Page 72 of No Man Left Behind

Finch wandered back in and set his huge head in Elina’s lap. Marcus hoped that meant the kittens were fine, and there wasn’t any mess to clean up.

Marcus kept Elina’s hands in his and rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles. “He’s secure, and he’s not going anywhere. There’s no rush on the rest. We’ve got time to make sure we’re okay.”

Her eyes widened. “I didn’t even ask how you are. I’m sorry.”

He chuckled and brought his hands up to frame her face. “I’m not the one who had a knife at my throat.”

She tilted her head and studied him. “I’m guessing that was hard to watch. You were so steady. So calm and sure. I knew he didn’t stand a chance. You wouldn’t let him hurt me.”

He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. “I will always do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

“I don’t have your skills or your training, but I’ll do the same for you.”

Those words hit him right in the heart. “No wonder I’m in love with you.”

She threw her arms around him, dislodging Finch, and hugged him hard. “I’m so in love with you, too, Marcus. We’re going to be so good together.”

“Damn right.”

Just as he was thinking the prisoner could wait long enough for him to make love to Elina, someone knocked on the front door.

Finch led the way to find Joe and Lia at the door. When he let them in, Lia’s eyes searched his and then Elina’s. The doctor was always thorough, and he should have expected her.

“How’s the patient?”

Lia shrugged. “Fine. The thigh shot was a graze, and the shoulder was a through-and-through. Very clean shots. He’s stitched up with pain meds and under guard until I check on you both.”

Marcus shook his head. “I’m fine. The asshole had Elina, not me.”

Lia studied him. “And that would hurt you more than if you’d been the hostage. Not all injuries are physical, as you well know.”

She was right, and he did know it. But Elina was the priority. “Why don’t you use my office to check Elina over?”

Lia raised her eyebrow but smiled. “Fine. I’ll start with Elina. Don’t run away.”

He raised his own eyebrow back, making her laugh.

When the women were in the office, Marcus turned to the squad room. “Give me a hand checking for kittens and any kitten damage. They were alone here for a while.”

Joe chuckled, and they moved through the room. No kittens in the box. He turned to Finch. “Where are your buddies? Find Boo, Jem, and Scout.”

Joe grinned. “Nina reading To Kill A Mockingbird in school?”

He smiled. “That’s what I said when I heard the names, but it was Elina who named them. Kimi said they’d all been abandoned, and Finch was curled around them.”

“Some people shouldn’t be allowed near animals. Or people. Bastards. So, how are you really doing?”

Marcus turned to Joe. “Did Lia ask you to pry?”

Joe grimaced. “Not a chance. But I know exactly how it feels to watch some asshole hold a knife to the throat of the woman you love.”

Joe and Lia had been through their own hell the year before. Marcus sighed. “It sucks. I’d take a bullet for her. I’d do anything to protect her. Being helpless sucks.”

Joe nodded. “I hear ya. But it sounds like you weren’t helpless at all. You gave her a signal when to move?”

Marcus nodded. “We were lucky. Owen had been playing with the dogs and teaching them commands earlier.”

“That’s not luck. That’s two smart people trusting each other and working together to take down the jerk.”

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