Drake dropped off Mason at the hospital with a hysterical Lois and then drove like a bat out of hell to the Chalet. He ran up the stairs. At four in the morning, nobody was up, so Drake knocked softly on Evie’s door.
Three doors opened. Darius, Evie, and Karen all ended up downstairs at the dining room table as Drake quickly explained to Evie that Lois desperately needed a friend at the hospital.
“They used her as a distraction so that they could get me into the trailer. It’s a damned snowstorm, and they send her to the door, beaten and naked.”
Karen went pale.
“Fucking bastards. Did you kill them?” Evie asked.
“One’s dead, it was kill or be killed. Harmon has a flesh wound, the other two are stoned out of their mind. Aiden’s got them on ice until the DEA show up later this morning. Harmon also showed me where the meth lab is. At least one of them, but it was a pretty substantial operation.”
“Let me throw on something other than sweats, and I’ll be good to go.” Evie rushed out of the room.
“Same goes,” Darius followed, which left Karen sitting next to him in flannel pajamas looking like she might shatter. Drake was at a loss.
“Talk to me.”
“It’s nothing. I’ll go start some coffee.” She started to get up from the table, and he gently grabbed her wrist.
“Honey, I can’t help, if you don’t tell me what’s wrong, and I want to help. You look like your puppy died.”
She turned to him, her hazel eyes shimmering with tears.
They both heard footsteps.
“Let me go get the coffee.”
He turned and saw Evie and Darius. God, they were fast. Then there was Evie talking loudly. Shit, she was going to wake the others. He went to the front door.
“What the hell? What are you yammering about?”
“Dare said he’s going to drive me,” she said glaring at his teammate.
“Sure, he is. What’s the problem?”
“I’m perfectly capable of driving myself to the hospital.”
“He’s going, and he’s driving.”
“I’m doing the driving, I’m used to the icy roads,” she ground out.
“Yep, she’s your sister.” Darius grinned. “Give me the keys to your car,” he asked Evie nicely.
“You’re not taking her deathtrap. Here are the keys to my rental.” Drake handed his keys to Darius.
“I. Am. Driving.”
“Look, Evie. Get it through your head. He’s trained. Think this through. Ice and snow. No asphalt. Afghanistan. He’s trained for this shit. I’m serious as a heart attack on this point, if, and when, you’re more capable on something, he’ll let you take point. Do you know why? Because we’re trained to let the most capable person on our team take the lead. Right now, that’s not you. You’re not fucking driving.”
Evie and Drake glared at one another.
“Coffee’s made. I’m going back to bed.” Karen walked past them.
All three of them looked at the woman who was normally so animated and now looked like a ghost.
“Okay, you’re driving, Dare.” Evie turned to Drake. “You go take care of Karen.” She opened the front door and waved to Darius to proceed her.
Darius sighed and shook his head. “Yep, she’s definitely your sister.”
Drake turned to follow Karen, but Darius grabbed his arm.
“Mason called me,” he said.
“Yeah?”
“He said you got a bullet to the chest. He said that if you do anything stupid like try to go after Huey, he’ll have your ass in a sling. You’re not supposed to do anything but get some shut-eye.” Darius squinted at him. “You’re not fucking superman. Take it easy, and if you do try to go out while we’re gone, I’ll knock the shit out of you.”
“A bullet to the chest?” Evie said in a stunned voice.
“Body armor,” Darius and Drake said simultaneously.
“I’m fine, Sissy. Dare’s right. I’ll nap. It’s just a bruise.”
She gave him a concerned look, then let go of the door handle. “Hold on, I’ll be right back. She darted towards the hallway. The two men looked at one another and then shrugged. She came back and opened the door.
“What’s taking you so long, Dare?” she demanded.
“That’s my cue to leave.” Darius smiled.
Drake didn’t even watch the door close, he was taking the steps two at a time up to Karen’s bedroom. He tapped on the door. She didn’t answer. He hesitated for a nanosecond before opening it slightly. He saw her curled up in the window seat staring out into the storm. Hell, she didn’t even have a blanket wrapped around her.