Prologue

One month ago

Lena mumbled, trying to get her bearings as the world shifted around her. She was tired. So damn tired. Her entire body felt heavy and too weak to move, like she couldn't get up even if she tried. Even her thoughts were sluggish. Confused.

Was she in bed?

No. Because it felt like she was moving. Swaying.

Her eyelids wouldn't open, her body too exhausted to do anything she wanted, but she could sense it was daytime. Warm sunlight caressed her skin.

It almost felt like she was floating now. She was warm and so, so sleepy.

As she began to drift off again, low voices made her realize she wasn't alone.

Wait. Was she riding in a car? A memory niggled at the back of her mind, just out of reach. She was supposed to do something. Be somewhere. She'd been with friends earlier, she realized. They'd had coffee. Gone back inside. Suddenly, her stomach dropped.

"Kaylee!" she cried out, her voice hoarse.

"Shhh." A rough hand gently smoothed her hair back from her face, and relief coursed through her at the sound of the gruff voice. His touch felt so gentle against her skin. So damn careful.

Safe.

She was safe.

And she knew the man holding her would die rather than let those evil men hurt her.

"We're almost to the hospital," another male voice said. "Five more minutes."

Lena stiffened again, but then the soothing voice was calming her once more, drowning out her panic. "Lena, we're almost there. Stay with me, baby. Try to stay awake."

"Gray?" she murmured.

"That's right. It's Gray. You were drugged," he continued, and she realized Gray wasn't just beside her in the car, he was holding her in his strong arms, her head resting on his shoulder. "Your pulse is weak. We're taking you to the emergency room. Everything will be okay now."

Suddenly, relief washed over her. She wasn't in the dark SUV with the armed men who'd tracked down Kaylee. She wasn't in the house they'd taken her to—in the bedroom of the man who was meaner, harder than all the others.

Lena opened her mouth, a million questions churning in her mind, but no words came out. Had hours passed since she and Kaylee had been kidnapped? Days? Why couldn't she remember exactly what had happened?

Had she been assaulted in that house?

Lena whimpered.

"Shhh." Gray's big hand stroked the back of her head, comforting her. "Luke is driving us to the hospital. Kaylee's okay, too. You're going to be fine. You were unconscious when we found you, sweetheart."

Lena must've passed out again, because the next thing she knew, someone was carrying her toward the emergency room entrance. And not just any someone—Gray. The silent but deadly operative on the Shadow Ops Team who often seemed far too aware of her. She'd be flitting around headquarters, juggling multiple tasks for her boss, and he'd suddenly step in. Grab the heavy box of supplies she was carrying. Open the door for her. Pin her in place with that dark gaze as he asked if she needed help.

And now he was carrying her into the hospital like she was his, holding her carefully in his arms like she was something special. Someone to be cherished.

He'd been at the coffee shop, she suddenly remembered. Watching over them. Lena and Kaylee had gone back inside to order another drink, and Gray had hovered near the front doors. Lena began trembling, remembering the men who'd cornered them in the back hall. Kidnapped them.

The sound of sirens grew louder, and she saw two police cars pulling up, the officers jumping out. Jett's voice was barking orders from somewhere, and Lena blinked in confusion. It felt like everyone was arriving at once, a million different things happening. Her head began to pound as she saw nurses rushing out the door to meet them, and then she slumped over in Gray's arms, her mind trying to protect itself from all she'd endured.