“Oh! Sorry.” She hit the button again. “And he needs backup, pronto.” She glanced at him over her shoulder, relaxing at his nod ofapproval.
Chapter 6
Faith stoodabout ten feet from her, square in the middle of the room and halfway between the men and her. She did a slow look at King, studying him intently, before facing Laura once more. “Faith?” Laura signed. “Are youokay?”
Was she having flashbacks? After all, Laura had told her, her daddy was in heaven when she’d found her with his ex. And then to see the explosion today. It was all she could do not to slap her hand over her face in worry. The girl would have PTSD forsure.
Faith, her expression completely serious, stuck her arms out straight in front of her, Kitty dangling from one hand. She tottered right and left, inching forward like azombie.
What was shedoing?
Faith managed the awkward walk a few more seconds and then her eyes rolled back and her kneesbuckled.
Laura’s heart stopped. “Faith!”
She launched for her niece, catching her just before her knees hit the floor. Faith hung lifeless in her arms.OhLord.
“What’s wrong?” Diggs called over hisshoulder.
“I don’tknow!”
“Faith, honey,” Laura began. Faith shook in her arms and then stilled again. “Faith?”
She shook again, this time a little bit longer.Laughing.The rug rat was laughing, silently playing a trick. Man was she going to gether.
Maybe telling her that King was playing a game hadn’t been such a goodidea.
The sound of heels clickety-clacking filled the room and a second later a tall, dark-haired woman dressed in impeccable slacks and blouse appeared from behind the staircase. “Whathappened?”
Laura opened her mouth to answer but then, three very large, very armed men rushed into the room from the staircase and her mouth went dry.Can someone sayRambo?
The men sported huge pistols and big rifles slung over their shoulders. Each and every one of them had to be as tall as King and wore black pants. Black shirts. Black boots. Oh Lord, what had her brother gotten theminto?
Two more women rushed in behind them; a curvy red head and a stunning brunette. The red head rushed to Diggs, stopping short of grabbing him while he supported King. “What happened,babe?”
The brunette shoved her arm through one of the dark haired men’s bent arm. “What happenedHicks?”
Completely unaware of the commotion, Faith continued to hang limp in her arms, her eyes closed and her hair hanging down around her face. Diggs staggered a couple of steps, straining under King’s weight. “Reaper, Juarez—a littlehelp.”
Two of the men, or giants, rushed forward, tucking their pistols into hidden side holsters as they ran. Once Diggs was freed, he stumbled back, blood covering his arms and shirt where he’d supportedKing.
The dark-haired woman trotted across the room to Laura and she knelt beside them. “I’m Dr. Avery, tell me what happened. How was the childinjured?”
Laura managed to turn her attention from the massive gathering of males to a very serious, and concerned Dr. Avery. “He fell. I mean I think he passedout.”
“Not King, thegirl.”
“Oh,” Laura lifted Faith. “Nothing, she’s fine.” She shook Faith, but the stubborn child refused to crack aneyelid.
“She doesn’t look fine,” Dr. Avery begangently.
Laura shook Faith again, this time just a little bit firmer. Faith’s arms flopped around her uselessly. “Doctor—”
“Call meMelissa.”
“Melissa, she’s fine. She’s notreally—”
“If she broke something, you could further injure her by shaking her.” She laid a hand on Laura’sarm.
