Someone had been talking too much. “I’m fine.”
A snort. “Right. I’ll let you know if something comes up,” Zane said and ended the call.
A warm weight settled on his shoulder. “Where’s Jake?” Rowan asked.
Alarm snaked up his spine. Had he been right about Rowan? “Where are you hurt?”
“Not for me. For you.” She nodded toward his biceps.
He glanced down. A dull ache commenced. He sighed. That’s the way it always happened. Injuries didn’t register at first because of the adrenaline rush. “It’s not bad, baby.”
She frowned. “I want Jake to check. Please.”
Jake was already moving, mike bag in hand. The medic raised the arm on the seat so Brent could swing his legs into the aisle and give him access to the injury without dislodging Alexa.
The medic shoved up Brent’s shirt sleeve. He opened his bag and cleaned the wound. “Needs stitches, boss.”
“Do it.”
“Will it hurt, Brent?” Alexa mumbled.
“No, sugar. Jake’s good at patching me up.”
Jake numbed his arm, glanced at Rowan. “Shift to Brent’s other side, Rowan. He needs a distraction. Can’t have him passing out with this little angel in his arms.” He grinned. “I won’t tell if you whisper sweet nothings in his ear.”
Chuckles broke out all over the plane from operatives who knew the instruction was for Rowan’s benefit, not his. Brent had stitched himself on the battlefield without the benefit of anesthesia when there was no time to wait for the meds to kick in. Brent turned his head and saw why Jake had made the suggestion to Rowan. She looked pale and on the verge of passing out herself. “Come here, baby.” He freed one arm from holding Alexa and wrapped it around Rowan. Settling her into his side, he pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You kept your head and protected Alexa. You did what was necessary until I found you.” Man, he longed to tell Rowan he loved her, but didn’t want to spill his guts and beg her to give him a chance to love her for life with an avid audience of Fortress operatives.
“I was scared to death,” she said.
“Being brave means doing what’s necessary in spite of the fear.” He glanced at Alexa, noted the closed eyes and steady breathing. Man, she’d just dropped off to sleep. Brent turned his attention to Rowan, studied her a moment. “Tell me the truth, baby. Did Phillips, Garcia, or any of their flunkies hurt you?”
She looked away without answering.
Brent’s gut tightened. “Sweetheart, look at me.” He waited until her gaze locked with his. “Who hurt you?”
“Garcia was angry about the records,” she whispered.
“What did he do?”
“Nothing. Snake Skin did the work.”
“Relax your arm, boss,” Jake murmured.
Rowan’s face was unmarked, indicating Snake Skin stuck to body shots. She must be hurting, yet Rowan hadn’t uttered one word of complaint. “If I hadn’t already killed him and Garcia, I’d go back and take care of them,” he murmured. From the heated rumbling sweeping through the plane’s cabin, his operatives were angry as well. “When Jake finishes with my arm, he’ll check you.”
“Brent.”
“You could have internal injuries, Rowan.” Jake glanced up from his work. “Alexa needs you.” He tipped his chin at Brent. “So does he. Do it for them.”
She sighed, nodded.
After Jake completed the last stitch, he grabbed his mike bag and stepped back for Rowan to slip into the aisle. “This way.” The medic took her to the bedroom behind their row of seats and motioned for Celia, one of the PSI medic trainees, to join them.
Brent appreciated his sensitivity. Rowan would be more comfortable with a female medic in the room, trainee or not, despite the fact she trusted Jake.
When they returned, Brent noticed traces of tears on her cheeks. His eyes narrowed at the medic.
Jake held up his hand. “Rowan’s ribs, stomach, and back are bruised. Garcia’s man didn’t use full power, but he didn’t hold back his punches much. I gave her meds for pain so she’ll be more comfortable on the ride home. Nothing heavy duty. I promised she’d be alert when the plane landed. No internal injuries, Brent, although she’ll be sore for a few days.”
“Thanks.” When Rowan returned to her seat, Brent wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
“You’ve endured worse, I’m sure. I’ll recover.”
“I should have protected you better.”
“You did everything possible and you got us out alive. The bad guys are dead or will be soon. I call that a win for the good guys.” Her words began slurring.
“Sleep, sweetheart. You’re safe with me.”
“I know.” Rowan settled against his shoulder. “I love you,” she murmured and went limp.
Brent’s heart skipped a beat, then started pounding madly in his chest. She loved him? He longed for her to repeat the words, make sure he hadn’t misunderstood her. Couldn’t because she’d succumbed to the meds Jake administered to help her sleep.
He closed his eyes. The next few hours would be a slow form of torture while he waited for Rowan to wake and confirm the statement he desperately hoped she meant.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Rowan climbed from Brent’s SUV into the cool Nashville evening, swayed. Man, she had stiffened up on the plane ride home.
“Easy, sweetheart.” Brent supported her with an arm around her waist. “Let me get Alexa.” He nudged her to lean against the SUV, opened the back door, and lifted the girl into his arms.
Seeing Alexa wrap her arms around Brent and snuggle against his neck made Rowan smile. Seems like her niece had a crush on the handsome SEAL. Understandable. So did her aunt.
After dealing with the security, he ushered them inside his house. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Where’s he going?” Alexa asked once Brent left the room, slipping her hand into Rowan’s. “He’s not leaving, is he?”
“To the SUV, Lex. He has to bring in his bag.” From what Rowan observed, none of the Fortress
