Page 106 of Deadly Designs

He hadn’t even realized he was. “I’m worried aboutyou.”

“I’ve been better,” she admitted. “Whathappened?”

“Dirk shot you.”

“I felt a burn in my side, but all my thoughts wereon Polly.” Now, the tears were in her eyes. “He killed her, didn’the?”

Christian squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, honey.”

Her eyes closed, and he was afraid she’d lapsed backinto unconsciousness. His breath shuttered out when they flutteredopen again.

“What happened to your cheek?”

“Dirk slugged me.”

Christian gritted his jaw. He was going to pay theman a visit in jail and teach him a lesson about hitting his woman.Dirk would be sporting two black eyes and missing several teethwhen Christian was through with him.

“Christian?”

Aja Blue’s voice snapped him from his violentthoughts. “What, babe?”

“Promise me something.”

“Anything.” And he meant it. Whatever she asked ofhim, he’d move Heaven and earth to make it happen.

“When we get to the hospital, you’ll check yourselfback in.”

Anything but that.

He was saved from answering when the ambulance groundto a halt and then the back doors whipped open. Aja Blue waswhisked away from him, and he was left staring after her.

Christian made his way to the waiting room,conveniently forgetting her request. He was fine. The double visionwas gone, and the pounding was down to a dull ache. He didn’t haveto worry about needing to be woken up occasionally since hewouldn’t sleep until he knew she was okay.

Christian’s eyes jerked open, and he realized he had,in fact, dozed off. It must’ve been the remaining drugs in hissystem. He jumped to his feet when he saw his bosses standingbefore him.

“Sit down, Christian,” Logan said.

He didn’t have to be told twice. He sat.

“You should still be in a hospital bed,” Lukechastised.

“I’m fine.”

“Any word on Aja Blue?” Logan asked.

“Not yet, but she was awake in the ambulance.”

“That’s a good sign,” Luke agreed.

“How is it going with the authorities?”

Logan rolled his eyes. “Everyone is fighting forcontrol and credit for the bust. It’s a madhouse.”

“We made sure the media knew it was you, Aja Blue,Kayne, and Presley who broke this case,” Luke told him.

“Detective Herbert was key too.”

“We included her,” Logan said, “based on what you alltold us. What are your thoughts on her?”

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