Page 106 of Ruthless

“Still forty-five minutes at least. We had to stop for fuel.”

“That’ll give us time to take out our last two,” Gideon said. “If you’re not here when we’re done, we’ll grab a vehicle and meet you somewhere.”

“Roger that,” Ash said. “Just keep in touch.”

“Ash,” Eve said. “Gideon was shot in the side several hours ago. The bullet’s still in there, and he’s running a fever.”

“I’ll have a med pack ready.” The tension ramped up in Ash’s voice.

That was good. Gideon would need antibiotics right away, and hopefully the bullet could be removed without complications. She was deliberately minimizing the danger and possible hazards. She simply would not let her mind go to another alternative.

“I’ll give you a buzz when we’re five minutes out if I don’t hear from you before then.”

“Roger that,” Gideon said.

As he pocketed the phone, Eve saw the tremor in his hand. A surge of fear swept through her. Gideon had always seemed so indestructible. The one other time he’d been injured, she had been able to push down the fear because help had been right there. But now it seemed out of reach.

“Let me take care of the guards outside,” Eve said quietly. She knew she was poking a sleeping bear. Suggesting he wasn’t physically up to doing his job would not sit well with him, no matter how much he was hurting.

“No, my darling, Eve. We do this together. Just like always. Understand?”

“All right.” Arguing would only delay the inevitable. She peeked around the corner to take stock of where their targets were.

“Gideon, they’re gone.”

Sticking his head around the corner, he searched the area where the guards had been standing. The lights inside and out were few and spread out. Since the purpose of the office building wasn’t clear, she could only assume they wanted to keep a low profile. The guards had been wearing dark clothing, but they’d been standing right at the door, easily visible.

“Let’s go—” Gideon cut off, and she jerked her head around to see him slide down the wall.

“Gideon!” she whisper-screamed.

His eyes were closed, and his head slumped. Kneeling beside him, she touched his face, and her heart almost stopped. He was burning up! Assuring herself he was still breathing, she put her ear against his chest. Thank heaven he was, but his respiration was faster than normal, as was his heartbeat.

Never had she felt so helpless. All OZ operatives had some medical training, but Gideon was their go-to guy for anything more complicated than a few stitches or a bandage. She was so out of her element.

Tapping his face gently, she said his name over and over, hoping he would regain consciousness long enough to tell her what she needed to do. Dammit, why didn’t she know?

Going with her instincts, she gently laid him flat on the floor. It had a marblelike surface and was cool to the touch, which would hopefully help reduce his temperature. She glanced around and spotted a men’s room a few yards away. Wet paper towels would also help get his temp down.

Peering around the corner, she still saw no sign of the other two guards. Didn’t matter where they were. She had to take this chance.

She touched Gideon’s hand one more time, just because, and then took off. Staying as low as possible, she ran toward the door. Shoving it open, she immediately spotted what she needed. A stack of paper towels sat on the counter between two sinks. Turning the cold water tap to its highest force, she grabbed handfuls of the towels and ran water over them, saturating them. She happened a glance in the mirror and swallowed the lump in her throat. Her eyes were filled with despair and desperation, her face pale, her mouth twisted with grief.

She gave a rapid shake of her head and turned off the water. No way in hell was she going to start grieving already. Gideon would survive this. She could accept no other alternative.

Turning back, she raced out the door and back to Gideon. He hadn’t moved an inch. She placed the soaked towels on his face, his head, his chest, and anywhere else she could find. By the time she was finished, he looked like a mummy, only his mouth, nose, and eyes showing.

Quickly checking his pulse, she told herself it was the same as it had been before, even though there was a small, niggling voice that told her it was faster.

Double-checking for the guards and still seeing no one, Eve pulled the satphone from Gideon’s pocket and called Ash.

“Gideon?”

“Gideon’s unconscious.” She barely recognized the thick, hoarse voice as her own.

“We’re seven minutes out, Eve.”

“We didn’t get a chance to take down the three guards outside.”