“Okay,” Abigail chirped, her eyes gleaming. “Call me, sister. We have much to discuss.”
Laurel turned even paler. They reached the blasting rain, and Huck gave in to temptation now that they were outside, sweeping her off the wet ground, careful to keep her healthy shoulder against his chest. It was a tribute to how much pain she was in that she didn’t so much as gasp in protest.
In the truck, she put her head back and breathed evenly as she tried to control the pain. Huck had so many questions he wanted to ask, but it appeared she was barely holding it together, so he concentrated on the icy rain and the treacherous driving conditions. When they reached the hospital, the attendee got her right in, stitching her up with seven sutures and giving her a pain pill.
Huck leaned against the doorframe of the examination room, watching as the doctor pressed another wrap in place. “I have two men assigned to your mother’s house for the night, and I’ve already talked to her on the phone to reassure her that you’re all right.”
Laurel looked at him, her face pale, dark circles beneath her eyes. She’d never appeared so vulnerable before. So fragile and small. “Thank you, but I’m not staying the night in the hospital.” She bit her lip.
“I know. Somebody is trying to kill you, so for the night, I’m providing cover.” He reached for her and lifted her off the examination table. “You good with this?”
She rested her head against his shoulder. “Pain pills knock me out. I know you want answers, and I wish I had some. For now, same truck, probably the same shooter, but that’s all I know. I did return fire, but I don’t know if I hit anything.” Her voice grew drowsy as she spoke. “Abigail Caine is my sister.”
Yeah, that was the shock of the year.
Huck walked out of the hospital with Laurel in his arms, every ounce of protectiveness in him aroused. He had to get rid of that shit, but tonight he had to provide cover for her. For now, she slept quietly against him, not even stirring when he set her in the truck and secured her seatbelt.
Apparently his answers would have to wait until morning.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Laurel stretched awake with the smell of pine and male around her and the sound of hail hitting the roof. She turned to see Huck staring at her with heavy-lidded eyes. “Morning.”
“Hi. How’s the shoulder?” he asked.
She rolled it. “Feels itchy but not bad. The doctor did a good job with the stitches.” Thanks to the location of the wound, she wouldn’t even need a sling. “Did I hear him say he’d take out the stitches in a week?”
Huck watched her carefully but didn’t move closer. “Yeah.”
That wasn’t so bad. She’d been lucky. “Did I talk in my sleep?”
“Not with that pain pill. You were seriously out.”
She ignored the pain from her injuries. Was this awkward? Yep. Even though they’d had sex, been intimate, this felt so weird. If she noticed it, then it was definitely weird. “I think I did wake up at one point, and you weren’t here. It was dark, still raining.”
“I had to let Aeneas out,” Huck said, his fingers wrapping around the part of the sheet by his cut abs as if maybe he was fighting himself? Fighting to keep from touching her? “I also had to wake up a few times to check you for fever, but I don’t think you’ll have any ill effects from this wound except maybe a slight scar. You were lucky.”
“I know.” She took inventory of her hurts. Not bad, but she was close to needing a vacation. “I’m feeling grateful to be alive, although we need to figure out who this guy is and why he keeps trying to kill me. Following me to Abigail’s house last night and making it through the security gate took both patience and timing.”
Huck frowned. “The serial killer has his ritual, right? And this attack doesn’t fit it. From what I know about serial killers, they don’t just swap methods or victimology.”
“Exactly. This is more focused or personal. He’s not trying to kill me because of his compulsion. These attacks are focused and deliberate. He needs me out of the way.” Her body heated, so close to Huck’s warmth. To his hard and very capable body. “Thank you for bringing me here last night. What time is it?”
“It’s just before five,” Huck said. “So much for sleeping in.”
At least they’d been able to sleep. “That’s okay. I promised Kate I’d meet her at six to continue working and organizing the office.” Laurel stretched, wincing as bruises made themselves known. She and Kate could work for a few hours and then she’d take breakfast home for her mom.
Huck frowned. “Why so early? It’s been a long week. I’d take a half day off, at least.”
Laurel instinctively moved closer to his warmth; the morning was chilly. “Kate doesn’t want to be home alone because her kids are at their dad’s, and I’ve been working against the clock with this case. The killer either has or will strike again soon. I have to find this guy.” She paused. “Thank you for sending officers to my mom’s house.”
“Glad to help, but I could only get them for one night.” His voice was rough and strained.
“That’s okay. I’ll be home with her tonight, and I’m armed.” Right now, Laurel would love to shoot the idiot who kept coming for her.
Huck stretched his neck, and his shoulder popped. “You should get a dog for your mom. They’re better than any security system.”
That was a decent idea. She stared at him, her mind wandering to the night they’d spent together.
