Page 18 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets
“He didn’t go into a lot of details, just that he thought there were some cops on the force who didn’t need to be there and wanted to find out who.”
“But what tipped him off to that? What did he see or hear to make him suspect that?”
Bryce gave a low groan. “He thought there might be some cops—or at least one—on a drug ring’s payroll, but he didn’t know who. He just had his suspicions and told me who he wanted me to ride with. He wanted to know if any of them made unauthorized stops or met with anyone suspicious. Honestly, I didn’t know what exactly I was looking for, but Frank seemed to think I’d recognize it when I saw it—probably a phone call or a meeting that didn’t look on the up and up. I don’t know.”
Tony caught her attention and motioned for her to follow him to the back. Bryce stayed on her heels and she let him. Once in his office, Tony jabbed a finger at her. “You’ve got to leave. You’re going to get me killed.”
Jade blinked. “What are you talking about?”
“Frank was making enemies left and right. And now you tell me he’s disappeared. You two need to be smart and learn from that. Get out and don’t come back here unless it’s to shoot.”
“Tony, if you’re worried about—”
A shot rang out, and Jade and Bryce ducked as one. Glass from the shattered window hit the floor the same time as Tony, the blood stain on his chest growing bigger by the second. The second bullet whizzed past Jade’s left ear, and she grabbed Bryce’s arm as she threw herself behind the desk.
Bryce landed in an awkward heap next to Jade, thrown off balance by her frantic yank. She scrambled around him. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. You?”
“Can you check on Tony and call 911 while I go after the shooter?”
She pulled her gun from her holster and, without waiting for an answer, headed for the office back door.
“Jade! Don’t!”
* * *
Of course, she ignored him. Heart thundering, fighting his protective instincts that urged him to go after her and the need to help the wounded man, Bryce reminded himself that this was Jade’s job and she was trained for this. Then again, so was he. Flashes from the past rose to haunt him, gunfire erupting in his mind while his buddies fell around him.
Save them, have to save them!
Bryce crawled over to Tony, ignoring the pull of memories he’d thought he’d dealt with. Bullets popping. Bombs exploding. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth.Help him!
The man was conscious and his hand gripped Bryce’s. “How bad is it?”
Bryce’s eyes shot open, his mind cleared and training took over. “Not that bad. Hold on.” Spotting a roll of unopened cleaning rags on the bottom shelf next to the desk, Bryce grabbed them and yanked out a handful. Turning, he pressed them to the wound in Tony’s side. Keeping pressure on the area, Bryce dialed 911.
“911. What’s your emergency?”
He rattled off the information as fast—and as clearly—as possible. “One man shot. Officer needs help. And I need an ambulance.”
The sound of fingers clicking on the keyboard reached him. “One’s on the way.”
God, please protect Jade and don’t let Tony die.
“Hang on, buddy,” he said. “Help’s coming.”
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Tony gasped.
“Naw, just a nick.” Bryce fell back into combat zone mentality.No matter how bad it is, don’t say.The roll of duct tape on the top shelf caught his attention. He took Tony’s hand and pressed it over the wound. “Hold this and don’t let go.”
Tony’s pain-filled gaze met his. “Come on, man. How bad? I…served, too.”
“Yeah, well, this isn’t the Middle East. You’re going to be fine.” He grabbed the tape and ripped strips, then pressed them over the rags. Tony hissed at the pressure. “You hear me? Help’s on the way. You’re going to be all right.”
No response. He turned. Tony’s dark eyelashes rested on waxen cheeks, and his chest rose with shallow breaths. Blood trickled from the side of his mouth. Bryce’s tension amped higher. “Hold on, Tony,” he whispered. “Please hold on.”
Incoming!The explosion rocked him, but only in his mind. Sweat poured from him.
