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Intensive Care Crisis
“Four hundred pounds should do it.”
Her mind went blank. As soon as he let go of her, the cables stretched, the weights slapped into place and lifted her several inches off the floor.
She dangled in midair, unable to breathe. She kicked and squirmed.
Pain ripped through her. Her neck felt like it was about to separate from her body.
Please, God. Help. I’m not ready—
The bald, gold-jewelry-draped goon smirked. “No use fighting it, babe.”
He crossed his arms and watched her struggle with frightening impassivity. His was the last face she’d ever see. A cruel, evil being taking delight in her fight to cling to life.
Her lungs strained for oxygen. A familiar sensation.
Was he the same one who’d attempted to strangle her at the hospital?
Audrey grew light-headed. Her thoughts became disjointed.
She ceased moving. The agony was too great.
She closed her eyes and concentrated on her dad’s face. He’d loved her well. She would die thinking about him, not the end of unfulfilled dreams.
* * *
Julian left the flashy car and mystery man behind and was retracing his steps when a redhead burst through the gym’s side door, her face a white mask of disbelief. Her frantic gaze locked onto him.
“Audrey,” she gasped, chest heaving. “Two men... I—I—”
He gripped her shoulders. “Go to the office and call the police.”
“Police.” Her throat convulsed. “Right.”
“Walk, don’t run. Act casual.” He jerked his head toward the Mercedes tucked close to the apartment-building entrance. “Avoid that area. Take the long way around the outdoor pool.”
“Okay.”
Julian couldn’t delay. He’d have to trust she would follow his instructions and avoid the man who might very well be the getaway driver. Unsheathing his weapon from the ankle holster beneath his pants, he entered the gym and searched the space behind the check-in counter. The tiny office was closed on the weekends, and the locked door suggested no one was inside.
His ears strained for sounds of struggle. The silence weighed on him. Blanking his mind to possible implications, he left the counter area and passed the water fountains and childcare room. Up ahead, treadmills and elliptical machines were parked in front of mounted televisions. There were no mirrors in that section that could give him a glimpse of Audrey’s situation.
The adrenaline priming his body for confrontation left no room for fear. His training ruled his actions and decisions. So when a suited man turned the corner and headed straight for him, Julian fired two shots without blinking, one for each kneecap.
Curses blistered the air as the man went down. Quickly divesting the man of his single weapon, Julian flattened against the wall and peered around the corner. Kneecap Guy’s cohort was on his way to investigate. That didn’t faze him.
What caused ice-cold dread to spread through him was the sight of Audrey’s limp form dangling from the weight station. He couldn’t be too late. Not again.
Stepping fully into the exercise area, he trained his weapon and shot the man’s gun hand. Hissing in agony, he dropped his weapon and, after a second’s indecision, escaped through the side door.
Julian kicked the gun under a stack of barbells for the authorities to retrieve later. He reached Audrey and immediately took her weight, positioning her against his shoulder to lessen the tension on her neck. “Audrey, can you hear me?”
He glanced up into her motionless face. Her cheeks and lips still held the blush of color. A good sign. Images of the burning wreckage and the faces of his unresponsive team members poked at his composure. He had asked them the same question. Over and over until his voice had gone hoarse.
Can you hear me? Wake up. Hold on. The ambulance is coming.
He shook his head to dislodge the memories. Focus, Tan. Audrey’s life depends upon your actions.
Dragging a weight bench over with his foot, he positioned her shoes on the soft pad and, not letting go, climbed onto it and unwound the cables with one hand. The flutter of her heartbeat and small, panting breaths filled him with relief. He kept his ears open for foreign sounds. If the guy at the Mercedes was indeed part of the operation, he’d come to see what was taking his buddies so long.
Finally, when he had her free, he climbed down, hoisted her into his arms and dashed for the women’s bathroom. The locker rooms with toilet stalls were in the adjoining indoor-pool section. These consisted of one-room units with locks on the doors.
He yanked open the door, ignoring the responding ache in his injured wrist, and gently laid her on the tiles against the wall opposite the sink. After sliding the bolt into place, he returned to her side and did a quick scan for obvious injuries. He would’ve liked to hold her, to cushion her head in his lap, but he didn’t want to exacerbate any hidden injuries. Instead, he smoothed his fingers over her forehead and down her cheek.
His pulse raced when she arced toward the caress.
“Audrey, you’re safe now.”
A groan escaped her parted lips. She reached up and would’ve touched her throat, but he clasped her hand to prevent germs from entering the open scratches. There weren’t many. Mostly the welts were puffy and red. Her eyes flew open.
“Julian.” Her brow knitted. “How did we get in here?”
He explained about the thug outside with his flashy ride, as well as her volleyball teammate.
Terror filled her eyes. “Is Laney safe?”
“I sent her on a roundabout course to the office,” he explained. He couldn’t verify that her friend had reached her destination.
“Where are my attackers?”
“One fled on foot, and the other is incapacitated. There could be a third one who will help them evade authorities.” Julian made a quick call to the police. Disconnecting, he said, “Your friend made it to the office, because several units are already en route. We’ve been instructed to remain here until they say it’s safe to come out.”
Chest heaving, she started to sit up.
“Whoa, steady.” He moved to assist her, retracting his hand when she hissed in pain. “What’s wrong with your shoulder?”
Easing to a sitting position, she rested her head against the wall and balanced herself with both palms on the floor. “I got in the way of a barbell.”
Julian shifted closer and lifted her sleeve. The flesh was a mass of dark purple. Concealing a burst of anger, he said evenly, “You’ll need to get that examined.”
She gingerly rotated her shoulder and raised her arm up and down. “Doesn’t feel broken.”
“Still, I’m calling for an ambulance.” He took out his cell.
“No.” Her fingers closed over his wrist. “I’m not going to the hospital.”
The entreaty in her eyes was at odds with the militant angle of her chin.
“After what you’ve endured, you need to be evaluated by a physician. At the very least, you’ll need X-rays of that arm and shoulder.”
Her fingertips pressed into his pulse point. “This is personal, Julian. I want to decide who knows and who doesn’t. If I go there for treatment, every employee will be talking about it.”
A shiver ripped through her, and he noticed how cold her fingers were. Tucking away his cell, he covered her fingers with his hand and tried to warm them.
“I can take you to Wilmington.”
“I’m fine.” She studied his face and sighed. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll call Lincoln. He’s a surgeon and good friend.”
Julian refused to give voice to curiosity. Whether or not she had a boyfriend was none of his business. “Call him.”
“I’ll ask him to come to my apartment.”
“Make it my apartment.”
The protest brewing on her lips died a quick death. “I can’t stay in mine, can I?”
“Not anytime soon. You’re welcome to my guest bedroom as long as you need it.”
Her mouth twisted. “That would mean dragging you deeper into this. Putting you in harm’s way. I’ll go to a hotel—”
“I’m already in this with you.” The thought of Audrey facing these monsters alone was untenable. “I’ve thwarted the enemy’s plans. I’ve wounded two of their own. My name’s on the hit list along with yours.”
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “You did that for me.”
“I’d do it again if it meant saving you.”
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