Hostile Ground (The Arsenal #7) - Cara Carnes Page 0,21
aren’t. But you will be.” How many times had they had this exchange as children?
It’d usually been her that was injured—she was smaller than most of the people she fought, and she was female. Neither of those facts boded well in hand-to-hand combat. He’d always remained at her side, offering comfort no matter how bad the pain was.
What was that song he’d hum?
The melody slid from the mental vault she’d locked the past away in. Kristof settled his hand atop the one she held at his neck and smiled.
Smiled.
Pain rushed across his handsome face, but the forced upturn of his full lips remained. Crazy idiot was doing what he’d always done whenever he got hurt at the camp—pretended he wasn’t hurting so she wouldn’t worry.
Pull your shit together, Addy. You aren’t back there, and he needs you.
“The facility isn’t far,” Gavriil said. “They require payment up front. I can cover the cost for now.”
Payment? Disapproval rumbled through Addy as she glared at Gavriil. Money was the last thing he should be worried about. Blood soaked Addy’s hands and clothes.
Both vehicles came to a stop a few minutes later. Everyone exited the first vehicle. Two of the armed men approached the second vehicle while the other three fanned out and established a perimeter.
“Gage’s team is almost there,” Zoey said. “Nolan’s is assisting with the hunt. Marshall’s is also en route. Authorities are at the club now.”
Addy exited first. Kristof moved toward the door but tumbled forward against her when he stood. Arms wrapped around him, she supported his weight until Gavriil appeared and lifted him away from her.
The nondescript building didn’t look like a hospital. No ambulances or signage denoted what resided within. She supported Kristof’s weight from her left side, but the man leaned heavily on Gavriil, who’d taken sentry on his other side.
“Secure the entrance. No one enters,” Gavriil ordered two of his armed men as the double doors leading into the location swooshed open.
Staff in medical scrubs appeared and maneuvered Kristof onto a gurney. Her gaze swept the interior and halted when she spotted a surveillance camera.
“On it,” Zoey said. “We’ll have full access shortly.”
“Wait here,” a woman said.
Addy drew her weapon and glared. “I go where he goes.”
The woman’s lips pursed as she glanced at the weapon. “Very well. Come.”
Relieved they intended to see to him immediately rather than wait while payment was made, Addy calmed. Blood coated her hands, arms, and torso. Gavriil fell into step beside her as she followed the gurney and the staff working on Kristof.
She hovered nearby as the medical staff assessed him. No one attempted to ban her from the small area, but the rapid-fire Russian coming from the doctor as he drew back from Kristof and removed his gloves pooled dread in her gut.
Surgery.
She’d caught the word a couple times. Two nurses maneuvered the gurney from the room. Addy followed.
“Perhaps you should put your gun away,” he suggested. “He’ll come to no harm here.” Gavriil drew to a halt outside double swinging doors and gripped her upper arm when the gurney disappeared behind them. When Kristof disappeared.
Worry pitched her stomach and quickened her pulse. She shoved from Gavriil’s grasp and followed through the double doors. “I don’t know you. I don’t trust you.”
“Kristof does. That’s enough. Put the gun away, Iriana.”
Iriana. It was as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her head. Reality slammed to the forefront. The only way to keep Kristof safe was to do her damned job. Addy glared at the man as she holstered the weapon.
“I have access to their surveillance, computers, and phone lines,” Zoey said. Which meant she could watch over Kristof. But would she? She wasn’t exactly his biggest fan.
No. Everyone at The Arsenal would keep him safe because that’s what they did. She closed her eyes and let the chatter in the com ease some of the worry. Kristof had teams of Arsenal operatives at his back. He’d be okay.
“Establishing overwatch on rooftop via rear stairwell once it’s open,” someone said in the com. She didn’t recognize the voice.
“Done,” Jesse said. “Gavriil’s men have the front covered. Focus on the back. Nolan’s team will fan out and provide perimeter coverage in the front.”
Hearing the plan via the com in her ear left Addy able to focus on the interior. On Kristof. The gurney was pulled into a surgical room of some