Page 96 of The Ranger
“The baby?”I ask tentatively.
Her eyes meet mine, then drift away.“Moving.Coming.I don’t know.”
“Did they hurt you?”I run my hand over the side of her gently, searching for anything as Ryder keeps his eyes trained on her.
“Not badly, but yes.”She dips her face into my arm, and I feel her tears.
Where is this fucking ambulance?
Jake steps into the room, and my head snaps to him.“The ambulance is pulling up.I’ll need to send one of my men with you.”
“We don’t need protection if that’s what you mean,” I tell him.
“It’s not,” he says, holding my gaze for a moment, then ducks out.Ryder follows him.
A minute later, two paramedics come bursting in and drop to the floor.I watch them take in the smell, glance at Scarlett then me, then start pulling out medical equipment.
“Can you tell me your name?”
Scarlett answers all their questions and tells them the term of her pregnancy.
“She hasn’t had food or water,” I explain.“For almost two days.She just drank some of this.”I lifted the water bottle.
They nod, listening while taking her stats.
“Your name?”
“Sergeant Cole Zimbardo.”When the guy waits for more, I say.“I’m the father.”
He doesn’t need my full rank and all my credentials right now.
“Do you think you can walk, Scarlett?”
She nods but glances up at me.“Don’t leave me.”
I’m not going to.Not ever.Nothing and no one is taking her from me ever again.
“Never.”I cup her face and hold her gaze for as long as I can so that message sinks in loud and clear.Then I turn back to the paramedics.“I’m her husband.”
They don’t believe me but accept my statement, and together, Liam and I get her up off the ground and onto the stretcher.
I spot my weapon and walk over to it, sliding it into the back of my pants.Then take hold of my rifle, keeping it trained on the floor.
I’m not taking any risks.
If Jake has a problem with that, he can take it up with Josh.Or arrest me.
Ryder walks in.“Chen is still on the run.We’ll stay behind and assist where Mr.Jake Douchebag will let us.Unless you want one of us to follow you to the hospital?”
As the paramedic straps Scarlett in, I stay by her side holding her hand.“One of you should, just in case Chen follows and has more men to pull in.”
Ryder nods.“Liam, you go.I’ll update Josh.”
“Roger that.”
“Thanks, man.”
Ryder, former Delta Force operator that he is, takes in the stretcher and my stance.“I’ll take the lead.Follow me, and if I say stop or drop, you all fucking do it.Got it?”
