Page 31 of Tough Justice
She shrugged and wrapped her arms around her waist. “I don’t know. A loud bang. Dust and debris flew up.”
“Did you check it out?” Lane asked, making his way over to the direction she pointed.
“No, I didn’t want to leave Heather’s side. I didn’t know if someone was out here, waiting to cause more damage. I should have—” A choked sob stole the rest of her words as the fear from before came back with the force of an avalanche.
Duke shot to his feet and erased the distance between in them in three long strides. He pulled her to his chest, securing his strong arms around her. “You’re safe and Heather will be fine. Listen, I hear the sirens. You did everything exactly right, you hear me?”
Nodding, she buried her face in the crook of his shoulder. The soft material of his flannel rubbed against her cheek and soaked the remaining moisture from her face. She inhaled a shuddering breath. The subtle notes of orange peel and leather invaded her senses and soothed her like a healing balm.
This is where she wanted to be. Pressed against Duke, knowing he’d protect her against any lingering threats. That he’d stand with her and be her rock when she needed one.
He kissed her forehead before pulling away and her knees almost buckled beneath her. He nodded behind her. “The cavalry’s arrived.”
She glanced over her shoulder to see a deputy and two medics hurrying their way. Thank God they hadn’t made it too far from the house or it’d take the authorities forever to get to them, and Heather needed medical assistance now.
A small groan from the ground sent Duke back to Heather’s side.
“Heather, can you hear me? It’s Duke.”
Heather’s eyes fluttered but remained shut.
A pulse of hope beat against Suzy’s veins. Heather had to keep trying, keep breathing.
Deputy Spencer Goodwin led the charge to their little group and frowned. “What’s her status?” he asked, dipping his chin to Heather who continued to lay motionless on the ground.
“Pulse is strong and there’s movement in her eyes, but she hasn’t opened them,” Duke said.
“Any other injuries?” Spencer asked
“She hasn’t been moved to check,” Suzy said. “I didn’t want to make things worse without knowing the extent of her head injuries.”
The emergency responders approached behind Spencer with their medical bag and stretcher.
Trisha, a middle-aged blond woman, set the bag on the ground. “Good thinking. We’ve got her now.”
“Spencer and Duke, I need you to take a look at something,” Lane called.
Suzy’s attention was torn between her friend being tended on the hard earth and the sharp tone of her brother’s voice. Curiosity won out, and she shifted to face Lane who was crouched low behind a cluster of bushes.
“What is it?” Duke called out.
“I need someone to verify I just found bits and pieces of a homemade bomb.”
The steady beepof machines hooked to Duke’s sister hiked his anxiety instead of calming it. Sure, it was nice to know her vitals were stable as she struggled to regain consciousness, but she shouldn’t be in this stupid bed to begin with.
The doctor assured him there was no reason to believe she wouldn’t wake soon. She was young and healthy, and the swelling in her brain was minimal. They’d keep an eye on her and run more tests to make sure the swelling didn’t get worse. But no amount of assurance would make him feel better until Heather was awake.
He sat in a chair by her bed, leaning forward with his forearms on his knees. “You’ve got to wake up soon or I’ll have to call Sara and Riley. You know they’ll both drop everything to come up and see you, probably bring all their kids with them. That crew would create enough noise to wake the dead and give you an even worse headache. So, you better open your eyes soon or we’ll have a hell of a crowd in this room.”
A light knock lifted his gaze to the door.
Suzy stood in the entryway with a Styrofoam cup in each hand. “I’m not one of her sisters, or a noisy kid, but mind if I come in for a while?”
“Please.” Wanting Suzy close, he snagged the arm of a nearby chair and scooted it next to his.
Suzy sat and handed him a cup. “It’s from the nurse’s station so it’s okay to drink. Better than the sludge in the vending machines.”
“Thanks.” He took a sip then circled his hands around the warm cup. “How you holding up?”
