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“But they hurt you,” he said, his rage and anguish rushing to the surface.
“They are just surface wounds, and they will heal,” she said. “I promise you nothing else happened.”
The relief that rushed through him was indescribable. He had a feeling she wasn’t telling him the entire story, but she would be much more traumatized if she’d been sexually violated. They’d rescued her in time, he assured himself.
Ace squeezed her hand, and then looked around. It appeared as if they were clear to leave. Still being cautious, he began to move from behind the truck. They were going to continue their conversation, but they’d do it when they weren’t under attack.
“Ace, get down,” one of the men shouted.
His worst nightmares came to life when one of the CIA men stood up and fired at a man who came around the back of the truck, his gun aimed directly at Dakota.
“You bitch,” the man cried.
He fired the gun, and Dakota let out a moan as blood pooled on her chest.
It all happened so quickly. Ace didn’t even have time to shoot before the other man took down his victim. Dakota fell into his arms, her eyes closed. Ace’s heart stopped in his chest as he gazed at the woman he loved, not knowing how bad her injuries were.
“Let’s go,” the agent said, lifting Dakota into his arms as he began running.
Ace followed, his body numb. He was afraid to even look at Dakota. If he lost her, he didn’t know what he would do. New determination filled him as he swore nothing would happen to her. He’d give his own life if he needed to.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Ace didn’t leave Dakota’s side as she lay in a hospital bed, monitors hooked up to her, her heartbeat steady. The bullet had missed her heart, and they’d gotten it out without complication, but it had been way too close for comfort.
She was so pale and small lying there. She shouldn’t be in a hospital room, shouldn’t be in this situation at all. It was all on him. If he hadn’t ever gotten involved with her, she’d be living her life, stress-free, happy. He truly was no good for her. But even knowing this, he couldn’t walk away—not now.
A shudder racked his body as he thought about how close he’d come to losing her forever. If the bullet had penetrated even an inch to the left, she would be gone. One small inch and he never would have seen her smile again. It was something he couldn’t even begin to imagine.
His brothers and sisters-in-law hadn’t left his side in the waiting area those first twelve hours when she’d been in surgery. He’d practically torn off heads as he waited to see her, touch her, assure himself she was indeed alive.
Finally, she’d been taken to a private room, and he’d made his family go away so he could be alone with her. Her family had been called. Ace was sure there was a hailstorm of fire coming his way. They had been shocked by what had happened, so Dakota obviously hadn’t told them a thing.
They would need a target for their grief and anger, and Ace was more than willing to be that person for them. After all, he hadn’t protected her like he should have. He’d allowed her to be kidnapped, and then he’d been standing next to her when she’d been shot.
The doctor walked into the room, looking at her charts before nodding.
“How is she doing?” Ace asked anxiously.
“Are you family?” the doctor asked.
Ace froze up. No. Technically he wasn’t anything, but he swore if this man didn’t share with him what was going on, he’d put the doctor in a bed next to her.
“I need to know,” he said.
“We need her next of kin,” the doctor told him. Ace stood up to his full height, having no problem at all intimidating the good doctor.
“I’m her father,” a man said as he stepped into the room, flanked by a small woman and four large men Ace was assuming were Dakota’s brothers. None of them appeared happy at all as they glared at Ace. “I want to know what in the hell is going on.”
The doctor turned toward the man and nodded. “Mr. Forbes?” he said.
“Yes, I’m Lucian Forbes, and this is my wife, Juliana, and our sons, Kian, Owen, Arden, and Declan. Please tell us what is happening with my daughter.”
Lucian moved across the room and came to stand beside the bed, his hand instantly taking Dakota’s. Ace wasn’t surprised to see the man’s fingers tremble. Hell, Ace was having a difficult time keeping it together. This wasn’t exactly how he’d pictured meeting her family.
“Your daughter received a gunshot wound to the chest. We successfully removed the bullet, and she is expected to make a full recovery from her injury,” the doctor said. Ace let out a breath of relief.
“Is there a but in there?” Lucian asked.
