Page 107 of Accepting Fate
Kissing her forehead, I give her back a rub. "Angel, wake up."
"Hmm. No,” Logan murmurs, attempting to snuggle closer even though she’s already plastered against me.
I try again. "Hey, sleepy girl, wake up for just a minute and then you can go back to sleep.”
Her eyes flutter open and she looks up at me. "This better be important, Bear.”
My sweet girl hates being woken up unless it’s for sex, and we spent hours doing that before we went to bed so I know she is still wiped out.
I chuckle. "I know, Angel, but I have to go on a mission. The boys are probably already in the driveway. I just wanted to tell you, so you don’t wake up and I’m not here.”
She frowns. "I don’t like it, but I get it. Please be safe and call me when you’re on your way back.”
Tilting her head up with my finger, I kiss her softly. "I will. I promise.”
Logan rolls over and buries herself under the comforter. Oliver takes this as his sign to move in on my girl as I get out of bed. He jumps up and lays against her back, going to sleep instantly.
I grab the first pair of pants and shirt I can find and make my way to the front door. As I open it, I’m not surprised to find my brothers waiting on the porch. Moving out of the way for them to come in, I say quietly, "Keep it down. Logan is asleep.”
Noah and Wes sit down on the couch, both looking like they just woke up and don’t want to be here. Before sitting down, Landon gives me a look and I know he’s about to say something that is going to piss me off.
It’s too fucking early for this bullshit.
"Well, she’s going to have to wake up because I need her to come with us. That’s why we are meeting here and not The Hideout,” Landon says, a little too chipper for this hour of the day.
I move to sit on the opposite side of the couch from him. "Fuck no. Logan is not going anywhere near this. I won’t be able to focus on the mission if I have her there,” I say, trying to keep my volume and temper under control.
Landon shakes his head. "Gray, I know you want to protect your girl, but we need her on this one. The hospital is far and there is a good chance this kid is hurt. I need Logan to provide medical care until we get to the hospital if necessary.”
Shit.
Raking my hand down my face, I let out a heavy sigh. "I understand but we can have an ambulance meet us down the road. She’s not going so fucking drop it.”
Wes clears his throat. "Landon, what's the situation and how much force will be needed?”
The fuck? Wes barely speaks up during these meetings. Landon must be thinking the same thing because he stares at Wes for a minute before answering.
"The drive is about three hours into the mountains. The little boy was kidnapped by his mother after his father filed for divorce. She took him in the middle of the night and hasn’t been seen for about 8 months. The father said the mother is very unstable and believes that she is the reincarnation of the devil. She left a note saying that the devil sent her to punish the son and father. She was very violent towards the end of their relationship and he suspects that the kid will probably be in bad shape. I tracked them down and the roads up there are almost impassable for months at a time, so I think we are dealing with malnutrition at the very least. The father said her family disowned her and she doesn’t let anyone close, so she will likely be alone. The takedown should be rather simple. The little boy is my main concern and due to how long it will take us to get to the hospital, I really want Logan to be there just in case.”
Dammit. I want to bring Logan because it sounds like the little boy will be in rough shape, but I feel uneasy about it. It’s only one woman and Noah, Landon, and Wes could easily handle it. But we were surprised with the Isabella mission, and that can’t fucking happen with Logan being there. I really don’t want to trigger Logan’s anxiety either.
She had a panic attack last week out of nowhere. We were hiking and a deer ran across the trail and surprised us. She dropped to the ground and started shaking. I knew what was happening because a lot of the victims have panic attacks. I held her tightly and rubbed her back until she was able to control her breathing.
I was expecting her to brush it off, but she told me she trusted me and explained that she has a panic disorder. It’s brought on by stressful situations, anxiety, and PTSD. She didn’t go any further, but I was happy with what she shared.
Step by step, my Angel is getting there.
That night after she went to bed, I researched ways to help people with panic attacks, PTSD, and anxiety. I already know a little, but I wanted to see if there is anything else I can do to make it easier for Logan. I found a few techniques I’m keeping in my back pocket for the next time it happens.
Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my knees. "Okay. I get it, Lan. I do. But I really don’t think this situation is a good one to bring Logan into. If she came, I’d want her to stay in the truck until we got to the kid, and even with her locked away safe in the truck, I’d still be distracted.”
Landon nods, understanding, but I can tell he still wants her to go.
"I’ll stay with her,” Wes interrupts Landon as he’s about to speak.
My eyes widen in shock and so do Landon’s. Noah, who was almost snoring, wakes up and stares at Wes like he has five heads.
"What do you mean you’ll stay with her?” Landon asks, confused as fuck.