A man leaped around a bush and tackled Nate, sending them flying across muddy grass. The gun spiraled out of his hands.
Matt shoved Laney behind him and dropped into a slide to grab the gun. Coming up firing, he hit first one and then a second soldier coming from the east. Two shells only. He was out of ammo.
Helicopter blades rose over the sound of rain pelting the earth.
He glanced up, and the black bird wavered in the dark sky, bouncing dangerously.
Nate and the guy grappled on the ground, and three more soldiers rushed from the north.
Matt swung with the gun, hitting one guy in the neck. He went down, out cold. Dropping into a stance, Matt waited for the other to strike. The third man went to assist against Nate, kicking him in the temple as he arrived.
Nate snapped the guy’s neck on the ground and rolled over to kick the newest threat.
Matt struck fast and hard, not having the energy or strength for finesse. He aimed for the jugular and eyes, taking the guy down and rendering him unconscious. Matt tried to regain his feet and fell back.
Laney instantly appeared at his side and clutched his arm. “Get up.” She pulled, her arms straining with the effort.
Matt wavered, his head bobbing. “What?”
“Now, Matt,” she ordered, falling back. Mud, debris, and blood coated her face and hair. She was too pale, her skin almost blue, and fear had widened her pupils. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
He wouldn’t fail her. He couldn’t. So he shoved to his feet and slid an arm around her shoulder.
The helicopter plopped down with a loud thump, and the side door slammed open.
Matt turned as Nate finished off the final soldier and then pushed to stand. Blood ran down Nate’s face, and he turned to heave into the bushes. Pivoting, he made it two steps toward the helicopter.
And fell.
“Nate!” Laney cried, trying to drag Matt toward his fallen brother. “The blow to the temple was a bad one.”
Matt tuned in as his senses roared back. Seven attack squads were heartbeats away… and coming from all sides. “Get in the helicopter.” He pushed her toward the helicopter.
“No.” She tried to take more of his weight.
He turned. “Trust me. I need you on there. Please.”
She hesitated, her gaze going from Nate to the copter and back to Matt. “But—”
“Trust me.” He meant it as an order, but the entreaty came out as a plea.
She swallowed and took a step back. Then with a nod, she turned and ran for the open doorway.
Thank God. Matt staggered over to Nate and dropped to his haunches. The world tilted. Damn it. He could do this. Sucking deep, thinking of a possible future, he dipped his head and hauled Nate over his good shoulder.
Standing up was the hardest thing Matt had ever done. Quite possibly the slowest. Inch by inch, he rose to a crouch. Turning, he secured Nate’s legs and put one boot in front of the other.
His vision fuzzed. Determination and love shot through him, giving him strength. Nate had counted on him their entire lives, and Nate had kept Matt human. He’d helped bridge the gap between Matt and the younger brothers, keeping Matt from going too cold while training.
Nate would not die.
Another boot forward. Another. And another.
Men crashed through the brush.
He reached the hatch and dropped Nate onto the floor. Laney lunged for Matt, her face determined, her jaw set. He all but fell into her arms, swinging his legs inside. His woman. “Go, Shane. Go now,” he ordered, his voice way too weak.
Bullets sprayed the side of the craft.
He turned just in time to see the commander dart out of the forest, firing wildly. At Laney.
Matt reared up, only to have Laney lean over him and shove the door into place. A spray of bullets shot through the metal above them. She ducked low, covering him with her body.
Warmth and the scent of vanilla encompassed Matt. Heaven. Laney and heaven.
The commander’s roar of outrage reached above the storm.
Take that, asshole. Matt swallowed and tried to keep his eyes open.
Shane lifted the copter, the side of his face a hard mask as he fought the wind, rain, and bullets. “Hold on.”
Laney felt for Nate’s pulse. “Steady, but he’s out cold. Definite concussion,” she said, her voice nearly shrill. Then, on the freezing floor, she gently lifted Matt’s head onto her lap. “Keep the artery elevated.” Tears coursed down her face to land on his.
He blinked, his heart lurching.
