The flight back to the States had been long and arduous. Loretta’s condition had deteriorated, and that scared the hell out of Zach. A red line running from her shin to her thigh indicated blood poisoning. Being a medic, he fully comprehended the danger and complications associated with her symptoms.
As they drove toward the hospital, she trembled and shivered against him. A pang of trepidation rippled along his veins. He ran a finger down the side of her face. So young, so vulnerable—life hadn’t really started for her yet, but could so easily end before it began. As a soldier he’d seen it many times.
Zach quashed his morbid thoughts like a bug underfoot and swept them away, but they kept forcing their way back. He’d been on tenterhooks the entire ride, so when the hospital lights came into view at last, he exhaled a sigh. “We’re at the hospital, you’ll feel better soon, I promise.”
Loretta didn’t respond, either too weak to reply or she was unconscious. He laid a hand to her brow yet again. She was as hot as a furnace. He lifted her eyelid with the pad of his thumb. Sapphire eyes, dull and glassy, stared back at him vacantly. His eyes welled and he blinked as he let her lid drift shut.
“How’s she doing, man?” Havoc spoke for the first time since getting into the car ten minutes ago.
“Bad. My guess is pneumonia and blood poisoning.” His voice was oddly calm, but inside his gut was roiling, unable to shake the feeling of impending doom.
“She’s tough like you, and won’t give up without a fight.”
“Talking about tough, how are you holding up, buddy?” Zach’s focus had been on Loretta, and he’d kind of neglected the big fellah. Sure he was resilient, and it wasn’t the first time he’d taken a bullet, but he’d taken this one rescuing Loretta. The other had been work, this was personal, so he owed him.
“I’m cool, don’t sweat it.” Havoc’s voice was labored as he brushed off his own predicament as inconsequential. That was typical, not much fazed him except perhaps being the center of attention, and Zach often wondered about that.
“Here we are.” Frosty shook him out of his reverie as he maneuvered the Hummer into a No Parking Zone near the emergency entrance. Ice, efficient as always, had left it at the airport for Frosty to ferry them to the hospital, together with instructions he’d meet them there.
Hawk jumped from the vehicle before it had come to a complete standstill. He, too, was twitchy over Loretta’s condition. But recalling Havoc’s implication, Zach had to force himself not to shove Hawk aside as he picked Loretta up.
“You didn’t waste any time getting here.” Ice materialized alongside the vehicle.
Frosty opened the door and stepped onto the bitumen. “Things have taken a nose dive since we last spoke. Havoc’s lost a tank of blood and there’s no telling which way that bullet ricocheted, and young Loretta, well, she’s in pretty rough shape.”
Ice opened the rear door for Havoc, who climbed from the vehicle with unsteady legs. His arm was offered for support, and after a brief but awkward pause the Aussie took it.
“Easy, big guy.”
“Tequila’s a bitch at altitude.” Havoc brushed off his lack of co-ordination as a drinking bout with an attempt at humor.
“It’ll do it to you every time.” Ice played along as they entered the hospital.
Once through the doors, everything happened in a whirlwind. Havoc was assessed and scheduled for surgery, placed on a gurney and wheeled away to the operating theatre. Loretta was taken to a treatment room. He and the guys were superfluous now, so left to cool their heels in the waiting room.
With nothing more to be gained by staying, Frosty went home to his wife and kids. Ice, itching to hear details of the mission, pelted Hawk with questions. And he was only too willing to share.
Zach left them to it and paced the corridor, his thoughts of the conflicting kind. Although fearful for his sister’s life, it was Beth’s features that swam before his eyes. Turbulent emotions warred as the intense feelings he harbored for her fought against his injured pride.
He wanted to jump a plane and shake her until her teeth rattled. Gone without a word after what they’d shared? It was callous. Not even a good-bye, or a care for her best friend. He stopped short of howling in frustration. He needed to be in two places at once. Duty won out.
He had just returned to the waiting room when a fresh-faced intern, who looked no older than a high school student, inquired, “Who’s responsible for Ms. Buchanan?”
“I am,” Hawk and he chorused simultaneously. In no mood, he flicked Hawk a what the fuck glare.
A dull flush crept up the kid’s neck and he stammered, “A-ah, ah, he is.”
The young intern, Dr. Montgomery, rolled his eyes and addressed Zach.
“We’re giving her fluids intravenously to re-hydrate her, and antibiotics to try and bring her temperature down and combat the blood poisoning. The wounds have been dressed, and I’ve ordered chest X-rays. You can go in and see her but only for a few minutes.”