Killian (Hope City #8) - Kris Michaels Page 0,75
closed her eyes in relief. When the newscast went to commercial, the entire set burst into applause. She drew a shaky breath and acknowledged her coworkers’ praise. Landon jogged down the steps and grabbed her as she stood up. “That will launch you into a major market!” He spun her around. She laughed and they all quieted as the production assistant started the count back into the newscast. They tiptoed out of the stage area and into the hallway where Brody waited for her. The expression on his face dropped her smile immediately. “What happened?”
“We need to go. Now.” He slapped her purse into her gut and spun her.
She grabbed at it and his arm for support and to stop him from moving. “Go where?”
“The hospital. Seems the Russians made a move tonight.”
“Where? Who?”
“The Pinnacle. Killian is in surgery. Can we go now?” Brody wrapped his arm around her waist and propelled her through the doors into the night and straight toward his SUV that he’d parked illegally in front of the station.
“Wait, Brody, tell me what happened.” He all but lifted her into the truck and ran around the vehicle to the driver’s side door. “Brody! Damn it, tell me!”
“Put on your seatbelt.” He threw the vehicle into gear and hit the gas. Bekki grappled with the seatbelt as Brody began to talk. “Zamparelli and another man, one we haven’t identified yet, went to the build site. From what we can tell, they blew up the trailer. Duke was tranqed, but he’s fine now. Amber and Gage went to go get him from Blay. The dog can stay with us until Killian is back on his feet.”
Icy dread drenched her in a waterfall of panic. It took several seconds to pull enough air into her lungs to absorb what Brody just said and ask, “Why is Killian in surgery? The explosion?”
“No, he was shot. From what Blay told me, the bullet tore up his hip. Blay said he lost a lot of blood and the EMTs transported him to the hospital, although he was in police custody at the time.”
“Shot? Oh, my God! How bad? Why was he arrested? Damn it, Brody, talk to me! Tell me what’s happening!” Bekki grabbed the ‘oh shit’ bar and braced her toes and high heels against the floorboard when Brody took a corner on practically two wheels.
“I’m trying to, Bekki. Now listen, when they arrived, he was beating Zamparelli with a metal bar. The guy is fucked up, and he’s going to be hurting for a long time, but he’ll live long enough for us to put him in jail for the rest of his life.”
She slammed on the brakes even though she wasn’t driving and closed her eyes, not wanting to see the truck crash into the car that pulled out in front of them. “God, no, please let me get to the hospital. Please.” When it didn’t happen, she opened one eye and asked, “Do you know where he was shot? How bad is it? Anything? I mean, if he was attacking the other man, it couldn’t be too bad, could it?” She was grasping at straws. She needed to have something solid to hang onto. Something to give her hope.
“I told you, his hip. I don’t know anything more. I’m sorry. I’ll get you there as fast as I can.”
“Okay. Okay.” She nodded and searched the dashboard as her mind went over and over the words Brody had thrown at her. She snapped her attention to her brother. “Who was the third man?”
“Don’t know. It’s still an active crime scene. Kallie and Grant pulled the case, so we’ll get updates as quickly as possible.” Brody accelerated up the ramp to the freeway.
She breathed a sigh of relief that there was hardly any traffic. She patted around for her purse, but it had slipped to the floor. “Damn it. I can’t get to my purse. Has anyone called Killian’s brothers?”
“I called Ryker. He’s making those calls.”
She nodded and closed her eyes when Brody changed lanes. “Please don’t kill us before we get to the hospital.”
Brody snorted, “You are the worst backseat driver.”
“I just want to see Killian before I die.” Tears dripped over her lower lashes. Killian had been shot. Dear God, no. She braced again as he passed on the right.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you there. We’ll be there soon. Don’t lose it because then I will.” He weaved in and out of cars and cut through two lanes