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“He was thinking to make a run for it, probably,” Heather said. She was on the ground, too. Covering her twin sister, where Heather had knocked her to the ground.
Jarrod was just barely aware of them all around them. He just focused on her. “Babe, hell, little rabbit. No.”
She lifted one pale, bony girl hand to his face. “I knew you were coming.”
“You just draw trouble, don’t you, Haldyn Devil?” Jarrod held her in his arms.
“Think the big bad wolf got me.”
There were people coming. Running. “Help is coming. There’s Shelby’s brother now. And Zoey’s. Help is coming. You’re going to be okay. I promise. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Anyone who tells you getting shot doesn’t hurt at first…they are lying.” She shot him a rueful look, as he lowered her to the pavement. The fingers of her left hand were wrapped around his arm. Clinging. “We were near the turn off to the reservoir. He slowed down, stopped at the intersection of Boethe Highway and Old Garrity Road. I opened the door and pushed them out. But I just couldn’t get away. Wilson had a hold of me, was pulling me back in. Trying to get out in front of me instead.”
“We’ll find them. I promise. But for now, I’m not leaving you. I’m never leaving you. And I’m probably never letting you out of my sight again. For such a quiet little science nerd, you seem to find a lot of trouble when I leave you on your own.” He kept his knees behind her shoulders. He wasn’t going to let her fall to the blood-soaked asphalt and filth. He just wasn’t. “Stay with me, okay. I need you to stay right here with me.”
“I can’t exactly get up and walk away, you know. Powell is going to seriously freak over this. You make sure she’s okay for me.” Her words were so broken. They stabbed him like a knife. “Don’t let her freak. She’s not been feeling well lately—I don’t want her freaking, or worrying herself sick again, okay?”
“I will. If not, I’ll make Gunnar, okay? He can protect her. Take care of her. Probably better than I took care of you. Hell, babe, I am so sorry. I should have stuck closer. Checked that bracelet more often.”
“He knew about what it could do. From Eastman case. Made me take it off before I could press…distress... Turned it off, too. Threw it out the window.”
Daniel was there. Kneeling beside her. “How badly is she hurt? Damn, Hallie. I shouldn’t have left you unguarded in the building. I’m sorry.”
“Not you two’s fault, you know. It just happened. No guard in lab then. Think Wichita Falls planned it…that way. Makes sense. Messing with my people, too. To make us…vulnerable. Planned this. I shouldn’t have gone down the back hall, but if I hadn’t—they would have killed Hope and Madison. At least now…can have a chance…find them, please.”
There was blood. Lots of blood. Jarrod just kept his hands right where they were. Daniel moved. Someone took his place.
Heather’s sister, the blond one, was there next to them. Doing what she could. “The trauma teams are coming, Haldyn. They are bringing a gurney now. You need to lean back so Dr. Lake can see her better, Detective. We need more light and you’re in the way.”
Jarrod nodded. He kissed Haldyn’s forehead once. “I’m not going to leave you. I promise.”
Then he was leaning back, just like Lake’s brother told him to. Holding her head and neck as steady as he could. Haldyn’s blood covered his hands.
The little nurse in pink, one of Heather’s family, was there, too. And that other Coleson, one with Hope’s face and curly brown hair. She’d jumped into action, too. Over Kimball. They both had.
“He’s alive! Get a gurney here now!” one yelled.
People were coming from everywhere. In hospital scrubs.
Then someone else was there next to Jarrod. He looked up. Recognized the surgeon there. Her pal Shelby’s older brother. “Jacobson, you have to help her, man. She?—”
“I’ve got her now, Foster. Haldyn, you girls just keep finding trouble, don’t you?” On the count of three, the doctors there lifted her. Strapped her down. “Let’s get her inside. Joy, you’re bleeding. Get inside to trauma!”
“What about Wilson?” someone yelled. The bastard had taken one to the head from Kimball’s gun. Jarrod hoped he pulled through—so they could make him pay for what he had done.
“I have vitals!” someone else yelled.
Jarrod just tuned out the chaos. He was going to stay with her. Just like he had said.
Like he had promised.
99
Madison kept her arm around Hope’s waist as she watched the limo drive off into the darkness. Like an avenging rescuer, swooping in when he was just needed most.
Then disappearing into the night, complete with seriously smoking-hot hot-guy bodyguard. Until the next time.
Batman with a very hot young Alfred.
