Oh, and Ethan just killed someone without declaring the FBI and to drop his gun.
The paperwork.
Running toward the table, Ethan holstered his gun. As he reached Gene, the man was wincing as his arm was clearly broken at the elbow and wrist.
“Baby,” he said, touching his cheek.
Gene opened his eyes.
“I knew you’d get here. This sick fuck deserved it,” he muttered.
With gentleness, Ethan set his arms free. As he moved it, he could feel the bones shifting in Gene’s arm. Someone was going to be getting surgery.
Or a cast, at the minimum.
“Corbin, get an ambulance,” Ethan said.
The man tucked Ethan’s backup piece into the back of his pants and got ready to go outside.
First, he stopped to see Gene.
“Big guy, you’re killing us,” he said, kissing him on the forehead.
Then, he was gone.
Ethan gently moved his arm, stabilizing it as much as he could. Greyson was pulling off his FBI jacket so they could make a sling.
That’s when he gave him the lecture. Maybe it was out of relief, or just frustration, but he read him the riot act.
“What part of‘don’t give me any paperwork while you’re on your goddamn vacation’was I not clear about?” Greyson asked. “Now, I’ve got to call Gabe, and you’ve fired your gun—while drinking! He’s going to lose his goddamn mind with you two! It’s like you bothWANTto be on his radar!”
Ethan didn’t care.
He’d saved the man he loved.
As Greyson left to call the ME, and update Gabe, Ethan just stood there and held onto the man he loved.
“Too close,” he whispered. “That was too damn close. I nearly lost you.”
Gene was in so much pain.
That ball peen hammer had done its job. He was going to be sidelined for a while with a broken arm.
But he was alive.
“I love you, EJ. I’m good,” he promised. “No worries. I knew you’d get here.”
But there were worries.
Gene had that feeling.
It was in the pit of his stomach that this was about to be a clusterfuck. His partner had broken the rules, and he’d taken the life of another agent.
Neither one of them would be working for a while. Gabe was a bitch, and he’d give them administrative duty inPhilly.
He knew it.
Then again, they could sit in a room together and file countless bullshit paperwork.
