SEAL's RESOLVE - Rebecca Deel Page 0,103
for her to get going with his gun, making her stomach twist into a knot. She circled the sofa as Hugh rebooted the laptop.
Kristi pressed her arm against her ribs and walked to the kitchen. The room was dark. She forced herself to continue moving deeper into the room.
“Need to turn on a light in here,” Fleming muttered.
“Drop,” Rafe whispered.
Kristi hit the floor a second later, pain stealing her breath. Behind her came a choking sound, a scuff of boot, then silence.
A moment later, Rafe dropped to his knees beside Kristi. He laid his hand on her back. “Let’s get you to safety.”
“I can’t leave Dad.”
“Jackson and Cal are with him. Can you sit up?”
She nodded. Pain ricocheted through her body as she shifted position. When she was finally upright, Rafe had to steady her.
A shot rang out in the living room.
Rafe slid one arm behind Kristi’s back and one under her knees. “This will hurt,” he murmured, and lifted her.
Kristi couldn’t stifle the moan. She’d never hurt this bad in her life.
“I’m sorry, baby.” Rafe started toward the back door.
“Not so fast,” Hugh snapped, and turned on the light.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Rafe froze. Resolve hardened his jaw. No matter what the cost to himself, he wouldn’t allow Ward to get his hands on Kristi again. “Where’s Hale?” he whispered. Did he have two men to worry about or just Ward?
“No longer a problem,” the sniper replied.
“Put Kristi down and step away,” Ward ordered. “Don’t try anything, Rafe. I have a gun pointed at you. Since I haven’t had as much practice as you, I might hit Kristi by accident. You don’t want that to happen.”
Rafe crouched and lowered Kristi to the floor. “Lay flat,” he whispered.
She gripped his hand. “We’ll face him together.”
“Trust me.”
“Step away,” Ward repeated.
Once Kristi complied with his request, Rafe stood and turned, keeping his body between Ward and Kristi. “Put down your weapon, Ward. You can’t win this.”
“Kristi’s my ticket to wealth. I don’t need you.”
Rafe inched closer to his target. “If you want the money, you deal with me.”
“You have nothing I want. You’re a washed up soldier with minutes to live.”
“I have her account number and password. I’ll give them to you in exchange for her life.”
Ward’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe you. She wouldn’t trust me with that information, and I’ve been friends with her for years. You’re wasting my time.” He aimed the barrel of his weapon at Rafe’s chest. “On your knees.”
Kristi drew in a ragged breath. “Hugh, don’t. I’ll give you the money. Just don’t kill him.”
Rafe got on his knees, angling his body to keep his right hand hidden from Ward’s view. He slowly reached for his weapon.
Ward scowled at Kristi. “He’s a killer for hire and after your money.”
“Your contempt for Rafe is ironic since you want my trust fund for yourself.”
Rafe’s hand wrapped around the grip of his Sig.
Rage filled Ward’s eyes. “I’ve had enough of your smart mouth.” He shifted the aim of his weapon to Kristi. “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll take what I need from the company accounts. No one will question the new CEO of Stewart Group.”
As Ward squeezed the trigger, Rafe threw himself in front of Kristi and fired his own weapon. The bullet from Ward’s gun slammed into Rafe’s vest, tossing him against the woman he loved. Ward dropped the floor, groaning as he clutched his right shoulder and cursing.
Rafe dragged in a painful breath. Getting shot in the chest hurt, even with the vest for protection. “Ward’s down,” he murmured. He staggered to the fallen man, stripped Ward of his weapon, and frisked him for more. Finding nothing, Rafe returned to Kristi. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “He shot you.”
“He was aiming for you.” He glared at the cursing man. “Ward’s lucky I didn’t kill him.”
“How bad are you hurt?” Jackson snapped.
“Bullet hit my vest.”
“Other injuries?”
“They’ll wait.”
Kristi’s hand clamped over Rafe’s forearm. “You’re injured?”
“A scratch on my arm. I’m more concerned about you. Ward beat you.”
“I want to see your arm.”
Rafe turned for Kristi to examine the injury making itself felt along the back of his left arm. Now that the firefight was over and Kristi was safe, the pain in Rafe’s arm took precedence over the ache in his chest.
She gasped. “You need stitches. You’ve lost a lot of blood, too. Your left side is covered with blood.”
“I’ll have it checked later. Jackson, status on Stewart?”
“An ambulance will arrive soon. I’ve stabilized Stewart for now, but he needs surgery as soon