Page 32 of Fatal Love
“Yeah, that’s the same song I’m getting from everyone.” Bells shoved him into the chair and patted his knee. “Sit tight.”
He must have dozed off because the next thing he knew, Sabrina was shaking him awake, her beautiful face contorted in a deep frown. “Connor?”
God, she was beautiful. Her red hair was a wild, glorious mess around her face, her hands shaking as she felt his forehead. He reached to touch her, but his right arm still wouldn’t work and his left hand was covered with blood.
He let his bloody hand drop, his vision once again going a bit wonky. Seeing three Sabrinas, though, was far better than three of Bells’ ugly mug any day. “You okay?” he asked her.
She smiled sweetly. “You saved my life. Of course I’m okay.”
“Come on, cowboy.” Bells was suddenly hauling him out of the chair. The red and blue of police lights swirled past the windows. An ambulance screamed to a stop by the front door. “Let’s get you into your carriage.”
Connor grimaced as Bells took his arm and threw it over one of his shoulders. “Take the others in the helo,” he said to Sabrina as they started walking him toward the back door. “Bells can drive me to the hospital.”
Sabrina put an arm around his waist to hold him up. “The ambulance is for Beatrice and the baby, and of course, Cal’s riding with them. I’m taking you and Maria to the hospital.”
Hunter passed them, giving Connor a friendly slap on his face. “You did good for a rookie, Irish.”
“Did you really just call me a rookie?” he demanded.
“Until you’re on my Shadow team,” Hunter said, “you’re a rookie in my book. We’ll talk after you’re stitched up.”
“About what?”
Hunter gave him aduhlook. “Joining my team and losing your rookie status.”
“Your Shadow team?”
Hunter kept walking. Colton continued to move Connor to the back door. “Think you can handle Hunter for a boss?”
A Shadow team. He’d just been offered a slot on the elite soldier’s SFI unit. Could he handle it?
It was an honor just to be asked. He’d have to give it serious consideration. His PTSD was one thing; finding his replacement to run the office was another. Add to that, being on a paramilitary team would cut into the hours he had available to hunt down 12 September.
Hunter went to the front door and opened it for the EMTs who hustled in with a gurney. As Connor and the others hit the back door, Hunter was showing them into the bedroom. The baby had quieted, and Connor heard Beatrice laugh.
The sound was so good, so unexpected, he smiled right through his pain and dizziness. No one but Cal ever made Beatrice laugh. Maybe the baby would do that too.
A moment later, Sabrina and Bells loaded him into the helicopter. Maria was already inside, one bloody arm thrown over her eyes as she slouched in the rear seat with her eyes closed.
Bells strapped him into the seat next to Sabrina as she ran around to the pilot seat and hopped in.
The horizon was brightening with the sunrise, and Connor eased back in the seat and closed his eyes as the bird lifted into the air.
