I looked at the dentist. “Can you take blood?” He nodded and took Devon and Shavonta to the next room.
“Make it quick!” I called after them.
“What can I do?” Remy asked.
I shook my head. He really needed blood and to have his wound closed. Sewing skin was not my specialty. “Stand by his head and talk to him. Rub his chest and his other arm. We need to try to get him alert. Keep checking his pulse.”
I shuffled past Ry and grabbed a sewing kit from the drawer. Poor Texas Harry was going to have a killer scar when I was finished with him. I was halfway done with the front wound when the dentist came back in with bags of blood.
“Can you take over the sewing?” I begged.
Captain Ward moved to my place and I quickly began prepping Tex for the blood infusion.
“Come on, Big Tex,” Remy murmured. Her steady hands ran over his face, down his neck and to his chest, massaging the stronger muscles. “We’ve got you. Stay with us.” She checked his pulse and moved her fingers around, pressing into his neck harder, frowning. “I can’t feel anything!”
Shit! “Don’t panic.”
The blood was moving into him now. I reached for his pulse. Nothing. I turned and grabbed the defibrillator off the wall with a hard yank.
“Back!” I ordered. Everyone flew away from him with their hands up. I stepped onto the stool and placed the handheld paddles over their correct areas, then pressed with all my might. Texas Harry’s body jolted under my hands and I heard him suck in a short breath. Yes!
I tossed the hand paddles to Rylen, who stored them away again while I felt for a pulse. It was back, slow, but steady. I felt my own thundering heart slowing back to normal speed.
Remy kissed his cheek and said, “Quit trying to scare us, you big grizzly.” Her voice was choked with emotion.
Within five minutes of fluids, blood, and closing wounds, I said, “I think he’s stabilizing. He won’t be able to do much for the next two months, though.”
“He’s going to be all right,” Rylen said behind me. I turned and saw that he wasn’t talking to any of us. Linette stood in the doorway with her arms crossed as she looked at Texas Harry. It was the first time I’d ever seen her look vulnerable. She gave a terse nod and walked away.
Rylen let out a deep breath and ran a hand over his head.
“Can you let everyone else know?” I asked him. “No visitors tonight.”
He turned to go and I grabbed his arm, making him look at me. This could have so easily been him who was shot and dying. “I’m glad you’re back safe. Thanks for your help.”
He gave me a solemn nod and left. Remy watched with a small smile. We stayed with Texas Harry, holding his hand and talking to him while Captain Ward finished sewing him closed.
“Thank you,” I told him when he finished. He looked wiped out, so I sent him on his way until his shift.
Remy pulled Texas Harry’s hat off so she could smooth back his hair, finger-combing it. Then she took a damp cloth and cleaned the blood splatter from his neck, beard, and face. “Wakey, wakey,” she said softly. “Time to open your eyes.”
“What’ll you give me if I do?” he asked in a weak, scratchy voice.
My face split in a smile and Remy laughed. She kissed him right on the mouth for five seconds and pulled away, beaming.
His eyes cracked open. “That’s it?”
“Don’t be greedy,” Remy chided.
His eyes closed again. “Tell me the damage.”
I ran through all of his injuries and the plan for healing, which hinged on him resting the arm and wearing a sling. He groaned about that.
“Don’t be stubborn,” I told him, “Or you’ll ruin your arm and joint permanently. Right now, the most important thing is for you to rest. And I have a little something to help you with that.”
I shot morphine into his drip line, and then pulled up the side rails of the bed. Captain Ward was on night duty, so he’d get to keep an eye on him. The bed was a bloody mess, but I didn’t want to move him until he was more stable. I hoped Texas Harry had a high threshold for pain because there wasn’t a lot of morphine or other pain meds.
Remy waited with me until the dentist came back for his shift. When we got to the common room, everyone was having dinner. They all looked over at the doorway, and cheering began, everyone clapping and whistling. What was going on? I looked around, and then people started laughing and pointing at me.
“They’re cheering for you,” Remy said.
“What?”
