Chasing Joshua (22 page)

Evelyn held his head in her hands, rocking, crying. Noel hovered, naked, over him pushing on the wound. The Wolf dropped beside her, pulled his jacket off, and covered her. Gently he pushed her aside. He had to block Evelyn's attempts to fight him as he pulled Joshua from her arms. Page was safe. She sat next to Stix and covered his wound.

"This is a big fucking dog,” Ayden Wolf said as he lifted Joshua onto his shoulders in a fireman's carry and headed quickly out the door. The ambulance was pulling up, and as the paramedics opened the backdoor to get out, Wolf was coming in.

"Stay here. Fix him.” The man's blue eyes fixed on the pair in the ambulance, and with only a second of caution they moved back into the ambulance and began work. Wolf yelled up to the driver. “We need at least two more. Take him to the hospital, NOW!"

Ayden stepped out of the ambulance and headed back inside, barking orders as the rest of the teams arrived. Blade was dead. He only regretted that it wasn't his kill. He had tracked him for years, but the old man was slippery up here in the woods, and he was pulled from his case years ago when they thought he was dead.

Wolf knew better. Evelyn, she had no idea they were related. That he had spent as much time watching her back as he had spent tracking her stepfather. He scrubbed his face with his massive hands and set back for the house. It would be one hell of a night yet.

Noel hugged Evelyn tightly, now tending to her leg. “I can't believe it's you. They told me you were dead."

"They told me the same thing, but I knew better.” Evelyn hugged her sister, pulling her away from the leg wound. She looked into her big brown eyes and smoothed her wild red hair. She should have been relieved; she should have felt complete. She was happy to see Noel, happy that Blade was dead and her life was no longer in danger, but she only felt pain and fear. “I know I should stay here with you, but he may die."

"No, he won't. He can't. We can't both lose a husband.” Noel stood grabbing Evelyn's hands. She fastened the last buttons on Ayden's coat and turned. “Let's go. Ayden, we need to get to him."

Evelyn's brows drew together. How did her little sister know Ayden? What the hell was going on? Why did she say they can't both lose husbands? She assumed Joshua was her husband, but where was Noel's?

"Wait. How do you know him?"

Noel gave her a confused expression. “He's our brother. Our father was married once before he married our mom. His mom took me in. I lived with them in Tennessee, where I live now. Only they called me Shelby Noel Blythe and said I was his mother's husband's daughter from a previous marriage. It's all very complicated, but no one ever keeps track of those things."

"You're my brother?” Evelyn looked at him with a skeptical glance.

"You both look like your mother, except her eyes. I look like our father, except my mother's eyes. Noel talked about you all the time when we were kids. When I got out of the Navy, I went in the FBI. I looked you up.” Ayden smiled. “You were always a Wolf, Evelyn, both of you. If my mother had known you were alive, you would have been with us, too. I didn't know until I started snooping. When I found you, well, you didn't give me a chance to explain anything. You hated men, even me."

He pointed a finger toward Stones, dead on the ground, and Stix, with Page over him again. “Even them, they were there trying to protect you. Only Nikolai was against you."

Evelyn's world was falling in on her. It was too much, too much to process right now. Her only concern bubbled to her lips. “Joshua."

"Come on, we'll get you to the hospital.” Ayden didn't try to put his arm around Evelyn. He was afraid to. He did comfort Noel though. “The Big Dog should be fine. It's not like he hasn't been in situations like this before. Well, he was never shot before, but he's been beat up."

"They drugged him. He's dehydrated. He's not fine, Wolf. If he dies...” Evelyn looked to the ground. Noel had lost her husband. God, what would she do? A slight tug of resentment struck her. Noel had been her life, looking for her, trying to find her, but all along she was fine. She had a family, a house, a husband.

"Tom's not dead, Noel. Joshua's not going to die either.” Ayden shook his head. “Tom's in the hospital now. I can get you back to Tennessee in the morning. You need to be checked out. How's your stomach?"

"He's alive? Ayden, you saw him?” Noel was lit anew with life. “No, Mom called. The hospital called her."

Evelyn rode in the backseat on the way to the hospital. Noel, now satisfied that her husband was alive, turned on the Wolf, questioning him over and over why he never told her about Evelyn being alive, about Blade, why he let them both remain at risk for years.

