Free The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks

and Dolphin climbed in the back to be near Cole, who was out like a light. Dolphin stretched out and let out a moan. He put his hand over his ribs.
    “Man, I think I’m getting too old for this shit.”
    Ethan felt some of the tension leave him. He began to shake as reality set in.
    “Want me to take her?” Sam asked.
    Ethan shook his head, tightening his grip on her. She still wasn’t conscious, thank God. The sedative had done its job.
    “Thank you,” Ethan said loud enough for the others to hear.
    “You would have done the same for one of us,” Steele said with a shrug. The action made him wince again, and he held his hand to his shoulder. Ethan could see blood seep between his fingers. “And truth is, when you told me what had happened to Rachel, I was itching to kick some cartel ass. I’m just glad she’s okay.”
    Was she okay? That was the million-dollar question. She was alive, but who really knew how she was. The bastards had shot her up with drugs for God knows how long. Certainly long enough to get her addicted. She had been in the throes of withdrawal when Sam found her. Ethan didn’t even want to dwell on what else they might have done to her.
    He needed to get her to a doctor fast. But first they had to get the hell out of here. Alive.
    The whir of the blades and the roar of the engine cut off anything else Ethan might have said. Within seconds, Donovan lifted off the ground and skimmed along the trees. In the distance, smoke could be seen floating skyward in a black stream. Ethan’s nostrils flared. He wished they’d done exactly as Steele had said and dropped a load of C-4 and been done with it.
    Ethan leaned back and shifted Rachel so that she was even closer to him. It didn’t matter that they were both dirty, they stunk, and they had more dirt and mud caked on them than a hog. She was his. She was a miracle.
    He closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair. The slow rise and fall of her chest, the slight movement against his body gave him much needed reassurance.
    He kissed her and kept his lips pressed to her head. No matter what, this time he wouldn’t make the same mistakes he’d made before. He’d cherish each day with her.
    He only hoped she’d forgive him their past.

CHAPTER 8
     
    “I think we should have had Sean come with us,” Frank grumbled. “And what were you thinking leaving Rusty alone in our house? We’ll be lucky to have a house when we get back. She probably sent us on a wild-goose chase. How do we know she was telling us the truth?”
    Marlene’s mouth tightened as they turned off the rural county road onto a dirt path that was barely wide enough for the truck. “It’s important that I show her trust.”
    Frank snorted. “Trust? You just met the girl last night. Trust is earned, Marlene. You need to get your head out of the clouds.”
    She sighed as they came to a stop in front of a dilapidated trailer overgrown with weeds and grass that hadn’t been cut in years.
    “You should have at least let me bring the shotgun. Does it look to you like these folks want company?”
    “Frank, stop. Look at this place. Rusty doesn’t belong here. Is it any wonder she ran away?”
    Her heart ached for the hurt and distrust in the young girl’s eyes. Eyes that were way older than the rest of her.
    “Let’s get this over with,” Frank grumbled. “And I want you to stay behind me until I know it’s safe, okay?”
    Marlene nodded and they both got out of the truck. Before she could close her door, a man stepped from the screen door that only hung by one hinge.
    “Whatever you’re selling, we don’t want any,” he called in a belligerent tone. At least now Marlene knew where Rusty got it.
    She stepped away from the truck and called back. “We’re here to talk to you about Rusty.”
    “What’s that fool done this time? I don’t have any money to bail her out of trouble, so you might as well go on now. She’s on her own.”
    “That much is evident,” Marlene