My face got hot when I realized they really were looking at me. Remy took a step away from me and I wanted to yank her back and hide behind her. I gave a small wave and rushed toward the kitchen with Remy giggling behind me at my awkwardness.
“You saved someone’s life, Amb,” she told me. My face was still on fire when I took a tray.
“I just did my job,” I muttered. I wondered how many lives I’d saved in the past. I’d been thanked profusely by crying people, but this was different. It filled me with warmth, like I was more needed and important than ever before. I started to imagine what Mom and Dad would think, and if they’d been watching from wherever they were now, but I had to blink that thought away when I could hardly make out the rice casserole dish in front of me through the tears.
I pulled myself together and said, “You go first,” to Remy. I walked close behind her, using her as a shield as we moved quickly to our table and I slid into the seat beside Tater.
“Dude,” he said. “I was sleeping—I didn’t even know what went down until I got here for dinner. Go, sis.” He held out a fist and I bumped it.
“God, I can’t believe he almost died,” J.D. said. He pushed his food around his plate with the fork. “He seems so . . . indestructible. He’s lucky you’re an expert.”
“I had lots of help,” I said, hoping to take the spotlight off myself. I looked beside Tater to Rylen. “What happened out there today?”
He sat back and exhaled. “It started off great. We found a drug store that the owner had boarded up. The place was pristine. Untouched. We filled the van.”
“Drugs?” I asked. The thought of meds got me all excited, and he must have known because he gave me a grin.
“Oh, yeah. We raided every last thing. Everything at the drugstore was solid. It wasn’t ‘til we stopped at a gas station that everything went to shit. Bunch of men attacked. No training, just standing there shooting us up. Sad, really. They were skinny as hell. Harris gunned down two from his window before he was shot.”
We were quiet momentarily, until I asked, “What did you get from the drug store?”
“It was a mom and pop shop, so they didn’t have a ton of each item, but they had one or two of almost everything. Medicine. Toiletries. Candy.”
Remy and I sat up straighter. Every guy at the table laughed at our sudden postured attention.
“Merry late Christmas,” Rylen said. He slid two slightly smooshed chocolate peanut butter trees across the table.
We snatched them up like prized treasure and held them to our chests. The candy had probably been put on the shelves in November when Christmas stocking stuffers were starting to be sold, but I didn’t care if they were months old. I was already dreaming of eating it in the privacy of my own room, taking tiny nibbles and savoring every single morsel as I moaned to my heart’s content.
I started to put it in my pocket when Ry said, “You’re not gonna eat it?”
“I’m going to eat it later,” I said, feeling kind of bad about denying them the joy of seeing my orgasmic enjoyment.
“Me too.” Remy put hers in her pocket.
“You two are going to make out with that candy in your room, aren’t you?” Josh asked as he grinned and nodded.
Remy turned super pink as Mark pretended to kiss something in his hand and then rub it all over his chest as his eyes rolled back.
“Shut up,” Remy said. “You all like to watch us a little too closely.”
“We gotta get our kicks somehow,” Matt told her.
“Yeah, well,” I said. “You’ll just have to use your imaginations.”
The guys booed us, but there was laughter around the table.
“All right,” Rylen said. “For real, though. We’re all hanging out tonight. Everyone at the compound. We’re having a party in the hotel lobby.”
“A party-party?” Remy asked.
“Yep,” Matt answered. “I got the sound system up and running last night. No more little boom box.”
He bee-bopped with his mouth and it was surprisingly good. Rylen caught my smile and watched me, causing a tingle to spring up my spine. It wasn’t the one-on-one hang out I’d been hoping for, but it would do.
“And what Ry failed to mention,” Josh said, “Is that the drugstore-owner-dude had boxes of liquor in his office. Cases. Brother was storing up.”
“Is that really a good idea?” Remy asked. “For everyone to drink?”
“Not everyone,” Matt said. “The night shift suckers will be out there working.”
“Like me,” Mark mumbled. “I can hang ‘til midnight, but I can’t drink. You all have one for me.”
