Skin Deep (Wounded Hero Series) (16 page)

“It’s Okay Camille I know you’re awake.” Camille opened her eyes only to close them again. The dizziness was so over whelming she broke out in a cold sweat. She took deep breaths to keep from throwing up. She felt a strong hand behind her, helping her to a sitting position. She kept her eyes closed and continued to breath. “Here drink this it will help.” Camille opened her eyes slowly this time, the dizziness was better. She took the glass of liquid Trace offered her and drank it slowly. When she was done, she did feel a little better. She looked at Trace and then at the room they were in. It was a large well furnished room; she was sitting on a large couch covered with a white sheet. As she began to notice all the furniture in the room had a sheet thrown over it. They were in an old house, the smell of dust and stale air made her nose itch. “What have you done?” she asked in a small voice. Knowing the answer already. She needed to hear him say it. Trace turned and started to pace back and forth in front of where she was sitting. As she watched him, the fear began to turn into anger. “I said what have you done?”  Trace stopped and stood still as he looked her in the eye. “I betrayed them. That’s what I’ve done. I drugged you and Dillon and then I brought you here to him.” Camille shook her head back and forth and tried to get up, but her arms and legs weren’t working she flopped back on the couch. Everything became clear. She began to shake all over and she couldn’t stop the tears. Her body began to shake violently as her eyes rolled back in her head. The last thing she heard was Trace calling her name.

Dillon was sitting up the shot Archer had given him seem to clear his head. Zane was standing close by not letting Archer out his sight. “You should start feeling better in a few hours. You were given Chlorpromazine it’s
an antipsychotic sometimes used as a sedative, you were given a high dose that’s why the slurred speech, dry mouth and dizziness. You’re lucky in high doses it causes seizures, and in rare cases it can be fatal. You may have some memory loss I don’t know if it will be long term or short term. Now that I’ve done my job would one of you mind filling me in on what’s going on?”

Zane got right in Archer’s face. “You’ve done what you were brought here to do and you’ll get paid well for it.”  he said through gritted teeth.  Archer stood his ground not backing down. Dillon sat on the side of the bed. “Enough we don’t have time for this. They have a big head start on us we need to have some type of lead if we’re going to have any chance at getting her back.” Zane backed off he looked to Dillon who nodded as he stood on rubbery legs.

“If you’re able to stand without passing out, a shower might make you feel better. But I’m not volunteering to spot you.”  Archer said. Dillon nodded as he tried to take a step. The room was still spinning, but he needed to pull himself together if he wanted to get Camille back. Whatever Archer gave him was beginning to work. He would take a shower and see if that would help clear his mind. He put one foot in front of the other and made it to the bathroom without falling on his ass. He went in and closed the door.

Archer turned to Zane. “So what’s going on here?” Zane gave him a murderous look. “None of your god damn business. You’ve done what you came here to do. I’ll pay you and you can be on your way.” Archer held up his hand. “Let’s call it a small favor. Maybe if I know what’s going on I can help.” Zane gave him a distrustful look. “Listen the only reason I called you is because
you’re good at what you do, but let’s get something straight I don’t like you and I certainly don’t trust you. So take the money and go.”

Archer knew that people didn’t like him or trust him. He didn’t much care he had been a loner all his life. The thing was he respected Dillon and his friends. He’d seen
firsthand what they could do. He didn’t offer his help often, but in this case he felt they needed him. After all he was still a doctor. No matter whether he had a license or not, So he forged ahead. “From everything that I’ve seen since I’ve been here. I do think you will need my help. There’s a female involved right? And if I’m correct and most of the time I am. Then she’s been drugged too and just going by the size of the clothing I’ve seen she is a lot smaller than Dillon. Whoever has her probably didn’t have the foresight to bring two syringes calibrated to their body weights, so that means he or she used the same dosage. They gave your friend enough of the drug to knock out an elephant. Which means his lady friend could be in bad shape. Her reaction will be much worse than his. You’re going to need a doctor to go in with you, that’s if she’s still alive.” Archer waited for his words to sink in.

