Page 33 of Tango (Hunt Brothers Search & Rescue #4)

Tucker

T here haven’t been many moments in my life when I’ve been utterly and completely afraid.

In most high-risk moments, I’m relatively good at keeping my head.

But as I lie here, slowly bleeding to death from two bullet wounds to my abdomen, watching as Alice is marched toward a computer, tears streaming down her cheeks, I can honestly admit I’m terrified.

“You know what to do,” Darren orders.

Alice hesitates.

“Don’t do it,” I tell her. “They’re going to kill us anyway.”

Darren glares at me for a moment before crossing over and pressing the barrel of his gun into one of the bullet wounds. Pain shoots through my body, fire spreading through my veins and searing every inch of me.

I grind my teeth together, doing what I can to keep from yelling.

“Stop! Fine! I’ll do it!” Alice yells. She rushes toward me, but Ramiro, sporting a busted lip and broken nose, grabs her by the arm and pulls her back.

“He’s not playing around, Alice. Do what needs to be done so this can all be over. Don’t you want this to end?”

“With you dead, sure,” she snarls as she rips her arm free from Ramiro’s grip then slams her fist into his chin. “Touch me again, and I’ll make you regret it.”

He balls his hand into a fist and starts toward her, but Darren whistles. “Knock it off. Your lovers’ quarrel can wait. Do what I’ve asked, Alice, or I’ll put a bullet right here.” He presses the weapon to my temple.

I stare at her, urging her to ignore him and do what’s right.

But I see the defeat in her tear-filled crystal gaze.

“Fine. Apply pressure to his wounds, and I’ll do it.”

Darren grins. “Fair enough. Ramiro, you do the honors. I imagine causing Hunt some pain will bring you joy.”

“Not a problem.” Ramiro crosses the floor, his gaze murderous.

How this guy is related at all to Frank, I’ll never understand.

He kneels where Darren was crouching only seconds ago, then shreds two pieces of fabric from the bottom part of my shirt, balls them up, and presses them to both of my wounds with far more pressure than necessary.

I choke on a groan, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much pain I’m in. Every second that passes, my body grows colder. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, I’m not going to last long enough to do anyone any good.

Tears burn in my eyes, so I close them.

Lord, please be with us. If I don’t survive, protect Alice. Please let Dylan find happiness, God. Please. I don’t want to die, but if it’s my time, let Your will be done. But, please, please save them.

I open my eyes right as Alice turns toward the computer.

“Good girl,” Darren mutters as Alice begins typing on the keyboard.

He hovers over her, and she turns to glare at him. “I work better when someone isn’t breathing on my neck.”

He presses the barrel of the gun to her back. “I don’t care. I’m going to watch and make sure you do it.”

“I didn’t realize you knew how to do anything but shoot people.” Her tone is sweet but laced with venom, and it brings a half smile to my face.

That’s my girl.

My girl.

Will I ever get the chance for that to be true?

Minutes tick by as Alice frantically works, and then—an explosion rattles the windows. My heart pounds. Yes. Thank You, Lord!

“What was that?” Darren demands.

I grin. “A family reunion.”

His cheeks redden as anger replaces the arrogant expression on his face.

“You keep working,” he orders Alice then turns toward Ramiro.

“Leave him to bleed out if necessary. Watch her, and make sure she does what I need her to do. The rest of you, with me.” Darren rushes toward the exit while Ramiro leaves me and withdraws his weapon.

He moves in right behind Alice, the gun in his hand.

As soon as he’s close enough, Alice spins and slams her forearm into his, knocking the gun to the ground.

“You stupid, stupid woman!” he yells as he reaches for her. She brings her leg up and kicks him between the legs. Ramiro falls forward as Alice dives for the gun.

I crawl toward her, unable to stay where I am and watch but unable to do much, either, given I’ve lost the use of my legs and most of the feeling in my body. Breathing is a struggle, but I have to get to her.

Ramiro grips her leg and pulls her forward. She falls, forehead hitting the ground. But she twists in his hold and slams her booted foot into his face. Bone crunches, and he falls still.

Alice gets the gun and holds it up at him, her hand shaking. When he remains still, she sprints over toward where I’ve fallen, unable to move any farther.

“You need to hang on, okay?” Tears in her eyes, she applies pressure to the wounds on my stomach. There’s no telling how much damage the bullet did, but even if it was a through-and-through, the blood loss is so substantial; I don’t see myself getting out of this alive.

“I need you to know that I?—”

“No, Tucker Hunt. You keep those final words to yourself.”

I smirk. “How did you know they were going to be final?” Every single word is labored, every one taking more energy than I have.

“Because I’ve seen enough movies.” She sits down, weapon at her side, and cradles my head in her lap as she applies pressure with her hands. “You better not die on me.”

“Make sure Dylan is okay.”

“You’ll make sure he’s okay,” she replies, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t want to know what it’s like to go back to a life without you in it.”

Spots invade my vision, and what little feeling I still have in my body fades. “I—” But before I can finish, speaking becomes impossible, and the world fades away.