With Every Breath (Slow Burn #4) - Maya Banks Page 0,56

that the justice system had failed the victims, had failed her and she said she wouldn’t—couldn’t—allow him to go free. She . . .”

Gracie’s voice wavered and a fresh torrent of tears streaked down her wan face. She closed her eyes, her next words uttered so painfully that they were felt by every single person in the room.

“She asked me to tell all of you that she loved you. That we were the only family she’d ever had. That we were the only people who’d ever loved her and that she was going to make sure he never hurt any of us or any other living soul.”

She briefly covered her face as a sob escaped and then she looked up at Dane, her eyes red and swollen and so filled with grief that it was as if Eliza was already dead. Like Gracie suspected she was—or soon would be.

“Who is he, Dane?” she whispered.

“We have to find her. Now,” Beau said flatly.

Isaac and Capshaw firmly nodded their agreement. The others were quick to add their vehement vow to do whatever it took to bring Eliza home. Alive.

“I have a man on her,” Dane said, and prayed he wasn’t lying. Prayed his instincts about Wade Sterling hadn’t steered him wrong and that the very thin line between black and white that Sterling skated allowed him liberties those who stuck to the book didn’t take. And that even now he was shadowing her every moment. God, let Sterling be on her.

“What?”

He couldn’t tell who said it because it came from all directions. There were looks of confusion, accusation and relief.

“I knew it was all wrong,” Dane muttered to himself. “Goddamn it, I knew it wasn’t good. I just never thought it was this bad. Had to protect her but couldn’t let her know that because I’d lose her trust. We’d lose her and, fuck, that’s exactly what may happen anyway!”

“But we’re all here,” Zack asked with obvious bewilderment. “What man did you put on her if we’re all standing here?”

Next to Dane, Zack was closest to Eliza and it was clear he was not only confused but angry that he wouldn’t have been apprised of anything going down with Eliza, any cause for worry and certainly Dane putting a man on her. If not Zack himself.

“Why the fuck didn’t you assign me to shadow her?” Isaac demanded in a pissed-off tone. “I don’t have a wife or other obligation. Eliza is important to us all and you put someone outside of DSS on her? What were you thinking?”

Isaac tended to be quiet, but he was downright surly when it came to the protection of the women who belonged to DSS, Eliza included. He had a protective streak a mile wide and at the moment, his face was mottled with fury—and worry. The big man was private and didn’t divulge much of himself but he was absolute in his loyalty to the people he’d pledged his allegiance to.

“Wade Sterling,” Dane said grimly.

“What the fuck?” Isaac and Beau both bellowed.

The room exploded again, anger vibrating the walls. Except Gracie looked relieved and for the first time a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes.

“I gotta make a call. Now,” Dane bit out, reaching for his cell as he spoke.

And he silently prayed the entire time as he brought up Sterling’s contact and then put the phone to his ear.

He should have done what his gut had told him to do and sit on her and never let her out of his or DSS’s sight. He never should have been so goddamn afraid of losing Eliza’s trust, loyalty and friendship—her love—by backing off and calling in Sterling. Because even if she was pissed, quit and never spoke to him again, at least she’d be alive to hate him.

ELEVEN

WADE was never so relieved to see Eliza’s mutinous, belligerent glare as she stared at him from across the small breakfast table in a safe house two hours from Calvary. Her wrist was cuffed to one leg of the table, which meant she was scooted toward the edge instead of being seated in the middle and since he was, they were at a slight angle to one another.

“Eat,” he ordered in a tone he knew would piss her off.

If he kept her pissed off, then maybe the chances of her losing it again and crying were less and it would keep her focused on him instead of whatever private hell she was dealing with. Furthermore, if she fell