Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“Was that a threat, Mr. Wahl?!”
“It was a vow, Seventeen.”
“Is Arley holding a gun?” Blu unexpectedly inserts, redirecting everyone’s attention over to him. “Why does she have a gun?” Confusion and amusement collide in his expression. “How bad is the sitch if she’s the only one with a weapon drawn?”
“Hey!” the love of my life squeaks on an adorable foot stomp. “I can handle a gun!”
“Tell that to Slater’s ma’s windchime.”
“I only clipped its wing!”
“Creating Weird Owl Yankovic.”
Embarrassment has her lowering the weapon in her hands on a whine. “Ohmygod, you guys named it?!”
“Blu named it,” I quickly insist. “I jus’…didn’t discourage him.”
“Which is practically the same thing as encouraging him!”
“True.” My partner nods during the unholstering of his own Glock. “Very true.”
The glare he’s given is attached to me rising to my feet. “Where’s Reynolds?”
“Medical.” He aims the barrel in the direction of the disarmed threat behind me. “He found Yi barely breathing in the stairwell with a couple burn marks on his neck. If I had to venture a guess, I’d say he was lured there by this asshole, tased, and fell.” Blu meets my gaze. “A lot.”
Shit.
I hope he didn’t break his neck.
Those along with spine trauma are among my least favorite to deal with.
Unlike the shit you see in the movies, a broken neck doesn’t necessarily mean instant death.
It can mean dislocations.
Disc lesions.
Damaged cervical bones or vertebrae.
There’s even a possibility for a full recovery depending on the exact injuries sustained; however, so much shit can go so wrong between when someone was hurt and when someone can receive proper treatment.
Let’s just say having to MacGyver up some shit – as Blu would label it – to stabilize that type of wound isn’t exactly taught in a textbook.
Sometimes the best thing you can really do in those situations is improvise and use a little of the Bon Jovi prayer living magic.
“Is he…Is he um…Is he um…gonna make it?” Arley quietly inquires, voice undeniably shaky.
She doesn’t even let my mouth lower to respond.
“What if he doesn’t?” Seeing her quivering jaw momentarily paralyzes me in place. “What if he dies because of me?”
“No.” The stern finger point she’s presented is unforgiving. “You won’t do that shit, Angel Cake. You won’t take responsibility for somethin’ that isn’t your fault.”
“But it is my fault!” Tears noticeably seep into her tone. “I’m the one who found the pattern! I’m the one who wouldn’t stop digging! I’m the one hunting for answers! I’m-”
“Not the one who hired someone to kill you,” I coldly state prompting her to press her lips tightly together. “You didn’t make the mistake of betrayin’ this company, Arley.” One step closer is unconsciously taken. “And you damn sure weren’t the one who made the mistake of crossin’ me.” Letting my thumb reach out to brush away the droplet that’s managed to slip down her cheek is executed without a second thought. “Now, cowboy up, Angel Cake. I need you to help take care of you while I go take care of him.”
A single sniffle is presented prior to a nod.
“Go ahead and put the safety on but keep that weapon within reach at all times. Roger?”
Nodding precedes the completion of the action. “Roger.”
“Blu, call Reynolds.” Moving backwards towards the captive occurs during the additional instructions. “Have him meet me in sector c for enhanced interrogation.”
“You don’t want me running second?”
“I want you here,” I bitterly state as I snatch the restrained male’s feet off the ground. “Outside that door. Shooting anyone or anything that tries to get inside while I’m gone.”
He nods his understanding. “Roger that.”
“What do you need from me?” Seventeen swiftly investigates, adjusting his tie to assist in signifying his importance.
“Nothing.”
The blunt response has Blu clamping his mouth shut to trap in his laughter.
Our boss doesn’t hesitate to narrow his gaze. “I can do something, Wahl.”
“Nope.”
“I can handle a task.”
“Nope.”
“Come on, I’m capable of doing more than you think I am. You know that.”
Do I?
“I’ve proven that.”
Unfortunately…he has.
First with a rifle.
Then with that sucker punch.
However, it’s the latter that leads to me reminding him, “You’ve also proven you can’t take orders, Lenkov.”
“This is different!”
“The only thing that makes this different is this isn’t an inconvenience for you!” I tighten my grip on the assailant’s ankle. “Arley’s life is just as much at risk now as it was then!”
Guilt doesn’t hesitate to grow in his expression. “I just thought-”
“You didn’t fuckin’ think!” the booming of my voice shakes the ground beneath us. “Because if you had, you would’ve realized that me callin’ you – of all the fuckin’ people in this buildin’ – meant I was out of all other options! Had you thought about her instead of your goddamn self your ass would’ve left that call, got down here, and stopped this asshole before he ever reached the fuckin’ door!” Yanking the man’s leg harsher causes him to whimper behind the tape. “You wanna do somethin’, Lenkov?” My head cranes slightly forward. “Stay the fuck out of my way. Period.”