Remy frowned and Tater softened his demeanor. “We cleared it with Top. He said one night, one celebration, then back to work.”
“What if it gets too loud?” Remy asked. “This place isn’t soundproof.”
“There’s nobody out here to hear us,” Matt told her. “If anyone comes near, the watchers will spot them and word will be sent for us to shut the hell up. No worries.” He winked, and she chewed her lip.
We all peered around the table. It was frightening to think about being invaded while our numbers were inebriated. We’d have no chance at survival. But if it were a normal night, with no imminent danger, it could be just the release everyone needed.
I nudged Remy. “It’ll be fun.”
She looked at me like, Who are you and what have you done with my boring bestie? I shrugged. I’d been so uptight since we got here. And after everything today with Texas Harry, I felt the rare desire to have a drink. And maybe that one drink would give me a little liquid courage.
“If anyone needs a haircut before the party, I’m in business,” J.D. said. “Room 325.” He pointed his fork at Tater. “Nobody here will let me do any fun styles, but your hair is amazing. I could do something hot with it. Give you a leg up on the other guys for the few single females here.” J.D. waggled his eyebrows, and I swear I saw Remy’s lip curl up in a quick snarl.
“Nah, I’m good,” Tater told him.
J.D. shrugged. “Suit yourself.” Sean watched him carefully and glanced around the table whenever J.D. spoke, as if gauging everyone’s reaction to him. But his protectiveness was unnecessary.
“Come on.” Remy stood and glanced at me. “Let’s get ready and eat our Christmas presents. Thanks again, Rylen.”
He inclined his head with a grin, but saved his last glance for me before Remy pulled me away.
I loved being in the lobby with its high roof and cabinesque feel. The windows and doors had all been shaded with the same metal as our rooms, but it still had a wide-open sensation that made me breathe deeply.
The room was already filled with people milling about and sitting in the soft chairs around the unlit, oversized rock fireplace that rose to the ceiling where wooden beams lined. Tater and the other guys stood in one of the corners, but Rylen wasn’t with them. I looked around. He wasn’t here yet. Most everyone held cups, and I noticed a makeshift bar had been set up at the old check-in desk. Devon and Shavonta were behind the counter, laughing about something.
“They’re cute together,” Remy said. Yeah, they were. She was short and curvy to his tall and muscled.
We approached and Shavonta took out two cups. I stared at the line of liquor bottles and cans of sodas. Sodas!
“Are you really allowed to use all of that?” I asked.
Devon nodded and Shavonta said, “Top said all this is considered non-essential, so no need to ration. He expects it to be all gone tonight.” She winked at me.
“So, I can have a Coke?” Remy asked.
“Yeah, girl,” Devon told her. “Whatchu want in it?”
“Ice if you have it.” She smiled, and both of them laughed.
“Just ice?” Shavonta asked.
“You’re not going to have a drink with me?” I asked. “Just one?” Wow, it was like we’d switched roles.
Remy gave a shy shake of her head. “Just a Coke.” The drinking thing probably went hand-in-hand with the no-hooking-up thing.
“Well, I’ll have a rum and Coke,” I offered.
“Yeah, baby.” Devon chuckled and held out his fist for me to bump.
Shavonta handed us our drinks and Remy and I clinked the plastic together before sipping.
“Oh, my gosh, so sweet!” Remy winced. “I can’t believe I used to drink this!”
I took a sip, and she was right. It was like syrup followed by a severe burn. I coughed and gave Shavonta a bug-eyed glance, which made her bend over laughing.
“You can handle it,” she said, waving us off. “Go have fun.”
I would have to take this one slowly.
We made our way over to the guys, who loudly held up their cups at our approach.
“Where’s the music?” I asked Matt.
“Dog Balls wants to speak first and then we’ll turn it on.” His cheeks were mottled with pink as he smiled. I wondered how many drinks he’d had already.
Mark came between Remy and I and put his arms around us, pulling us to him. I could smell the bourbon from his half-full cup.
“I thought you weren’t drinking,” I said.
