“I’ll check inside,” I said. “There’s one down over there. Don’t think he’s dead. At least I tried not to, Prez.”
“You good?” Hawk asked.
Blood streamed down my arm. Pulling my sleeve up, I said, “Just a flesh wound. Not sure if the bullet’s there or not. Can’t feel shit yet.” I did feel a little pinch, but nothing compared to what I would feel once everything calmed down.
Shots fired inside the building, so I told Hawk, “Stay put, Prez.” I took off running toward the front and rounded the door. Jackal was keeping a wounded Heathen in place with his gun trained at his head, so I kept going.
Once I ran inside, Shadow and Falcon stood over a couple of bodies.
Falcon raised his hands and said, “I hope one of you got a non-kill shot.”
Holding my pistol up, I swept the building. Even though it was one big building, there were offices against one wall, then different levels with heavy machinery dangling from the roof.
After I checked all the rooms and made sure nobody washiding in any nooks or crannies, I went back to the first office and pulled the first aid kit off the wall.
The two that were still kicking were tied up, and Hawk was asking them questions. Jackal came to the office and offered his assistance. “I ain’t Shiv, but it’s better than nothing,” he said.
Gritting my teeth as he opened the wound, he said, “Looks like the bullet passed through.”
He doused it in saline, then used a few butterfly bandages to close it up. Once the worst of his makeshift repair to my arm was complete, I pulled out my phone.
After reading the texts, I sprung up and yelled at Hawk. “I gotta go.”
Chapter 21
Kristie
“Red? Hello?” I asked. “What do you mean?”
His eyes narrowed and his jaw ticked as if he was deep in thought or mad. His behavior and his odd question had me on edge.
Red kept driving, but pulled out his phone. He tried to make a call, then another. “Great,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Do you need me to do that?” I asked. He seemed to have control of the SUV, but it made me nervous he was making calls and driving. Obviously, something was wrong.
I noticed between calls he kept looking in the rearview. Looking at my side mirror, it occurred to me that the vehicle behind us was the same one that had driven past me at the front of the CDC.
“Who is that?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but they’ve been tailing us a while.”
My pulse raced. “Why?” I started to turn, but his arm flew across me like my mother’s used to when she had to stop short.
“Don’t turn around. Just stay calm and look ahead.”
“You know how to make a woman panic? Tell her to stay calm.” I pulled my phone from my purse and I tried to call Rooster, but it went to voicemail. “Do you think they’re still asleep?”
“I don’t know.” He kept making calls until finally someone answered. “Yeah. Have Keys pinpoint and send someone out. Red four-door sedan.”
“What’s happening? Who’s coming?”
“Backup is coming. We just have to keep eyes on them until they do.”
Looking in the mirror again, I said, “Well, it seems like they’re following us.”
“Just hang tight.”
Blowing out a huge breath, I clutched my purse, trying to call Rooster again. When he didn’t answer, I sent a text.
