“Sounds like he was a smart man.”
My tongue was starting to feel numb, making it hard to talk as I finally reached the edge of the clearing where I found Zeke talking to one of the agents.
“There he is, Mr. Blazing Glory,” Zeke said with a grin, his eyes lighting up when he saw Lennon. “And he has our princess… who is covered in blood. Jesus, Lennon, are you okay, honey? Are you hurt?”
Lennon was immediately pulled from my arms as I tried to figure out what was wrong with me.
“I’m fine, it’s not my blood,” Lennon said, whipping around to look at me, her gray eyes taking in my form as I stood in front of her. “But something’s wrong with Brooks.”
Her hands began to pat at my face and head where the baseball bat had hit me, but that wasn’t what was hurting me.
“I don’t think…” I said trailing off as the world spun. “I think I need to sit down.”
I let my knees fold underneath me and hands helped me down to the gravel ground.
“What’s going on?” Maverick asked as he slid on his knees in front of me, his hands going to the Velcro on my bullet proof vest.
“What’s going on in the house?” Agent Harris asked.
“Almost clear,” Maverick said, not looking at the man, his brown eyes on me. “B?”
“I don’t know,” I said, wincing as the vest was pulled away.
Then I saw Zeke and Maverick gape.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Zeke cursed as his hands pressed hard to my side.
“Ouch,” I groaned as my lips went numb.
“What is it?” Lennon asked as she leaned around my front to look, her gray eyes going wide. “How? He was wearing a vest!”
“He must’ve gotten hit from the side and the pressure of the vest was keeping him coherent and we just took that pressure away. He’s starting to bleed out,” Maverick explained as he turned to bark over his shoulder, “I need a medic!”
I stared at them, confused, why would they need a medic?
“Brooks, we’re going to take care of you, I just need you to hang on okay?” Zeke said as I was laid back against the gravel.
More pressure against my side and I let out a yelp.
“He’s in pain,” Lennon protested, her hand slipping into mine.
“Believe it or not, that’s actually a good thing,” Maverick explained as he put his hand over Zeke’s and pressed harder. “It would be worse if he felt nothing.”
“There’s a chopper on its way, on the president’s orders,” Harris said. “They’ll get you to the hospital ASAP.”
“Good,” Maverick said. “Because it wouldn’t look good to let her son-in-law die after he rescued her daughter.”
“Die?” I asked, panic finally cutting through the confusion. “I’m not going to die am I?!”
“No you are not going to die,” Lennon told me firmly, her gray eyes looking down into mine as she gripped my hand hard. “You have to live, Brooks, because I ordered a Red Riding Hood outfit and who else is going to chase me around in it if you die.”
I pursed my lips, remembering our conversation from that day when I’d told her about my fantasy. I gave her hand my best squeeze, more sure than ever that I was going to survive this and fulfill my hunter-prey fantasy with the woman I loved.
… and then I promptly passed out as soon as I heard the sound of chopper blades overhead.
Chapter Thirty Eight
Walter Reed Medical Center — Just outside of Washington D.C.
