Chapter 10
Liam entered the facility to see Leo staring into his cup of coffee at the kitchen table.
“Do you mind if I join you?” he asked.
“Pull up a chair,” Leo said. “Taco gossiped like an old woman when he returned with Saint. Do you have googly eyes for Addyson Parker?”
“I don’t think I’d phrase it as it sounds, but I like her,” he admitted, appreciating Leo’s directness.
Leo nodded. “She’s a very nice woman, and Kassie and Catherine have nothing but good things to say about her.”
Waiting for the but in the statement, Liam kept quiet.
“Since you’re new, let me explain this to you in the only way I can without your head spinning.
Kassie’s godparents are Joe and Maddie. They’re very nice folks and play the role of grandparents to Kassie and Doc’s children.
Then you have Victoria and Ivan, who run the Irish and Russian mafia families.
” Leo held his hand up. “Before you think I’ve slipped a little too much whiskey in my coffee, I assure you I have not.
If you hurt anyone on this mountain, Victoria considers family, AKA anyone Kassie cares about, she’ll cut your balls into tiny little pieces, and Ivan will take them to Siberia to freeze the living shit out of them all because of his devotion to his wife.
Addyson has kept to herself despite the fact, the Serenity women have tried to engage her.
Don’t worry, they’re still plotting and planning.
In the meantime, I must warn you if you have a little nurse/patient fantasy thing going on, you stifle your shit right now and call it a day.
I can’t afford to lose you now. You have skills we need. ”
Liam sat there stunned. “And you worried about my background check?”
“Trust me, the more you get to know them, you’ll know they’ll do whatever it takes for this family. And I don’t mean only Kassie’s,” Leo informed him. “What do you have in the box?”
“Ty’s apple crumble cobbler. Do you want some? I’m still stuffed from dinner,” he said, rising and fetching two bowls.
“I’ll take a bite,” Leo said. “It’s not like I’ll be sleeping much anyway.”
“Do you mind if I ask why you’re here instead of home? Didn’t you work today?” he asked, scooping the dessert into the bowls and sliding it over.
Leo sighed. “I figured you knew. My wife, Kit Kat, is pregnant again.”
“Oh, Congratulations,” Liam said before taking a bite of cobbler.
“Thanks. Unfortunately, my neglect in keeping an appointment to ensure I was neutered greatly upset my wife when she discovered her pregnancy. We’re having a failure-to-communicate moment, and she’s a redhead.
Therefore, I’m sleeping here until she hopefully cools down,” Leo admitted.
“It’s my fault, and I seem to bungle every effort to make this right. ”
“And you still have your balls? Or did she have them shipped to Siberia?” he joked. “I’m sorry you’re in a tough situation.”
Leo eyed him speculatively. “I knew you’d fit right in here. Already an asshole, like the rest of the Team Hawk crew. They’ve already corrupted Sparky and Stormy. I hoped you might balance them out and I’d have one decent guy in the bunch.”
“You have an incredible group of assholes, and you know it,” Liam said, shaking his head and taking another bite. When his phone rang, he felt surprised to see Addy’s name appear.
“Hello, Addy,” Liam greeted her. Leo smiled and rose, giving him a thumbs up.
“Hi, Paul. A friend of yours came to visit me. He says you have one hour to come to my house with the drugs or he’ll hurt Zeus and me,” she said, her voice trembling.
Liam snapped his fingers to capture Leo’s attention and put her on speakerphone.
“Do you know my friend’s name?” he asked.
“Paul wants to know your name. You didn’t give it to me,” she explained calmly.
They heard a man’s voice in the background. “Tell him it’s Benny and I want it here within the hour,” the man roared.
“It’s Benny. He said to hurry,” she repeated.
“Listen to me, Addy. I’m on my way. Can you tell me if he’s the only one? Does he have a weapon?” Liam asked as Leo jumped into action, contacting the team.
“I told Benny you didn’t leave anything here with me. He doesn’t believe me and cut all my furniture. He wants you to bring the drugs before he shoots up the place,” she demanded, yet he heard the fear behind her words.
“We’re coming, Addy. Hang in there, you’re doing great,” he said as he climbed into Leo’s truck and raced down the mountain.
“Tell him, I’m picking up the drugs and I’ll be there soon.” They listened as Addy told Benny.
“Good job. I’m almost there. Do you know if Benny brought any friends?” he asked.
“I don’t know. He says you told him to come here,” she said, faltering.
“Hang up the phone,” the man shouted. “Did you hear me, Paul. You got one hour, and then I’ll start shooting.”
“Tell him I heard him. Hang tight. You won’t see us, but we’re coming,” he assured her before the line went dead. “Shit.”
