lifted a cloudy gaze to Logan. “I tried to bring her back to you. He said he’d kill her if I didn’t call the boys off. I did, but he shot Matthew anyway. Then he shot me. Why’d he do that?” He looked at the dogs. “They got him pretty good, though, so he’s hurt and bleeding. You can follow his trail, can’t you, and get Irish back?” He coughed and blood trickled down his chin.

Logan was transported back to another time and place when he’d held a dying man in his arms who looked just like this one. “Don’t you dare die, Evan,” he whispered.

“Easy, mon ami,” Andre said, giving Logan’s shoulder a firm grip. “Eli, listen to me. We’re here to help you, but you have to tell your boys to stand down. Do it now.”

Eli made a hand signal. “Friends,” he said, and then closed his eyes. “It hurts.”

Andre eased toward Eli, and Logan followed, careful not to startle the dogs. Logan picked up the flashlight from the floor next to Eli and shone it on his GPS. While Andre saw to Eli’s wound, Logan called Buchanan, gave him the coordinates, and told him to get a medic and several men up to the cave.

Finishing his call, he squatted down. “It doesn’t look good,” he said quietly.

Andre nodded. “No, not so good.”

Eli jerked his head up. “I’m sorry. I thought . . . I was confused. I’m sorry.”

“Where’s Dani?” Logan asked.

“Samuel has her, but he’s hurt. His legs, the boys got his legs. Go. I’ll be okay. Just go get her.”

Logan exchanged a look with Decourdeau. Eli wasn’t okay and they both knew it. “You stay with him until help arrives.”

Logan left the cave and started down the mountain. He’d been a step behind since they’d taken Dani. When he got her back, he was going to install a tracking device on her, not that she was going to need it because he was never letting her out of his sight again.

“Ow. You’re hurting my arm.”

Logan stilled at hearing Dani’s voice.

“I told you to shut up, Miss Danielle. One more word and I’ll gag you.”

Logan eased forward, careful of where he stepped. There, at the edge of the tree line. His men would stop them before she could be taken back into the compound, but he didn’t know the man, Samuel. Would he keep his cool? He’d already killed his partner and had seriously wounded Eli. Logan darted left, and using the trees for cover, made his way to Dani.

Just as Logan started to show himself, Ballard stepped out from behind a large rock. “I see you found my wayward bride, Samuel.” He looked around. “Where are Eli and Peter?”

“Eli shot Peter, and then he turned on me so I had to shoot him.”

“That’s a lie,” Dani said.

Logan clenched his jaws to keep from yelling at her to shut up.

Samuel shot her a glare before clasping his hands in front of him and bowing his head. “She’s upset, Blessed Son, and doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

Logan studied the man who claimed to be the Son of God. He had no weapon unless he was hiding one under his white robe, but this was the kind of man who let others do his dirty work. Logan turned his attention back to Dani. She’d slipped a few feet away from the men. Good girl.

“I’m upset, all right, but you two can argue it out, ’cause I’m outta here.” She turned to leave. Samuel reached for her, but she danced away. “Sorry, guys, just not my idea of a good place to vacation. No offense.” She backed up.

“Such a delight you are, my dear,” the cult leader said, a tolerant smile on his face that Logan longed to wipe off. “Now, Samuel, retrieve Miss Danielle. She has a wedding to attend.”

Over his dead body. Logan stepped forward, his SIG held by his side in one hand and a knife in the other. “Touch her, Samuel, and you die.”

“Logan! I knew you’d come for me.”

“Always,” he said, not taking his eyes off the men. “Come here, Dani.”

Samuel pointed his gun at Logan. “Who the hell are you?”

“Samuel, your language,” Ballard said. “I believe Miss Danielle called him Logan, so that means he’s Logan Kincaid. This does not concern you, Mr. Kincaid. Why you are here, I can’t imagine, but you should go on about your business elsewhere before you get hurt. My people will protect me at the cost of their lives. I should think you have enough blood on your hands as it is.”

A hypnotist had once been a part of a USO show he’d attended in Afghanistan. Ballard’s soft, intimate voice reminded him of the entertainer’s. An owl hooted three times in the woods at the same time his phone vibrated.