afraid. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you that calm.”
“Inside, I was anything but calm.” He palmed the back of her head with one hand and stroked her back with the other. “This isn’t how I saw our dating relationship starting.”
She sighed. “Same.” Gigi began to tremble and her teeth chattered. “Sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
Owen dragged an afghan from the back of her couch, settled her against his chest again, and draped the cover over her back. “The shakes will pass soon, then you’ll need a nap.” He held her close until Jackson returned.
The medic’s eyebrows rose in silent question.
“Adrenaline dump.”
A nod. “Gigi, I need to check your neck again.”
“As long as I don’t have to move. Owen is a great heater.”
He chuckled. “Sorry, but I need better access to your neck. As soon as I finish, you can cuddle up to the Marine unless, of course, you see the error of your ways and turn to a SEAL. We’re better at everything, including hugging the ladies.”
Owen growled. “You’re pushing your luck, frog boy.” He turned Gigi so her cut was accessible to the medic.
Jackson chuckled, tugged on a pair of gloves, then touched Gigi’s neck. After a moment, he asked, “Feel this?”
“Pressure, but no pain.”
“That’s what we want.” The medic grabbed the small kit. “You might feel a tugging sensation, but that’s all. If it hurts, tell me. No need for you to suffer.”
“Bet you don’t tell your teammates that.”
“Nope. They’re big, tough SEALs. They can handle a little pain. A beautiful woman shouldn’t have to suffer.”
“Conner.” Owen’s voice held a hint of warning.
“Just yanking your chain, Montgomery. Chill. Gigi, hold still. This won’t take more than two or three minutes.”
A muffled yell came from outside.
Gigi’s eyes widened. “What was that?”
“Elliot’s here,” Owen murmured.
“He’s yelling outside the house?”
“Nope. That’s Jase.”
“Why is he yelling?”
“We need answers fast. My brother is a skilled interrogator.”
Did she really want to know what he meant by that? She thought about it for a minute, then decided Jase had made his choices in life, and his choices had hurt Toni and Ellis. If Elliot used a little pain to persuade Jase to talk, Gigi was okay with that. She prayed he got results.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ten minutes after he began closing the wound, Jackson removed his gloves. “Congratulations, Gigi. You’re the proud owner of five new stitches.”
“Woohoo. At this rate, people will soon accuse me of starting a collection.” She frowned. “I thought you said I needed one or two stitches.”
“The cut was deeper than I thought. I was careful, but you might have a thin scar.”
“Worth it to avoid another ER visit.” Gigi sounded tired.
Owen turned her in his arms and settled Gigi against his chest. “Close your eyes and rest.”
“Can’t,” she mumbled.
“Your guests can fend for themselves. If you’re needed, I’ll wake you.”
She snuggled close. “One minute. Too much to do to nap.”
Jackson cleaned up the medical detritus. By the time he finished, Gigi’s breaths were deep and steady. “She out?” the medic murmured.
“Yeah. How bad was it?” Owen asked, voice quiet.
“If the cut was one centimeter to the left, she’d have been in serious trouble.”
So close. He tightened his hold on her. “I should have killed him.”
“Go ahead.” Jackson grinned. “I’ll comfort your woman while you serve twenty to life in prison. Of course, by the time you get out, she’ll be madly in love with me and will have forgotten your name and face.”
“Touch her and die.”
The infuriating medic chuckled. “Anything I can do to help Gigi while she’s resting?”
“Load the dishwasher and turn it on. After that, take a nap. Maddox will kill me several times over if you fall asleep while driving to Nashville.”
Jackson hitched the mike bag over his shoulder and headed to the kitchen.
Owen relaxed into the couch cushion and kissed the top of Gigi’s head. He could have lost her. Owen wouldn’t let down his guard again until the danger to Gigi was over. The best way to keep her safe was to find Toni and Ellis, and bring them home.
Although Owen hated that Gigi was injured again, now they knew the flash drive was the key to Ellis and Toni’s kidnapping. What was on the drive?
Owen sent Caleb a text to see if he’d had any luck with the file on the flash drive. Seconds later, his phone vibrated with an incoming call from his brother. “What do you have for me?” he asked, voice soft.
“Not enough. From what Zane and I determined,