Page 99 of When He Defends

“You followed orders.”

Her gaze jumped to his.

“I knew you would,” he said. “Because when it’s life and death, you trust me.”

“You should stay still.You shouldn’t have fired. Shouldn’t have moved at all! Gray, dammit, if you have a spinal injury, you could be hurting yourself more. Paralyzing yourself! You have to look afteryourself?—”

“Not when your life is on the line.I look after you.Don’t care what risk I have to take, I’ll always fight for you.”

She wanted to crush her mouth to his. Wanted to hold him desperately. But…

He has to get stabilized. No more movements.

“I’ve had worse,” Gray told her. “I’m gonna befine.”

“You’d better be,” Emerson replied as she blinked away tears. “Because I love you.”

His eyes widened.

“Love isn’t real!”Hannah yelled. “It doesn’t last. They swear they’ll love you forever, but they don’t. It’s. Not. Real!”

Emerson did not look away from Gray. “Yes, it is.” The way she felt for Gray was the most real thing in her life.

More footsteps. Rylan appeared. Followed immediately by guards wearing the resort’s uniform.

“Thank goodness!” Hannah called out. “These people are crazy! Martin, Fletcher!” she rattled off the names of the guards—names clearly displayed on the badges near their hearts. “Take them into custody. Take their weapons away!”

Martin and Fletcher didn’t move. Rylan rushed forward, with his gun out. “They know we’re FBI,” he said flatly. “AndIknow you drugged me last night.”

Gray sat up fully. Winced.

Emerson’s fingers fluttered over his shoulders. “Gray. Stay still!”

“I’m okay. Do what you need to do.”

What she needed to do was get him secured.

“Go, Emerson,” he urged. “I’m not the one dying.” Grim.

She looked over her shoulder.

Justin’s body bucked. Shuddered.

“He doesn’t have long,” Gray rasped.

Her shoulders squared. “We need a transport out here!” Emerson’s voice rang out even as she jumped toward Justin. She had to stop the blood flow. Assess the damage. “Need transport for our vics, and Rylan, you make sure Gray doesnotget off that ground, understand me? He’s getting secured and his spine checked out, stat.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Gray begin to rise.

“If you love me,” she snarled at him, “you will follow orders and keep that assdown.”

Gray…kept that ass down.

Her head whipped toward him.

“Yes, ma’am,” he told her.

Yes…as in…he loved her?