I ripped the gun away from him and threw it, turning to see it smack Aiden in the head.
“Ouch!” he howled.
Then the whole world descended upon us. Men in full tack gear dropped on ropes from a helicopter, and emergency vehicles screeched to a halt on either side of the car hauler. Black SUVs with lights, patrol cars, even nondescript cars with red and blue lights.
Pierce jumped out of a patrol car and ran for me, his vest over his dress shirt. “Anna.” He reached me and paused, sucking in air. “You’re okay.” He planted his hands on his thighs, partially bent over, breathing heavily. “All right.” He tilted his head and looked at Spider, who was bleeding profusely from the head and face. “Your work?”
Almost numb, I nodded.
Nick Basanelli leaped out of a still moving SUV and headed straight for me, his chin down, and his gaze seeing everything. He stopped right before touching me. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” I really needed to get out of that garage. Holding my rib cage, I staggered over to Aiden, where a paramedic was cutting away his jeans to reveal a very nice thigh…and bullet hole. Blood spilled out of it, running over his skin to land on the cement. I gagged.
The paramedic, a young woman with cool pink streaked hair, pressed against the wound. “It’s a through and through. Not bad,” she said, smiling at Aiden.
Aiden shook his head. “I told you to run.” Pain pinched the sides of his mouth.
I nodded. “Yeah. I heard you.” Maybe it had been my turn to save him. “Tag. You’re it.” My brain was super fuzzy. I needed to feel the rain, so I walked out of the garage, pausing as the judge shoved himself to a seated position.
His eyes were dazed. “Alberto. What happened?”
Red edged in from the sides of my vision. I kicked him in the calf. Hard. “It’s Albertini, you jackass.” Then I limped into the rain and lifted my face, letting nature cool me.
* * *
At the hospital,the doctors were thorough and finally declared that I was just one big bruise. Nothing cracked or broken. I should definitely call one of my sisters to pick me up, but at the moment, I just needed to sit. The reception area was vacant, and even the television was muted. Quiet. I could use some quiet. So I stumbled out of the examination room to a lime green chair and sat, shutting my eyes. Movement sounded, and a heavy body sat next to me.
Was it odd that I could identify Nick by smell? I opened my eyes. “Hey, boss.”
“You earned your money today, now didn’t you?” He kicked out his legs. “The DEA raided the building we thought was the lab out by the airport, and BINGO. We got drugs, recipes, and quite a few techs who were very happy to talk. It was a good bust.” He patted his flat stomach.
“Good.” I was probably too involved with the case to prosecute anybody if I was a witness. I yawned, and my jaw cracked. “I heard that Spider had to have his jaw wired.” I didn’t regret one kick. Not one.
Nick snorted. “Yeah. I heard that, too.” He sobered and drew out his phone. “I have other news.”
I sighed. “Like you hired all the attorneys back?”
“Nope.” He placed the phone on his thigh. “My contacts found Jareth Davey.”
I stilled, and my laziness disappeared. “What? Where? Here?”
“No.” Nick patted my hand. “Right this second, he’s in San Diego. My buddy has a visual on him, although it looks like he’s ready to venture out to the wilderness with a lot of equipment.” He tapped the phone. “Do you want to see a picture?”
I swallowed and stared at the quiet device. “No.” My shoulders relaxed. “I mean, yes, I will. But not tonight.”
“Got it.” Nick put his phone away. “They’ve traced his movements. He was in Spokane for two days, and we’re not sure why yet, but now he’s gone. Safely away from you and from here. My guys will keep an eye on him.”
For how long? I doubted they had that kind of time, but for now, I’d take the good news. “What about Aiden and the case against him for the drug running?”
Nick sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “That case was forced by the DEA to make Scot charge Aiden and see what shook out. There’s not enough to go to trial on anything, so I’ll have to drop all the charges. But he’s not a good guy, Anna. You have to know that. Next time, we’ll get him.”
Maybe, maybe not. Something told me that Aiden was a good guy, or at least a decent one. “We’ll see.”
Nick nodded. “We can talk about Devlin at length later. For now, get some rest.”
Fair enough. “Thanks, Nick.”
“You bet.” He looked at his watch. “I have to go. Take the rest of the week off.” He patted my shoulder and strode toward the exit, quickly dodging into the darkened night.
