Cal runs up behind Devon, pulling him back by his hood.
Joker, his red-masked companion, and the remaining two hostiles walk off. Rex follows but keeps a distance, Devon on his heels since Cal let him go to run over to me.
“Mac.” Cal stops short, inspecting my shoulder. His lips tremble and he looks pale. “Is it bad?”
“Is there a hole in the back?”
Cal walks around and groans. “Yeah.”
“Good. Much better than if the bullet was still in me.” Though shit hurts like hell. But that’s not my biggest concern.
I grab Cal and turn him around in a circle, looking over him. My hand skims his neck, hair, and body looking for any wounds.
“I’m okay.”
My thumb grazes softly over his cheek. “You certain? Can’t lose you.”
He nods. “Devon kept me safe. Rex killed most of them. But I helped. I got one myself.”
“Told you to run.”
He glares. “I’m not a scared deer. I told you that. I might not be the best, but like you made me promise—I’m not running, especially when I need to protect you too.”
I lean in and kiss him. “Just glad you’re okay. Let’s get back home.”
Chapter 9
Back at the house, Cal helps me into the kitchen, then carefully removes my shirt before treating the wound. I walk him through what to do—what better time to teach him some combat first aid. Nothing like being a damn practice dummy.
By the time we’re done and I’m on the couch, Devon and Rex come home.
Christ on a cracker.
Did I just refer to my house as their home?
I shake the thought away and glance over at them. Devon’s carrying my sniper rifle and jacket. Rex brought a few extra weapons home too.
“They leave?”
He nods. “Tracked them for three miles. They ain’t coming back.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Something about the tattoo.”
We stare at each other. Oddest fucking thing. No one outside our unit has it. “Think they knew one of us?”
“Could be. They ain’t old enough to have served. Looked mid-twenties. Still should keep an eye out, add some more of your booby traps around town.”
I nod.
Rex and Devon head to the weapons room while Cal cuddles up against me and sighs. “I don’t want to leave.”
I nuzzle my face into his hair. “I know. We’ll figure it out.”
“I don’t want them to leave either.”
“Who? Devon and Rex?”