“Got someone to switch shifts with me. Sucka!” He took a swig. “How were your peanut butter delights, ladies?”
Remy and I both moaned at the memory, making the guys laugh. Mark tapped his cup to mine and we drank.
For the first time in a long time I felt . . . light. Not completely unburdened—there would always be a lingering sensation of loss and danger—but it wasn’t as heavy on me at this moment, and I let myself bask in it. If only Texas Harry could be here. And Rylen. Where was he? I looked around again. I wanted to ask the others, but I didn’t want to be obvious.
“Look,” Remy said. I followed her gaze to where Sean and J.D. stood talking in the corner. They looked like they were arguing. Sean reached out and ran a finger along J.D.’s hand, making the other guy stop talking long enough to peer at him through those dark lashes. Then J.D. slapped Sean’s shoulder and crossed his arms.
Remy giggled. “He’s playing hard to get.”
“He still thinks Thomas will show up any day,” I said.
I knew the two of them were sharing a room with two beds. Nobody here got a room to themselves. But it didn’t look like they’d taken the plunge yet.
Halfway through my drink I felt the warmth of a buzz creep through me, stretching like a yawning feline from my core to my limbs. It was a glorious feeling with just one drawback . . . it loosened my lips.
“Where’s Rylen?” I blurted to the group.
“He’s finishing up a meeting with First Lieutenant,” my brother answered.
Linette. Of course. “Can’t she give him one freaking night off?”
Tater eyed me. “Why you so bitchy to her?”
“Me?!” I sputtered.
“Yeah, every time you see her you give her that damn death glare.”
I had no comeback for that. Except that she treated me the same way, but I couldn’t say that because Tater would probably quote Mom: Two wrongs don’t make a right. Ugh. I took another drink.
“There they are.” Matt nodded over his drink. “I can get the music ready now.” He jogged off. I turned to see Top coming in with Linette and Rylen behind him. But they were still talking. In fact, they moved to stand along the wall and continue their conversation. I had to remind myself that we were at war, and they were probably talking strategy
and important things. I needed to chill.
I took another drink.
“Hooah!” First Sergeant’s voice rang through the room, echoing all around us. Every head turned and repeated the greeting, even Remy and I, giving him our attention.
“Glad you all could make it,” he said. “This will be a one-time thing, so I want you to take advantage of the break. God knows, we’ve got a lot of shit in our future. So, partake of the drinks until they’re gone.” He motioned to the bar. “And enjoy the sound system fixed by our comm boys. If we hear the sirens sound, you’d better sober the fuck up real fast.” Chuckles rose. “Oh, and one more thing . . .” His eyes searched the room and landed on our group, then honed in on me. Uh-oh. “Amber Tate. Get your ass over here and take a shot with me. This gal saved one of our men who was shot on the run today.”
Someone shoved me from behind as the room lifted a cheer. I made my way to him, wishing there was a way to deny this honor without seeming rude. Two shots of brown liquid were passed from the bar to the First Sergeant and he handed one to me.
“I heard you were amazing under pressure,” he said. “And we’re damn lucky to have you.”
“Thank you,” I said.
He raised his glass and I did the same, holding my breath and hoping I wouldn’t gag it up in front of everyone. It went down smooth for one second, and then a fiery burn rose up my throat. I chased it down with the last of my rum and Coke. My eyes watered and Top chuckled.
“Gotta love Jack.” He gave me a pat on the back and raised a thumb to Matt, who fiddled with some buttons on a wall panel. Seconds later Biggie Smalls filled the air with a thumping beat. Another cheer rose. I turned to make my way back to Remy when someone took me by the elbow. It was one of the other guys who’d been on the run yesterday. He held two shots and gave one to me.
“I didn’t think he’d make it,” he said over the music. “I thought for sure he was gone. That was a miracle you preformed.”
“No—”
He raised the shot and held it up until I did the same. Oh, what the hell. Three drinks, and that would be it. No more. I threw it back and grimaced. The guy grabbed me in a bear hug and then released me, walking away.
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