Page 98 of Capture My Heart

Deal? Her brain looped the words. Not part of the deal. She fought against the glue holding her eyelids closed. She needed to see who this was. She screamed, but the only sound she heard was a moan. Her moan.

“We’ll discuss this later.” The voice growled into the phone.

“Over here. Officer down.”

The voice faded back and new voices seeped in. It was so hard. The excruciating pain beat in her head, her shoulder, and raced down her arm. With each breath, she wanted to cry. A prick jabbed her arm and the next thing she knew, she was floating. Like the feeling of being lifted. Floating. “Officer Larson… you… hear me?”

Yes. Kinda.

“Officer Larson? Amy?” The voice faded, but she heard him say, “Call Abbott, let them know we are on our way.”

She felt her body being jostled, and the clanking of metal as they lifted her into the ambulance. Her eyes fluttered, but the sheer weight of them made it impossible to keep them open.

“It’s okay, Amy. We got you.” A warm, reassuring hand ran over her forehead. The bumps and beeping fainted. The hum of the tires lulled her to sleep.

Chapter 20

Trey ran four lights on the way to the hospital.

“Come on. Get moving.” He grumbled at the elevator.

Tap, tap, tap. His fingers tapped on his thigh in sync with the dings of each floor.

Four, five, six. Finally.

The doors slid open. His long strides ate up the hall as he made his way to Amy’s room.

Muffled voices grew as the door got closer.

“Doc, her physician said she’ll recover.” Jim’s low voice cooed.

“She better or I’ll kick your butt.” Liz said in a matter-of-fact tone but Trey heard the concern that laced her words.

Trey stuck his head around the door. “How is she?”

Amy’s face was raw with red scrapes and the start of a black eye bloomed bright. In a day, it would look like she’d gone three rounds with the champ.

His heart dropped. Strong, in your face, Amy Larson looked so small, frail in the white sheets with tubes in her arm. Her eyes closed. Long lashes brushed her cheeks.

His fingers twitched. They urged to feather through her hair, even if it was full of soot and debris. Was that a… carrot?

“I never should have let her do the protective detail alone.”

“Like you could have stopped me.” Her raspy voice cut through him, gutting his heart. Her eyes stayed closed. He hadn’t seen her lips move.

“You’re awake.” Trey leaned in and stroked her hand.

One eye cracked open.

“Who could sleep with all that yammering going on?” Her reedy voice faded in and out.

Liz stepped up and squeezed Amy’s hand. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got blown up.” She licked her lips. “Oh wait, I did.”

Jim chuckled. “Good to see you still have your sense of humor.”

“I’m going to tell the nurse you’re awake.” Liz gave her a watery smile and slipped from the room.