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Bear: Code Joey. 2 targets neutralized. Holding bathroom.
She paused then ran toward the bathroom. Bear needed medical attention. War was in the doorway blocking her way in. She glanced around him and saw Remington pressing a towel against Bear’s stomach.
“Flick, get in here.”
Although they all had basic medical knowledge, as an EMT, Flick was best suited for the job. Remington moved once Flick had him and Winnie slid into Remington’s place, waiting for Flick to tell her what to do. She looked in Bear’s eyes. Despite being in pain, he was pleading with her not to say anything. He was in pain so she’d keep quiet. He was the priority right now, not her overwhelming need to kiss his lips to reassure herself he was still alive.
“Thanks for the backup. Flick, you’ll go with Bear. Cannon, would you and Scoop stay with our client in the bedroom? War will be with me. Winnie, you’re on police detail.”
She wanted to scream at Remington but she couldn’t blame her. Remington didn’t know what Bear meant to her. It took everything she had in her to keep to their protocols and not argue with her sister.
She stepped back as the EMTs walked in and let Flick notify them what Bear’s status was. She stood there, hurting that she couldn’t hold his hand as they loaded him up. She swallowed because she wasn’t going to let anyone see how upset she was. Later, when Bear was whole and strong, she could rip him a new one for not letting her share but for now, she had to compartmentalize her emotions. Put them in her little box for not right now. She’d pull them out when she was alone just like she’d learned to do on any job. Emotions caused mistakes and they couldn’t afford any tonight.
It had taken longer than she wanted dealing with the police department. Despite the great working relationship their company had, the officers in charge had wanted to clarify everything before letting her go. When she’d received Remington’s text after, Remington and War had interviewed the last survivor of the attackers, she’d been livid.
Client compromised. War taking witness to secondary. Keep client unaware.
It was all she could do to keep her face calm when he was giving his version of tonight’s events. Listening to him throw the whole debacle on their security company and the MC, she’d wanted to toss him off the balcony. He was the reason Bear was hurt and if it was the last thing she did, the client would pay. She didn’t care that he was a politician. He needed to pay for his part in this.
She’d been getting regular updates just like everyone was but she wanted more. Bear was in surgery and she was heading to the surgical waiting room. She’d been in such a rush that she’d taken the stairs. Pushing open the door, she hurried toward Rascal, Bear’s dad.
“How is he?” Winnie barked. She sounded mad but she needed to know how her man was.
“In surgery. Come here, darlin’,” Rascal held an arm out and tugged her close as tears filled Winnie’s eyes. His arms enveloped her and patted her back. “I’m sure he’ll be his pessimistic, difficult self in no time at all.”
Bear was pessimistic but his pessimism came out in the best ways on a security job. It was honestly one of the things she loved about him. He thought through everything and then they planned for them. Unfortunately, they’d never had a client request a secondary location and it was the one scenario they hadn’t considered. She was positive within forty-eight hours of being awake, Bear would figure out a protocol to protect them from that.
“Family of Benton Carter?” a doctor questioned.
“I’m his dad,” Rascal answered.
“He came through great. No vital organs were damaged, but he’ll be kept overnight for sure. We’ll be watching for infection, but I see no reason he shouldn’t make a full recovery. He’ll be in recovery then you’ll be able to see him when he’s in his room.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
She sagged against Rascal, letting his arms hold her up. Growing up in the MC, Rascal had been a constant. He was the gruff biker who had a heart of gold and his son took after him. Rascal patted her back, leaning close to her ear.
“He’s going to need you even when he pushes you away. My boy has always thought he didn’t deserve the best but he does. Back when he was younger, I didn’t think about having him talk to anyone about what he’d gone through. I wish I would have. I’ve watched you two tiptoe around each other the last few years. If he’s your man, you’ll have to fight for him, but I’ve got your back,” Rascal whispered.
Knowing he understood what she was facing made it easier. She had someone besides Sarah on her side. Any of her other sisters would be on her side, too, but sometimes she wanted something just for herself.
Growing up, being the middle sister meant there was always someone around. She’d been so excited when her dad had talked about them having their own houses on the property. She loved the closeness of her sisters but she also adored not having to share everything or listen to every little thing that was wrong. Being in the different houses meant they didn’t run next door with petty shit like they had when they’d all had bedrooms on the same floor.
Knowing Bear was going to be okay was a relief. She’d been petrified when he was shot and angry that she didn’t have the right to ride in the ambulance with him.
Winnie recognized Bear loved her but he either didn’t realize it or wasn’t willing to face it. No man touched a woman the way he had—worshiping her body—without feeling something for the woman.
She’d made the decision to live up to her name, Winchester. Her dad had named her after one of the toughest and most dependable rifles. It was a little ironic that the Winchester rifle was one of the first repeating rifles. To win Bear’s heart and convince him they had the right to a life together, Winnie realized she’d most likely have to repeat she wasn’t running or leaving. He could run. He could hide, but just like when she was tracing a skip, she wouldn’t give up until she had her man.