“Cole’s bringing down Apollo for you. Whiskey’s approaching the back of the house now,” Leo informed him, handing him an earpiece.
“Saint and Knight will come up on the East side, while Shadow and Taco take the West. Ragu’s scaling the house and trying to get into the second story.
You’ll go in with your K-9 and pretend to deliver the drugs,” Leo said, passing him a diaper bag full of empty bottles, a couple jars of baby food, and diapers.
“Really?” Liam said, holding up the bag.
“It’s the best we got on such short notice. Patch is on standby, and Doc and Kassie are waiting at the hospital. Bear’s running a search on his name and voice,” Leo said logically. “I’ll cover you from the front and get Addyson out while you take him down.”
Liam nodded as he put the earpiece in and listened as the team coordinated their attack and checked in with one another.
“Liam, you’ll need to wait a bit before barging in. He’s not expecting you this fast. I see Addyson,” Taco said. “She’s holding her left arm, and I see some blood, but nothing serious. Addyson’s holding her own.”
“I’m here with Apollo. We’ll meet you on the East side of the house,” Cole informed him.
“I have eyes on Addyson,” Whiskey reported. “She’s talking him down and offering him food. The cut’s a wee one. Don’t go in half-cocked,” he instructed.
Liam swallowed. He officially started yesterday, but the team already proved they’d have his six.
“Affirmative,” he said, feeling the need to say something. Leo parked the truck with the lights off and handed him a weapon.
“Bear, notify the police and let them know we have a hostage situation and need to act fast. They’ll need to come with their sirens off and make them aware we have one intruder, one hostage we know of, and the team’s on site,” Leo said calmly as they jogged toward the East side of the house.
Liam heard Zeus barking nonstop. “Damn it, buddy. It’s not the right time to start barking,” he said under his breath while he took Apollo from Cole.
“Start heading toward the front. Addyson’s dog won’t stop barking,” Whiskey said.
“He’s got me pinned.” Ragu broke through. “He’s mad and growling, what do I do?”
A gun fired, and Ragu knocked over a lamp. “Breach, the fucker’s shooting through the ceiling.” A second shot rang out and the dog whimpered loudly.
Liam and Leo burst through the door and Liam ordered Apollo to attack.
The K-9 leaped into the air and landed near the druggie holding a gun. Before he managed to lift it toward the K-9, Apollo bit his leg and dragged him.
“Help, help,” Benny screamed, while Liam grabbed his gun and ordered Apollo to release. Taco flipped the drug addict on his stomach, securing him.
“We need the vet, call Doc’s godfather, Jake,” Ragu said into the coms.
“Zeus, Zeus,” Addy called, running up the stairs. Leo jerked his head, telling Liam to follow while Cole secured Apollo.
He watched as she fell to her knees and held the poor dog’s head.
“My poor baby,” she cried. “You’re only protecting me.”
Zeus licked her hand and whined.
“Don’t worry, Addyson. Jake’s a great vet. He’ll have him fixed in no time. The wound doesn’t appear too deep,” Ragu assured her.
“How can you tell?” she sniffed. “There’s blood all over you.”
Her eyes widened as she jumped up and ran to her desk, grabbing a pair of scissors. Ragu weaved in place as she cut his pants.
“Liam, I need your belt. Ragu, sit down in the chair behind you,” she instructed.
“Honestly, I feel fine,” Ragu insisted. “It’s the dog’s blood.”
“No. It isn’t. Your adrenaline keeps you from feeling it. You’re shot,” she informed him while using Liam’s belt to stave off the flow.
Patch knelt beside his teammate and pulled out his supplies. Addy moved aside for Patch to assess the wound while she set the IV and handed him gauze and bandages.
“Have Doc send the ambulance,” Patch instructed.
“Shit, how bad can it be if I can’t feel it?” Ragu asked, still not believing her.
“Stop moving,” Patch grumbled.
“I don’t want to sit in the chair, I’ll get blood all over it,” he confessed. “My body feels funny.”
“Ragu,” Addy said firmly. “Sit down or I’ll call Annabelle and tell her you’re acting like a pain in the ass.”
Patch chuckled and coughed as he concentrated on the wound.
Ragu lowered himself onto the chair, glancing at Addy. “I didn’t think you swore.”
“Then you don’t know me at all. Ask my patients what happens when they don’t follow the doctor’s instructions,” she said, turning to Leo.
“Call Kassie, let her know we’re coming in with a GSW.
We’ll need a surgical room prepped. Annabelle’s working on the second floor.
Call Cindy and ask her to come in early to cover for her. She’s the closest night nurse I have.”
“Don’t call her. She’ll freak,” Ragu pleaded. “Patch can fix me up, and I can walk into the hospital on my own. It’ll ease her fears.”