Page 49 of Twilight Tactics

“I don’t,” Elena said, though the throbbing in her wrist had intensified. Once it was wrapped, it should calm down. Some ibuprofen wouldn’t hurt either.

“I’m good,” Sully said.

“You got blood running down the side of your head, son. You’re going to the hospital.”

“I can’t. We need to get these meds to the ranch ASAP.”

“I’ll have a deputy deliver—”

“Sorry, sir, but we’re not letting these out of our sight.” He paused. “Well, I’m not. Elena, you might need that wrist wrapped.”

“I have the stuff at the ranch. I’m good.” She looked at the sheriff. “Could we get a ride, please?”

He sighed and nodded. “Of course. And you can dictate your statements on the way.” He muttered something that sounded likestubborn kids, and she bit her lip on a smile even while she was hit by the pain in her wrist, her knee, her shoulders, ribs, and—

Ugh. She shut off the throbs, aches, and stabs as best as she could and focused on making her way to the vehicle.

Once they were in the back of the warm cruiser, she let out a slow breath and noticed Sully do the same. The heat enveloped them, bringing painful tingles to her frozen extremities, but she was okay with that. She hated being cold.

Sully caught her gaze, flashing blue and red lights reflected in his eyes. His hand found hers in the space between them. “Someone didn’t want us getting back to the ranch. I think we can officially say that either Ollie or you are being targeted.”

“We know who’s after Ollie,” she said. “But who could be after me, and why?”

9

Her words kept playing in his head on the ride back to the ranch while he took another physical inventory. New aches and pains had surfaced. His left temple pounded where the airbag had slammed him, along with what would probably be a massive seat belt bruise across his left shoulder. Each bump in the road sent a jolt of pain radiating through his pounding skull.

But they were alive, so he’d take the win.

Elena called Maya to fill her in and get an update on Ollie. She leaned closer so he could hear without putting the phone on speaker. The clean scent of her shampoo—something vanilla and fresh despite everything they’d been through—was a welcome distraction from the pain. He slid an arm around her shoulders and decided she fit quite nicely right up under his arm and against his side.

“I’m so glad you and Sully are all right,” Maya said. “Oh, thank God.”

“Yes, I’ve been thanking him nonstop. And Ollie?”

“She’s going downhill and starting to get pretty miserable.I’ve done all I can do with Gatorade and other natural remedies. Now she needs the meds.”

“We’ll be there in less than five minutes, assuming someone doesn’t launch another attack. Like with drones or something.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I know.”

She hung up. For the rest of the ride, they kept watch behind them—and the sky above for drone lights. Because while her comment about drones was sarcasm, it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. They fell silent, the only sounds the crackle of the radio and their breathing. Elena continued to lean against him, her weight pressing into him. “I’m so sleepy,” she murmured.

“Adrenaline crash.”

“Yep.”

“Close your eyes and catch a five-second nap.”

She chuckled. “Might just do that.”

Thankfully, they made it back to the ranch without any other issues. Maya met them at the car and took the bag of meds from Elena. When her gaze landed on Sully’s head, she blinked. “You said you were okay.”

“We are,” he said.

“Right. Just know as soon as Ollie’s doing better, I’m going to take a look at your head.”