“Are you aware the place she is?” Her head shakes forwards and backwards, and tears begin to stream down her cheeks. “That’s okay. You need to come out right here? We’ll enable you discover her.” As a lot as I’d like to open the door and choose her up swiftly, there are too many variables. I’d prefer to say nobody would go away what I’m assuming is a toddler house alone, however you by no means know. What I’m extra fearful about is somebody coaxing her to open the door and setting a entice. I watch as she plops her thumb in her mouth, nods, and he or she takes a step nearer to me.

“Wild.” Warwick has a warning tone in his voice over the comm, and I do know I’ve obtained seconds to spare earlier than shit goes additional south than it already has. I hear it earlier than I see it. I make a cut up choice hoping I’m not injuring the officer however realizing there’s no means I received’t defend this little lady.

“I hear it. Come on, sweetheart, we’ll discover your momma.” I push the door open a number of further inches till my palms wrap round her tiny physique, pulling her into my chest, and barely filter out earlier than the sound of weapons cocking overwhelm the necessity to get the fuck out of the best way. The little lady lets out a loud scream. My hand cups the again of her head, pulling her into my chest wishing like hell there have been extra safety surrounding us.

“Go, go, go!” Landry bellows by the comm. The second my again is turned to the door, I double-time my tempo, operating whereas having a gun strapped to my shoulder and a child in my arms. The one hope we’ve got is the shields the remainder of the group has surrounding the home. I’m nearing the place we’ve obtained our automobiles parked when a bullet whirs previous me. I zig then zag in my pursuit to get us out of the fucking line of fireside. The subsequent gunshot, I’m not so fortunate. I really feel the burn, warmth, and ache. By way of all of it, I don’t stutter in my steps. I push on.

“It’s okay. You’re okay.” I preserve my voice as calm as doable. Her screams might be heard over the battle occurring behind us. My toes eat up the pavement, making an attempt to maneuver in several methods to keep away from one other hit.

“Get down!” Taylor screams in my ear. I don’t know if he’s speaking to the remainder of the crew or me. It doesn’t matter. I duck, dipping and weaving like a bobber within the water when a fish is caught in your hook. The automobile is in attain. I flip the nook, and that’s after I’m hit once more. This time, my knees buckle from the impression of being shot.

“Motherfucker,” I mutter, in some way managing to drop, tuck, and roll as a way to take the brunt of the autumn whereas protecting the little lady secured in my arms. Taylor or one of many different brokers grabs me by my arms, pulling me alongside the concrete. Sadly, it’s the identical rattling space the place I obtained shot. There’s no quantity of respiration by the ache. The adrenaline from the day decides to empty from me, as a result of the very last thing I keep in mind is feeling somebody taking the toddler out of my arms and me holding the fuck on.

Chapter 20

Delilah

“The place is he?” I come flying by the automated doorways of the emergency room, operating proper towards Asher to ask my query. I obtained a name lower than ten minutes in the past from Fletch’s older brother, telling me to get to the hospital. An ambulance was enroute with the person I really like. I didn’t hassle altering, nonetheless in my work garments, forgoing placing on a bra, and as an alternative grabbing my zip-up hoodie, sliding my toes in a pair of leather-based clog sneakers earlier than operating out the door. Actually. I’m not even certain how I drove, if I obeyed the velocity restrict indicators or if my automobile is parked straight. All I cared about was attending to Fletch.

“In an emergency room being labored on. We don’t know a lot. Ready to your dad to come back again and provides us an replace,” Beau says. Madelyn strikes nearer to Asher, comforting him. God, what I wouldn’t give to have one other second with Fletch earlier than we parted methods hours upon hours in the past. I ought to have recognized right this moment could be harmful. I’d by no means stand in his means from doing a job he loves. What I’d have executed is kiss him another time, hug him another time, and inform him I really like him another time.

“My dad?” I shut my eyes, stopping in my tracks of operating to the reception space. After all, Dad was together with his males. He’d by no means sit again and let the youthful guys do that on their very own.

“He’s okay. Everybody else is, too. Fletch was the one officer down. Unsure on what all is concerned. We have been instructed to attend right here,” Asher states. I can see the toll it’s taking up him and Beau to carry again and never bang down doorways. The same might be stated for myself, besides there’s one thing I can do about it.

