Page 69 of Her Tempting Protector

Raiden shook his head in disbelief. But then again, Cullen knew a little bit about his friend’s past, and he could see why he wouldn’t believe in finding an everlasting love in three days. Now he just had to convince Carys. He rubbed his jaw. How in the hell was he going to do that?

* * *

She was higher than a kite, even though she was shaky as heck. Shada had made it through surgery and the prognosis was looking good. She didn’t want to jinx anything, but Carys was pretty darn sure the young mother was going to pull through and thrive. She would be there for her children! She would see her grandchildren, just as Carys had promised.

She pulled off her gown, gloves and face mask, then leaned against the scrub sink. The adrenaline that had been keeping her going for the last few hours had left her. She felt like she was going to throw up. But she would do it smiling.

“Doctor?”

“Hmmm?”

Warm hands were on her shoulders, they guided her past the sink and she soon found herself sitting in a chair with a glass of juice in her hand. Carys sipped it gratefully. She just needed a minute to get herself together, then she could go out and tell the happy news. She couldn’t wait to inform Cullen, he would be so relieved. He cared as much as she did.

She had friends who were soldiers, but she didn’t think she had ever met one with a bigger heart.

A hand took the juice from her just before it spilled.

What?

“You were falling asleep, Doctor.”

Carys pushed up from the chair she was sitting in. “Can you direct me to the waiting room? I think there are some people who want to know how my patient did during her surgery.”

“Yes, Doctor. Follow me,” the middle-aged nurse beckoned.

As the woman went to the door to push it open, there was a loud shout. It was in English. The nurse looked at Carys in confusion.

“Get to the nursery,” a man yelled.

“It’s too late, we need to get to the lobby,” another man’s voice shouted.

Was that Raiden?

* * *

Cullen’s pounding footsteps echoed as he raced down the hospital stairs. Only four flights but he’d make it in under a minute. Raiden was one floor above him.

Adam.

It had to be his dad.

He slammed the door to the lobby open. It took a half-second to orient himself.

Left. His boot skidded and he realized someone had just mopped. His shoulder slammed into a wall as he pinballed to one side trying to stay upright.

Fuck! Fuck!

What was this dumbass thinking? There were Marines posted outside the hospital.

Cullen had his gun out as he turned the corner into the lobby that still had plywood covering many of the windows. He squinted to adjust his vision, then he stopped short.

What the hell?

There was a crowd. Students with signs and banners, and Sudanese civilians were spilling into the lobby and the Marines were trying to stop them, but the people were ignoring them. Cullen would bet money it was a coordinated smokescreen. How Shada’s husband had managed to do that, he had no idea, but he had.

Raiden was beside him. “I’ve got intel from a nurse. Three men demanded to know which child was Shada’s baby and she wouldn’t tell. They knocked her around pretty good and killed the two security guards. Slit their throats. That’s why we didn’t hear anything. Another nurse finally told them which baby was Adam.”

“Rapid Support Forces?”