Page 83 of Ace of Spades
Alex and Rand had freed Court and Nichole and were helping them up the ladder. With his brother and the woman out of harm’s way, Nate kept his attention on Taylor. Pride swelled in his heart for her, and damn if it also didn’t feel something like love there, too.
Rand climbed back down the ladder. “The EMTs are here. Can they come down, or should we let him suffer a little longer?”
Nate glanced at Taylor. “Up to you.”
She looked from Rand to him to Tompkins. “Yeah, let them in.”
“You heard the lady,” he said. “Is Court okay?”
Rand nodded. “Yeah, a few stitches and he’s good to go. Alex is going to the hospital with him.”
That was a relief. Seeing his brother with his chin on his chest, almost looking dead, had sent Nate back to when Alex had almost died after being shot. He was getting too old for this shit.
There would be numerous conversations with Tompkins after he was released from the hospital and returned to their custody. He wanted answers, and for sure so did Taylor. But it had been a long day and night, and he knew Taylor was exhausted. All he wanted to do now was get her out of there and take care of her.
“Stay with him until the hospital releases him, and you can book him,” Nate said to Rand. “I doubt it will take long to sew him up and stick a bandage on him. Tell Rothmire no one talks to him until Taylor’s present. We’ll come in after lunch.”
She shot him a grateful smile that he understood, both her need for answers and that she was in dire need of sleep. He put his hand on her back, giving her a push toward the ladder.
“Bitch!”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tompkins pull the knife out of his arm, then rear up. Nate’s first reaction was to step in front of Taylor to protect her, but she shoved him aside. Damn, his tiger was fucking fearless. He grinned at her as he moved behind her. Maybe some men would have to do the macho thing and take care of her, but she’d hate that. Yeah, that was how well he knew her.
As Tompkins came at her, the knife raised high, she twisted her body, kicking back. The heel of her shoe caught him in the chin. He grunted as he recoiled, but he didn’t fall. He started for her again, aiming the knife for her chest. She dropped and rolled, taking him down at his knees. He fell, face down, and she straddled his back, grabbed his hair, and slammed his face into the floor. Blood poured out of his nose.
She put her mouth next to his ear. “You still want to play with me, turd face?”
Nate snickered.
“Well, he is,” she said, looking up at him.
“I’m going to have to teach you some bad words to use in situations like this,” he said. “‘Turd face’ doesn’t quite get it.” He held out some plastic ties. “I assume you’d like to do the honors?”
“Absolutely.” She took them from him.
“You broke my nose,” Tompkins said.
Nate bent down and stared in his face. “You’re lucky she didn’t put that knife between your eyes. You have the right to remain silent, so shut up.”
When he stood, he held out his hand. “Let’s blow this joint, tiger.”
She put her hand in his. “Best idea I’ve heard all day. Since his prints are now on the handle, make sure the knife is bagged as evidence he tried to kill me.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Rand said.
As Nate walked to the ladder with her, he said, “For the rest of the night, I’m in charge.”
The smile she sent him went straight to his heart, and strangely, he was good with that.
