“Martin loved his family and they’d have real reason to hate me if his brother was shot too.”

“They have no reason to hate you. Even if I had killed the fucker, it wouldn’t be on you. It would be on him making bad decisions.”

Darby shrugged. “It feels like it would be on me and I need to get over that. It’s hard though. I feel like this is all somehow my fault.” She huddled into her jacket but sat up again when he turned into the hospital parking lot. “What? No—”

“You need to be checked out.”

“I’m fine,” she complained. “I don’t need to see a doctor.”

He pulled into a space close to the emergency entrance. “He could have damaged your trachea. I’m not taking any chances.”

Her bottom lip wobbled and he realized he was almost shouting. “Sorry. I’ll flash my badge and get you in and out fast. They will also need to document any injuries for when charges are pressed.”

She cautiously shook her head. “I won’t press charges.”

“I don’t think you have a choice.” At her wide eyes he added, “He attacked you in front of law enforcement in a public place and the whole thing was likely caught on several cameras.” Not counting the publics’ propensity for taking cell phone videos. The incident was probably already posted to the internet. “I’m pretty sure State law here means he’ll be charged. I doubt he’ll do any time, but he needs to be held accountable. People need to know it isn’t okay to go all vigilante.”

She stared mutinously out the window.

Damn. He was railroading her and needed to regroup. “I know you don’t like hospitals. I’m not a fan myself.” He swallowed to moisten his dry throat. “I want to make sure you weren’t injured more than you realize. Please? Let the doctors check you out? For my sake. After that we’ll head to the cabin—”

She swung to face him. “I thought you needed to work on the case?”

Eban opened his mouth, but it took him a few moments to find the words. “I’m not putting you through that and I’m not leaving you alone again.”

Her green eyes were solemn when they met his. “The only way I’m going to get my life back is by the cops catching the real killer and leaving no doubt as to my innocence.”

“Darby…”

“What? No.” Her chin stuck out mutinously and then she winced and touched her throat again. “Back when he had me on the ground it all came rushing back.” She bit on her knuckle. “The hatred. The powerlessness. I froze.”

The vulnerability in her gaze slayed him.

“Even though I was carrying a weapon and had a police officer a few feet away, I was still helpless. I was still assaulted.”

Eban didn’t know how to reassure her. She was half the guy’s size. People could do a lot of damage with a knife.

“We’re going to work on close quarter combat techniques as soon as we get a few free hours.”