Ayden tried to be diplomatic. Now wasn't the time, but Noel was right. He had answers to those questions. Evelyn intended to find those answers out and more. But right now she needed to see Joshua

"I need to call...” Evelyn thought about North Carolina, Joshua, his class, his house, Grace. God, no one knew what was going on.

"Taken care of.” Ayden nodded.

"The hell it is.” Evelyn pulled up to peer at him in the rearview mirror. “Give me your phone."

"Who are you going to call, Evelyn? I called his parents, the Beaufort police. His family knows he was taken.” Wolf took a breath. “Let's get to the hospital first. Get his stats and then call them back."

"
I'll
call them.” Evelyn growled.

"Funny, they don't know you. I'll call them.” Ayden learned all too quickly that Evelyn was possibly using Joshua. Maybe as a cover, he wasn't sure. When he saw them on the porch, he thought they were a couple. Joshua definitely thought they were a couple after attacking him like that, but his parents had no idea who she was. No idea that a woman was in his house. Amelia was insane, labeling Joshua a fool.

Evelyn had a reputation. She hated men. Would she use a man for cover? He didn't want to believe that. He hoped she had found peace, but he didn't know if it was possible. He had read her file, cover to cover. It was a miracle she was alive, but Wolf knew Joshua. He was a good man. He had a soft spot for women. Ayden only hoped Evelyn wasn't going to break his heart after he risked his life.

Evelyn crossed her arms and sat back in silence. He was right. No one knew her. Everything happened so fast. She never got to meet his family. Only Grace knew. She prayed silently that Grace would drop her loyalty for one moment and tell them all, tell them she loved Joshua, but Evelyn hadn't told Joshua and that caused her heart to break. He may die not knowing how she felt about him.

"You're not married to him?” Noel twisted to look back at her. When she saw Evelyn's tears, she climbed to the backseat to hold her. Evelyn was resistant at first, but she gave in quickly.

"I love him.” She lost it. Her body shook with the outpouring of tears. “But no, we're not married."

"Shhhh. It's okay, E. It'll be okay now.” Noel stroked her hair. “He loves you, too. You couldn't see it while you were kicking everyone's ass, but he never took his eyes off you. Blade was about to throw the knife at you when, what's his name?” Noel rocked her slowly.

"Joshua."

"Joshua, well, Joshua lunged toward him. He saved your life.” Noel let out a long breath. “I hope I don't lose this baby, Evelyn."

"What?” Evelyn looked at her little sister with new eyes. She was buttoned up in Ayden's coat which covered her almost to the knee. Her short hair pointed every direction, and she seemed to be satisfied that all would be good again. Evelyn had forgotten that about Noel. She always found the good through the darkness. She saw a light. Evelyn never did. She internalized her pain and beat herself up as much as anyone ever tried to.

"I'm two months pregnant. We just got married three months ago, but I couldn't wait. I'm a nurse at the hospital back home. I work in labor and delivery. Talk about starting that internal clock.” Noel made a slight laugh. Evelyn still hadn't come off the shock, and she herself was shaken, but that blade was still in her leg. As long as she didn't notice, maybe it would be okay.

"God, Noel.” Evelyn hugged her sister. All resentments left her. Noel didn't have to know what hell she had been through to find her. She was there now and a part of her. Tennessee. North Carolina. Noel. Joshua. It was all too much too fast.

"I'm sorry,” Ayden grumbled from the front seat.

"For what?” Noel asked pointedly.

"Evelyn, I'm sorry. I should have told you years ago. I wanted to, but I had to be sure you were safe. I had to find Blade. He killed our father, over your mother. He wanted her. He didn't want the two of you. I have pictures of you, with our dad and your mom.” Ayden drove a little faster. He had been mistaken. She wasn't using him. Maybe they hadn't had time. He had no idea how long she had known him. Evelyn kept private, locked away from the world.

"No pictures of me though.” Noel frowned. “Well, pictures of me in mom's belly, but not as a baby."

"Blade made your mother get rid off all signs of our father. Changed your names, altered your birth certificate. He wanted no reminders of Nathan Wolf.” The hospital was pulling into view. “You can call his family."

"No. I can only call Grace. I've only been there a week.” Evelyn hung her head low.

"So then you'll call Grace.” Ayden smiled at Noel in the rearview mirror. “He loves you Evelyn. I've known him a long time."

