Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“Babe, come here, I got you.” Talon carefully cradles her to him, taking her out of the condo.
I position Jewls over my lap, placing my hand on her stomach. “Did he hurt you here?”
“No, the bastard has a thing for smacking.”
The anger stirs again, looking at the bruising on her face.
“Johns is immobilized. Unfortunately, he’ll have to see a medic before his trip to the station.” Finn strolls in indifferently.
“He’ll have to wait in line. I want Jewls checked out after Rowan.”
Ace and Ford enter the room, Ford’s hand on his side, covered in blood. “Fucker had a knife.”
“Ford’s sliced. He’ll need stitches,” Ace proclaims bluntly.
Jewls tenses, her breath hitching. She gets to her feet and scrambles to Ford. “You’re hurt!”
“Flesh wound.” He blows her off.
“It’s gushing blood. We need an ambulance!” she screams hysterically.
“There are a couple downstairs. Let’s get you to them.” I stand as a fresh team of men swarm the room. This crew includes Tom, Hal, Capt. Boyd, and Rich.
Tom’s gaze crosses over us, landing on Jewls. He makes it to her in two strides.
“Woman!” He spins her to him, his face masked with fury and fear. “Four years in the Army, thirty-five years on the force, and didn’t even blink. You girls are putting me in an early grave.”
She opens her mouth to deliver sass, changing her mind and sinking into him. “I’m okay, Tom, promise.”
His big arms engulf her, his head dropping to her shoulder.
“I’ll feel better once we have you looked at.”
She cups his jaw, tipping up to kiss his cheek, and then grabs Ford’s hand. “Come on, Whitman, bossy Major is about to turn into a brute.”
He’s not thrilled, but nods.
Ace bends to brush his lips over her head. “Glad you’re okay.”
“I never doubted you’d get us.” Her eyes come back to me, her face draining of color to a pasty white.
“Ford!” I rush to them as she sways, her knees giving out. Her body goes limp in my arms.
“Paramedic!” I roar, right as a team rounds the corner with a gurney.
“Gunshot wound?” one of them questions.
“He can fucking wait. My fiancée is the priority.”
They look like they want to question the priority when Caleb barks out, “Get to my sister, now.”
They move, offering the gurney. I’m shoved to the head of the bed while they get her vitals.
“Anything we should know?”
“She’s almost three months pregnant with twins.” I don’t take my eyes off her still body.
“The shiner on her eye, and the knot on her head?”
“The asshole with the gunshot wound is responsible.”
His lips press in a fine line, his eyes flashing with anger. “She been unresponsive for long?”
“She was fine until thirty seconds ago.”
“My guess is her adrenaline dropped, and she went with it. But let’s get her to the hospital for a full exam.”
“We’ll meet you there.” Caleb squeezes her arm.
Ford and I follow them, wheeling her out and to the elevator. When we get to the ground floor, we’re immediately surrounded. Toby, Margo, and Gill crowd in while I explain what happened upstairs.
Jewls stirs, her eyes fluttering open and filling with confusion. “What’s happening?”
“Ma’am, you passed out. Can you focus on me?” A paramedic waves a penlight in her line of sight.
“I can’t focus when you’re trying to blind me,” she snipes.
“We know her mouth still works,” Toby teases.
“We’re taking you in for an evaluation.” I take her hand. “You passed out.”
“Where’s Rowan?” She searches the crowd.
“She is on her way to the hospital. Her parents and Harley are with her,” Margo explains.
“If I go, you’re going, too.” Jewls points at Ford. “He’s been stabbed.”
All heads swivel his way, a paramedic asking, “Sir?”
“Nothing,” Ford grunts.
“It’s gushing blood,” Jewls argues. “Look under his vest.”
“Jesus, Jewls.” He shoots her a dirty look. “Is there a reason you’re throwing me under the bus?”
“Better than the attention on me.” She blows him a kiss.
Margo and a paramedic close in on him, both stating, “Let’s see,” at the same time.
He begrudgingly shifts his vest and lifts his shirt. A long, angry gash extends right under his ribcage to his hipbone.
“Stitches on the stomach suck.” Talon walks up, bending to kiss Jewls’ forehead. “And someone has one hell of a goose egg.”
She pounds the mattress, her face screwing angrily. “I’ll kill him if I have bruises in Harley’s wedding pictures.”
“Get in line,” Toby growls as the elevators open and another set of paramedics wheels Craig into the lobby. Ace, Finn, Justin, and Caleb flank his gurney, their faces blank but eyes burning.
Robbie, Max, and James Hayes walk in as Craig passes on his way to a waiting ambulance. Max stops, staring down his nose at the mumbling asshole.
“Whatever time they offer you, take it. Because every day you’re not rotting in jail is a day you could run into me. And I promise you don’t want to run into me.”