Page 67 of King of Pain

A deep male voice picks up on the second ring. “Luke?”

“No,” I gasp. “Please. It’s Kate.”

“Kate,” he repeats. “What’s wrong?”

“Mason?”

“It’s me.”

“Luke is hurt. We need help.”

“Hurt? How?”

“Gorilla… I mean Guerriero is here. I don’t know how he knocked Luke out. I was in the house.”

“He knocked Luke out? Where is Guerriero now?”

“I’m not sure,” I cry, a sob escaping my lips. I can feel myself getting hysterical. I try to breathe. “I shot him and he ran off.”

“You shot him?” Mason’s voice rises with every word.

“I know. It’s bad.” Luke moans and I lower the gun, reaching for him, placing my hand over his chest.

“You’re fine,” Mason says, his voice taking on this soothing tone. “You did the right thing. What’s wrong with Luke?”

“Knocked out,” I say, my voice breaking. “I don’t know how.”

He holds the phone away from his mouth, barking several orders, but he must cover the mouthpiece because I can’t hear the words, just the tone.

“You still have the gun?”

“Yeah.”

“Bullets?”

“One in the barrel, more in the house.”

“What did you shoot him with?”

“Bird shot, I think.”

“You probably didn’t kill him then,” Mason says. “And I’m sending help. The chopper will be there in half an hour.”

“Chopper? Half hour?”

“This is important, Kate. Keep the gun up. Keep alert.”

I draw in a shaky breath. “Keep alert.”

Luke’s heartbeat is strong under my hand has he moans again. I lift his head the slightest bit, feeling his skull.

He’s got a lump on the back of his head. I can only hope that’s the worst of his injuries. “Luke?”

I hear Mason rumble as Luke’s eyes blink open. “Luke,” I gasp out, relief making me limp. “There you are.”

His stare back at me is blank, which has me stiffening in fear again.

“Here I am?” It’s a question as he slowly lifts a hand, looking at me in confusion. “What did you say my name was again?”

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