Page 64 of Stella's Christmas Rescue
Part of me wants to kick him or shoot him again for that, and I’m sad he won’t feel it. “Then, I’m extra glad he’s dead.”
She stares at me. “Where did you get stabbed, Jordan?”
“Calf. I’m okay, Stella.”
She turns and hugs me. Her grip tightens around me, so I hold her. Then I feel her tremble. Her voice is hoarse when she quietly says, “It’s not okay, Jordan. It’s not okay.”
I look in her eyes, and her pupils look like they might be uneven. Oh, hell. It’s concussions for us both, apparently. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“Yeah. Okay.” Her body goes limp next to me, but I hold her up.
She needs a distraction. God knows I could use one. “Hey. You want a ride?”
“What?” she asks.
“A piggyback ride?”
She laughs in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“Just needed to hear your normal voice for a second. But I’ll give you a ride outside, if you like.”
“Come on,” she says. I follow her out of the office. Then she says, “Wait, what happened with the sniper?”
“She’s been neutralized,” I assure her. “Michael has her tied up at gunpoint.”
“You sure he’ll be okay?”
“Should be. When we get you safe, I’m going to go back for him. But I want to get you into Bailey’s first.”
Stella says, “Hell no. I’m not leaving your side.”
“You have a concussion, Stella?—"
“And by that wobbly walking, I’m betting you do, too. We’re doing this together. You hear me?”
“Hey!” I object, “Concussion or not, I was still able to shoot all those guys.”
“In close quarters, where it was easy. Don’t sass me, Jordan.”
I laugh. “You’re not Mrs. Black. You’re not the boss of me.”
She smirks. “Let’s go.”
“I don’t want you near the shooter, Stella.”
“Well, I don’t want you near her either, Jordan, let’s go.”
I exhale loudly. I know I can protect her, but I don’t like taking the chance that something could go wrong. “Fine. But only if you can keep up.” She runs ahead and is out the door before I can really get going. Oh right. She’s a runner. Damn. I have to run hard to catch up to her, but then she slows to a stop. I shout, “What’s wrong?”
“I just realized that I don’t know where the shooter is.”
I laugh and pant. I need to stall her for a beat, so I can breathe. “That’s what you get for taking off like that. And did you notice that little swing I did to get you out of the way?”
“What?” she laughs.
“When Riker was about to shoot you, I swung you out of the way. I used one of the moves you showed me. You know,” I show her the move again and swing her around, “never thought I’d be using your dance moves in a fight.”
She laughs, and it sounds a little like madness. Stella says, “I love you, you crazy man.”
