“Shit. But with the power off and no cameras, you were blind for a few minutes. That’s a long time for them to pull off some serious shit.”
“It was the Fed’s idea. I’m sure they got it covered. Don’t worry. Okay?”
“I guess.”
“Can you tell me everything that happened, from start to finish? Maybe we can figure it out.”
By the time she finishes, I want to turn the car around, find those terrorists, and shoot them straight between the eyes. Fook the FBI.
I wish I could tell her how my beating heart was plucked from my chest when I thought she was gone. For a few hours, my whole life ended. Instead, I put my hand to her cheek and caress it as we follow the Google-Lady to the emergency entrance.
Reminiscent of a couple evenings ago in another city, I pull up to the hospital’s front doors. This time, she’s not lost but with me. I jump out and help her inside where a nurse puts her in a wheel chair.
By the time I park and arrive back behind the bay’s curtain, Callie has a sonogram machine over her belly. Knees shaking, I hold my breath until I hear the familiar tiny train engine.
My little roo is alive!
“They’re both going to be fine. When the doctor smiles, I sink into a chair, barely aware of the rest of his diagnosis. “…head injury seems to be healing fine on its own. If everything is still good in the morning, we’ll release her. Then, you and your wife should take it easy for a couple weeks.”
“Thanks, doc.” I shake his hand then rub my hand over my eyes, trying to remember the last time I slept.
I press on my comm unit and announce to all listening, “Callie and the baby are fine.”
There’s a lot of cheering, then it’s back to business for the blokes on site. They aren’t saying much over the radio so I’ll have to find out more in the morning. I’m still pissed the FBI let the kidnappers go, even for a minute.
“Be right back.” I kiss her, cup her soft cheek with my hand, then go outside the curtain to check the perimeter.
A big black guy flashes a badge in front of my face. “Secret Service. The president asked I keep an eye on your wife. He thanks you both for your patriotism.”
Like I had a choice.
“Hey!” Suds shouts from the front desk and waves. When the nurse tries to stop him, he flashes some fake badge.
Reaching me, he slaps me on the back, and I hug my brother. Then, he pokes his head inside the curtain, “Hey y’all? Can I come in?”
“Oh my God! Suds, I can’t believe you’re here. The last time I saw you, you were sitting in a pool of blood. When I saw you at the treatment plant, for a moment, I thought you were a ghost.”
He chuckles. “I got nine lives. I got a few left in me. You go on and rest. I only stopped in to say hi. I’ll be outside with Lucky.”
“I wish people would stop telling me to sleep. I’m not tired.”
Suds catches my eye, winks, then ducks under the curtain. “She’s wound tighter than a two-dollar watch. You both could use some time off.”
“That’s exactly what the doc said but I don’t feel right leaving with those terrorists walking around free and clear.”
Suds rasps a hand across his short beard. “Jason thinks y’alls families could be at risk. Grayson has Izzy and the kids holed up in his office until he sends them back to Minnesota. Slate’s hired a Seal to watch Lilac during her hospital shifts. Mel and Sienna are heading back to North Carolina with CJ and Andy. Maybe you and Callie should go with them?
I glance in at my wife. She’s so damn pretty with her eyelashes resting on the top of her cheeks, her breath going in and out as she snores. “I’ll call Gray, hopefully, he can find someone to cover for me for a few weeks.”
“Still driving the little prince?” His eyes, like mine, dart about.
Seeing no danger, I chuckle. “Yeah. The future ruler of the Arab nations is failing math.”
He laughs, slaps me on the back, stretches, and yawns. “Damn, I need to go get some shut-eye. I’ll talk later.”
Now alone, I sink into a plastic chair by her bed and rest my head on her legs. I try to sleep but visions of a demolished Italian restaurant mix in with Afghanistan. After the explosion, I’m knocked onto my ass, and she’s fucking gone. When I try to take her in my arms, she morphs into one of my mates, bloodied on the road next to the Humvee with the spinning wheels.
“Hey, wake up.” Soft, soothing palms cup my cheeks and when I open my lids, her concerned gaze heals my battle-scarred soul. “Bad dream?”
