“He didn’t hurt you? ’Cause so help me God, if he laid a finger on you…”
“He didn’t.” She put a little more pressure on his arm, a tiny bit of tension releasing when he began to lower his weapon.
Walker blew out a breath and stared up at Ryker. “Feel free to jump in anytime.”
The other man shoved his own gun back into the side holster next to his badge—a badge Ellena just now noticed.
“Are you with the police?” she asked, still unable to put a finger on where she’d heard his name before.
“Homeland Agent Jason Ryker.” He held out his hand. “Nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Dawson.”
“Doctor,” Gabe corrected him gruffly.
“My mistake.”
“Ellena’s fine.” She shook the man’s hand, finally remembering what Gabe had told her about this man. “You’re Bravo Team’s handler, aren’t you?”
“I work closely with both of R.I.S.C.’s teams, actually. Just happen to be in on Bravo’s current case, at the moment.”
“You mean me.”
“Yes.” Agent Ryker turned to Gabe. “We need to talk.”
“You think?”
The man sighed. “I promise I’ll explain everything. Just…put the damn gun down.”
Gabe glared down at Walker again, but after a long moment’s hesitation, he finally lowered his weapon. “Fine. You can start with why you’re protecting this low-life piece of shit. And he stays right there while you do.”
“Gabe…” Ellena frowned. “He’s hurt. We need to get him to a hospital.”
Walker surprised her by chuckling again. “Thanks, Doc, but hospitals aren’t really my thing.”
She crossed her arms at her chest. “And bleeding to death on the floor is?”
The corner of his mouth curled upward. “I like her, Dawson.” He lifted his focus to Gabe. “Smart, beautiful, can obviously take care of herself. Why the hell would you ever walk away from a woman like that?”
Gabe took a menacing step toward Walker, but Agent Ryker slid back into his path. “Enough!” His authoritative voice boomed. He looked down at Walker. “How bad is it?”
“Through and through.” The guy actually seemed to blow it off as if it were no big deal. “Hurts like a bitch, but I’ll be fine.”
“Good.” Turning to Ellena, Ryker spoke in much softer tone, “Could you please find a clean towel or something to put on his wound?”
“Oh, well…might as well get him a nice cup of hot fucking tea while we’re at it.”
Ignoring Gabe’s understandably angry comment, Ellena went to the small linen closet on the wall behind the couch. Grabbing the first towel she saw, she went back to Walker, feeling a bit awkward trying to help a man she’d just shot.
“Here.” She held out the towel.
“Thanks, sweet…uh…” Taking the towel, he shot Gabe a quick look before finding her eyes again. “Thank you, Dr. Dawson.”
“You’re welcome.”
Holding her stare a second longer, the man Gabe clearly disliked turned his attention to Agent Ryker. “We should probably move things along.”
“What’s the rush, Walker?” A muscle in her husband’s jaw bulged. “Got someplace else you need to be? Another woman you feel the need to terrorize today, or have you met your quota?”
“Nah.” Walker shook his head. “Two a day’s my limit.”