"How do you know that he loves me? How can anyone love me? I'm a monster. Just like Blade.” Evelyn shook her head.

Ayden Wolf was a big man and lived up to that name. His eyes were like pure blue flame when he pulled the car to a screeching halt and turned on his sister.

"You listen to me. You're nothing like that psychotic son of a bitch. You've lived through hell, Evelyn. I know. I have your files. You have plenty of people trying to love you. You have to let them. And not just Noel. Me, I love you. You're my little sister. Joshua loves you. He was ready to die for you. Grace loves you. You know that. It's time to live, Evelyn. It's your toughest challenge yet."

Evelyn was awestruck. The big bad Wolf just told her he loved her, claimed her as a sister, and threw down a challenge. He was right. He spoke her language. She needed someone to shake some sense into her. Ayden did it. She had always respected him. He was always there in the shadows. After she applied to the FBI, she met him. It was a year later. She never gave him a chance to speak. He alarmed her. She didn't know why then. It made more sense now.

"Now get your ass out of this car and tell the man.” Ayden held a hand back. She took it. Of course he knew that Joshua was probably being hooked up to IV's if not in surgery by now, and that when Evelyn walked in, they would want to take her back as well. But would she cooperate for the x-rays? He knew better.

"Okay.” Evelyn smiled. There was so much still to process, so much to learn. But first things first, she had to tell Joshua. Her leg was burning, but she could walk. It couldn't be too bad.

As soon as she got inside the emergency room, they merged on her. She had forgotten about her leg as she approached the desk, but apparently the nurses noticed. She was pulled into a room before she could say hi, and people were buzzing around her. She yelled for Ayden. She yelled for Noel. She had to see Joshua.

Ayden stepped in the room.

"It's okay. He's okay. He's okay. Let them fix you up.” And then to the nurse he said, “You have to sedate her. She'll tear this place apart."

"Evelyn, let them help you,” Ayden shouted. She was too much. She was in shock, so he sat on her while the nurse injected her. Ayden stilled and patted her back as she fell into darkness.

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Evelyn opened her eyes. She was in a hospital bed. An IV was in her arm. Her calf hurt. Her leg was propped up in a sling of some sort keeping it from touching the bed. Noel was there. Her head was next to Evelyn's hand. She was sleeping.

"Noel.” Evelyn reached for her.

"Hey. I wanted to stay until you woke up.” Noel smiled a big smile.

"The baby? Your husband?” Evelyn looked at her sister, fresh and innocent like nothing had happened the night before. She was dressed in a turtleneck and jeans.

"Fine and fine, I'm heading out in an hour. Joshua's fine, too. The bullet just skimmed his arm, and the blade only went an inch in his leg muscle. It will take a while to heal. He has a couple broken ribs, but he is alive.” Noel smiled. “Yours was deep and embedded. They flushed it and removed the blade. You have to stay a couple days. They want to make sure there's no infection, so they will flush it again before stitching you up with sutures."

"I have to see him.” Evelyn started to push up and noticed the look on Noel's face.

"They took him. His parents had him moved to New York.” Noel frowned. “His mother is a real bitch."

"What?” Evelyn felt the tears flow.

"Oh, I gave her a piece of my mind. But Ayden.” Noel made a sucking sound with her teeth. “I know he would never hit a woman, but I thought for a moment he just might. He has a lot of respect for you."

"She hates me?” Evelyn knew. She laid back and closed her eyes. She had lost him, lost her angel.

"Well, you should be out of here in a day or two. Ayden is staying here, with you.” Noel smiled. “He doesn't care what that old wind bag thinks. Joshua loves you. If you love him, fight for him."

"You mean kick her ass?” Evelyn snorted.

"No. I mean go get your man, and don't let anyone stop you.” Noel shrugged. “I wouldn't. I would die for the ones I love. You taught me that when we were kids when you hid me and took beatings for me. I never forgot about you. I prayed every night to see you again, even if it wasn't till heaven. Now you're alive, here in my life. Don't even try to let me down now."

"What if he doesn't want to see me after this?"

"He does. He asked for you, wanted to know you were safe.” Noel patted her hand.

"Safe?” Evelyn laughed an uncomfortable laugh. That was Joshua, wanting to protect her, to keep her safe, but the only place she ever felt truly safe was with him.