Page 39 of Her Wicked Hero

Why couldn’t he see anything?

“Can you hear me?” It was Marcia’s voice.

A woman was screaming. “Marcia, why are you screaming?”

“It isn’t me, Zed. It’s one of the women from the tourist camp. There are four injured people.”

“Alice?” he asked.

“Raymond took Alice on the other helicopter.” He could hear the tears in her voice.

“Don’t cry.”

“Quit trying to talk. Every time you do the bandage on your neck gets bloodier. Why is he still awake?” she said shrilly.

Ah dammit. He’d felt this before. This was not the first time he’d been drugged up when he’d been injured. He tried to force his eyes open again. “Get to Brockman,” it was the last words he said, then he was lulled to sleep by the hum of the helicopter.

Sunlight. Drapes. Flowers.

Well, he wasn’t aboard the USS Ronald Reagan that was for damn sure. He must be stateside. Just how bad had he been wounded? It hurt when he turned his head. Didn’t stop him though. Might as well start his physical therapy now. He saw Hunter look up from a magazine.

“Aliana’s going to be upset that she missed you waking up. She just went to the bathroom.”

“So, the flowers aren’t from you? I’m hurt.”

“Look closer, there are three bouquets. And no, none of them are from me.” Then Hunter grimaced and got out of his chair and strode over to the windowsill. “Shit, Alia signed my name to the arrangement she brought.”

“Hell Hunter, even I knew that was going to happen.”

“You sound like shit.” Hunter picked up the glass with the straw and brought it to Zed, so he could take a sip.

“I know I’ve been told things before. I kind of remember the surgeon talking to me on the Reagan after surgery. But it’s vague. Can you fill me in?”

He remembered being on the helicopter. Marcia, she’d been safe. He hadn’t been able to see her, but he’d heard her. He’d asked about her when he came out of surgery. They’d laughed because apparently, he’d asked often. She’d been shipped stateside.

“You almost died.”

“I didn’t, so it doesn’t count. Any permanent damage?”

Hunter chuckled. “Isn’t your real question, when can you get back to the teams?”

Sometimes it sucked to have people who knew you so well. Zed nodded, then grimaced at the pain.

“No permanent damage. Not even to your vocal chords. However, got to admit, right now, you’re sounding kind of sexy.”

“Teams?”

“Doc said full recovery, duty ready in four to six weeks. You have some ligament damage on your right shoulder, not to mention your neck is fucked up.”

“Didn’t know fucked up was a diagnosis.”

“Talk to your doctor if you want something more precise. It’s your shoulder shit that’s going to require rehab.”

“Got it,” Zed grinned. “Now fill me in on the mission.”

The door pushed open, and Aliana Novak, Hunter’s soon-to-be-wife stepped into the room. She gave Zed a warm smile. “You’re awake. We’ve been so worried about you.” She came up to his bed and adjusted the sheet. “Do you need some water? What can I get you?”

“What do you want to get for me, Alia?” Zed gave her a slow smile, loving the way she blushed.