“Satisfied?” Lynch asked curtly. “Now let me get a better look at this wound.”
Satisfied? She couldn’t sort out her emotions at this moment. Too much had happened in too short a time. And most of it had happened since Lynch had erupted on the scene. She couldn’t get her breath as she looked down at Dyle. Dead. Brutally, horribly dead. Jaden, who had tried to kill her, with the bullet hole in his forehead … So many dead …
She looked down at the fiery wreck of the helicopter engulfed in flames on the desert floor. There were almost certainly dead down there, too.
But not Waldridge or Lynch or Jessie. Safe. All these people she cared about were safe.
She moistened her lips. “You really know how to make an entrance, Lynch. I’m impressed.”
Lynch didn’t answer, his hands swiftly bandaging the wound.
“You were…” She didn’t have a word to describe that savagely efficient carnage. “Unusual.”
“Not really. I was angry, and I wanted it over fast, or you would have seen unusual. I wanted to cut Dyle’s heart out.” He’d finished putting the temporary bandage on the wound. “I think this is just a flesh wound. The bullet seems to have gone right through it. We’ll get you to a hospital to confirm it.”
She looked at Waldridge, who was leaning on Jessie as they topped the embankment. “I have to go see if Charles is—”
“No. He wasn’t the one who was shot. You worry about you. You can bond with him later.” He helped her to her feet. “Right now, we’re out of here before Griffin arrives and keeps you here answering difficult questions.”
“I can answer questions.” She looked at the bodies. “I think.”
He shook his head. “No.” He called, “Jessie!”
Jessie looked across at them. “Waldridge is okay, Lynch. Cut on his head. And just a little bruised and stiff.”
“Take care of him. Griffin will be here any minute and will be whisking him away. Go with them and make certain he goes to a hospital and gets a clean bill of health.”
Jessie’s gaze shifted to Kendra. “You’re certain she’s all right?”
“Fine,” Kendra said. “Dyle injected Charles with something. Make sure they didn’t do any damage.”
“I told you they didn’t, Kendra,” Waldridge said. “Believe me, dammit.”
She smiled. “It doesn’t hurt to check.”
“They’ll check,” Lynch said curtly as he slid his arm around her waist and propelled her up the ridge to the helicopter. “Call me later and report, Jessie.”
“I will. Last duty, Lynch.” She grimaced. “Actually, a freebie since I’ll be out of the desert by that time. No orders after I leave the desert, remember?”
“I remember.” He glanced over his shoulder. “But while you’re here, you might rush Griffin along so that he won’t dwell on what happened here. I’ve been trying to convince him that I’ve mellowed since the time when I worked at the Bureau.”
“Mellowed? I think you’ve blown that. I’ll do what I can.” She looked down at the desert floor. “I hear them coming. You’d better get out of here.” She turned to Waldridge. “Come on. I’ll give you a hand, and we’ll go meet them. It will give Lynch a little extra time.”
A few minutes later, Lynch was lifting Kendra into the passenger seat of the helicopter, then jumping in himself.
She leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. The adrenaline of the past day was ebbing away, and she felt weak, shaky.
“What’s wrong?” Lynch said fiercely. “Tell me. Was I wrong about that wound? You’re not going to leave me now, Kendra.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m just having a few aftereffects from one hell of a day.” She opened her eyes. “The wound isn’t anything that—” She stopped as she met his eyes. She inhaled sharply. “But I’m not the only one who’s having aftereffects, am I? God, I’m sorry, Lynch.”
“You should be.” His voice was uneven. “About a lot of things you’ve done recently. We’ll eventually go into all of them in detail. But right now I need a few moments to realize that you’re alive and not dead. Come here.” He took her in his arms and held her tight, his face buried in her hair. “Just be quiet, okay? Let me have this time.”
She didn’t want to speak. She felt so close to him in this moment. She’d had no time to dwell on the thought of life or death since the moment she’d been taken. It had been all action and survival. But the people who cared about her had that time. Lynch had that time. Her arms tightened around him. She wanted to give to him, take away those bitter hours of worry. She couldn’t do it.
All she could do was hold him through this terribly vulnerable moment for him.
“That’s all. I’m done.” He cleared his throat and released her. “Now I’m back to normal.” He started the helicopter. “Which might or might not be good for you. We’ll have to see, won’t we?” The helicopter lifted off. “But you don’t close your eyes again until I get you to that hospital. I’m not having it.”
CHAPTER
19
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego