Page 96 of Dead Drift

“Perhaps he doesn’t want to risk calling you with Ebeid in earshot.”

“He’ll come back,” Tanner said. “I’m sure of it.”

“I’m glad you are.” Because she sure wasn’t.

“Sure about what?” Luke asked from the doorway.

Of course, the minute she’d looked away from the door, he appeared. She jumped to her feet and rushed to him, wrapping him in her arms.

He winced.

She pulled back. “What’s wrong?”

“Got shot.” He pulled his V-neck sweater away from his body, showing her the bandage across his collarbone.

“You’re okay?”

“Yep. Nothing a little surgery on a third-world island couldn’t fix.”

“Ebeid?”

He nodded.

“And he is . . . ?”

“Dead.”

Thank you, Lord.

“And you didn’t call because?” She’d been waiting a week, beginning to believe the worst.

“I was chasing Ebeid, then out of it from the surgery. . . .”

“And then?” she pressed.

He shrugged, pulling a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. “I thought I’d surprise you.”

“Seriously? You really thought that these were good circumstances to surprise me in?”

He offered a cheesy I-know-I’m-in-deep-trouble smile. “Surprise.”

Kate exhaled. “You’re lucky I don’t shoot you myself.”

“You know, I think we ought to be going, Av,” Parker said to Avery, who had healed remarkably well. She was a fighter too.

“Yeah . . .” Everyone else stood as Avery did, excusing themselves one by one.

“Night,” Tanner said before being the last one out the door, leaving Kate and Luke alone.

Tears sprang to her eyes. “I was so worried about you.”

Luke pulled her gently into his arms. His chest had to be sore as all get-out. “I’m sorry. I should have called. I was so focused and excited to get back to you, I just kept moving in that direction.”

She rested her head on his shoulder. “Is this okay?”

“Better than okay.”

She looked up at him. “I’m not hurting you? Or your wound?”