Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 100853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Hawk flipped the lights back on. When he saw Paige, he swore under his breath. I couldn’t say anything, my mouth dry, lungs frozen. She was streaked with blood—smeared across her neck and down her arms. A long scratch on her arm still bled sluggishly, along with another on her calf.
“Let’s get you bandaged up,” Hawk said. He grabbed the robe that hung on the back of my door and handed it to me, not seemingly aware that Paige was half naked, except to offer the robe so she could cover up. She was too shaken, I think, to be embarrassed.
I reached for her arm after she had the robe on, and she jerked it away, refusing to look at me. I accepted it, even as her anger sliced through me. Couldn’t she see that this was the only way? Being near me put a target on her back, whether she was an actual target or not.
Cole Haywood and whoever was trying to claim his bounty didn’t give a shit about collateral damage. They’d hurt her if she was in the way—and if she was near me, she’d be in the way.
Chapter Twenty-Six
FORD
Griffen was pacing outside the door of the security room where Hawk’s team monitored the cameras around the estate.
“Did they get him?” Hawk asked.
Eli leaned out of the room, his eyes dancing with adrenaline. “We’re closing in on him,” he said. “No one can track like Wren.”
“If he took a shot from a sniper position,” I asked, “what was there to track?”
“We’ve been studying the terrain,” Eli said. “There are only so many places that shot could have come from, even with a really skilled sniper. With the mountains, you can only go so far before something gets in your way.”
“If there are only a few places they could have shot from, why didn’t you have them staked out?” Paige asked.
Eli looked at her and flinched, as if suddenly registering the blood on her face. “Lack of manpower,” he said. “And, more relevant, there are only a handful of snipers who could have taken a shot from that position. We put sensors around the few spots we thought would work for a sniper. One of them went off twenty minutes ago. Ryder and Wren headed out to check, though we thought it was probably a bear. Last I heard from Ryder, the sniper had left his position in the tree, and Wren was right behind him. It won’t be long.” He looked back to Paige. “We should get you cleaned up. Make sure you don’t need stitches.”
“I don’t need stitches,” she grumbled, sounding more annoyed than anything else.
“Let’s go in the kitchen,” Griffen said, leading the way and flicking on the lights. “One of you grab the med kit.”
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been down here so late at night. The room was quiet and still, and dishes lay on the center island ready for breakfast. It was odd seeing how neatly Finn had the kitchen organized and prepped for the next day—such a contrast to the wild and angry teenager he’d been. But this was the real Finn. He could still be wild. I was sure Savannah would have plenty to say about that. But this organized professionalism and his genius with food—that was the real man.
I’d missed so much because I’d been a selfish jackass. I’d wanted power and respect, and I’d sold my soul for them. Finn was only here because of his own resourcefulness. My selfishness had almost gotten him killed. And now there was Paige, the drying blood on her skin dark in the bright light.
Eli handed Griffen a red and black duffel bag. Griffen unzipped the top and pulled out a pack of baby wipes. I took them and went to work cleaning her face.
“I can do it,” she said, trying to reach for the wipe, but I pulled it out of the way.
“No. Let’s get your arm out of the robe so Griffen can take a look at that cut. I’m not sure it’s stopped bleeding.”
She ground her teeth, I could tell. It was clear she wanted to argue, but was too sensible not to do as I suggested. Her hands went to the belt of the robe, and she loosened it enough to pull out one arm.
“Shit, Paige. I’m so sorry this happened,” Griffen said.
He glanced at me, and I felt the accusation. I hadn’t taken care of her. I hadn’t protected her.
I’d done this. I might not have taken that shot, but I was the reason—the reason she was there, the reason the glass broke, the reason she was bleeding.
“Paige needs to go to a safe house,” I said.
“No!” she shot back. “Griffen, he’s upset and being crazy.”
“I am upset,” I agreed, “and I’m not being crazy.”
“I’m not going to a safe house,” she said. “You want me to stay away from you? Fine. I’ll stay away from you.”