Be With Me(98)

Hutch slugged him in the shoulder again then fol owed it up with one to his nose. The combined force of him and Reggie was getting to Daniel. His attack was weakening. Hutch felt a surge of hope.

He and Reggie might get out of this yet.

Daniel connected with a fist to Hutch’s chin, and Hutch fel back. Daniel turned on Reggie again as she dragged herself to her feet. The gun was just a few feet from her, and she lunged for it, landing on her stomach as she reached.

Daniel reached down, grabbed Reggie by the back of her neck and pulled her up with one hand. He tossed her back, and she landed with a thump several feet away. Hutch lunged for the gun, but Daniel got to it first.

It was one of those moments when according to books and movies, things were supposed to move in slow motion. But Hutch barely processed the next few seconds.

Daniel raised the gun and pointed it directly at Reggie.

“Noooo!” Hutch yel ed.

The shot echoed like a cannon in the smal room.

Hutch looked at Reggie in horror, but it was Daniel who faltered and then sank like a sagging puppet to the floor. The gun fel from his hand, and he clutched at his chest, sucking air like a friggin’ guppy.

Hutch yanked his head around to see Jeremy standing in the doorway, gun drawn. Behind him, a half dozen cops poured into the room. The entire world had gone to hel .

Reggie.

He whirled around again, searching for her. She sank to her knees, but she was alive. Sweet relief burst over him. Never had he seen such a beautiful sight as Reggie kneeling on the carpet as her fel ow cops surrounded her.

He dragged himself to his feet and stumbled over to her. He threw one cop out of the way and yanked her into his arms.

“Don’t you ever scare me like that again, baby.”

“Me?” she sputtered. “You’re the one who disappeared on me. I find your empty truck on the side of the road, your blood, and you nowhere to be found. If anyone was scared it was me.” He held her close, stroking his hand over her hair.

“Can we get out of here?” he said.

They pushed themselves to their feet, unsteady as a couple of toddlers learning to walk. She looked like hel , and God only knew how bad he looked. But he needed air. He needed to be away from the sight of his brother lying on the floor as the paramedics tended to him. As much as he wanted to feel hatred for Daniel, al he could summon was deep sadness.

Reggie hooked his arm over her shoulder, and began helping him toward the door. Oh hel no.

He dropped his arm and tucked her against his side, determined to help her.

She dragged his arm back up to her shoulders and held it there in her firm grip as they both staggered out the door into the night.

“How the hel did you find me?” he muttered. “I don’t even know where the f**k we are.”

“It wasn’t easy. I had to comb the entire countryside after I found your truck. I had the whole department looking.”

“I feel like I got run over by a damn Mack truck,” he said with a groan.

“You look like it too,” she said.

“Wel you don’t look much better.”

She grinned, and he felt the heaviness in his chest ease.

“Aww, f**k,” she muttered.

He fol owed her gaze to see Sawyer and Cam standing by one of the police cars. They both looked worried as hel , but when they recognized him and Reggie staggering toward them, he could see relief lighten their features, drawn harsh by the glare of flashing lights.

He glanced back down at Reggie and saw the haunted look in her eyes, the fear and strain crowding her features. He tightened his arm around her.

“You two look like shit,” Sawyer said.

“Aren’t you observant,” Reggie said snidely.

Cam heaved an exaggerated sigh. “They probably think they deserve special attention. I’m not doing al the cooking.”

Reggie glared at both Cam and Sawyer while Hutch did al he could to hold in his laughter. God, this was what he needed. For a moment he could forget that he’d almost lost everything that was important to him to someone who had once meant everything to him.

Reggie trembled against him and started to sag.

He made a grab for her, but his own knees buckled, and they went down in a heap on the ground.

He groaned and looked up to see Cam and Sawyer staring down at them, both shaking their heads.

Sawyer made a tsking sound. “Pathetic.” He reached down to haul Hutch up while Cam reached for Reggie, cradling her in his arms.

“Be careful with her,” Hutch rasped. “She took a beating in there.”

“Yes, I see,” Cam said quietly.

Two medics from the second ambulance on scene hurried over, jump bags in hand. One of them reached for Reggie, only to be halted by Cam’s steely glare.

“Let us check her out,” the paramedic said.

Sawyer was holding Hutch up, which was a good damn thing, because he’d lost al the feeling in both feet.

“I’l carry her,” Cam said. “Where do you want her?”

“Over by the truck.” The medic gestured toward the flashing ambulance twenty yards over. “Can you walk?” he asked Hutch.

“I’l make sure he gets there,” Sawyer said grimly.

“Thanks man, I owe you,” Hutch said as Sawyer half dragged, half carried him toward the ambulance.