Page 27 of Thin Ice

She hugged him close. “Be careful.”

Not the words he wanted to hear. He untangled her arms and kissed her cheek, then headed away. One day. He’d tell her everything one day. He just hoped she was ready to hear the secrets of his heart. He stepped out into the open field, half expecting to be attacked. With his breathing labored, he started toward the trees near the road. Hannah. All he could think about was saving Hannah.

As he neared the place where she was to leave the car, a sound of chopper blades approaching came louder. He glanced above. Nothing but darkness. A relieved breath escaped. He reached the trees. Started toward the car. Almost reached it when the world around him exploded. Barrel flashes lit up the dark night. He dove for cover, but not before one shot hit its mark. It slammed against his upper chest propelling him forward.

Someone screamed. Hannah. Bright lights lit up the space in front of him. He tried to stay on his feet. Couldn’t. The ground swallowed him up and there was nothing but blackness.

Chapter Eight

“Brookes!” She saw the gun flashes and ran toward the action. Before she’d covered half the distance, he was down. Tried to crawl toward the waiting car. Couldn’t.

Over her labored breathing, she became aware of several people overtaking her. Joe and Nick Doyle reached her side and opened fire. She did the same.

A door opened on the car. Two people dragged Brookes inside. Seconds later, the car sped toward them.

“That’s Hannah, Brookes’s sister,” Abby yelled over the gunfire. Bullets scattered all around them. All three dropped to the ground and returned fire.

The car screeched to a halt beside them.

“Get in,” a man yelled.

Abby jumped in the backseat where Hannah was working on Brookes.

Joe slid in beside her and Nick jumped in front with the driver.

“Head toward the trees,” Abby yelled.

The driver punched the pedal. The tires dug into the soggy dirt and gained traction. The car sped across the field.

“How bad is it?” Abby fought back tears as she watched Hannah try to stem the blood flow from a chest wound that was far too close to Brookes’s heart.

“It’s bad. Grab that bag on the floorboard. I need gauze to slow the blood loss and I need room to work.” Hannah shot her a look when she stared at the man she cared for deeply. “Now, Abby.”

Abby snapped out of her daze, grabbed the bag, and unzipped it. She found the gauze and handed it to Hannah who stuffed it over the wound.

“That won’t help for long. I need room to work. Where’s the chopper?”

“It’s close,” Abby said and prayed it was true. She couldn’t lose him. Not like this. Not with so many things left unsaid.

The steady thump, thump, thump of the chopper blades cutting the air nearby drew Abby’s attention to the skies. The pilot cleared the trees and was descending.

Abby hopped out of the car and hurried to the advancing SUV.

Joe rolled the window down.

“As soon as he lands, drive the SUV onboard,” Abby told him. She glanced over her shoulder. Men were advancing from the trees.

The chopper kicked up dirt and debris as it touched ground. The back hatch opened.

“Go,” Abby yelled over the noise.

Joe rolled the SUV into the chopper’s cavernous space.

Abby ran to the car and helped the driver get Brookes from the backseat. They rushed toward the chopper.

“I’m a medic. Let me help.” A man she didn’t know went into action assisting Hannah.

“Is everyone onboard? We can’t wait any longer. Once they overtake us, there’ll be no way to lift off.”

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