Page 68 of Marked

Now she had to figure out how to tell her boss and ex-husband that Bella was home.

And that the kidnappers were all dead.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. Tonight, she wasn’t going to think about any of that. It was a problem for the morning, and surely all hell would break loose when she called Kenneth.

All that mattered was Bella’s return. Anything else thrown her way she could deal with. If she lost her career, she’d have to be okay with that. Because at the end of the day, she owed all her thanks to Cole.

A deep ripple ran through her body as she remembered him traipsing through the woods, so damn huge and strong, carrying her daughter to safety. If there was one image that had softened her toward him forever, it was that one. She’d never chase from her mind the steadfast way he’d jumped into action. Slowly, she eased herself away from Bella and tucked the blanket around her.

She hadn’t gotten the chance to thank Cole. And really, how could she possibly find the words to express her gratitude for the gift he’d given her? She couldn’t. But she could try. Lowering her toes off the bed, the cool hardwood touched her skin.

She tiptoed to the door and left it slightly ajar so she’d hear Bella if she woke up.

The quiet open-concept kitchen and living area was empty. Had he gone to bed? The only sound was the hum of electricity from the lights and appliances in the kitchen. She moved toward the master bedroom and rapped her knuckles on the door. No answer.

Grabbing the steel handle, she opened the door. The bed was made and the bathroom door open. She didn’t hear water running in the shower.

A grunt drifted through the air.

She pinched her eyebrows together and cleared her throat. “Cole? Are you... in there?”

Heat swarmed her face. She’d almost asked if he was decent. Gosh, how ridiculously formal that would have sounded. Walking in on him naked wouldn’t have been a bad thing, but lord, she didn’t need the temptation. What she needed was to thank him and get back to bed with Bella before she did something stupid.

“Yeah. I’m here.”

She pressed her fingertips to the partially open door and peeked inside. Cole leaned against the counter, his shirt off and only black briefs covering his sex. His wide, muscular shoulders ate up a good chunk of the mirror behind him. His torso tapered down to narrow hips and thighs so thick the muscle bulged beneath the material of his underwear.

Good god.

He glanced up from the awkward angle he was twisted in. His right arm was raised, and he held a metal utensil in his other hand. Streaks of blood ran down his side and over the tattoos on his abdomen.

She gasped and clamped her hand over her mouth before she shrieked and woke Bella. “What happened?”

He dropped the metal tool and lowered his arm. “Nothing. Just a bullet.”

She advanced on him and shoved his elbow high over her head. “You’re shot. Oh my god. Why didn’t you say something? You need a hospital.”

Annoyance tickled the back of her neck. How hadn’t she noticed he was injured? Granted, she’d been more than a little busy with Bella, but she should have spotted he was bleeding.

“I don’t need a hospital. I just need the bullet out and I can’t reach.” His voice rang with frustration.

She grimaced. Blood wasn’t her forte, but after what he’d done for her tonight, she wouldn’t let him suffer. “Can I please call a medic?”

His mouth quirked. “Fuck no.”

She compressed her lips and held out her hand. “Then give me the thingy.”

His eyebrow cocked. “Huh?”

“You know what I mean. I’ll get it out.”

He handed her the contraption that looked like tongs. “You don’t have to. I can have one of the boys come tomorrow.”

“And let the bullet fester inside you all night? You’ll get an infection.” She brought her free hand to his bicep and lifted again. The flesh was red and angry and swimming in blood. “Did you numb it?”

“Nah. Just get it out.”

“It’s probably lodged into bone. You need an x-ray or at least—”

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