Mission: Her Protection (Team 52 #1)(55)

But hands sank into the back of her shirt and yanked her back. She fell to the floor, kicking and screaming.

The man spun her around and she managed to kick him in the gut. When he staggered back, she scrambled up. But the second she turned to run, she felt a cord slip around her neck.

No. The cord pulled hard, driving her to her knees. She tried to grab hold of it, choking. It felt like an electrical cable from one of the medical machines.

Rowan coughed, trying to pull in air. The man reached around and grabbed the artifact out of her hand.

“Thank you for finding this marvelous piece of technology. I will ensure it finds its way into the hands of many people, who will make good use of it.” He laughed. “And pay me a lot of money. It should keep things interesting.”

Black splotches swam in Rowan’s vision. She was running out of air. No. It wasn’t fair. Right now, she realized that she was falling in love with Lachlan Hunter.

The boy who’d cared about her, was now a man who liked her just as she was. A man she knew she could love.

The door burst open and Lachlan ran in, his face hard.

He lifted his weapon, aiming it at the man holding her.

“No farther,” the man tugged her back. “I’ll kill her.”

“Rowan.”

She met Lachlan’s gaze, trusting him with everything she had. She dropped her head forward.

He didn’t hesitate. Bang.

The cord released and the man behind Rowan fell backward.

She tore the cord off and turned. The man was on one knee, one side of his face covered in blood. He shook his head, dazed. Lachlan’s bullet had grazed him.

With a roar, the man launched himself past Rowan and at Lachlan.

The men collided. Rowan gripped the nearby bed to stay upright. The fight was vicious, both grunting as they traded blows.

They crashed into a tray on wheels and it flew into the wall. The old lady in the bed cried out. The men punched and kicked. They spun, slamming into an empty bed, sending it sliding.

Then the Legion man grabbed something off a tray. He held the scalpel up, clearly abandoned by a fleeing nurse or doctor, and leaped at Lachlan. Rowan gasped. They crashed to the floor and out of her view.

She rubbed her neck, trying to pull more air into her lungs. Where were the rest of Team 52?

She looked over at the elderly lady. “Are you all right?”

Wide-eyed, the woman nodded before her gaze returned to the brutal fight on the floor.

Rowan needed to help Lachlan. She scanned the room and spotted an empty IV stand. She snatched it up like a bat and circled the bed.

The men were rolling around on the floor, getting in hits and kicks. The floor was smeared with blood, and she prayed it wasn’t Lachlan’s.

They separated for a second, and she had a clear shot. She whacked the Legion man in the gut. He howled.

“Take that, asshole.”

He launched at Lachlan again. Any time she could, she whacked the man with the stand.

Suddenly, the rest of Team 52 burst into the room.

“Hell.” Blair raced forward and waded into the fray.

Callie appeared beside Rowan. “You okay?” She gently pushed the IV stand back to the ground, her gaze on Rowan’s bruised neck.

Rowan nodded. She saw Seth and Smith yank the French man up. He was covered in blood, and one eye was swollen.

Rowan lunged forward and slammed her fist into the man’s gut.

He grunted and doubled over. She snatched the artifact out of his hand. “Asshole.”

“Easy.” Callie pulled her back.

Seth spun the man, yanked his hands behind his back, and marched him out of the room.

Rowan looked at Lachlan. Her chest locked. He wasn’t standing. He was still lying on the ground.

“Callie,” Blair snapped.

The medic rushed over.

No. No. No. Panic was like acid in Rowan’s veins. She scrambled over and dropped to her knees. “Lachlan?”

“Hold on there, chica.” Axel appeared, wrapping his arms around her from behind and holding her in place.

But she saw Lachlan.

He was sprawled on the floor, the scalpel stuck in the side of his neck. There was a pool of blood on the tiles, spreading out beneath him.

“No!” Rowan cried, sagging against Axel.

Despair swamped her, carving her out inside. She’d never had anything or anyone before, she couldn’t lose him.



*

Lachlan fought through the pain, gritting his teeth.

Callie tore his vest and shirt open. Then she yanked out the scalpel and Lachlan swallowed a groan. His medic pressed wadded cloth against the wound. “Missed the artery and luckily for you, hit some of the wiring for your prosthetic.”

Lachlan grunted.

“All easily fixed. You’re going to live a long and healthy life.” Callie grinned.

“No painkillers.”

“You’re such a freaking baby about needles.”

Lachlan heard Rowan scuffling with Axel.

“Chiquita, you try and kick me there again, my mama will be disappointed that she can’t have grandkids.”

“Let me go.” She wrenched free and dropped down beside him. “Lachlan.”

Her face was white. God, there were tears in her eyes.

“Please be okay.” She touched his cheek. “Please.”