Page 65 of The Veteran

“Fuck.”

“You may as well surrender,” I said. “You can’t win this.”

“That’s what you think.” He reached around Sage, who was deathly still, and extended something—a knife?—to snip the zip tie around her wrists, then he used one arm to hold her in place and with the other, he put a gun to her temple. “Let me out or I shoot the girl.”

My knees felt shaky and I thanked God that I didn’t waver.

“You hurt her and I’ll kill you,” I growled as he circled around, taking her with him.

I edged further into the building, away from the door, giving him enough space that he hopefully wouldn’t do anything stupid. He continued advancing, dragging Sage along.

“I can’t let you take her out of this warehouse,” I said, briefly catching Sage’s eyes so she’d know I was talking to her as much as to him. “If you get her through that door, you won’t release her.”

I knew this because that’s what I’d do in his shoes. We were opposite each other, with the door between us. He could push her away and run for it, but I doubted he’d try. He knew I’d shoot him.

He shifted closer. A subtle movement caught my attention. Sage was stealthily reaching into her pocket with her uninjured hand.

What was she doing?

Her hand eased out again, a black stone wand clasped in her grip. I nearly rolled my eyes. It was one of her damn protection crystals.

“Put the gun down and I won’t shoot her,” Baker ordered.

I hesitated. I didn’t want to surrender my weapon, but keeping Sage safe was the only thing that mattered now. If I didn’t do as he said, he might act rashly. Slowly, I began to lower the gun to the ground. My gaze caught once more on Sage’s fist, which had curled around the long, pointed stone. She widened and narrowed her eyes as though trying to silently communicate with me, but I had no clue what she wanted to get across. She clearly had an idea, but I couldn’t tell what. I’d have to trust she knew what she was doing. I had no other choice. Our safety was in her hands now.

She and Baker were nearly in the doorway now, and the tip of my gun touched the floor.

Then, all of a sudden, Sage simultaneously dropped to her knees and rammed the crystal back into Baker’s crotch. He howled, curled over, and reflexively squeezed the trigger. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I snapped my gun up and shot him in the head. Blood sprayed over Sage, who was still kneeling at his feet. He staggered backward and fell with a dull thud.

I rushed over and kicked his weapon away. The light was already fading from his eyes. Certain he was no longer a threat, I sunk to my knees beside Sage. “Are you okay?”

She raised her eyes, her complexion waxy, and that’s when I noticed the blossom of red soaking through the sleeve of her shirt.

Shit. When Baker had let off a shot, he must have hit her.

“Is it your arm?” I asked.

“Yeah.” She sounded faint. “Is he…?”

I nodded in answer to her unfinished question. “We need to get your shirt off so I can stop the bleeding.”

Her lips curled up tremulously. “If you wanted my shirt off, that’s all you had to say.”

Despite myself, I chuckled, and relief finally bowled through me. Sage had pulled through. She’d saved both of us. Well, her and the information from Zeke’s team.

Zeke.

I pulled a face. He’d been right all along—not that I’d ever tell him as much. I couldn’t have done this on my own.

“Fuck, you’re amazing.” I dropped a light kiss on her lips. “Here.” I took hold of the hem of her shirt and slowly worked it up. She hissed and clenched her teeth as she raised her arm, but once it was off I balled the shirt up, glanced at the wound, then pressed the wadded-up shirt to it. “Looks like a graze,” I told her. “A deep one, but it shouldn’t have done any serious bone or muscle damage.”

“A graze?” She sounded like I’d insulted her, and my smile widened. “Feels like more than that.”

“You got lucky.” I kissed her cheek and helped her ease into a seated position. “You and that damned stone.”

“Hey,” she protested. “It saved the day.”

That time, I did roll my eyes. “I don’t think it was the magic of the crystal that saved you. It was good thinking and a hard object.”