“Just a minute, baby,” he gasped, trying to roll onto his hands and knees. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for that baby. Drawing on strength he had no clue he had, he made it to his feet and limped over to the crib, which was dented even more now. “I’m coming, sweetheart. Just a sec.” Reaching down, he patted her belly. His vision wasn’t clear enough for him to pick her up yet. “You’re okay. I promise.”
She kicked her legs out but stopped crying, as if she somehow knew she was safe.
Denver took several deep breaths and pushed the pain away, waiting until his body settled. Okay. There was some damage on his side, more than the knife wound. But his other side worked. So he gingerly leaned down and picked the baby up with his better arm, holding her to his chest. She snuggled her nose into his neck and sniffed around. “You’re safe, sweetheart.” He turned and looked at the dead man on the ground. The baby had her face against Denver’s skin, so she couldn’t see the mess. That was good.
Ryker was instantly in the doorway with Heath on his heels. They both paused, their gazes on the dead man with the knife hilt protruding from his chin.
Ryker swallowed. “You got him.” He nudged Cobb with his boot.
Denver nodded. “Yeah.”
Heath looked up and hurried toward him. “You’re hurt.”
“I’ll live because of the bulletproof vest.” Denver grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around the baby. “Let’s get this girl to her mama.”
Heath slid an arm around his waist and helped him toward the door, his other hand bracing the back of Talia against Denver. “We found the lab that still had our genetic samples. Then we set the explosives and should probably get a move on.”
Denver looked at him. Seriously. “Okay. Run.”
CHAPTER
37
Noni stood up again and looked out the window, her gun heavy in her hand. “I’m thinking it was just the storm.”
“Agreed.” Zara added a log to the fire and stoked it. “We’re fine. It has been an hour, and if anybody wanted to make a move, they would have.”
“Plus, there’s no way anybody traced us,” Anya said, relaxing in a chair with her gun on her legs. “It was just the wind, folks.”
Something rumbled in the distance. Noni stilled and looked. “Is that a car?”
“Maybe.” Anya leaped to her feet and ran to the front door. She looked out. “It’s the SUV.”
Noni hurried over, her heart nearly bursting through her chest. “Oh God. Are they all there? Can you see?”
“I can’t see anything.” Anya pulled the door open and walked out onto the porch.
The SUV pulled up with a lurch and slid a foot on the ice. A back door opened, and Denver shoved himself out, a green blanket in his arms.
Noni cried out and ran forward, reaching him at the edge of the front porch. “Talia,” she breathed.
Denver turned the baby over to Noni, and she held her tight, tears filling her eyes. “You got her back.” Turning, she hustled for the warmth of the house. Talia smelled like baby powder and Denver. The baby snuggled close, as if she knew she was home. Noni’s hands shook, and she slowed. Tears slid down her face. “Let’s look at you.” Laying her on the sofa, Noni unwrapped her and checked her from head to toe. Relief made her sway.
She picked the baby up and turned to see Denver leaning against a wall, watching her. Her heart clenched tight. He’d saved Talia. She’d known he would. “Denver?”
Ryker moved in, setting a shoulder beneath Denver’s arm and helping him into a chair. “Let’s see how bad.”
Noni gasped. He was hurt? Her head started to spin.
Heath was right behind them, his hands full of papers and his eyes full of concern. He had bruises down the right side of his face and what looked like burn marks across his neck. “I smell blood.”
“It’s mine,” Denver said, grimacing as Ryker released the Velcro straps on the bulletproof vest.
Noni’s stomach tensed. Holding the baby tight, she hurried over to Denver. “How bad?” God. He had to be all right.
“I’m fine,” he said, his face pale beneath his five-o’clock shadow. “It’s okay.”
Ryker finished with the vest and lifted it over Denver’s head. Blood soaked Denver’s light gray T-shirt. Noni blinked several times as dizziness took her.
