Chapter 4
Chapter Four
The constant beat of the rotors strummed through Tierney’s chest, matching the heavy rhythm of her heart.
The cabin seemed overly loud, every blast of static, every whop of the air pressing on her last nerve.
Parts of the evening played in her head — the man stumbling into the campsite.
The endless echo of gunfire. How Buck had shielded her at every turn.
She pressed her fingers to her mouth. She still felt the brush of his lips, still tasted the heat and promise of his kiss. She’d been moments away from taking it further, and she wasn’t sure if the attack had shattered their connection or just made it stronger.
He squeezed her hand, smiling as Chase dabbed at his arm, mumbling under his breath.
Definitely the latter.
Chase huffed, layering on more bandages in an effort to stop the bleeding. “Looks like we’ll be making a trip to Providence.”
Buck coughed. “Like hell, we will. We’re heading back to the office — getting a head start on whatever slammed into us back there.”
Chase paused, looking more than a bit intimidating. “And here I thought I was the medic.” He wrapped one hand around the wound, staring at Buck when he hissed. “You need x-rays, maybe an MRI. See if the bullet hit anything important on the way through.”
“It didn’t.” Buck shook his head. “Not the first time I’ve been shot. Besides, if we go the standard route, whoever treats me will have to notify local law.”
Chase laughed. “Hate to break it to you, buddy, but I know for a fact, the local sheriff is already aware you’ve been shot.”
“I don’t care if Greer knows. It’s the report. Once it’s in the system…” He glanced at Tierney. “Anyone with a decent hacker could access it. And we need to keep this locked down until we know what we’re facing.”
Chase pushed out a harsh breath. “Fine. I’ll clean it and stitch it, push some meds your way. But if I think there’s even a hint of an infection, I’m dragging your ass over to Providence, conscious or not.”
“You do know I can rig your truck to blow, right?”
“And I can drug your coffee.”
Buck snorted. “Okay, okay. You win. I’ll be a model patient for you.”
“That would be a first.” Chase glanced over at her. “Tierney? You hiding anything Rowan and I should know about?”
Tierney tugged the blanket tighter around her. “Some cuts and scrapes, a few bruised ribs, but Buck got the worst of it.”
Chase eyed her. “By bruised, are we actually talking cracked? Because you look like you want to puke.”
“You can thank Foster for that. I don’t get up nearly as often as you guys.”
Which wasn’t a lie. She’d only flown with Foster a couple times, and each one had been a chaotic adventure that had left her stomach lodged in her throat, her head spinning.
The fact she’d kissed Buck, had been well on her way to fully surrendering didn’t factor in.
Wasn’t the root cause of the nervous roll of her stomach.
How her throat closed tight whenever she pictured how far gone she’d been.
That, given the chance, she’d kiss him again.
Chase nodded. “Rowan will need to look at them once we land. Until then, breathe, and if you think you’re going to hurl…”
“Don’t be an ass. I can hold it together until we get back to the hangar.”
“Right.”
He leaned toward the cockpit, tapped Foster’s shoulder. His buddy glanced back, nodding at whatever Chase said. The aircraft slowed a bit, some of the noise fading.
Buck nudged her thigh, still smiling as if they’d spent the night calmly sitting around the campfire, before shuffling closer, pressing his leg against hers. He didn’t speak, just stayed close, his warmth slowly settling her pulse.
Fatigue set in, all that adrenaline bleeding into crippling exhaustion, just like earlier. She let her head tip back, everything passing in a hazy blur before the machine touched down, the engines quickly spooling to idle.
Dalton and Zain opened the doors, ushering them out and across the helipad, shutting out the noise as the hangar door snapped shut behind him. The sudden silence jacked up her heart rate, and she couldn’t help but wonder if the threat was actually over or just pausing to breathe.
Sheriff Greer Hudson stood in the middle of the room, looking nearly as intimidating as Chase, her baby bump pressing against her uniform. Buck’s boss, Bodie Page flanked her right side, arms crossed, brow slightly furrowed.
He stepped forward, his gaze taking them both in. “I thought you two were scouting a new route?”
Buck raked his good hand through his hair. “That was the plan, until things went sideways.”
“When don’t they?” Bodie waved toward the door. “We can chat after you’ve both gotten patched up, showered, and into some dry clothes.”
Buck shook his head, removing the gear he’d stripped off the downed merc. “We can warm up, later. I want to know who the hell those men were and if they’ll be coming back for round two.”
Bodie took the tech, handing Buck’s phone to Greer.
