“Goddamn,” Catherine breathed.“Zeke’s hitbad, Del.He’s gonna need your girlfriend to patch him up?—”
“Watch your motherfucking mouth, Cath.”Now Del sounded irritated.“I’ve gotten to the cell block.General?”
“Catherine, stay put.Del, we’re right behind you.Wish someone could shut those motherfucking sirens off.”
“You want me to?”Yoshi said, almost whimsically.
Delgado’s bitter little laugh echoed through the electronics.“And stop all this fun?I’ve got Morgan.Fuck.Sheila’s gone.Jesus.She’s full of Zed and moaning.Bring her in or neutralize?”
Rowan’s entire body went cold.
“Bring her in,” Henderson said.“We leave no man behind.”
“There it is, then.”Justin sounded relieved.
Crackling static, then Henderson’s voice broke through.“Fuck you too.Give me that.”
“Take ’em both.I’ll go get Zeke and Cath.”
Henderson exhaled, as if picking up a heavy weight.“Be careful.”
“Can’t be careful in a fire zone.Kenwood?”Now Justin sounded calm again, not relieved.
“Aye-aye-sir.”Kenwood had gone pale.
“Sending Henderson and Brew out with our guys.Support them.Is Rowan there?”
“I’m here,” Rowan whispered.
“She’s here.”Kenwood’s fingers danced over the keyboard.
“Tell her I’m on my way.”Delgado sounded cool and calm.“She okay?”
Kenwood glanced at Rowan, who sat bolt-upright, her hands locked together.“She’s fine.A little tired, but fine.”
“Tell her to go get some rest—fuck.Goddamn it.Catherine, get the fuck down.”
“It’s Zeke.He’sbleedin’.Git’chor ass—” The accent had begun to wear through Catherine’s voice.“Git’chor asshere, Delgado.What the fuck you good for?”
“Keep cool, Cath.”
“Keep cool?Keepcool?”
Rowan inhaled sharply.“Give me a commlink.”
Kenwood tossed one in her general direction, then went back to clicking at his keyboard.“Goddamn it.You guys have to get out of there.They’re scrambling at the nearest base to get in the air.Move it along, guys.”
Rowan’s fingers fumbled at the commlink.She finally managed to make the tiny electronic thing work.“Cath?It’s Rowan.Take a deep breath.”
“Shut up, girl!Zeke—Zeke?—”
“Justin’s coming, Catherine.He won’t let anything happen to you.”Rowan’s teeth threatened to chatter.“Now stop yelling.You won’t do Zeke any good by yelling.”
Catherine swore under her breath.“Rowan, you tell your boyfriend to get here—oh.Oh my fucking God.”
“Get him up.Zeke, on your fucking feet.Now.” Delgado now sounded strained.“Now, soldier!”
Rowan’s skin roughened into gooseflesh.“Catherine, Justin’s there.He’ll take care of you, but I want you to calm down andhelphim.”
