Page 48 of Holiday Hostage
“No need.” I let my voice carry to them.
They should have heard our approach in the thick snow, but I couldn’t blame them for being too locked in their conversation to pay attention.
Then again, Tarron was supposed to keep Payton safe. He should have been on alert.
Branches cracked as footsteps pounded our way. Payton appeared in a flash of white camo, moonlight painting her face as tears streaked her cheeks. She threw herself between us, slinging an arm around each of our necks and kissing our cheeks. “You’re okay.”
“Not exactly.” Tarron took in the situation with a slow blink. “Careful of Reed’s shoulder, Payton.”
“What?” She leaned back, her face going pasty in the moonlight when she caught sight of the blood on Reed’s coat. “What happened?”
“You tell them, Mav. I’m too tired.” Reed sank onto a thick branch that had fallen and made a bench seat.
He pressed a hand to his shoulder and panted. “Getting a bit lightheaded, Tarron.”
“On it.” Tarron leaped into action as I gave them a rundown of the situation.
14
PAYTON
My fault. It was all my fault.
I swallowed several times, but the taste of guilt and fear remained lodged in my throat.
I clasped both hands beneath my chin and tried to stop my shudders from rattling my teeth. “Are you sure he’ll be okay?”
Tarron remained glued to Reed’s side, his strong hands busy wrapping a bandage around Reed’s bare shoulder.
“I’ll need to remove the bullet once we’re somewhere safe, but he’s okay. The bullet seems to have missed all the vital areas.”
Reed held his arm loose across his lap and smirked at me.
“It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than a rogue bullet to take me down.” His bare shoulder gleamed where Tarron had washed away the blood from the wound. If it pained him, he hid it with smiles and teasing laughter.
If. It had to be hurting like hell.
Tarron fished deeper into his bag and thrust something into Reed’s hand. “Take those.”
He glared when Reed started to argue. “They won’t impair you, and they’ll help with the pain. Riding the snowmobile is going to hurt like a bitch.”
“I can handle it,” Reed grunted but tossed the pills into his mouth, swallowing them without water.
“We should get going.” Tarron gathered up the equipment he’d used to patch Reed up and shoved it all into a side pocket on his medical bag.
The night air roved over us, tousling Tarron’s hair and drawing a shudder down my spine.
Reed shrugged into his coat with a light wince and fisted his hand, driving his fingers into his gloves.
“Load up.” Mav swung upright from where he’d been resting on the log behind Reed.
He’d kept a close eye on the entire procedure and seemed pleased with Tarron and Reed’s end result.
I sidled up alongside Reed. “Are you sure you’re okay?” My need for reassurance brought us face to face, and in the moonlight, I took stock of the deep shadows welling beneath his eyes.
“He’s fine.” Maverick hooked an arm around my waist and guided me toward one of the snowmobiles. “I need you to ride with me.”
A protest built within me. I wanted to be with Reed.
