Page 66 of Strike Fast

“What time is it?”

“Just after six. A.M.,” she added.

“How did the surgery go?”

“It was perfect. Your clavicle is all pinned back together again. You’ll have a nice bump there to remind you of today for the rest of your life, but after six to eight weeks you should be almost back to normal.”

Six to eight weeks seemed like a damn long time before she could use her right arm properly again.

“Agent Prentiss is waiting to see you, if you’re up to it.”

Her heart leapt. “Reid’s here?”

The nurse’s lips twitched in a quick smile. “Been waiting out in the hallway for over an hour now. I told him I’d ask you before letting him in here.”

“Sure, he can come in.” Had they found Autumn? Nailed Ruiz? She looked around for the remote to raise the head of the bed.

The nurse helped her and handed her a glass of ice chips. “Try a couple and see how they settle before you eat too many,” she warned with the shake of a finger. “If they stay down, we’ll go from there.”

Tess didn’t argue, already crunching on the ice chips. The nurse left the room, and a minute later Reid walked in. Her chest squeezed tight at the sight of him there in his tactical uniform, tall and strong. He gave her a tired smile and strode toward her.

“How you feeling?” he asked, taking her left hand.

“Did you find her?” she blurted, unable to stand it.

His expression froze, and she caught the desolation in his eyes. For one instant, her heart seemed to stop beating, an icy wave sweeping through her. “She wasn’t there,” he said.

Tess searched his eyes, her heart beating once more, but she needed clarification. “Ever?”

He shook his head. “They don’t think so.” He glanced around to make sure no one else could overhear them before continuing. “There were adult female hostages inside. Kept in cages.”

Tess winced and shook her head. Goddamn animals all deserved to be gut shot. And they’d taken Autumn. Distress flowed through her, making her pulse pound.

Reid rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “None of them had seen a little girl.”

That was both good and bad. “And Ruiz?”

His deep blue eyes hardened into glacial chips of ice. “He was never there either.”

She frowned. “But all the intel said he…” She trailed off, since her words would just make the situation worse. Reid was dealing with too much already.

He blew out a harsh breath. “Yeah. I know.” Another tired smile, the shadows beneath his eyes dark as bruises. “But at least you’re safe and sound and on the mend now.”

She swallowed, dropped her gaze to their joined hands. “Thank you. For coming in to get me.”

“Are you kidding me, Tess?” he said, sounding offended. “You think I wouldn’t come for you at a time like that?”

She squirmed inside. “I just meant that I realize you could have stayed behind to wait for word on Autumn.” She lifted her eyes to his. “But I’m really glad you didn’t.”

He gave her a hard look. “I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat if it meant protecting you.”

Why did that make her all teary? She blinked and dropped her attention back to their joined hands.

His strong fingers stayed locked around hers. “The doc said everything went well. If everything looks good they’re discharging you today, and your boss said the agency is flying you back to D.C. with your crew soon after that.”

She looked at him. “What about you?”

“I’ll stay down here with the guys. The analysts are chasing down other leads on Autumn and Ruiz. If they were in the area, we may get another tip that pans out next time.”

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