Page 22 of Broken Wheels

Josh gazed at the cinnamon roll. “Make it thirty? I’m in the middle of something right now.”

Michael chuckled. “Fine. Thirty minutes.” He disconnected.

Dixon laughed. “I guess my cinnamon rolls were a hit.”

Josh didn’t reply, but ate the rest of his roll before peering into the box with a happy sigh. “You’re having one as well, aren’t you?”

Dixon’s smile lit up his face. “Thought you’d never ask.”

Parnell pulled into the parking lot, and Doc directed him to the corner.

“Can you wait? I’m pretty sure it’ll start, but just in case….”

Parnell nodded. He drove into the empty space next to the car and they got out.

“Give me the keys,” Dix demanded, his hand outstretched.

Doc rolled his eyes. “I think I can unlock my own car,” he grumbled, clicking on the key fob.

Fuck, the man could be so stubb?—

Dix heard the peep just as Doc was reaching for the door, and his reactions were instinctive. He grabbed him and dragged him away from the car, and about a second later, the world went boom. The blast was insanely loud, and heat roared over them as the explosion shattered the windows of the CrossBow vehicle, spraying Parnell with glass.

Dix threw Doc to the ground before covering his slender form with his own bulk. Heat surged across his back, and Dix knew his shirt was on fire, but he couldn’t move. He had to protect Doc. At last the noise died down, and he sprang to his feet, ripping the flaming cloth from his body. There were burns on his arms, and he was certain there were more on his back. Thankfully the pain was not debilitating.

Doc was more important.

Dix helped him to stand. “You okay?” Doc’s dazed expression as he stared at the twisted wreckage of his pretty car made him certain he was suffering from shock. Around them, people came running over. Parnell was already on his phone, no doubt informing Michael of what had happened.

Doc let out a whine. “Again? What do they have against my cars?” Then he turned in Dix’s direction, and his mouth dropped open. “Dixon!”

“Not so loud,” he chastised. “We need to find some cover.” He scanned the parking lot, tensed for further explosions.

“But you’re on fire,” Doc protested.

“I’m singed,” he corrected. He glanced down. “I’ve probably lost some chest hair.” That would result in a bald spot for a while. “Don’t you worry about me. I’m fine.” He glared. “Does this show why you need a bodyguard?”

Doc raised his chin to meet Dix’s gaze, and the haunted look in his eyes made Dix’s stomach churn.

It’s finally sinking in. People are blowing shit up, not caring who is hurt in the fallout, just to get to him.

If Dix had been in Doc’s shoes, he’d have been scared shitless.

“Dixon?” Parnell held his phone out. “Michael wants to talk to you.”

He took it. “Yeah, we’re in trouble.”

“So I understand. Seven agents are on their way. You and Josh will be escorted back here, and the others will deal with the wreckage, not to mention your car.”

Dix sighed. “I don’t think they’ll have touched mine.” He glanced at Doc’s ashen skin, his vacant stare. “Right now, I have bigger problems. Doc’s a mess.”

“I’ll have someone waiting here to look him over. And as of now, he doesn’t leave CrossBow—for any reason.”

Shit, Doc’s gonna lose it when he hears this.

Michael was right, though. They had to protect Doc at all costs.

“I’ll see you soon.” He hung up and handed the phone back to Parnell. Dix laid a gentle hand on Doc’s shoulder. “Help is on the way.”