The helicopter pitched, and she cried out.
“It’sss okay.” His voice slurred, and he tried to stay alert. He had to be strong for her. “Love you.”
I love you, she mouthed and secured a hand on Nate’s prone back. “We’ll be fine.” She eyed Shane, obviously trying not to panic. “Shane looks like you, Matt.”
“Matt looks like me,” Shane said, his concentration remaining on the blackness outside. He banked a hard left, and they dropped about ten feet. Laney yelped.
Matt tried to smile to reassure her, but his jaw locked and his eyes filled with dust. He coughed. He had to get Laney to safety. Desperation competed with the need to pass out. “Stay under the storm so they can’t track us.”
“Good idea.” Sarcasm filled his younger brother’s voice beneath the tension.
Thuds and bumps shook the craft, and several times lightning split the night. Laney held Matt tight, and even wounded and in pain, there was nowhere else he’d want to be. He’d take any amount of pain to be close to Laney.
Finally, an hour later, the night quieted.
Matt relaxed into the cold floor. Now he really needed to pass out. But first, he had to tell her, “We’re safe, baby. I love you and will keep you safe.”
Laney leaned over and placed her lips on his. “I love you, Matt Dean. Forever.”
Chapter 32
The helicopter hugged the tree line for quite a while and finally set down near a sprawling ranch house in the mountains. Rain continued to fall as dawn broke, but softly and without the tantrum. Laney’s legs had cramped an hour ago, but she didn’t want to disturb Matt.
She’d spent the trip alternating between checking his vitals and checking Nate’s. Her heart ached for both of them. Caring about people hurt, but she could never go back to being all alone. She was keeping them, no matter how dangerous life became.
As they touched down, she tried not to wince as the bounce jarred both injured men. “We need a hospital.”
Shane turned and viewed her, his gaze veiled. “There’s a fully equipped medical room in the basement. What do you need?”
A petite woman barreled out the front door, blue eyes flashing, blond hair whipping in the wind. Shane was out of the cockpit before she hit the door, and he grabbed her in a hug.
She hugged him back. “I told you not to leave me. How could you leave me here?” She shoved out of his arms and moved to open the other side door.
Shane beat her to it and yanked it open. “I needed you safe.”
“What if you weren’t safe?” She looked into the back, her eyes widening. “Oh God. Are they okay? Tell me they’re okay.” Panic lifted her voice, and she started to scramble inside, but Shane stopped her with one arm.
“Let’s get them out,” he said. “Doc? What do you need?”
Laney took a deep breath. For today, she was the only doctor they had. She dug deep for courage. “Nate needs to be inside and warmed up… and hopefully awakened. Matt needs surgery to repair his artery—tell me you have zero silk and don’t mind donating blood.”
The blonde reached for one of Nate’s arms, her lips trembling. “She’s kinda bossy.”
Laney gaped. “I just want to help.”
The woman smiled. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing.” Then she sobered. “How hurt are they?”
Too hurt. Way too hurt. Laney kept Matt’s head elevated with her hands and swu
ng her aching legs out from under him. “I’d like for them both to regain consciousness.”
Shane hauled Nate over his shoulder. Concern tightened his mouth into a white line. “I’ll put Nate inside, and Josie can keep an eye on him while I assist in surgery.” Without waiting for an answer, he pivoted and headed toward the house.
The blonde smoothed Matt’s hair away from his face, her hands shaking, her gaze on his closed eyelids. Fear cascaded from her. “I’m Josie.”
“Laney.” Laney turned brisk and professional. “They’ll be all right.” God, she hoped that was true. She nodded for Josie to slide her hands under Matt’s head. He was too pale. Why didn’t he wake up? “Would you hold him so I can get out?”
“Sure.” Josie’s eyes softened as she glanced down at Matt, agonized love in her expression. “Please save my brother.” Desperation deepened the quiet plea.
“I will. I promise.” Laney swung to the ground just as Shane returned. She had to save them no matter what. God. She couldn’t lose Matt now. “Let’s do this.”
