“Oh, goodie. Something to look forward to.”
“The paramedics will treat it when they arrive.”
“That seems like overkill,” I protest.
“Know what’s overkill? Winding up with lockjaw because you’re too stubborn to get a tetanus shot and some antibiotics.”
I roll my eyes, but decide it’s best not to fight with him.
Much.
“You know, you’re unnecessarily bossy. One of these da—Oh my god!”
His brows lift calmly. “Yes?”
“You’re bleeding!” I exclaim, eyes locked on the bloom of red near his bicep. “Christ, Gallagher, you have the nerve to lecture me about a tinyscrapewhen you’ve been freakingshot?!”
“Relax. It’s just a graze.”
My eyes are still bugging out. “Just a… Are you…Ugh! You are the most infuriating, stubborn, hypocritical man!”
His lips twitch. “Noted.”
“Are the other agents okay?”
“One took a bullet to the leg, but it was a through and through — he’ll be fine.”
My stomach clenches. “Is there anything I can do for him? There’s a first aid kit inside…”
“We put a field dressing on it. His partner is waiting by the van with him now. The ambulance should be here shortly.”
I nod, my ears picking up the faint sound of sirens in the distance. “And… and Paul?”
Conor’s grip tightens reflexively on mine. His eyes are suddenly unreadable. “I lost track of him when they started shooting. I think he was trying to run for cover, but…”
“But what?” I breathe, heart pounding.
“The Evanoffs grabbed him.” He shakes his head. “We tried to chase them down, but they must’ve had a car stashed a few blocks over. By the time we got there, they were gone. And so was your husband.”
The blood drains out of my face. “Oh my god.”
“I’m sorry, Hunt.” He’s watching me carefully. “We’ll do everything we can to get him back.”
“I… I…” My mouth snaps shut.
I’m not sure what I’m trying to say. There are no words to describe what I’m feeling right now, seconds after learning that my no-good, dirty-rotten, lying, cheating bastard of a husband has been taken by a duo of men who want his existence wiped from the face of the earth… and that, in all likelihood, they will get their wish.
Fear.
Guilt.
Sorrow.
And, inexplicably, undeniably, unforgivably…
Relief.
That’s the one that kills me. The one that damn near brings me to my knees, that breaks my heart into a thousand awful fragments inside my chest. Because as horrible as it is, as unconscionable as it sounds… if the Evanoffs have Paul…