Page 16 of One Last Storm
Hazel’s voice was whisper-thin.
The image of Tillie—tough Tillie, former soldier, elite athlete, who’d protected her sister from an abusive man, made a life for Hazel and her sister…
Crying? Flynn’s throat closed.
“You mom’s getting the best care, and she’s strong.”
“Are you scared about Daddy and Uncle Axel?” Hazel bit her lip, glancing at Dawson, back to Flynn. “They went to save people.”
“Yes, they did honey. And no, I’m not scared. They’re smart and courageous and I know they’ll be fine.” Oh please, Lord, let her not be lying to those sweet brown eyes.
Hazel nodded, such a serious look on her face.
Outside, a car pulled up at the entrance and even as Hazel’s attention went to it, Flynn turned.
A woman practically fell out of the passenger side door onto the sidewalk. Landed on all fours—what?
She got up and headed toward the doors.
The car shrieked away, and the woman turned and screamed. Flynn caught the tail end as the woman writhed—in physical pain, clearly, but a sort of emotional anguish pouring from her that could take Flynn apart.
She’d heard these kind of screams before.
“Ma’am?”
An orderly had rushed out behind her, gone to the woman who’d clearly been beaten. Blood covered her face, her nose blackened with blood, her lip split, one eye closed, and she held her ribs as if she might be bleeding internally.
Flynn helped the orderly get her up, and half-carried, half dragged her inside. The man put her into a nearby wheelchair. “I’ll be right back.”
Flynn kneeled in front of her. “What happened?—?”
“Marcus Ravak happened.” Dawson’s voice, behind her, coming up to them.
She stiffened at the name, studied the woman. “Rosa?”
The woman glanced at her, caught her breath, and then her face crumpled and she leaned over.
And wailed.
And Flynn knew. Just knew… “Kiana.”
“He took her. He has her.”
Dawson made a sound, as if the words hit him, deep in the chest. Then he crouched next to Rosa. “What happened?”
“He…” She coughed, and blood spurted out of her. Flynn backed up. Aw, the woman was in big trouble. “I went out to buy Kiana a gift and he…he accused me of betraying him.”
Of course he did.
“Said I’d told the cops where to find him.” She coughed again, and this time, caught the blood on her hands. “But I didn’t—I swear—and…now he’s got her and…” She moaned, her arms across her body. “He’s going to kill her.”
Flynn stilled. But the truth slid inside her, a knife. Yes, trafficker Marcus Ravak was just the kind of man to kill a child. “Okay, okay—where is he. We’ll find him.”
Rosa’s eyes widened. “Oh…oh. No. no—you’re cops!”
Flynn stood up. “We’re on your side. And we’re the only hope you have of getting Kiana back.”
But the woman had started to sob, deep wrenching pain that resounded through the ER.
