21
She could barely breathe, Diggs’hot blood soaked her shirt as she tried to lift him, but she couldn’t manage to inch her way from beneath his heavy weight. She made the mistake of glancing over at Trigger once, only to turn away from the gruesome sight. The colonel’s death didn’t bother her, but she’d never seen a dead body before. Not likethis.
And if she didn’t get Diggs some help, the colonel wouldn’t be the only one dyingtonight.
“Diggs, Diggs wake up,” she said desperately, but his head lolled next to her shoulder. The only thing that gave her hope was his soft breaths puffing against her neck. “Please don’t let go. I loveyou.”
“He’s moving!” Hicks’ yelled from somewhere to her right, but she couldn’t be surewhere.
“The window?” That was definitely Reaperresponding.
Another barrage of bullets sounded; glass shattered; metal screeched. Audrascreamed.
“Shit! He’sout.”
And then Hicks was crouching over them, rolling Diggs off of her. “Audra, are youhit?”
“No, just Diggs. You have to help himnow.”
Without the warmth of Diggs on top of her, she suddenly felt very, very cold. Hicks yanked her to her feet and knelt at Diggs’ side. “He’s got a gut wound. We need to get him back to the docASAP.”
She heard Reaper curse and glanced up to see him staring determinedly at the broken window up ahead. “King is down too. We can’t go after him.” Reaper sprinted in their direction and dropped at Diggs’ side, assessing his injuries. And he pressed a button on the black loop around his neck and spoke, “Doc, we’re coming in hot. You’ll need tworooms.”
More blood had seeped from Diggs’ stomach, his entire shirt was covered inblood.
“Help him,” she pleaded.Please, don’t let him die. She didn’t want to live without him. Not when they finally had a chance together. She hadn’t wanted to live after Jeremy’s death, not until Diggs had given her a reason to keep ongoing.
Trigger limped to her side and nudged her hand with his head, leaning into her when she lifted her arm. “Good boy. Good boy.” She stroked her fingers through his fur, thankful, staring at Diggs. Trigger dropped his head into her lap and whined. They’d both gotten their revenge for Jeremy’s death, but had it been worth thesacrifice?
* * *
Diggs foughthis way through the murky haze and into the light, his head screaming and his mouth dry; his body burned like someone held a torch to his gut. He managed to crack his lids open, only to slam them shut again at the blinding glow of light. He tried to shift, but something warm and heavy pinned his arm. Careful to avert his gaze aside, Diggs pried his eyes open one more time, this time seeing Audra’s sleeping form draped on the edge of his mattress, stretched out next to him. “Audra?”
Her eyes flew open, and he watched as the confusion gave way to excitement. “You’reawake!”
His throat felt as dry as damp sandpaper. “Water.”
Audra got off the mattress and grabbed a bottle from the nightstand, tilting it carefully to his lips and allowing some precious drops onto his dry tongue. When he’d got enough, henodded.
“I need to let Melissa know you’re awake,” she made to step away from him, and he blindly reached out for her arm, grimacing in pain at the movement. “Don’tleave.”
Diggs got a sense of movement on the bed and glanced down to see Trigger at the end, watching his every move. That dog had attacked with the ferocity of a deadly assassin. Diggs tensed. “Audra– “
“It’s okay. He won’t leave your side. I think he’s watching out for you,” shesaid.
“Me? He doesn’t likeme.”
Audra sighed and eased onto the mattress at his side. “Trigger, come on boy.” She patted the bed on Diggs opposite side. Trigger belly crawled to Diggs, laid his head right next to him and nudged his freehand.
Shocked, Diggs lifted his hand to pet Triggers head. “Goodboy.”
Audra smiled. “I think he’s acceptedyou.”
“I’m honored,” Diggssaid.
“How do youfeel?”
“Like I’ve been shot,” he tried to laugh, but all he managed was a weekcough.
