“I’m so fucking grateful you came to me.” She could have gone to Alex Parker but he was glad she hadn’t. “That was exactly the smartest choice to make.” His throat closed and something suspiciously like moisture filmed over his eyes. He stroked his thumb over her cheek, rubbing away a spot of blood.

She flinched and he drew away.

“I’ve got you, Yael. He won’t hurt you again.” Shane had to rein in all the emotions racing through him so he could do the job the way he’d been trained to do it. He followed Alex’s black Audi back to the complex and noticed SSA Sheridan and his partner followed behind them, and another truck behind that he was pretty sure belonged to Hunt Kincaid and was full of HRT personnel.

Warmth stole through him that helped calm his mind. These people were more than just a work team. They were a brotherhood—with a new female member. Peoplehood? Or simply family.

He’d die for his colleagues and they’d die for him. But none of them wanted to do that. They all wanted to survive and save innocent lives—like this woman beside him.

A bunch of emergency vehicles with cherry lights spinning on top sat outside Yael’s townhouse. Crime scene tape was being stretched around the property and his headlights picked up the glint of brass on the ground.

“Did you see a vehicle anywhere? In the street out front?”

She shook her head. She was shivering again. He reached into the back seat and dug around in his go-bag. Found some wool socks and a sweatshirt. “Put these on.”

He glanced across the street where a small crowd of neighbors huddled on the sidewalk. The new guy, Kevin Karvo, wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

Shane pulled up on the side of the road two houses down on the same side of the street as Yael’s. Alex parked in front. Sheridan behind.

FBI agents spilled from the vehicles. Some of the guys jogged around the complex, presumably searching for any tracks in the frosty grass. Others, including Sheridan and his partner, began separating and questioning potential witnesses.

Shane got out and came around and opened Yael’s door. Her hands shook as she tried to push him away. “I can walk.”

He ignored her and lifted her up, bearing most of her weight with his right arm. “Let me carry you inside. We’ll see if whoever is in charge will let you grab some shoes and clothes before we leave.”

Alex joined them.

Someone shouted across the street, “Are you okay?”

Yael raised her hand. “Yes. Thanks.”

A uniformed officer with a thick waist and granite jaw guarded the scene.