Chapter Eighteen
Easton clutched Kinley’s limp hand, running his thumb over her cool skin. He hadn’t moved from his chair at her bedside, terrified she’d slip away from him. Sunlight filtered through the slats in the blinds of her hospital room. The memory of opening that steel hatch of that hellish bunker to find Kinley’s body crumpled on the floor was acid in his veins. His heart had stopped beating, paralyzed with fear. Then he couldn’t move fast enough. Didn’t even bother with the ladder. Her weak pulse fluttering against the pads of his fingers was a sensation he’d never forget.
Both her legs were swollen and casted. Her body was bloodied and bruised, the skin marbled and cold to the touch. He couldn’t think of the reasons she was nearly naked, but the doctor said there was no bruising consistent with sexual assault. He hoped she’d been spared that pain, but if not, he’d be there to help her work through it. The important thing was that she’d survived and he wouldn’t take that for granted. Never.
“No shame in taking a breather. Or a nap,” Isaac said in a hushed tone as he entered the hospital room. “Coffee.” A large to-go cup was placed in his free hand. “Doughnuts,” Isaac added, placing a paper bag on the hospital table next to him. “Never seen someone in more need of a sugar rush.” His brother had returned from deployment the night Kinley disappeared and had taken a direct flight to Boston. Easton thought he couldn’t have any more love for his fraternal twin, but once again, Isaac moved heaven and earth to be there for his family when they needed him most. “How’s she doing?”
“Doctor was happy with her recovery during rounds this morning. She’s been in and out, mumbling mostly. She’s still on enough pain meds to take down a horse, so I get it.” As soon as Kinley had been stabilized, she’d gone into surgery for the severe fractures to her leg and knee. Every sigh she made was his salvation. The ebb and flow of her pulse on the overhead monitor was the glue holding him together.
“She’s one hell of a survivor. Looked pure evil in the eyes twice and pulled through. Perfect for you. You going to hop on the wedding train with Gus and Sasha?” Isaac dragged up a chair and sat beside him, his own coffee clutched in his hand.
“Not going to wait to get a ring on her finger.” And he wouldn’t.
Isaac nodded. “Pleased as hell for you, brother.” He glanced away, and Easton was sure he saw something cloud his twin’s expression, but it was gone just as quickly as it came.
“The way we’re dropping like flies, you’ll be next. Or Jules.” His statement was meant as a joke, but an honest-to-God growl rumbled in Isaac’s throat. So he hadn’t imagined the strange look on his face. Pushing Isaac never got him anywhere. He’d talk when he was ready. Not once had his brother even mentioned a woman, but maybe somewhere along the line, he’d been burned.
“Anything on Maxwell Calder?” Isaac asked, changing the subject.
“Awaiting his detention hearing, and this time, the judge isn’t expediting anything.” Easton rubbed his hands over his eyes. He was bone-tired, but he’d never be able to sleep. Not until Kinley was home and in his arms.
“What a cluster.” Isaac shook his head. “Judge releases him from federal custody and he goes directly to his brother and shoots him point-blank. They were twins, too. Arguably went through less trauma than we did. One turned into a serial killer. The other an accomplice.”
“Guess you never know when genetics and environment make that perfect storm. Can’t say I’m sorry Wayne is dead. He deserved it slow and painful. Deserved to look all those families whose lives he tore apart in the eyes. He’s not coming back, though. No chance of escape six feet under. I’ll take some comfort in that.”
“He’s dead?”
Both men jolted. The small, hoarse voice from the hospital bed was the best sound in the world. She’d awakened a few times, but only briefly, and this was her first pointed question about what had happened.
“Yeah, Kins. It’s over.” Tears burned behind his eyes. God, she was strong. “When we were getting you medical care, shots were fired. Judge Hutchins had approved bail for Maxwell Calder, and he went straight to Wayne and shot him. I think once he put the pieces together about the death of their sister Janie, he couldn’t stop himself.”
“A sister. Oh, my God. The poor thing.” Her already pale face blanched, and he squeezed her hand in support.
“Sixteen victims,” Isaac murmured.
“Maxwell admitted to everything,” Easton told her. “When he discovered Wayne had sent you an email, he panicked and tried to scare you away. He murdered Becca Murray as a warning, thinking you’d run scared and not pursue the origin of the email. When that failed, he paid off Marshall Redding, the guard from Oasis Renewable Energy, to trash your apartment. He killed him, afraid he’d snitch to being recruited by Maxwell.”
“Merry?” she croaked.
“Wayne’s biological daughter. Maxwell could only stomach so much. Apparently, killing a baby extended past his moral compass, so he kept her. Wayne was obsessed with you, and promised his brother he’d stop killing if they could relocate so he could keep an eye on you.”
“Maxwell knew it was me all along.” A single tear tracked down her cheek, and his heart squeezed. She was alive.
“Yeah, baby. He did. All the victims’ families have been notified. Merry stopped by yesterday with flowers. Sana Das’s parents have already contacted her. They want to meet their granddaughter, despite the circumstances surrounding her birth.”
“Love that for her.” Another tear fell.
“Me too. If it wasn’t for her information…”
“Don’t think about that,” Isaac interrupted. “Just focus on the now.”
Kinley’s eyebrows rose, as if she just recognized that his brother was in the room.
“We met briefly during the crisis with Gus’s fiancée. I’m Easton’s brother. I’m sure you both have things you want to talk about.” Isaac stood up and looked down at Kinley, warmth softening his hard features. “Glad to see you’re okay, sweetheart. I’ll bring Julie up tomorrow for a bit so you’re not bored to tears.”
“Thank you, Isaac.”
“No. Thank you for being tough as hell and hanging on. Worked with seasoned SEALs who cracked under less. Let Easton take care of you.” He slipped out of the room, and Easton turned his attention to Kinley. His entire world lay in that hospital bed.