Page 141 of Fatal Intent

“Understood. I’ll see if someone’s available to lend a hand. Hold.” Zane returned two minutes later. “Good news, Rayne. We sent two other operatives to relieve Eli Wolfe and Jon Smith. Wolfe and Smith are on their way to you. They should arrive in fifteen minutes.”

Relief swept over her like a tidal wave. No one would get past Eli and Jon. They were tough-as-nails Navy SEALs and would have no trouble keeping Grant safe. “Thank you, Z.”

“Glad to help. Are you doing okay?”

“I’m fine. Just need to have a million layers of duct tape removed.”

He whistled. “Ouch. Let me know if you need anything. We’ll expect an update on you and Grant in four hours.”

“Copy that.” Rayne slid her phone into her pocket as Carmichael entered the room.

“All set?” he asked.

She nodded. “I arranged for additional security from our company.”

“Well then, since your friend will be protected, let’s take care of you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

GRANT TOOK Adeep breath and flinched. Right. Surgery to repair a bullet wound in his side, then a second surgery to repair whatever damage he’d done to himself by running flat out in order to reach Rayne in time.

He opened his eyes and squinted at the bright light above his head. A second later, the light dimmed. “Thanks,” he murmured.

“You’re welcome,” a male voice said with a slight Southern accent.

Grant turned his head to see Eli Wolfe sitting in a chair beside the bed. “Wolfe, what are you doing here?”

“Protection detail. Jon’s outside your cubicle, making sure you don’t have any unwanted visitors popping in on you unannounced.”

“Where’s Rayne?”

“Still with the doctor in the emergency room.”

Grant’s eyes widened.

Eli held up a hand. “She’s fine. Andre’s with her. The doc is removing the duct tape from her wrists. It takes time.”

He glanced at his own wrists. They were bandaged and felt numb at the moment. Grant knew that wouldn’t last, but for now, he’d take it. “She’s okay?”

“I talked to her myself, buddy. She’s eager to see you but fine otherwise.” Eli folded his arms across his chest. “So, is there something you want to tell me?”

“Rayne and I are getting married as soon as I can work out the details. If I had my choice, I’d marry her today.” He held up his wrists. “These might slow me down, though.”

A broad smile curved Eli’s lips. “I’m happy for you, Grant. If Rayne makes you even half as happy as my Brenna makes me, you’ll be a lucky man indeed.”

Jon poked his head around the curtain. He gave Grant a curt nod, then said, “Cops are here. Do you feel up to talking to them?”

Not really. It had to be done, though. “Send them in.”

A moment later, two detectives introduced themselves as Stephen Porter and Tom Littlefield. Porter said, “Tell us what happened tonight, Mr. Bowen.”

“I’ll have to go back farther than tonight.”

“Go back as far as you need to,” Littlefield said. “Try not to leave anything out.”

Right. He was half loopy from the drugs. He’d be lucky to make sense at all. Grant started his story at the running trail near his house.

Two hours later, the detectives closed their notepads and slid them and the pens into their pockets. “If you think of anything else to add to your statement, you have our cards with our numbers on them. Call us.”