Page 84 of Desert Thorns
I wrapped my free arm around my stomach. Hopefully the baby was okay.
But something told me Kingsley was worse off than the guys let on.
Chapter 34
Harley
An hour later we were assembled in the waiting area of Darkwater Refuge’s only hospital. Captain Tripp Rhyner—confirmed Layne’s brother—and Wentworth hadn’t left my side for one second while Kingsley was being treated. I was beyond grateful for their support and distraction from my churning thoughts. The doctor had looked downright shocked when he’d seen Kingsley’s back. I’d only caught a glimpse of it past the bustling nurses, and the sight nearly turned my stomach. It had looked like minced meat.
Speaking of stomach—Baby was okay. I wished Kingsley had been there with me for my first ultrasound, but I’d needed answers. My heart still sang praise to God for protecting us both.
“What does HVT mean?” I asked Rhyner, who sat in the plastic chair next to me. Still wearing camo and face paint, he drew a lot of attention from passing nurses, doctors, and patients. Or maybe it was the intensity he exuded. “Rome mentioned it in regard to Craig.”
“High Value Target.”
“What makes him that?”
Running a hand over his dark beard, Rhyner glanced around. Then he trained his gaze on me. “He’s been on our radar for a while.”
I gaped at him. “Really? Why?”
“All I can say is that you helped to take down a dangerous man.” He punched to his feet and stalked to the sniper who’d just come around the corner with two cups of coffee.
I turned to Wentworth sitting on my other side. “If you guys aren’t allowed to operate on US soil, does this mean Craig was involved in something international?”
“You’re on the right track.” He winked at me.
I took in the other team members. A Caucasian guy with blond hair curling from under his baseball hat was snoozing across from me, arms folded and head down. Next to him lounged a handsome African American, watching the news on the small TV mounted on the ceiling. The sniper and Captain Rhyner were quietly conversing while sipping their coffees.
“What unit or team or whatever are you again?” I asked Wentworth.
“’fraid I can’t tell you that.”
I bit my lower lip. “Fair enough. Welp, thank you for coming to our rescue and making sure Craig was stopped.” How blind had I been? How had I not noticed that he was some kind of international terrorist or arms dealer or whatever? I felt so stupid.
The sniper came over and settled next to me. Stunning tattoos peaked from under his pushed back sleeves.
I met his gaze. “What’s your name again?”
“Sean.”
“You saved my life, Sean. Thank you.”
“Just did my job, ma’am.”
“No. You put your job on the line for me.”
“Worth it.”
Rhyner muttered a curse, snapping my attention to him. “We’re busted. Let me do the talking.”
Before I could ask what was up, several DRPD officers came around the corner like a wall. “Captain Rhyner, you’re under arrest.” The police officer gestured at the whole team. “All of you.”
I shot to my feet. “You can’t do that! They literally saved our—”
A hand pulled me back into my seat. “Harley, I need you to stay quiet,” Wentworth whispered in my ear. “No offense, but you’ll make things worse. Let Rhyner handle this.”
But there was no handling anything. The entire team—all five of them—were put in handcuffs, then escorted out of the hospital. One of the officers stayed behind to ask me questions, which I truthfully answered. I demanded several times that Rhyner and his team were to be let go because they were the heroes here, but wasn’t acknowledged. When the officer left, I was by myself.
