Kissed Blind (Hot Pursuit #2)(54)

“I’m Oliver Pierce, damn it. I’ve been blown up, stabbed, and shot more times than I can count.” He chuckled. “I can make it, no problem. My eyes are still a little blurry, though.”

“How’s your stomach?”

“It’s okay. I’ve felt worse.” He rubbed the sleep from his eyes while we made our way to the car.

I secured him in the front seat after watching him fumble with uncooperative fingers attempting to fasten his seatbelt. We left Vance to sort out the mayhem left in our wake, and I hated everything about it. Each street I turned down took us farther away from the city and farther away from Vance.

As I drove along the interstate, terrible thoughts consumed me. What might happen if there’d been three men instead of two? Someone could have snuck up on Vance and shot him in the back. He could have been dying as I stared through the windshield. I couldn’t live with myself if I’d done nothing. I called Commander Rivas. After giving him a quick report, he promised to check on Vance, which helped set my mind slightly more at ease.

I continued north of the city. A few miles up the road, I took my exit and headed into a residential area. Deep into a quiet neighborhood, I turned onto a dead end street and parked on a cul de sac, stopping in front of a small gray house with white shutters.

“We’re here,” I said. “We can go in and get comfortable for the night. You can shower and change clothes if you’d like. I need to make some phone calls.”

He sat quietly before reaching for my hand on the steering wheel. “I’m incredibly grateful for what you and your partner did today. I can’t thank you enough.”

I covered his hand with my other and squeezed. “You should thank Camille actually.”

“Camille?” He pulled his hand away and laid it on his lap.

I nodded. “She negotiated with the men who took you. She was dead set on us finding you so this didn’t get splashed all over the morning news.”

His brows shot up. “Really?”

“What’d you think? She’d leave you to die?” I laughed a little.

He shrugged. “Well, with how things have been going lately, I wouldn’t have been surprised.”

“She wanted you back, safe and sound.” I smiled. “Now, let’s get inside and get you cleaned up.”

At the door to the house, I punched in a six digit security code on the lock hanging from the doorknob. The light on the pad beeped and went from red to green.

The interior was a far cry from the lap of luxury Oliver was used to, but there was a comfortable couch, a basic kitchen stocked with nonperishable items, running water, and a bathroom with clean towels.

“I can make something to eat if you’d like.”

He clutched his abdomen. “I’m not sure I can stomach any food just yet. You think they have any antacids in this place?”

I grimaced. “I’m not sure. We might only have the basics like aspirin and Tylenol. Let me go check.” I went upstairs and rooted through the bathroom medicine cabinet and the hall closet but came up empty. Downstairs, Oliver sat on the couch. “I’m sorry, there isn’t anything.”

He groaned. “That’s okay. I’ll have to stick it out.” He paused. “Unless, you could run out and get some? You could lock me in or something. I may have understated how miserable I am.”

I shook my head. “I can’t leave you alone. It’s too risky.”

His gaze shifted downward. “Oh… I understand.”

I crossed my arms and brought my hand to my mouth, tapping my lips. “Just a second. Let me make a quick call.” I took my phone from my pocket and dialed Greyson’s number.

“Di, my lady! What’s happenin’?” Greyson asked.

“Hey, I need a favor. You think you could help me out?”

“Probably. What do you need?”

“I’m at the safe house on Bayberry. You live near here, right?”

“Yeah, just down the road, more or less.”

“I need to run out to grab something. Can you cover for me? Shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes.”

“Sure, no problem.” He grunted, and I pictured him getting off a comfortable couch. “I can be there in about five. Cool?”

“Yes. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Don’t mention it. Sit tight. Be right there.”

I slipped my phone into my back pocket. “Okay, one of the guys working for you tomorrow is on his way over. I’ll run to the store when he gets here.”

His eyes shimmered and locked on mine. “Great. I think my stomach has a hole in it.”

“What medicine do you need? The gas station up the road is one of my regular stops. It has a decent selection.”

“Oh, you live close by?”

“No, my boyfriend does. The gas station has one of those coffee stations with a million different options. I stop by often to fill up… and fill up.”

“Caffeine is its own addiction.” He smiled and listed off a couple of different medicines that could help settle his stomach.

“Okay. Can you think of anything else you might want?”

He shook his head. “Not unless they sell new stomachs.”

“It’s a well-stocked store, but I’m not sure they sell those. I’ll check, though.” I grinned.