Page 35 of Her Last Hope
“I’m not an asshole,” Nick muttered, retrieving both his spare weapons. “When you run out of ammo, you better be standing behind me.”
“If you run out first, you get behind me.” She cocked her head with her lips pursed. “Got it,hon.”
Nick resisted the urge to kiss them until they werebruised, but only because they didn’t have time. If they survived this, he’d be putting hickeys all over her body.
Logan laughed. “You two are made for each other.”
The elevator came to a halt, and the motor shut down. Nick held his weapons out and swallowed. This wasn’t his first ambush. Hopefully it wouldn’t be his last.
He took a few steps to the side. “Open the door but stay behind it.”
Leandra nodded. Curling her fingers around the handle, she pulled back.
Nothing happened.
A loud thud from above echoed in the elevator. Nick looked up, and directly overhead was a green, oval object.
“Grenade,” he said.
Without being asked, Leandra stepped away from the door, taking Logan’s weapons as he yanked down on the lever, moving the door only slightly, but leaving enough room for Nick to curl his fingers around the edge, heaving it open.
“Move,” he shouted as he grabbed Leandra and leapt from the elevator.
Bam!
The deafening explosion rang in Nick’s ears as his body catapulted across the corridor. He held Leandra tight, covering her body with his as pieces of metal blew by. His back slammed against a wall so hard it rattled his teeth.
He groaned, feeling his skin tear.
“Hon?” He cupped Leandra’s face, lifting her head. “Leandra?” His voice was muffled from the ringing in his head.
Her eyelids fluttered. “That was not fun.”
He let out a soft chuckle, running his hands up and down her body, checking for possible injuries.
“Logan?” he called. A trickle of fear filled Nick’s gut. Logan had been the last one out of the elevator shaft. “Logan?” he called louder, pushing himself to a standing position, pain ripping through his lower back.
He helped Leandra to her feet. “Anything hurt?”
“My head,” she muttered, rubbing her temples. “Both my knees hurt, but since I’m standing, it’s probably nothing too bad.”
“Okay.” Nick kissed her cheek. “I need to find my brother.”
“I’m right here,” Logan said, coming into view, holding his shoulder which looked as though someone had yanked it out of its socket. “Thank God for the long delay on that grenade.” Blood ran down his arm.
“You’re bleeding,” Nick said.
“In a few places, but nothing that’s gonna require stitches, like your back.”
Nick twisted, lifting his shirt. “Fuck,” he muttered.
“That looks nasty,” Leandra said as she gathered up some of her shirt, wiping the blood away. “We need to stop the bleeding.”
“We need to get the fuck out of here.” Nick tore off his shirt, ripping it apart and tying it around his body, covering the wound.
“Before that, someone needs to put my motherfucking shoulder back in its proper place,” Logan ground out.
“I haven’t done this in years.” Nick pressed his hand on the back of Logan’s shoulder, reaching around with the other. “You ready?” He didn’t wait for an answer as he slammed Logan’s shoulder.
