Page 67 of Hartley

“I figured. We’ll go to where they are.”

The fear I had over Lane and his safety rode me hard, but my immediate concern was for the men I loved and Vincent, who was obviously hurt protecting Lane.

As soon as we were off the elevator, I rushed to the medical room, having seen it when I was given the tour after moving in. Certain rooms stuck out to me. This was one of them.

The room was concealed much like it was in the safe house. Luckily, I knew how to get into it and the code. I was adamant Jordan give it to Vail and me in case he ever ended up in there. I wouldn’t hesitate to tear through Jordan’s men to get to him. I might be smaller than them, but I’d make up for it in sheer will to get to my man.

I could hear them talking before I was fully through the door. The sound of metal on metal as Alton used what he needed to help Vincent. I didn’t know the names of everything. There was no reason for me to. The only thing I cared about was everyone being okay.

Jordan turned the moment I was in the room. His shirt was gone, and no blood was visible on him. He must have gotten rid of his clothes, so Vail and I wouldn’t see it.

Jordan walked to me and wrapped me in a tight embrace. “I’m so glad to see you.” He let out a long breath and held me closer.

“Vinny?”

“He’s going to be okay. Alton got one of the bullets out already and is working on the other one. We were lucky he was close by when he called.”

Leaning back, I asked, “When did Barry call Rory? After you were already here?”

Jordan nodded. “I knew you were safe with Rory and Reghan and Vail was here. I had to get Vinny help.”

I peered around Jordan to look at Vail, where he stood holding Vincent’s hand, while Alton worked on the other side. Peeling myself away from Jordan’s warmth, I went to Vail and hugged him from behind while I studied Vincent’s face. It was tight with pain.

“Hey, Hartley,” he rasped when his eyes opened and he saw me standing there.

“Couldn’t go the day without getting shot, could you?”

“Gotta keep it interesting.”

“Second bullet is out,” Alton said, dropping it into a small metal bowl off to the side.

“Damage?” Jordan asked.

“Muscular. Nothing major was hit but he’s going to need rest and PT to fully heal.”

“Fuck that,” Vincent grumbled. “Just stitch me up so I can work.”

Turning, I peered at Jordan with sad eyes, silently begging him to make Vincent rest. I didn’t have to though because Jordan was already on his way to the table to put his hand on Vincent’s good shoulder. “You’ll go back to work when Alton clears you and not a moment sooner.”

“Need to find Lane.”

“We will.”

“County line…” Vincent cursed as Alton worked on him.

“County line?” Vail asked.

“I heard him say something about County Line Road. It was Noel that took him. Said he figured he’d be easier to grab than you or Hartley. He’s going to lure you there using Lane.”

“That motherfucker,” I bit out. Peering over my shoulder, I found Jordan with his eyes on me, hard and unyielding.

“I’ll find him.”

“He’s family now. We have to get him back safely.”

Jordan pressed a quick kiss to Vail’s lips then mine. “I love you both. I’ll be back.” There was no point in telling him not to go. This was what Jordan did. Took out the men who came for him and the people he cared about. He might not give a solitary fuck about Lane, but he cared about me. Lane mattered to me, therefore, he mattered to Jordan.

County Line Road ran just north of Dremest where there were more farms and less traffic. I hadn’t been up that way often but recognized the name. There were plenty of places for them to hide if they knew what they were doing, which they obviously did. Jordan had been out that way searching and so had his guards, but they couldn’t exactly go from property to property asking to see their barns and other areas to check for the Everharts.

---