Page 97 of Ricochet

Small miracles. He pulled the doorshut, grunting as their legs and arms tangled in the small backseat. “Mayhem’s here.” He grunted as he climbed the awkward hump of the center console and pushed her head down as he saw it pop up in his peripheral. “Stay on the ground—”

The back windshield shattered. Searing pain sliced his back, and fire ignited up his back, shooting down his leg as Adelia screamed.

His vision tunneled andhis mind stuttered, fighting to control the nanoseconds needed to absorb a hit and its aftermath.

Adelia called to him, her voice echoing miles away. Shock and pain mocked him, and Colin growled, cursing as the wave of agony rushed as his senses kicked into overdrive and will forced him into action.

“God.” His lungs burned. His wound pulsed, tormenting him as he tucked his legs under him andcrawled into the driver’s seat. Every curse word he’d ever heard flew from his lips like they might salve the wound leaking blood at his side.

Adelia leaned up. “Are you—”

“Stay down, goddamn it.”

Another shot hit the car. Their attacker wasn’t the best shot, and he’d take that small miracle over the lack of pain at this point. Sweat poured down his neck, and he turned the car on—

“Now doyou believe me?” Adelia screeched.

His breaths labored, but at least she was alive to shout. “Not now.”

Colin screeched out of the parking lot, not having a damn clue where he was going, but he needed to get to doctor. Grimacing, he ran his hand under his shirt, along his lower side, until the pain made his vision hazy. The bullet went in but didn’t come out. Could’ve been better, but at thatangle, the shot could’ve been much worse.

He stopped poking and let his arm drop, needing to slow his breaths while navigating traffic. What he wouldn’t give for a voice-activated call communication system right now. “Babe.” He inhaled slowly. “Adelia, check around for a first-aid kit.”

“A first-aid kit? Are you nuts? You’re shot!”

“Babe, you think I don’t know?”

“Gah.” She threw herselfover the passenger seat, searching the glove box. “No. Move your arm.” He grunted as she pulled the center console up. “Tissues won’t help.”

Agony ricocheted to his limbs as he tried to find a less painful position. “You never know.”

She slid to the backseat again. “How the hell don’t you have a first-aid kit?”

“Shouting won’t make it appear.”

Adelia muttered under her breath, and Colin lookedover his shoulder, instantly regretting the sudden move. She’d turned so her back was against the passenger seat—thump.

“Adelia!” He gasped aloud, readjusting his rearview mirror and swerving in his lane, but watched her kick the seats again.

“It’s stuck—”Kick. Kick.“I’m trying to loosen the latch.” She crossed the space and reached to the headrests. “Success!” A moment later, she had halfthe backseats folded down, her ass in the air, and was wriggling into the trunk. “This is the stupidest place to keep a first-aid kit.”

Colin laughed. Between keeping pressure on his wound, driving in a semi-straight line, and watching what she was doing, he was in so much pain he nearly wanted to cry. But for now, laughter was the best medicine.

She reappeared by his side, suggesting they shouldpull over to do this, and he disagreed, not sharing if they stopped and he was forced to rest, his adrenaline might take a break and he wouldn’t continue to function at this level.

They picked through the best bandages and clotting agents, covering him as best as possible while he strangled the steering wheel and she peppered every step with apologies. When all was done, Colin focused on hisracing breaths, finally noticing her. Adelia didn’t tear her eyes from her blood-covered hands.

“Sorry about that,” he said. “Thank you.”

Her chin barely moved. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Adelia?”

“Hm?” But she didn’t look away from her hands as if he’d tainted her.

“I don’t have any blood-born illnesses—”

She twisted sharply. “Oh, no. I just… can’t believe I did this to you.”

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