Page 73 of Raging Inferno

“Kayne, did you see?” she asked through the comms.

“No. I couldn’t get there.”

She repeated his answer to Reggie. He called for backup to search the surrounding area for Eddie Smith.

Kayne screeched to a stop and jumped out of the SUV. “The perp was dressed in all black with a hoodie. Too far away to tell gender.”

“It has to be the same person who tried to break into my house,” Dominic deduced. “Same description.”

“Where did you see him?” Reggie wanted to know. “And before you criticize me, Presley, most criminals are male. I’m going with the odds.”

She frowned at him. “That thought didn’t cross my mind.”

Kayne pointed to a tree. “He was set up there and jumped down when he realized he’d been spotted. He took off to the northeast.”

“I’m going to check that area for clues. Presley, go to the hospital and get that looked at,” Reggie said over his shoulder as he jogged away.

“Let me see it now,” Dominic insisted.

“I don’t like being in the open like sitting ducks.”

“Fine. Get inside the SUV.”

She narrowed her eyes at Dominic. He was being very bossy. She opened her mouth, but he shook his head and pointed. “Now.”

Kayne’s amused chuckle earned him another slug in the gut.

“You are killing me, Elvis. Don’t be cruel.”

“Har, har.” Presley almost punched that amused look off his face, but who could stay mad at Kayne and that roguish grin? It was so charming. Instead, she barked, “Shut it.”

“Shutting it,” he responded.

Presley rolled her eyes and fought a smile. She started to climb into the passenger seat, but Dominic stopped her. “In the back.”

“I dislike this side of you,” she snapped but did as he instructed. She had to scoot over when he followed her inside.

Kayne rummaged in the back and handed Dominic a first aid kit. “I’ve had combat medic training and can sew up any wound if necessary.”

“Kayne, I’ve seen your handiwork. I would rather not look like the Bride of Frankenstein, thank you very much,” Presley snarked.

“Each scar is a badge of honor,” Kayne insisted, and damn it, she couldn’t argue. He’d gotten them defending the country.

#

Dominic knew he was being high-handed with Presley, but he’d been scared senseless when she’d yelled that someone was shooting, and then he’d noticed the blood blooming on her arm. He didn’t know what he would’ve done if the bullet had hit higher. It might’ve tagged her in the head. He shuddered.

“It looks that bad?” Presley twisted her head to see the wound.

“No.”

A hiss escaped her lips. “What the hell did you do, light it on fire?”

“I need to clean it out.” His voice was still too gruff. He tried to tone it down. “The bullet cut a groove, but I think the butterfly strips will work. Then you won’t have much of a scar, if any.”

“I was kidding about that.”

Dom dressed the wound and wrapped a bandage around it. He almost kissed it, like he did when Gia was hurt, but he restrained himself.

---