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Caught off guard at the thought of parading around in his underwear, Dev was glad he’d turned his response around the way he had. The flush of color staining Kiana’s cheeks was worth his bold promise.
Kiana spun away, returning her attention to her friend lying motionless on the hospital bed. “I want to stay and be here when Tish wakes. I imagine she’ll be scared, not knowing how she got here.”
“On a positive note, she might not remember the attack,” Dev offered, crossing the room to stand beside Kiana.
“What if she doesn’t remember anything at all?” Kiana whispered. “She’ll have a long road of recovery ahead of her.”
Dev knew of guys with traumatic brain injuries who’d lost their memories. Some had had to start over learning how to walk, talk, and feed themselves. He hated to think of that prognosis for Kiana’s friend. “We can’t do anything for her now,” Dev said. “It’s up to the doctors and, more importantly, Tish’s body to recover from her injuries. We won’t know what that recovery will entail until she wakes up.”
“I know. In the meantime, we need to find Meredith.” Kiana leaned over Tish and kissed her cheek. “We’ll find her,” she whispered. When she straightened, she turned to Reid.
“I’ll take care of her safety,” Reid promised. “Keep me informed on your progress.”
“We will,” Kiana said. “Let us know of any changes, big or small.”
Reid nodded. “Go. Find your friend.” To Dev, he said, “Lean on Hawk if you need backup.” He handed a key fob to Dev and told him where he’d parked. “Get what you need out of the trunk and bring back my keys.”
Dev’s fingers curled around the fob. ‘Will do.” He turned to Kiana. “Ready?”
“I am.” With one last glance at Tish lying against the stark white sheets, her brown hair a dark contrast to the bleached white pillowcase, Kiana turned toward the door.
Dev reached for her hand and held it all the way out of the hospital and into the parking lot.
Between Reid’s directions and the unlock button on the fob that blinked headlights and taillights and emitted a short honk, they were able to find the rental car quickly and transfer several cases containing weapons and ammunition to Dev’s rental car. Along with the firearms, Dev grabbed a few radio headsets and tossed them in with the guns. The last item he claimed was a wicked black knife in a sheath. He didn’t throw it into the truck of the rental car. Instead, he clipped it to his belt.
Kiana gave a short bark of laughter and swallowed hard. “Are we going to war?”
Dev shrugged. “Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.” He clipped a knife encased in a sheath onto his belt and grabbed a case containing a small stun gun. When he was finished, he locked both vehicles, grabbed Kiana’s hand and headed back into the hospital. “I’d let you sit out in the rental car, but I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone.”
“I would’ve locked the doors,” she said.
“Windows can be broken, and glass doesn’t stop bullets or baseball bats.” His fingers tightened around hers as they stepped into the elevator. “I feel better when you’re in my sight.”
Kiana punched the button for the floor number for the ICU and gave a gentle squeeze back. “I get it. I feel better knowing Reid’s with Tish. I can’t imagine leaving her alone in the hospital. She couldn’t defend herself when she was conscious. I can’t imagine how easy it would be to...” She visibly gulped.
“Reid’s there,” Dev said softly. “He won’t let anything happen to her.”
They exited the elevator and hurried to Tish’s room. Dev knocked on the door.
Reid opened it a crack, his eyes narrowed. When he saw it was Dev and Kiana, he grinned. “Oh, it’s you. Back so soon?”
Dev dropped the key fob in Reid’s hand. “Thanks for bringing the supplies.”
“No problem.” Reid slipped the key fob into his pocket. “Patterson insists on his guys having what they need to do the job.”
“And trusts us to use only what’s necessary,” Dev finished.
“Damn right,” Reid said.
They exchanged a wrist clasp in all seriousness.
Kiana glanced past Reid. “Tish?”
Reid shook his head. “Still the same.”
She nodded and looked into Dev’s eyes. “Ready?”
“We’ll be in touch,” Dev said and guided Kiana to the elevator.
