Page 89 of Fatal Intent

“Answer the question, please.”

“If I had an engagement ring on me, she would wear it right now. I’ll remedy that as soon as this situation is resolved.” Along with a wedding band. He couldn’t wait to see both on Rayne’s finger.

Grant pressed his hand against his side to put pressure on the wound currently dripping blood down his leg. With the way his side felt, the bullet had likely gone through his body.

Not good. He needed to be at full capacity while working this case. Being shot would slow him down, and that could cost more lives.

“How are you holding up?” Teagan asked.

“I’ll need a trip to the hospital.”

“So much for the bullet kissing you,” she muttered. “If you need help walking, let me know.”

“I’m fine.” If you didn’t consider his dizziness and weakness.

“Right.” Teagan draped his left arm around her shoulders and picked up the pace. “Do not make me carry you back to your parents’ home. That would be embarrassing.”

He snorted and wished he hadn’t as pain ripped through his side. “Yeah, yeah. I hear you.”

“I’m just trying to protect your reputation as a big, bad operative, my friend. Don’t make my job harder.”

“I’ll do my best.” Man, being shot hurt. Nobody told you that when you were training to be a Ranger. He ought to know about the pain. He’d been shot, knifed, stabbed, and beaten many times in his military career. Looked like he was starting the same trend with Fortress. He’d prefer not to go through all of that again if he could help it.

For the rest of the journey back, Grant and Teagan remained silent as they walked the uneven terrain. After skirting around a field of corn, they finally crested the hill and saw the well-lit house with cops milling around the backyard.

“Looks like a circus,” Teagan murmured.

“It’s controlled chaos at crime scenes.” Grant stumbled over a rock and would have gone down hard if not for Teagan’s firm grip. “Sorry.”

“You can buy me a cup of coffee later as a thank you.” She picked up the pace and took more of his weight. “Suck it up, soldier. You’ll scare your woman if she sees you like this.”

She wasn’t wrong. Grant straightened and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.

“This is a crime scene. I’ll have to ask you to leave,” a male voice said.

“We know Mr. Bowen was shot. This is his son Grant. We went after the shooter, and my friend was shot. He needs to go to a hospital.”

“Stay here for a minute.” The cop turned and called for one of the detectives, who hustled over to them. “This is Grant Bowen, Mr. Bowen’s other son. According to his friend, he’s been shot.”

“Help him inside while I call for another ambulance.”

“Yes, sir.”

The young cop went to Grant’s injured side and gripped his arm while they walked toward the back door.

Before they reached it, the door flew open, and Rayne raced outside to meet him. “Grant!”

“I’m okay.”

Rayne gripped his upper arms and let her gaze scan his body.

“Don’t lie.” Teagan glared at him. “He was shot protecting me.”

Seth was at her side in an instant. “Are you okay, baby?”

“I’m fine thanks to this idiot. Instead of calling out a warning, he tackled me and earned a bullet for his trouble.”

“Where were you shot?” Seth asked.