Page 6 of His to Keep

Some small part of Liam couldn't help but feel a strange thrill at bossing around someone so imposing. He should be at home asleep in bed, not commanding a man like Colt.

He bit his tongue to cut that thought off right there, and made himself focus on the task at hand.

Eventually, the sound of sirens grew closer, signaling that help was almost there.

"Alright, here comes the calvary. Zane, you're going to be okay from here," Liam reassured him. "Colt, can we make sure they have a clear path into the bar?"

He didn't just mean the overturned tables and chairs, left in chaos after the shooting. Liam eyed the men that surrounded him — and, whenever their jackets gaped open as they bent to help him, the guns that they wore.

He swallowed. If the paramedics rushed through the door, Liam needed to know that they'd be safe from adrenaline-pumped men with itchy trigger fingers.

Christ, he'd just wanted a drink. Not to wind up in the middle of all this. The hairs on the back of his neck had been raised for so long that his skin ached. It was like his body was screaming at him:Get the patient stable, and then get the hell out of here…!

Colt's eyes flickered with relief. "Yeah. Boys, clear the way!"

The paramedics burst into the bar not long later, their professional efficiency a welcome sight. Liam sagged in relief.

"Gunshot wound to the abdomen," Liam briefed them, his tone shifting back to pure medical authority. "We've managed to slow down the bleeding and keep him steady."

"Nice work," one of the paramedics said gratefully, nodding at both Liam and Colt. The paramedics moved as a well-oiled team, and soon they carefully transferred Zane onto a stretcher and wheeled him outside.

Finally. Liam had done his job, and the patient was now safe and out of his hands. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, leaving him trembling in its wake. Outside in the cool night air, he leaned against the wall of the bar, the bricks pressing into his back as he tried to catch his breath.

Emergency medicine was always like this: he was able to maintain composure during the crisis, only to be hit with an overwhelming wave of stress once it was over. He closed his eyes, attempting to regain control of himself before anyone noticed.

"Hey. You alright?" A gruff voice broke through his reverie. Liam's eyes snapped open, and he found himself staring into the piercing gaze of Colt.

"Y-yeah," Liam stammered, struggling to find words under Colt's unwavering stare. It was the first time he'd had the time to really look at the man. He couldn't deny that Coltwas… handsome. Really,reallyhandsome. His dark hair framed strong features, a dangerous edge beneath the surface. When Liam had guided those hands into place, he'd felt the flex of muscles in Colt's arms. The man wore a sharp suit, but underneath it, he was strong.

Or, at least, that's what a single man would notice. Anyway.

"Thanks for what you did back there," Colt said gruffly. "You saved Zane's life."

"I was just doing my job."

"Either way, you've got guts," Colt said. "And Zane won't forget what you did for him."

What did that mean? Liam's heart skipped a beat at the implication, but he tried his best to hide his fear. "Well, I hope he makes a full recovery," he said, his voice wavering despite his efforts to sound nonchalant.

"Guys?" One of the paramedics spoke up. "We're going to start transferring him now."

Colt was by their side the whole time. His quick eyes were pinned to their hands wherever they touched Zane, as if he was still prepared for another attack. "Will he be okay?"

"He's in a serious condition, but we're doing everything we can."

A muscle jumped in Colt's jaw. "You better."

The paramedics shot each other careful looks.

Despite the long, tiring, terrifying day, something roared inside Liam at that. He whipped around to face Colt. "These people are trying their best to save his life," he hissed. He jabbed Colt in the chest. "Donotthreaten them, do you hear me?"

Colt looked down at him.

Belatedly, Liam realized that threatening a man taller and stronger than himself was probably not the best idea. He braced himself—

But all Colt did was to say, "All right, Doc."

As the paramedics began to load the stretcher into the waiting ambulance, Colt gave Liam one last look, and then strode off to follow him. He stepped up into the ambulance, following his friend — or whatever their relationship was.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com