“I’m calling my dad. That is bullshit.” I whip my cellphone out of my jacket pocket, unlock the system, and undergo my latest calls till I land on Dad. I press his identify and convey the cellphone to my ear.

“Type of busy proper now, Delilah,” Dad solutions after the primary ring.

“Properly, get un busy and are available replace Fletcher’s household and convey me to the person I really like,” I blurt out. The entire emergency room is listening in, I’m certain. Who fucking cares? My solely concern is mendacity in a hospital mattress proper now, and I do not know if he’s dying or not.

“Son of a—” Dad says. “Fletch, you good with Delilah coming again right here?” I hear him ask. He doesn’t sound stunned or upset within the least.

“Give me the cellphone,” Fletch says with a groan. I can hear the rustle of paper beneath him. I cock my hip out, tapping my foot on the linoleum ground, and slowly lose my persistence. The necessity to scream is hitting me exhausting proper now. Possibly I ought to hit my cellphone on one thing exhausting till I get solutions as nicely.

“Fletcher, please inform me you’re okay, or I’m going to leap over the receptionist desk, hit the button, and are available again there to search out you myself.” I’m being a bit further, however I couldn’t give two fucks.

“Delilah, I’m okay. Hell of a method to spill the beans to your dad, sweetheart.” His voice deep and raspy. God, the best way I really like to listen to him speak.

“Oops,” I reply.

“Stroll to the receptionist, and seize the household, too. I’d slightly speak about this in a single fell swoop, then he can inform the lots. I’ll name my bud up in Wyoming, and possibly you may break me out of this place sooner slightly than later.” His voice is powerful and regular, calming the nerves swirling all through my nervous system.

“Alright, maintain, please.” I transfer my cellphone away from my cheek. “Asher, Mads, Beau we’re being summoned. The excellent news is he’s speaking with out exertion. The unhealthy information is he’s making us wait till we’re all again there to inform us every thing.” They stroll with me towards the reception desk, the place I’m certain we’ll have handy over identification, which I’m missing. Apparently, after I rolled in on two wheels, the one factor I grabbed have been my keys and cellphone. I don’t even know if my purse is in my automobile or nonetheless on the sofa in the lounge.

“Take your time, sweetheart. I’m not going anyplace.” His voice helps calm my nerves whereas I overanalyze every thing and something. Like how I’m normally Delilah or girl. Twice now he’s used the sentiment sweetheart, and twice it’s given me a way of safety.

“We’re right here,” I inform him as soon as all three of us are the place he instructed us to go.

“Hand the cellphone to Claire. I’ll do the remaining.” Fletch is all the time in management even from a hospital mattress.

“Hello, Claire, Fletcher Wild wish to speak to you.” I maintain the cellphone out to her. My father most likely may have been out right here in the identical period of time. That’s not how Fletch works. Everybody is aware of he’s a person who takes care of enterprise in each means doable. I watch and hearken to the one-sided dialog. She’s multi-tasking whereas saying sure, clicking on a number of issues along with her mouse whereas glancing from me to her pc.

“Sure, sir, I’ll stroll them again now. Badges are already printed. You’re welcome.” Claire palms me my cellphone again. Seeing the display is void of the decision, I take it from her and pocket it in my jacket. “Right here you go. These are your momentary badges so that you can return and see him. We’re solely imagined to let in two at a time, however we’re bending the foundations for certainly one of our personal.” She has 4 badges, one on every finger, for us to put on our garments.

“Thanks. I admire every thing you’ve executed for Fletch and us,” I inform her as I clip the badge on my jacket.

“You’re welcome. I’ll buzz you thru. Chief Taylor will probably be ready for you on the opposite facet.” At the very least Dad isn’t injured, too. I’m unsure how I’d be capable to deal with two of the boys who imply probably the most to me being harm. The 4 of us stroll collectively once more. I’m making an attempt to maintain my tempo sluggish and regular when what I’d actually love to do is run. I’ve by no means been on this scenario earlier than. Dad, for probably the most half, by no means had an incident like this, not less than none that I used to be conscious of. Certain, he’d been shot at, however his bulletproof vest protected him. He’d come house after a medic would look over him, take a few days off, exhibit the bruise, and faux like every thing was okay.

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