Page 45 of Flint's Battle

“God, I leave for five minutes and you’re already scheming how to break more rules.” Jack shook his head as he stood in the doorway. “I can see why Milligan’s worried about having a stroke.”

Emery groaned. “Shit, I forgot all about Milligan and?—”

Flint pressed his finger against her lips, loving how soft they were despite all the trauma she’d suffered. “Everything’s fine, sweetheart. You just focus on healing.”

“I find that hard to believe.” She glanced over at her brother. “And shouldn’t you be home with Leia and the kids?”

Jack laughed. “And give up the chance to be a cockblock? I don’t think so.”

“Seriously, Jack? Like I’m in any condition to pounce on the man.”

“I don’t know. You just went allRocky Balboaon some creep, and the way you’re looking at Flint…”

“You’re such an ass.”

“I know. Now, are we busting you out or what?”

“We?”

“Someone’s gotta monitor your condition.” He waved off any reply. “Stop arguing, and let Flint help get your butt into a wheelchair before I realize how insane this is.” He held up some keys. “I’ll be waiting by my truck. It’s right outside the main doors.”

Emery huffed as her brother walked out, giving them a hard stare as he passed by the glass wall. “He’s impossible.”

“You’re just upset because you know he’s right.” Flint grinned when she swatted at him. “Let’s get you home, then we can worry about where we go from here. Because like it or not, this is far from over.”

CHAPTER 14

“Emery.”

Emery looked up from the file spread across Flint’s kitchen table, squinting to bring him into focus as he stood in the doorway. A couple trays of coffee in one hand. The other holding a bag of the muffins he’d promised to get. His buddies were lined up behind him, all of them staring at her with narrowed eyes and clenched jaws.

She eased back in the chair, wincing when the movement jarred her shoulder. That damn plate that couldn’t decide if it was going to work its way out or burrow in deeper. “Flint.”

His brows furrowed as he made his way inside, everyone else fanning out around the cabin’s main room. “I thought we agreed you’d take a break while I got you your caffeine and sugar fix?”

“I did take a break, but then I remembered there’re a group of assholes who want me dead, so I came back out.”

A huff sounded from behind her. “I don’t think ten minutes qualifies as an actual break.”

Emery glanced back at Cooper Harris. One of the Brotherhood Protector’s newest recruits. At least, she thought he was a recruit. All she knew for sure was that he was part of some hush-hush K9 pilot program Hawk, in conjunction withthe Brotherhood’s CEO, Hank Patterson, had started. Or maybe they just weren’t telling her about it. Either way, Cooper had been patrolling Flint’s cabin for the last two nights along with his partner, Whiskey. An intelligent German shepherd who had a bit of a stubborn side.

Emery cocked her head, hating how it pulled against the stitches. “No one likes a snitch.”

“Or a patient who doesn’t follow instructions.”

She snorted, turning back to Flint. “You picked him on purpose, didn’t you?”

Flint grinned, placing her latte in front of her along with a small plate and a muffin. “Actually, Cooper volunteered. Though, I’m sure by now, he’s regretting that decision.”

“We don’t have time for me to take breaks.”

“We do if it means you’ll start healing.” He waved at her head. “Stop seeing double. But since you’ve already disobeyed orders, any progress?”

She groaned, careful not to put any pressure against her shoulder blade as she rested against the seat back. “None. It’s bad enough Milligan’s allowed that vice asshole, Simmons, to walk all over my case. But the bastard hasn’t even started looking into the guns. Seems convinced there’s a drug link.”

She rolled her eyes. “Simmonsalwaysthinks there’s a drug link. The guy’s a moron. I swear he couldn’t find his own ass even with his head shoved up it.”

“Don’t hold back, sweetheart. Tell us how you really feel.” Flint leaned forward, brushing his thumb across her cheek. “But this is why we take breaks. So we can look at a problem from a new perspective.” He pushed the latte closer.

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