Page 4 of Target Acquired

“Well, you’re conscious, so that’s a good sign.”

Cole glanced at the others, who’d cleared the rest of the store. The suspect had already been led outside where he would enjoy the view from the back seat of a patrol car.

The manager stepped out of the back with Butler at his side. Had to be the man named Leo. “He was going to kill me! You heard him, right? You’re going to put him away for life, right?”

“The justice system will take care of him,” Butler said. He rolled his eyes at Cole.

Cole frowned. The manager had just lived through a pretty terrifying ordeal. Granted, some might consider him a coward, but not everyone reacted well when they were afraid. He could have compassion for the guy. He stepped forward and placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “Take some time to regroup, all right? See a counselor if you need to. Even though it ended without anyone seriously hurt”—including Cowboy, he prayed—“it’s going to have a lasting effect on you.”

Leo met his gaze and nodded. “Right. You’re right. Thank you. I . . .” He swallowed. “I’m sorry I wasn’t more brave, I just . . . I didn’t know how or what . . . I knew he hated me because I fired him, but he was late all the time, didn’t show up and never called to let me know, and I just . . . never mind.” He dropped his chin to his chest and headed out the door.

“Coward,” Butler muttered.

“Hey, he was terrified. You and I wouldn’t have reacted that way, but we’ve had training. Don’t judge him.”

Butler raised a brow. “Whatever you say, Sarge.” He trotted away and Cole shook his head. The guy was young, true, but he had a hardness about him that Cole didn’t much care for. Only the fact that he did his job and did it well allowed Cole to let some things slide.

He hurried to find Kenzie and Cowboy and spotted them still on the floor, although Cowboy was sitting up, leaning against a display of chips. Kenzie had her back to Cole and was working around Cowboy’s head.

“How is he?” Cole asked.

She glanced up at him, her brow furrowed. “It’s more than just a graze, but . . . I’m not exactly sure. I think it was a fragment that penetrated the skin, but not the bone.”

“You’re saying I got a bullet fragment between my skull and skin?” Cowboy asked.

“Yeah.” She shot him a small smile, but Cole could see the concern in her eyes.

Cowboy blinked. “So, get it out.”

She gave a short, choked laugh that sounded more like a cough. “Not here. That’s going to require some surgery.” She glanced back at Cole. “He’ll need to be monitored for a concussion too. He was out for a few seconds. If I were his doctor, I’d order a CT scan and keep him overnight.”

“Shouldn’t have told you I lost consciousness for a fraction of a second,” Cowboy said. “I’m fine.”

“Only because the bullet didn’t hit something before it hit your head,” Cole muttered. “Ambulance is outside. Let’s go.”

“Aw, man, I—”

“That’s an order.”

Cowboy snapped his lips shut and nodded. Then winced.

“You’d make me do the same if the roles were reversed,” Cole said, his voice softer.

“No I wouldn’t. I’d never treat you like that.” The whine in his voice was unmistakable and Cole smothered a laugh.

“Liar. Get out of here. You’re done until you get that piece of bullet out of your head and the surgeon—or Kenzie—releases you.” He helped the man to his feet and noticed he swayed before catching his balance.

“Dizzy?” Kenzie asked.

“Uh, yeah, maybe. A little.”

She stepped up and gripped his arm. Cole caught the look she shot him and nodded. They weren’t going to let him walk out under his own power.

Once Cowboy was safely in the ambulance with two paramedics hovering over him, Cole looked at Kenzie. Beautiful Kenzie King, who took his breath away and pulled all his protective instincts to the surface. Instincts he had to stuff down into the deepest corners of his heart. “Good work.”

She flashed him a tight smile. “Thanks. I just gotta grab my stuff, then I’ll be ready to roll.”

She hurried back inside the store, and Cole turned to find James watching him. James Cross, his best friend and partner. A man who knew him better than just about anyone. “What?”

---