After cleaning up, Laney eyed Matt while he lay in an operating room that rivaled anything found in the biggest hospitals. The zero silk had done the trick, and she successfully stitched up both his artery and damaged arm. She’d fought nausea the entire time, and even now, she wanted to plunge her head in a bucket of cold water.
Shane flipped open Matt’s eyelid. “Did I give him enough blood?”
“Yes.” Laney slapped his hand. “Stop that.”
Shane grinned and looked so much like Matt she could only stare. “You are bossy.”
“Not usually.” She returned the smile even as her legs trembled. Exhaustion would soon set in after the night they’d had. “Just when I’m revisiting my doctor days.”
“You didn’t plant the chips in our spines, right?” Shane’s eyes darkened.
She sighed and grabbed a blanket off a low shelf to spread over Matt. “No. I’d never cause such harm. The oath I took—it meant something.”
Shane nodded. “Do you miss being a doctor?”
She bit her lip and allowed herself to really examine the question. “I’m not sure. I became a doctor to give myself security and because I enjoyed learning at school.” She brushed hair away from her face. “But I like being a bartender better. Or rather, I guess I like who I am as a bartender better. There’s no ambiguity.”
“Maybe once we take care of these chips, you can be a bartender in town.” Shane smoothed the blanket over Matt’s legs as if he couldn’t help but stay close to his brother.
Laney stilled. “You think I’m staying?”
“Do you love my brother?” Shane’s formidable focus narrowed right on her.
She fought the urge to squirm. “Yes.”
“Then you’re staying.” Shane smiled. “We need you to cut out the chips, anyway.”
Why was it the Gray brothers seemed more predatory than relaxed when they smiled? Must be something in the genetics. “That’s true,” she murmured. Might as well boss Shane around while she could. “Stay here and keep an eye on Matt. I need to check on Nathan’s concussion.” After waiting for Shane’s nod, she pivoted on squishy shoes to head upstairs to her next patient. She found him seated in a chair upstairs in a main living area, pretty much growling at a glaring Josie, who sat on the sofa.
“How’s your head?” Laney asked, tapping her fingers along his neck to feel for a pulse.
“My brain hurts.” A sprawling purple bruise cascaded out from Nate’s temple to his forehead and cheek. “But I’m fine.”
Laney dropped to her haunches and pointed a penlight in his eyes. “Hmmm.”
“I told you,” Josie said, hands on her hips. “You have a concussion, and you are not going to sleep.”
Laney patted his arm and stood. “Stay awake for two hours, don’t throw up, keep your vision, and we’ll talk.”
“How’s Matt?” Nate asked, dark circles forming bruises under his eyes. Even so, a deadly tension cascaded around him.
“I’m fine.” Matt hitched into the room, his arm around Shane’s shoulders.
Laney twirled around. “What the hell? You should be prone.”
“Is that an offer?” he asked with a grimace.
“No.” Laney helped ease him next to Josie on the couch. His color looked better. “How are you feeling?”
“Like raiding the facility in Colorado.” Matt lifted an eyebrow and focused on Shane. “Find it yet?”
Shane nodded and headed for the door. “Yes. Right now, I need to secure the helicopter in the barn. Be right back.”
Josie jumped up and hustled after him. “If we’re raiding, I’m going, too.” The door closed behind her.
Matt held out a hand, and Laney took it, all but falling next to him on the sofa.
She had no interest in raiding anything. Ever. “You’ll need a doctor on the raid,” she murmured.
“No.” Matt said, tangling his fingers with her. “We don’t need a doctor, we need soldiers. Right, Nate?”
Nate’s eyelids flipped back open. “Right. Although Laney Lou is a badass on a mission.”
Warmth slid through her with the compliment. She had a feeling Nate didn’t give them often. “Thanks.”
Matt shifted his weight and grimaced. “Did you two bond or something?”
“Yeah,” Nate said softly. “I welcomed her to the family, Mattie. We’re keeping her.”
Tears pricked the back of her eyes. When had she ever been part of a family? Never. Surprise filled her at how badly she wanted to be part of this one. To be part of the Gray family. “You’re sweet, Nate. Thanks.”