Just then Daniel came into the room. He could
hear the water running in the shower. “What the hell did you just say about my sister?” Zane just shook his head. Daniel got right into Archer’s face. “That’s my baby sister you’re talking about and Dillon’s woman, so you better be careful what you say about her.” Archer didn’t even flinch, he stood his ground. But before he could say anything, Dillon was standing in the doorway of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his hips and another towel around his neck. Everyone stopped and looked over at him. He still couldn’t see clearly, but he did feel more human. He could hear the yelling and he caught some of what they were saying.

As he slowly walked over to the bed and sat down. He looked directly at Archer. “What do we need to know and don’t leave anything out?” Archer nodded. “As I said before she weighs a lot less than you so, if she’s not already dead. Her condition
could possibly be critical. Large doses of that drug in someone her size, we are talking seizures, coma at the very least. If whoever has her is not equipped to handle the situation she will die.”

Zane was the first to speak up. I think Trace is involved
somehow, he left last night and his cell is off he said just as Butch walked into the room. Butch knew what Zane thought. He just couldn’t believe it, yes Trace’s past was filled with problems, but he watched as Trace worked hard to turn his life around. “I don’t believe he’s involved with Xavier, even though all the evidence points to that. If it’s true I will take him out myself. You can believe that.”

Dillon held up his
hand; let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Trace has never given us any reason to question his loyalty, Zane you bring Archer up to speed I need him solid for this mission he said as he rubbed over his face with his left hand. Everyone left the room except for Daniel. Dillon stood and walked slowly over to a dresser and began pulling out clothing. He kept his back to Daniel. “I let my guard down and now she’s.” He couldn’t say the words. His throat began to close up on him with the emotion he was trying to keep at bay. It was quick sand, ready to swallow him up. He heard a sigh behind him.

“It’s not your fault this happened, though I would love to blame you. I...I can’t say that I’ve been happy about this thing between you and Camille. Whatever issues I have are mine to deal with. Just tell me this, do you love her?” Dillon turned around to face his friend and what he saw,
wasn’t the same disapproval as before. It was acceptance and understanding. Dillon Nodded. “I have loved her for so long that it scares the shit out of me. Yes I love her she’s my heart and soul.”

Daniel stared at his best friend and realized that Zane was right, he was grateful that his sister had a man like Dillon to love and take care of her. In that moment the doubt and apprehension was gone. It was replaced with the single minded focus to get his sister back in one piece and back with the man she loved. “Come on let’s get downstairs before Archer completely takes over. This is going to be off the
books; Xavier cannot be allowed to walk away. Are you good with that?” Dillon looked Daniel in the eye. “I’m more than okay with that. I’m going to kill everyone that was involved with taking her away from me.” Daniel nodded his agreement.

Trace jumped to his feet, when he saw that Camille was having a seizure he did what he could, his paramedic training kicked in. He was able to stabilize her for the time being. He was going to kill Mason that little shit had measured out the dosage. “How is she?” Trace hadn’t noticed Xavier’s entrance. “She’s stable, but she needs medical attention. The kind I can’t give her. Xavier walked over and looked down at where Camille was lying. His brows drew together. “Her color doesn’t look good. I suppose I don’t have to ask. This has our little friend’s handy work written all over it.” Trace tried to control his response. “That little sociopath put too much of the drug in the syringe. Now she is having seizures she could slip into a coma.”

Xavier smiled. “I understand your upset, but you do realize that she is not going to survive this right? She is just a means to an end.” Trace looked at him as he tried to tap down the rage threatening to boil to the surface. He was able to achieve many things because he didn’t let his rage surface. “I am aware what’s going on here. To my understanding you wanted her in one piece without a scratch on her, well look at her does she look unharmed to you? They are going to come in guns blazing and when they see her like this all bets are off. You need to call your little pet down or I will put a bullet in his skull myself. I have no problem with what’s going on or I wouldn’t be here, but this is not what I signed on for. She is collateral damage, I understand that but this is way beyond that.”

