Page 105 of Cold Light of Day

Grier was quickly lifted into the boat, and Autumn climbed the ladder. She rushed below deck, where they’d taken Grier.Tanya threw a blanket around Autumn as she dropped to her knees next to Grier on the floor. “We need to get him to the hospital now.”

Or he’s not going to make it.

“Move out of the way.” Craig forced her aside, dropping the medical kit next to him. “Sandford, take us back. Call an ambulance to meet us. Tanya, get another boat out here to retrieve the others.”

“I can help,” Autumn said.

“You’re shivering and in no condition to help. Now let me save him.”

She shifted so Craig could get at the wound. He paused as if he might have already given up, then suddenly started working as though his own life depended on it.

“Don’t worry, he’s going to make it.” Craig glanced at Autumn, more compassion in his eyes than she’d ever seen or known he possessed.

She peered at Grier’s pale face, leaned closer, and pressed her forehead against his. Squeezing her eyes shut, she couldn’t prevent the tears from falling. She didn’t care if she cried now. Why had sheevercared? Autumn let go of the control she always held over her emotions, the control she thought she had over her life.

“Autumn...”

Grier whispered her name so faintly—but he’d said it, finally. The sound of it on his lips sent tingles of warmth through her, but it was bittersweet. She moved back slightly as she opened her eyes and smiled, her tears dripping over Grier’s lips and chin. “Yes. I’m here. You called me by my name, finally.”

“Told you. Would.”

“Yes. After this was over. And it’s over, thanks to you.”

“Never. Seen. You. Cry.” He closed his eyes, and she feared he would never open them again.

“I love you, Grier.”

Why hadn’t she told him sooner, so much sooner—whilethey still had a chance? She pressed her forehead against his again, wanting the contact and willing him to live. And she prayed harder than she’d ever prayed. Voices sounded around her. Shouts. Bodies. Arms grabbed her and pulled her away.

“No!” She reached for him, then realized EMTs had come to transport him off the boat and take him to the hospital. Their small, limited trauma hospital.

He needed much more care, but how could he live long enough for that trip? Autumn followed them up the stairs and onto the deck, then off the boat, walking behind them all the way to the ambulance, sticking close to this man she adored.

“Don’t worry, Chief,” Dooley said. “We’ll stabilize him. A helicopter is already waiting to transport him.”

She watched as he and another EMT loaded Grier into the ambulance and it sped away—but not nearly fast enough for Autumn.

Tanya approached and wrapped the blanket that Autumn had dropped around her. “You know, you have cuts and bruises and might be going into shock. You need to see a doctor too.”

“He called me Chief.”

“What? Who?”

“Dooley. I’m not the chief anymore.”

Nolan appeared at her side. She should have registered his presence, but she felt numb all over. “Where’d you come from?” she asked.

“Tex got us in his boat. Mom and Sarah. We’re all okay. We pulled Mateo from the water too. Craig will keep him in the local jail until AST can transport him.”

Autumn turned and spotted Craig ushering a handcuffed Mateo forward toward his Ford Interceptor.

“What about the others?” Autumn asked.

He shook his head. “Pilot’s dead. Rafael too.”

“Where’d he come from anyway?”

“He escaped according to his plan, and Mateo was supposedto have recovered the USB drive by then and gotten you too. They were to rendezvous and go underground before Rafael was recaptured.”