She flipped through the photos, mumbling under her breath before handing it back to Bodie. “Guess it’s a good thing Avery’s already on the way. No chance the Feds aren’t getting involved in this. Any idea what we’re facing?”
Buck glanced at Tierney, then back. “A squad of heavily armed men. At least some with tactical experience. Military-grade weapons with comms and drones. If you’re going in there, you’ll need backup. A lot of it.”
“Sounds like I got here just in time.”
Tierney looked at the other side of the hangar as Special Agent Avery Kaine walked through the entrance, dark-blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, dressed for a hard siege through the forest.
She stopped beside Dalton, smiling at him before facing the rest of them. “I heard you two ran into some trouble?”
Avery took the cell Bodie handed her, brow drawing tighter with every swipe of her fingers. “Shit. Don’t suppose you two can give us a quick rundown before Chase or Bodie have you on house arrest until neither of you look like death?”
Tierney gestured to Buck, and he gave them all a brief summary — the disturbed moss and branches he’d found earlier in the evening. How the man had stumbled into their campsite, told them to run before being gunned down. The unrelenting pursuit.
Avery nodded along, taking a few notes before shaking her head. “And they had a drone?”
“Camera strapped on top, with the red light blinking. I blew the fucker out of the air.” He grunted when he shifted on his feet, holding his right arm a bit closer to his chest. “I know you need to send in a team but…”
Greer sighed. “If we go in blind, it could turn into a bloodbath.”
Avery whipped out her cell. “I’ll have SWAT here ASAP.
We’ll coordinate with Greer’s team — ensure we’ve got all the support we need before we breach.
Foster?” She glanced over at the man as he stood just inside the hangar doors.
“I don’t suppose you and your team would tag along in case we need your skill set? ”
Foster grinned. “Already gassed her up. And Kash and Nyx are on their way in. We’ll be ready to go within twenty.”
“Excellent.” She walked over to Buck and Tierney.
“Go get some rest. Greer and I will get your official statements in the morning, once you’ve had a chance to decompress.
And try not to get into any more trouble before we’re back.
” She turned, smiled at Dalton, again, then tapped her cell, talking to someone as she walked outside.
Chase hooked Greer’s arm. “Remember our deal.”
She snorted. “Hard to forget when you remind me daily.”
“I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know but choose to ignore.”
“No bullets.” She knocked shoulders. “Unless it’s life and death.”
“It’s always life and death, and you’ll be staying in the chopper with me until the SWAT guys clear the scene.”
“You do remember I’m armed, right?”
“Love you, too.” He dropped a quick kiss on her mouth. “Buck? Do you and Tierney want to get patched up here or back at Raven’s Security?”
Buck grunted but motioned toward the main office. “Here’s fine.”
Chase directed them to another room, Rowan following after him. They ran through more vitals, pushing some meds as they poked and prodded, thoroughly cleaning every wound before finally stepping back.
Chase sighed, tossed the blood-soaked supplies in the trash.
“You need to keep that wound clean. I popped a waterproof bandage over the stitches so you can shower. You can remove it after, but I want to check it daily for the next week, ensure it doesn’t get infected.
And don’t go hitting anyone with that arm for a day or two. ”
Buck snorted. “I’ll do my best.”
Rowan stepped up beside Chase. “Tierney’s ribs look like she went a few rounds with a truck, but nothing’s broken. Though, you’re both in the early stages of hypothermia, so… Go. Warm up and lay low, at least for the rest of the night.”
Buck placed his palm on the small of Tierney’s back, leading her over to the door. “If you want us to relax, see that Avery’s SWAT team collars those bastards. Otherwise, I’ll be sleeping with one eye open until I know we’re clear.”
Dalton stepped up beside them as they returned to the hangar. “Sounds like that’s our cue to get the hell out of here.” He waved them ahead. “Come on. You both look like you’re about to pass out.”
Buck flipped Dalton off before directing her toward the exit. They jumped into Bodie’s SUV, arriving at Raven’s Security headquarters a few minutes later. Bodie held the door, directing them to the guest suite.
Buck looked over at him. “You know my RV’s just outside, right?”
“It’s hard to miss, but I’d feel better if you two cleaned up in here, just to be safe.
” He backed up through the door. “I’ll grab some dry clothes from your motorhome, lay them on the bed.
Wade’s got a fresh pot of coffee brewing, in case you need the added motivation.
Just do me a favor and don’t break ranks until we know what we’re up against.”
Buck arched a brow. “Isn’t that why Dalton’s skulking around outside the door?”