Page 39 of Critical Strike

Khan rubbed up against her. “Where would you want to go if you were hurt, Khan?”

A vet. Of course. That’s it!

“You’re a genius, Khan.”

The cat continued to prance around like he was well aware of the fact that he was amazing.

She’d spent a lot of time in the neighborhood they were in. After leaving Skyline Park, the first foster family she’d gone to had lived only a couple miles from here.

And then, the summer after high school, she’d worked at the independent vet just up the block. It had been one of the happiest times of her life—waking up early and spending her days with animals.

The first time she’d seen a Maine coon in person was when someone brought theirs in with a hurt paw. She’d fallen in love with the breed right away and started saving that night in order to buy her own one day.

“Luke. Listen.” She bowed her head so they were eye to eye again. “There’s a vet’s office near here. It has an apartment garage we might be able to get into. It’s only a couple of blocks away. Can you walk that far?”

For a second she thought he was unconscious again, but finally, he nodded gingerly. “Yeah.”

“Great.” Scooping a hand under his good arm, she helped him stand.

Years had passed and she didn’t even know if Dr. McGraw’s practice was still open. Back when she worked there, he’d converted the space above the detached garage into a studio apartment. On nights when he worked overtime and was too tired to commute home, he stayed there. But that had rarely happened on weekends. He’d wanted to be home with his wife because the grandkids came over.

They walked slowly in the correct direction, her carrying as much of his weight as possible.

This plan had a lot of unknown variables. She prayed it would work, because otherwise, she didn’t know what she was going to do.

Khan circled them as they walked, darting ahead and coming back to check on their progress. It was slow going, and every time headlights appeared, they ducked behind the nearest vehicle or trash can.

They turned a corner and she glanced behind her and saw the orange of the fire in the distance. The sight made Claire’s chest ache. Her beloved childhood safe haven was gone.

Ballard’s men may have been the ones who’d started the fire, but Claire had been the one who led them to that building. And now Luke had been hurt because of her.

She pushed the feelings down. Right now she had to focus on getting them somewhere safe. Luke’s wound seemed to have stopped bleeding. He was conscious but still so very weak. He’d always taken care of her, and now it was time for her to do the same for him.

It was dark in the veterinary clinic. It sat next to a house that had been renovated into a beauty salon, across the street from a local hardware store. Luke was on the last of his reserves as they made it down the narrow drive between the salon and the clinic to the garage in the back.

She let out a sigh of relief when there were no lights on in the garage or the studio apartment that rested above it.

She set Luke at the bottom of the wooden steps that went up the side of the garage.

“I’ll be right back,” she whispered to Luke as he slumped on the stairs. Khan sat down at his feet.

“I’m coming with.” Luke grabbed hold of the weathered railing and started to pull himself up. “Not...leaving you.”

“No, you’re staying.” She put a hand on his chest, and he stilled. “I’ll be right back. I can move faster without you.”

A quick kiss to his lips revealed they were cold. Not good. They had to get him inside pronto. The fact that he didn’t argue further just proved that point.

She took the steps two at a time. Cupping her hands around her eyes, she pressed against the window on the door and peered into the apartment.

The vague shapes of furniture rose from the dark room. She didn’t see any people—just a lot more boxes than had been around when she worked there.

She reached over to the light fixture and ran her fingers under the edge, letting out a shuddery sigh of relief when she found the key in the same place Dr. McGraw had always kept it.

With shaking hands, she unlocked the door and let it swing open, listening for any sounds before stepping inside.

“Hello?” Nothing. She went in and looked around. It was empty. Thank God. She turned and hurried back down the steps.

Khan was still standing guard over Luke. She wrapped her arm around his torso while he held on to her shoulder. “Come on, it’s empty.” They slowly made their way up the stairs. “And tomorrow is Sunday. If Dr. McGraw didn’t spend tonight here, he won’t come in tomorrow.”

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