“I am not.” He shut his eyes again.
“Open your eyes.” She put snap into her tone. He couldn’t fall asleep yet.
He flipped one eye open. “Control your woman, Mattie.”
She grinned. “If I had more energy, I’d take out your other temple.”
“Later.” Nate pushed off the chair. “Oddly enough, I’m starving. I’ll go get breakfast going.” He limped into the other room.
Matt played with her hair. “Thank you for saving my life.”
“You saved mine, too.” She snuggled into his good side. “Tasha said somebody shot Jory, and he was taken to another facility where miracles happen. I don’t know if that means anything, and the woman was nuts. But I thought you should know.”
Matt exhaled slowly. “Emery hinted at the same thing. I keep getting my hopes up about Jory, but I know he can’t be alive. If so, he would’ve contacted me by now.”
“More than likely.” Laney couldn’t take away all hope. Matt had lived without it for too long. “But you live odd lives full of danger and intrigue. So don’t give up completely. Just be prepared.”
“Good plan.” He relaxed next to her, the muscles letting go. “The commander may know something, and I’ll find out what it is while he’s still alive.”
Laney wanted to be kind and right, but deep down, she knew the commander had to die. So long as he walked, he’d hunt the people she loved. “I’ll help you do whatever you need to do, Matt.” Her loyalty and heart belonged with him, no matter how dark the world became.
“I have to go on the raid to Colorado,” he said softly.
“I know.” She turned her head to study his battered face.
His left eyebrow lifted. “You understand?”
“Sure.” She slid her hand over his heart to feel it beat. “I love you—all facets of you. I’d never ask you to be anybody other than who you are.”
“Who am I?” he whispered.
“A guy who’d give a damaged surgeon another chance.” She blinked back tears. “A guy who’d spend his last ounce of strength dodging bullets in order to get his fallen brother to a helicopter.” God, she loved him. More than she would’ve ever thought possible. “A guy who’d raid a facility with few weapons to search for the chance that his youngest brother still lived.”
A hero. The real kind. Without a doubt, hers.
> Matt’s hold tightened. “I don’t think you see the real me.”
“You’re wrong. I see you clearly.” How could he not know he was a hero?
He ran his knuckle along her cheekbone. “You’re the amazing one, Laney. The way you overcame your fear of blood and performed surgery in a shack? Incredible. And you weren’t damaged, ever. What happened wasn’t your fault.”
“Maybe.”
“Thank you again for saving me. For taking care of Nathan.”
“I love you. How could I not?”
His eyes darkened, and he lifted her with his good arm to straddle him. “I promise. The second we get these chips out, you and I are going to live a wonderful life. Full of family, fun, and peace. If I accomplish nothing else, I’ll find you peace.”
If anybody could engineer peace, it’d be Matt. She cupped his face and gently kissed him. “Peace or no, I just want you. Forever.”
He deepened the kiss until she pulled back, not wanting to hurt his arm. His eyes gleamed an unfathomable gray. “Forever. I’ll make sure of it.”
Epilogue
Matt leaped off the helicopter and headed toward the ranch house, his strides long and sure. The Colorado raid had been a success. An easy one, which concerned him. Sure, they’d gone in under the radar as soldiers, and they’d blended right in. The security had been complex, but they’d easily maneuvered into secured locations to find information.
Not a shot had been fired.
In fact, there was a chance the commander hadn’t known the Gray brothers had infiltrated Colorado.
But Matt didn’t believe in chance.
Laney slipped onto the porch followed by Josie. “Did you find anything?” Laney asked.
Matt nodded. “We copied a cache of files and will start going through them tonight.” He tugged her close, and her vanilla scent wrapped around him. Comfort and home.
She levered back to study the healing scab on his arm. “I can’t believe how strong you are in just a week. Seven days ago, I was sliding your arteries around.”
“We heal quickly.” Good thing, too. They had only five weeks until the chips detonated. He took in her clear green eyes. “What were you up to today?”
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