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“Where? Where were you hit?” Anne was frantically searching him but with the dark suit jacket, she couldn’t tell.
“My arm,” he said. “Please don’t worry. Trust me, I’ve had much worse. A few stitches and I’ll be good as new. Now come here and stop fussing.”
He pulled her back onto his lap and Anne curled into him.
They just breathed.
Anne gradually calmed down. The memory of hearing that gunshot and not knowing if Blane was all right still ate at her. She shuddered and Blane’s arms tightened around her. His hand still stroked her hair.
They were going very fast. She didn’t want to know how fast. More sirens joined their caravan. Eventually, they pulled to an abrupt stop. The agents jumped out and flung open the door. An ER team with a stretcher stood behind them.
“No.” Blane’s tone was implacable. “We’ll walk in on our own.” He looked down at her. “If you can?”
Anne sat up and rearranged her dress, pulling on her game face. “Of course.”
Blane got out first and held his hand out to her. She noticed he was holding his left arm a little oddly. She took his hand and emerged from the car as well. Flashbulbs and the clacking of cameras filled the air. Blane tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and guided her past the stretcher and into the ER. Anne held her head high and glided next to Blane.
* * *
Blane couldn’t have been more proud of Anne.
They were back in the plane and in the air. She’d fallen asleep opposite him, her shoes kicked off and her feet tucked under her.
The Secret Service agents were having a collective nervous breakdown over what had happened and had been in Zoom meetings ever since they boarded the plane. Blane didn’t blame them. He’d been a SEAL. He knew that if someone wanted something badly enough, nothing would stop them. They hadn’t gotten the shooter, who’d disappeared into the crowd. The fact that an agent had even spotted the sun glinting off the metal of the gun was a miracle.
The panic that had hit Blane was unlike anything he’d ever felt. Not for him. But for Anne and the baby. He’d tackled her on instinct, the minute he heard the warning called out. Then he’d worried that his tackling her might’ve hurt the baby. But the doctor assured them that everything was fine. Thank God.
She’d walked into that hospital next to him and stood by his side as they stitched him up. The bullet had gone through his tricep on his left arm. Not a big deal. But she’d still gone pale when they were doing the stitches. He’d taken her hand and squeezed, giving her a smile. They’d given him pills to prevent infection and she’d listened very carefully to the instructions with the cutest look of concentration on her face.
After he’d gotten his shirt and tie back on, several employees shyly asked for photos. Anne had graciously stepped aside but they’d been quick to ask her to please be in the photo. Some, mainly the men, wanted a photo just with her. Anne had already perfected her public smile. She’d been perfectly composed and friendly without being too familiar. She had an air about her that had the scent of royalty. Almost a Princess Diana feel.
Linda approached. “Sir, I just thought you might want to know that all major cable news stations are covering the shooting wall-to-wall.”
Blane’s gaze remained on Anne. “Good to know. Thank you. And cancel the rest of my day.”
“Yes, sir.”
He wanted to take her to his house and wrap her in bubble wrap behind a steel door while he stood watch with his Glock.
How could he ever ask her to do another public appearance? The first one she was at, there was a shooter. That just didn’t happen. He could tell the agents were in as much frustration as he was.
The lead agent asked to meet with him halfway through the flight. They went into the small conference room in the middle of the plane. Blane noticed the press avidly watching.
“Sir, let me begin by offering my utmost apologies for the incompetence you experienced today.”
“Your man spotted it,” Blane said. “I wouldn’t call that incompetent.”
“It should never have happened.”
“But sometimes it does. I don’t hold you to blame. You got me and Anne out of there within minutes. Your team responded quickly and effectively. I have no complaints.”
“Thank you, sir. You are…very gracious.”
Blane just gave a short nod.
“I’m authorized to tell you that your detail will be doubling for local protection. Tripling for travel.”
“Who in the world authorized that?”
