Page 44 of Thin Ice

She kissed him with all her heart.

Josh cleared his throat. “We should be landing soon. I’ll give you both some privacy.” He hurried from the vehicle and Brookes laughed.

“I think we embarrassed him.”

Abby sat back and stared at him with her heart shining in her eyes. “We did.” She gazed in front of them. “Oh, Brookes, I can’t believe this is finally happening. We made it.”

He only had eyes for her. “I’ll see it soon enough. I’m ready to get this bullet out of me and get back to work. Now that we have support from around the country. It’s time to take down Legion once and for all.”

The chopper landed with a minimal amount of jarring. Soon Wally stuck his head in. “I’m taking you straight to the hospital, brother.”

He climbed behind the wheel and slowly backed the vehicle out.

“Those two fighter pilots are landing. They want to meet the president.” Woody shook his head. “This is going to be something.”

Brookes craned his neck so he could see in front of them. The headlights picked up prairie land covered in snow. Adjusting to their new location was going to take some getting used to, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t be their home for long.

“There’s a ranch house up ahead,” Abby said. “I wonder where they set up the hospital.”

Woody turned toward them. “One building’s been turned into a hospital. There’s another that’s been set up as the control center. And there’s a runway.” He sounded impressed. Brookes could understand. It was amazing the team had accomplished so much in just a little time.

“Here we go.” Woody parked out front of a building. Several people raced outside with a gurney. Brookes was transferred onto it and rushed inside the building.

“Brookes, I’m Doctor Oviok.” An older man leaned into Brookes’s line of sight. “I’m going to take care of you. First thing is to get the bullet out of you.”

Brookes reached for Abby’s hand. He’d said he was ready for this, but was he really? It was still surgery and he’d been through so much. His body was weak.

“Don’t worry. God’s got this.” Abby smiled down at him. “And I’ll be right there waiting for you on the other side.”

Despite the surgery, he stared at her pretty face. He wanted to take it all in. Commit her to his memory. Wanted her to be the last thing he saw and the first when he came to.

Chapter Twelve

“How about you step away and get something to eat?” Jen Parker, Ben’s wife, had been at her side since she arrived. “It could be hours still. You need to keep up your strength.”

Abby shook her head. “I can’t. I promised him I would be here when he woke up. Can’t break that promise. He means too much to me.” Tears choked her voice.

Jen wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “I know and I understand.”

Someone came into the room. Abby jerked toward the door—the president.

“Sorry, it’s just me.” He held two cups of coffee. “This one’s decaf,” he told Jen who was pregnant.

She smiled. “Thank you, Mr. President.”

“Call me Victor.” He handed Abby the second coffee. “Still no word?”

Abby shook her head. “No, but Doctor Oviok said it could be a long time.”

Victor nodded. “According to everyone on the team, he’s one of the best. Brookes is in good hands.”

Abby took a sip of coffee. “So, what comes next for you? This country needs you so much.”

“This country needs every member of the Strike Force. The battle is just beginning, but momentum is growing. James has updated me. The support is overwhelming.”

Abby smiled. “That’s a relief. We’ve all fought so hard. I’m tired of fighting.” And she was. All she wanted was to live in peace with Brookes at her side.

“Me, too,” Victor said. “It’s time to end this thing once and for all and get to work rebuilding our country and our world.”

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