Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 75240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
The man was my height, and at six foot three, that was rare. He was a lot bulkier than me, and that was a rather impressive feat since I was no slouch.
This man, though, was definitely exhibiting some drug withdrawals if his shaking hands and his widened pupils were anything to go by.
“What’s going on here?” I asked, stepping in Angie’s direction.
A throat cleared beyond Angie, and that’s when I got my first good look at Alec.
He had blood running down one side of his face, and his hand was bleeding as well.
Whether either cut was serious or not, I didn’t know.
I was too focused on the pair directly in front of me to be worried about him at that point.
The man was only seconds away from snapping, and Angie looked like she’d lose the bravado that was stiffening her knees if I breathed wrong.
“Angie,” I held my hand out. “Let me hold that for you.”
She gave me a killing look, but nonetheless handed over first the wrench, followed shortly by the pry bar.
“Thanks,” I hefted both in Booth’s direction, which he caught with ease. “Why don’t we check your brother out?”
Angie turned her back on the man, and that’s when he chose to attack.
Watching him out of the corner of my eye, I noticed him pull a gun from his back pocket. I moved forward and yanked her out of the way just in time to feel the whiz of a bullet blow past my face.
I threw us backwards onto the concrete and rolled, pushing her away from me toward the firetruck that the other firefighters were now using as cover.
She went where I threw her, but my balance was off and I knew the landing was about to hurt.
Like a mother.
My face rose up to meet the concrete, and my hands went out to catch my fall.
Catch me they did. I knew I could count on them!
Otherwise I would’ve gotten a face full of cracked concrete.
Everyone shouted at once, and I rolled, getting my knees under me, as I did.
Then, like a two-ton Mac truck grill to the head, something was brought down so hard at the back of my skull that I lost consciousness and spiraled into deep nothingness.
Chapter 7
If bearding is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.
-Angie’s secret thoughts
Angie
“Scene safety, Bowe! You know this! You see a man, obviously in distress, his eyes out of focus and his rationality questionable, you freakin’ call in PD!” the captain yelled at Bowe.
Bowe didn’t so much as twitch.
He stayed exactly where he was on the bed, his eyes closed, his breathing uneven.
“If his O2 stats continue to drop,” the doctor said from the side of the room. “We’re going to have to intubate him.”
The captain’s eyes swung to the doctor. “Have his parents been contacted yet?”
The doctor shook his head. “We’ve been unable to reach Mr. Tannenbaum’s parents.”
“What about his grandmother?” I asked softly.
“She’s aware, but unable to get here until the morning. She’s recovering from a stroke.”
I looked over at Bowe’s captain.
“I’ll stay with him.”
He shook his head.
“No,” he replied. “I’m going to stay with him.”
I smiled at him.
“He got hurt because of something that I was involved in,” I informed him. “I’m staying.”
He studied my face, then nodded his head before sighing.
“Fucking son of a bitch.”
I blinked at the captain’s use of profanity.
“What?” I asked shortly.
My emotions were already ragged; I didn’t need this man’s problems compounded on top of my own. I’d break.
“You didn’t hear what the doctor said before you came in, did you?” he questioned me.
I shook my head.
“No, why?”
“The blow to his head,” he shook his head. “It was bad. They’re monitoring the pressure in his head but they’re pretty sure they’re going to have to perform surgery to try to relieve it. Which means I’m down a firefighter until his head’s back on straight.”
I sighed.
“You sound kind of put out that this happened,” I said. “But we don’t know anything right now. He could wake up in the morning, completely fine.” Then pursed my lips. “And stop talking about him like he can’t hear you.”
The chief smiled.
“I don’t think I introduced myself properly yet,” he offered me his hand. “Alan Shepherd. And you are?”
I took his proffered hand and shook it once. “Angie Soco.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” he let go of my hand. “And I’ll take you up on your offer. I’ll…”
“Hey, Sis.”
I turned to find my brother at the doorway, his arm wrapped in a sling.
His other hand was holding up my daughter’s booty, her curled up body tucked securely underneath his chin.
“Hey,” I started walking toward them. “What’s going on?”
I reached for Elise, pulling her into my arms and rubbing my face against her head.
Elise didn’t so much as stir from the transfer.
“I can’t watch her tonight,” he said. “Mandy has some intestinal thing going on, and I can’t deal with all of them.”