SEAL's RESOLVE - Rebecca Deel Page 0,104
as possible.”
As the medic gave his update, sirens sounded in the distance. “Eli?” He helped Kristi sit up, wrapped his uninjured arm around her, and kissed her temple. If Rafe had been one second slower, Ward would have shot her. He shuddered. Too close.
“We’re clear. Ward’s men are restrained, and Adam Walker’s team will be gone before the police arrive.”
Good. Rafe didn’t want Phantom unit to be tied down answering questions about their role in this operation.
“Jackson, is Stewart stable enough for you to check Rafe?” Eli asked.
“I’m fine,” Rafe muttered with a scowl. The weakness swamping his body would pass. Probably.
“He’ll hold until the EMTs take over,” Jackson said.
As soon as the medic strode into the kitchen with his mike bag, Kristi asked, “How’s Dad?”
“Holding his own for the moment. I used pressure bandages to control the bleeding.”
“Internal injuries?” Rafe asked. He blinked hard to push back the darkness crowding the edges of his vision. Sprawling flat for a minute to catch his breath sounded like a great idea.
Jackson gripped his shoulder. “I want to see your arm.”
“I’m fine,” Rafe groused. He shrugged off the medic’s hold and listed to the side as the world tilted.
“Rafe!”
Kristi’s arms tightened around him, but she couldn’t hold his weight and he didn’t want to hurt her. “Somebody kick Ward in the ribs for me.”
“You already put a bullet through his shoulder. That will hurt him longer than a kick to the ribs. Lay down before you face plant in front of your woman,” Jackson snapped, taking Rafe’s weight and easing him to the floor.
Sweet relief rolled through his body. “Check Kristi first. Ward hit her more than once.”
“You’re the one bleeding all over the floor. I need to see how much damage the knife did.”
“Lucky swipe.”
“Yeah, sure.” The medic glanced over his shoulder to Eli. “Help me roll Rafe onto his side.”
Rafe braced himself but the wave of pain almost did him in. He fought off the darkness with grim determination, breathing deep.
Jackson whistled. “Some swipe. Kristi’s right. You need stitches, buddy.”
“Just tape it. I’ll be fine.”
“Ha. You wish. I’ll clean your arm and use butterfly bandages to hold the wound closed, but you’re going to the hospital with Kristi and her father.”
“Hurry up, then check Kristi.” He flinched when Jackson cleaned his arm with antiseptic wipes. “Where’s Adams?” he asked Eli.
“Waiting out front for the police. Jon?”
“They’re three minutes out.”
“Come join the party.”
“Copy.”
“How did Adams do out there?” Rafe asked Eli.
“He impressed the boss enough that Maddox scheduled him for an interview in two days.”
Two minutes later, Jackson sat back, medical detritus littering the floor. “That’s all I can do for now. Stay on your back unless you want to embarrass yourself by passing out.” He looked at Kristi. “Which side did Ward kick?”
“The bruised side.”
He scowled and grabbed a chemically-activated cold pack. After shaking it, he handed the pack to Kristi. “Place that against your lip.”
“Cops and ambulances are here,” Adams announced through the comm system.
“Copy that.” Eli stood. “Do what you can for Kristi, Jackson. We’ll be knee-deep in twitchy law enforcement in a minute. I’ll hold them off as long as I can.”
“Yes, sir.” By the time several officers with weapons drawn stormed into the room, Jackson had finished checking Kristi for injuries. The medic kept his hand on her shoulder to hold her in place. “Stay down,” he murmured.
“I want to see Dad.”
“If you go, Rafe will drag himself upstairs with you. Do him a favor, and stay where you are.” He patted her shoulder. “I’ll go to the hospital with you and update you on his condition.”
Eli strode into the room with another cop. “Our medic has to go with the vics to the hospital.”
A frown. “Our paramedics are well trained.”
“We aren’t sure that our principal is safe. Her boyfriend is injured and won’t accept treatment unless she’s protected.” Eli gave the cop an easy smile. “It’s how we operate. You’d do the same for one of your witnesses, Lt. Sloan.”
The lieutenant rubbed his jaw. “All right. One of my officers will follow the ambulance and help with protection until the detectives finish questioning the rest of you. After that, your principal’s protection is on you. We’re a small department with a limited budget.”
“We’ll handle the security.” Eli tipped his head toward Ward. “Hugh Ward is the man behind all the trouble tonight.”
Sloan’s eyebrows winged up. “Huh. We’ve never had trouble out of the Wards. Sounds like an interesting story, Wolfe.”
“Complete with multiple players with their