Putting conscious effort into speaking again, Garrett managed to rasp out a strained, “V-vest?”
“Did its job.” Hands pressed along his sternum and ribs as Apollo checked for fractures or other signs of injury. “Bullet tore through the first protective layer but didn’t penetrate the ceramic plate.” His teammate’s fingers continued with their poking and prodding. “Doesn’t feel like anything’s broken. No obvious signs of internal injuries, but you’ll need to be checked out as soon as possible, just in case.”
Thank Christ.
Now that Apollo mentioned it, the horrific pain Garrett had felt seconds beforewasfinally beginning to let up. More of a dull, bruising ache than the suffocating burn, he was able to focus on the people around him better. Their images becoming clearer.
Garrett’s chest expanded slowly as he tested his lungs. Filling them at a cautious, hesitant rate, he used the same controlled pace to release the air he’d just pulled in.
Garrett repeated the action. Once. Twice. Three times.
“There ya go, buddy.” Apollo spoke again. “That’s it. Nice and easy.”
“How is he?” Digger’s large, hovering form came into Garrett’s view.
“He’ll live.”
“Help me up.” Garrett grunted. He raised a hand, which Apollo immediately took.
With his teammate’s help, he got back onto his feet. The tender pull in his chest made him wince. He’d no doubt be feeling the effects of being shot at close range for the foreseeable future.
“You good?” Digger squeezed one of his shoulders.
Garrett nodded, looking at the twelve strangers anxiously staring back at him. “Let’s get these guys out of here and get the hell home.”
“I second that motion,” Bones chimed in. “Don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m damn glad Owens is giving us the next two weeks off. My ass needs a vacation from all this shit.”
Two close calls on a single op?
A vacation’s exactly what I need.
Chapter 2
“What about him?”
Hearing her sister’s low question, Avery Webb looked up from the drink she was stirring to follow the other woman’s gaze. When she realized what—or rather who—her sister was referring to, she couldn’t keep her face from betraying her thoughts.
“Ronald?”Avery blurted loudly. With a quick glance to make sure the man standing at the bar a few yards away hadn’t heard her, she leaned toward her sister and lowered her voice. “Are you crazy or just drunk?”
Layers of Alex’s long, dark locks bounced atop her shoulders as she laughed. “Neither. Well, I’m not crazy. I might be a tad tipsy, but that’s not the point.”
“Oh, you have a point?” Sarcasm oozed from Avery’s tone as she straightened herself back up. “I know I’m going to regret this, but I’ll bite. What’s your point, dear sister?” She put her straw between her lips, sucking in more of the delicious Amaretto-based drink.
“That you need to get laid.”
The cool liquid Avery had yet to swallow flew out of her mouth, spraying their small, round table…and Alex.
“Alex!” She reached for the napkin dispenser, pulling several of the absorbent paper squares loose.
Unaffected by the sudden alcohol shower, Alex casually wiped down the front of her Black strapless dress. “What?”
“What do you mean, what?” Avery hissed. Scowling, she moved her glass and blotted at the mess she’d made. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“Why?” Alex shrugged. “It’s the truth.”
“It is not!” Okay, so maybe ithadbeen a really,reallylong time since she’d been with a man. Almost two years, but who was counting, anyway? Not Avery.
Liar, Liar.