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.“No!” he screamed, knowing what Jessup’s reaction would be if he woke in the ambulance.He heard the door open but didn’t take his eyes off Jessup.“Come away from the window, honey,” Kit said, pulling on Brac’s shirt.“Go tell them they can’t strap him down.” Brac glanced down at Kit before turning his attention to Hawk.“Please, make them understand.”“You’re bleeding,” Kit said, trying to pull Brac down from the chair.Brac continued to hold Hawk’s gaze.“Please,” he mouthed again.“I’ll see what I can do, but they’re meeting the helicopter at the football field.I doubt there’s any way they’ll let him fly to Sheridan without them.”“Tell them what’ll happen if he wakes up like that.” Brac climbed down.He’d told Kit and Hawk about Jessup’s reaction to Brac’s legs around his waist, so Hawk was at least familiar with Jessup’s mental state when it came to feeling bound.As soon as Hawk left the room, Brac slapped Kit’s hands away from his shirt.“I’m fine.It’s Jessup’s blood, not mine.”For the first time since he’d met her, Kit grabbed Brac, displaying a great deal of strength.“It’s not all his blood.Now fucking stand still,” she ordered, lifting Brac’s shirt.Brac lifted his arm and looked down to see fresh blood oozing from his side.He blinked several times before realising what had happened.For some reason the proof that the bullet had passed through Jessup and grazed him filled his heart with hope.“I’m fine.Doesn’t even hurt.”“You need stitches.”“No, I need to get to Sheridan,” Brac argued.“Not possible,” Ryan said, coming into the room.“Whoever shot Jessup is still out there.Dr Brown’s outside.We can get him to stitch you up at the clinic and on a plane within the hour.”“No, I’m not leaving town.Not like this.” As far as Brac was concerned, he was finished with Hollywood.First his parents had suffered because of his celebrity status, then Kit and now Jessup.“Be reasonable.”“I can’t just run and hide, Ryan.It’s my fault he was shot.I need to go to him.” Brac ran his hands through his hair.Why didn’t anyone understand?“I promise you Jessup will get everything he needs once he gets to the hospital.He put his life on the line for you, the least you can do is stay safe until we find this guy.”“Fine, then take me back to the cabin.At least I’ll still be close if Jessup needs me.” There was no way Brac would abandon Jessup.“Keep your phone on,” Hawk said.“I’ll go to Sheridan and call you with updates.”“My phone doesn’t work out there.I always used Jessup’s,” Brac explained.Ryan handed Brac Jessup’s phone.“He made a call to someone just before he blacked out.”Brac had no doubt as to whom Jessup had called.He clutched the phone to his chest.“Do you think he’ll ever forgive me?”“Of course he will, honey,” Kit soothed, taking Brac’s hand.“Why don’t you go with Hawk to Sheridan? If Jessup wakes up, tell him I’m sorry, and to please call me when he’s up to it.”Kit turned to Ryan.“Who’s going with Brac to the cabin?”“It’ll just be me, although I might give Rio a call while you get stitched up.” Ryan gestured to the door.“The faster we get out of here, the faster Hawk and Kit’ll get to Sheridan.”Still clutching Jessup’s phone, Brac nodded.“Then let’s go.”Chapter FiveA noise woke Jessup.He opened his eyes and stared up at the biggest black man he’d ever seen.Dressed in black with a brilliant white collar, the man continued to stare down at him before finally grinning.“You look like shit.”“You’re so kind,” Jessup replied to Priest.“Nice disguise, by the way.”“Gets me into anywhere I need to be.” Priest started to sit in the chair next to Jessup’s hospital bed but quickly changed his mind.“Shame about the kidney.Guess I can mark you off the list of potential donors if I’m ever in need.”Despite his teasing comments, Jessup could see the worry in Priest’s eyes.He reached out and bumped his hand against Priest’s.The action drew a bite of pain, but Jessup recovered before giving himself away.“I’m fine.Thanks for coming.”Priest rested his forearms against the raised bedrails and leaned over Jessup.“Any idea who did it?”Jessup had been over the events hundreds of times since he’d woken the previous day.“No, none of it makes sense.I came out of the station and Brac was standing there.He started towards me and I saw the red laser land in the centre of his chest.” Jessup shook his head.“He’s a goddamn television star.Why would someone equipped with a fucking laser sight try to kill him?” The more worked up he became, the harder it was to catch a decent breath.Priest held up his hands.“Calm down or you’ll have this place swimming with doctors and nurses.”“I’ll be in here for at least another three days.I need you to watch over Brac for me.” He reached out and put his hand on Priest’s arm.“Brac hasn’t told me, but I think he’s scared.The sheriff and his partner have been taking shifts at the cabin, but I’d feel better if you were there.”He was probably crazy for putting Priest in the same room with Brac—after all, the man loved to fuck like a machine—but maybe putting the two of them together was the only way to prove to himself that Brac deserved his trust.Warning Priest off would only make it a challenge for his old friend, so Jessup kept his mouth shut.“What about the shooter? You want me to look for him?” Priest asked.“No.Brac’s my primary concern right now.Keeping him safe means everything.If the shooter discovers where he’s being housed, I’ve no doubt he’ll try again.I’m counting on you to make sure that doesn’t happen.”Priest stood, dislodging Jessup’s hand and scratched the top of his bald head.Jessup stared at the lone dark finger that refused to bend.Priest had broken the finger in a remote area of Laos during one of his missions and had refused to abandon the job long enough to seek medical attention.At the time Priest’s only reply had been to thank God it hadn’t been his trigger finger.Jessup waited for Priest’s answer.He had no idea what his friend had been working on before he’d received the call, so the fact that he had come said volumes for his unspoken feelings for Jessup.Priest sighed.“Give the guy a call.Tell him what to expect so I don’t scare the shit out of him when I show up.”“I will.”After a nod, Priest started for the door.Before he made it out of the room, he turned back to Jessup.“Think he’d be willing to give me some inside information on that show he’s on?”“Was on.He just found out his contract won’t be renewed.Honestly, no, I wouldn’t bring it up.”“You’re fucking kidding me.He was the best thing on that show,” Priest said before throwing the heavy door open with ease and disappearing into the hall.It wasn’t until the door shut that Jessup realised Priest’s mistake.Jessup hadn’t mentioned Brac’s full name, so how did Priest know so much about him?* * * *Brac punched the hospital phone number into his new cell phone and prayed Jessup wasn’t resting.The phone rang four times before Jessup finally picked up.“Hello?”“It’s me.I didn’t wake you, did I?” Brac asked.“No.I’ve been trying to call you.Where’ve you been?”For some reason the irritation in Jessup’s voice warmed Brac’s heart.“Your phone ran out of juice and since I didn’t have the charger, I just had Rio pick me up a new cell when he went to Sheridan.If you have a paper and pen, I can give you the new number.”“Hang on.”Brac heard noise in the background as Jessup obviously searched for something to write on [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]