Page 37 of Going Rogue
Worry pinched her face, creating a line between her brows. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Logically, Crane knew he’d been shot, but whatever they were pumping into him through the IV in his arm made him feel pretty damn good. “You won’t. Sit.”
He didn’t release her hand, so her climb onto the bed was the oppositeof graceful. After a couple of tries, in which he wisely swallowed his chuckle, she managed it. When she settled, she glared at him as if to say, “You made that harder than it needed to be,” before she started to tell the story.
“After you . . .” Her eyes flooded, making his chest constrict in sympathy, and he squeezed her hand.
She swallowed, then said, “Passed out. The team showed up. They helped get you airlifted here to Germany. We’re at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on Spangdahlem Air Base.”
The relief he hadn’t put her through worse than that loosened the tie around his lungs.
He figured he’d landed in pretty good hands if he was in a U.S. Air Force hospital. It was funny; despite his time with the Marines, he’d never made it to Europe. He’d always wanted to go. See the Rhine, pay his respects at the Berlin Wall memorial, eat a hamburger in Hamburg. But there’d be time to play tourist later.
“I’m guessing they took care of Jordy?” He tried not to growl the fucker’s name, but he’d thought of the man as a brother. Thebetrayal dug a chasm in his soul.
Rogue nodded. “Duke and Romeo stayed behind to clean up while Herc delivered the traitor.”
Which left Bo and their leader, Victor. Rogue must’ve read the question in his eyes because she said, “Victor’s on damage control, and Bo is . . .” Her shoulders gave a slight shrug. “Bo.”
The former Navy SEAL was as taciturn as they came. No one knew where he went when they weren’t on an op. He had a habit of disappearing.
Crane had been pissed at all of them for leaving Rogue to fend for herself. But now he wondered if he’d misjudged them. “How’d they know where we were?”
“Dafi.” She scowled. “I guess I shouldn’t complain since what he did saved your life, but you really should keep better company, Crane.” She shook her head. “The man sold Jordan out to Victor for more money.”
Her indignation made him grin. He’d known Dafi was only as good as the highest bidder. “Smart man.”
Her eyes fired like she wished she couldsmack him, and he chuckled. It was still fun to rile up his squirrel. “What else?”
“Jordy’s aim sucked, or you’re ridiculously lucky. Either way, the bullet made a clean exit. I’m sure the doctor will explain all the technical stuff to you, but surgery went well. You’ll make a full recovery.”
He didn’t miss her gulp on the last word. Had she worried about him? Sat by his bedside? Which made him wonder . . . “How long was I out?”
“Three days.”
The number proved longer than he’d expected. He palmed Rogue’s cheek and asked softly, “Have you slept?”
“Some.” He started to drop his hand, but she gripped his wrist as if she didn’t want to let go. “Crane . . .” Her eyes misted, but she blinked them clear.
“What is it, squirrel?”
She chewed her lip and dropped her gaze to their joined hands. “Do you remember what you said to me? Before we went in the warehouse?”
Abso-fucking-lutely.Did her bringing it upmean . . .? Hope danced in his stomach, but his answer remained clipped with caution. He didn’t think the pain meds could do anything against emotional pain. “Yes.”
She met his gaze again; hers swam, heavy with emotion. “You already have it.” She took a deep breath. “My heart, I mean. I love you, too, Miles.”
Crane didn’t know if this was real. Maybe he dreamt again. Or hallucinated, his brain conjuring some morphine-induced fantasy. Because it felt surreal, he asked, “You love me?”
“Yes. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t want to.” He caught the exasperation in her tone. “But you made me fall for you anyway. When I almost lost you—”
Her words cut off as a sob hiccupped out of her. Unable to not touch her, he pulled her close. “Baby, don’t cry.” He kissed her forehead and crooned, “I’m so sorry, Rogue. I’d never leave you willingly. I promise you that.”
He stroked her hair while she clung to the hospital gown over his chest. When he didn’t feel any dampness from tears, he let out asmall sigh of relief.
Rogue had finally opened her heart to him.
She was his. Now and always.