Xavier thought about what Trace was saying and he knew he was right, this wasn’t the first time Mason took it upon himself to handle things. The results were always disastrous. He needed this to be perfect on so many levels; he could not afford any more mistakes. “You’re right this is unacceptable. I will take care of our little friend when the time is right. For now we need him, do what you can to stabilize her and I will get things moving.” Trace didn’t say a word; he turned and checked Camille’s pulse. He heard the door close and knew he was alone with Camille again. Her pulse was steady and strong, her breathing was better. He went to his laptop and fired it up. He was going to have find an antidote, or she was going to die a lot sooner than Xavier would like.

Dillon and Daniel
made their way downstairs to the study; they found Archer, Butch and Zane talking. Dillon drew strength from the men he’d known most of his life. These were the men who would help him get Camille back or die trying. He looked at Archer and in that moment he couldn’t really remember why he didn’t like the other man, he was a loner and money seemed to be his only motivation. Dillon never trusted anyone who’s only reason for doing something was because of the money, people like that couldn’t be trusted. He would keep an eye on him, for right now he needed him when they found Camille. He thought about the last time they were together and the fact that he told her he loved her. He wouldn’t take that back because he did love her more than anything. She broke down all his walls and crawled into his heart, he needed her like he needed air to breath. She had to be alright; he didn’t want to think of a world without her in it. He would get her back safe and then he would make sure she stayed that way.

Hearing his name brought him back to reality. Zane was looking at him. “Dillon are you tight?” Dillon nodded and stepped forward. “I’m good, what do we have so far?” Butch was the one to speak up. I checked the tracker in Trace’s phone. It’s been deactivated he said. All
eyes were on him, as he sat in front of his laptop. Daniel was the one to say what everyone was thinking. “Butch did you tell him about the tracker?” Butch stood up and moved around the desk and got right in Daniel’s face. The tension was palpable. “I would never tell him about the tracker, my loyalty is to the team and the company. Trace hasn’t proven himself yet.” he said angrily. The two men stared each other down for what seemed like hours. Daniel was the first to step back. “I believe you and I know this is hard for you.” Butch put up his hand to stop Daniel. “Don’t worry Danny boy, if Trace had anything to do with taking Camille. I will handle it.” Butch turned and went back to the desk and his laptop. No one said anything else.

Zane watched his friend and knew it was killing him, to think that his own flesh and blood could so easily betray them. He knew that if given the chance Butch would do what was necessary. Putting a bullet between the eyes of someone you considered family was something that changed a man. Zane would never let that happen. Just then he looked up and met Dillon’s gaze. Dillon nodded slightly it was such a subtle movement that no one else saw it. In that moment there was an unspoken communication, neither one of them would allow Butch to take the shot. The room was silent as Butch sat back down and began to hit the keys. “I wanted to be able to keep up with him, you know just in case he got into trouble. So I put a tracker on his truck. Bingo I got him. He’s on the
move; he’s coming back into town. He’s moving fast.” Butch never took his eyes from the computer.

Zane stepped behind Butch and watched the little red blinking dot on his computer. Zane looked to Daniel and Dillon. “What do you want us to do?” Dillon hoped that Trace was on his way back to them, but his gut told him that Trace was the only person that could have gotten that close to Camille. She felt no threat that’s how he got her. “Just track him for
now; If I was him I wouldn’t have her here in town. Let’s see where he’s going and where he stops. I want everyone ready to go when the times comes.” Each man nodded as Dillon looked at Archer. “This isn’t your fight, and we aren’t turning anyone in to the police so if you have a problem with that, your free to go.” Archer looked at each man, before he spoke up. “I think we all know I travel in and out of the boundaries of the law. I offered because I believe you will need me. So I’m in.” he said. “Okay, Zane you and Butch keep tracking Trace’s truck. Danny, Archer and I will get the gear together.”  Archer followed Dillon and Daniel out to the garage. He wasn’t surprised when Dillon flipped a switch on the wall and a hatch opened in the floor. Dillon went first and then Daniel, Archer pulled up the rear. Once they were inside Dillon pushed a button and the small room was bathed in light. Archer knew they were heavy with the military, but what he saw made him feel as though he was a kid in a candy store. The shelves lining each wall had guns, rifles, night vision goggles and ammo along with a shelf with black cargo pants, army boots and black flak jackets and shirts. They had their own army surplus store going.