“Fuck,” Trey muttered. He raised his voice, deepening the tone. “That’s official NSO orders. We have jurisdiction. We’re taking over the scene and your ambulance.” He pushed forward and stopped before Heather. “You are working for the NSO now until further notice. Let’s go. You heard him.”

Darkness glanced at Trey. The male shrugged. Both of them knew they were overstepping their bounds but he appreciated the male backing him up. Darkness inclined his head, acknowledging the debt.

“Tim and Justice are going to hand us our asses,” he muttered low enough that only Darkness could hear. “But what the hell. That’s your woman.”

Darkness stayed with Kat as they loaded her into the ambulance and drove her down the street. The helicopter had come down in a four-way intersection. Cars were lined up, traffic blocked. A lot of them were outside their cars. Darkness ignored them, yelling out orders for the paramedics to carry Kat to the helicopter. Heather looked frightened but she boarded with them.

Missy sat next to Book. He held her against his body, as if she had a hard time sitting upright without assistance. Two of their males had her pets on their laps. The dog looked fine but the kitten appeared terrified, its claws digging in Jinx’s vest. He petted its back, his face lowered, lips moving as if he talked to it.

Darkness took the floor after helping secure the backboard along the bench seat. He kept close to Heather since they couldn’t buckle in. He gripped the underside of the bench and glared at her.

“I’ll make sure you don’t fall. Keep your attention on Kat. Don’t let her die.” He had to speak loudly to be heard.

“This is insane!” she yelled. “She needs to be taken to a hospital.”

Trey closed the side door and crouched next to them, grabbing a strap since there was nowhere to sit. He snatched a headset, yelled at the pilot. “We’re a go. Fly like you’ve never flown before, Darren.”

The helicopter lifted straight up, fast. They banked hard. Darkness hooked an arm around Heather when she swayed but she fisted the sides of the backboard, clinging to it. He focused on Kat’s face. She was breathing but her complexion was too pale. She had to survive until they reached Homeland.

Heather drew his attention when she gripped his hand. He turned his head, peered at her. She moved it to her belt, making it clear he should hold her there. He fisted it at her spine. She opened her medical kit and began an IV. He admired her courage and skill as she worked under pressure.

Fury believed he’d been drawn to Kat because she was a brave female. He felt no attraction to Heather, despite her pleasing appearance. Memories of Kat surfaced. She’d drawn him like no other. It wounded him, seeing her lying on that backboard when other images were so fresh in his mind—her laughing and even glaring up at him in anger. Such life had sparked in her eyes.

He might never see that again or hear the sound of her voice. He’d be left with nothing except bitter reminiscences, knowing everything could have been different if he hadn’t denied how important she’d become to him. He’d wanted to protect her but he’d left her vulnerable instead. Emotions rose, almost drowning him in grief.

He fought to draw air, the pain crushing him from the inside. He wanted to roar out his rage at the unfairness of it. Part of him wanted to beat on something until his fists bled. Another part of him knew he’d never forgive himself if he lost her.

Don’t leave me, Kat. Don’t die. Keep fighting, he silently urged her. I’ll do anything if you just stay with me.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Why is it taking so long?” Darkness cradled his bleeding fist, ignoring the hole he’d just put in one wall.

Fury sighed. “Do you feel better? Allow Paul to bandage that. You’re going to slip on your own blood.”

Darkness refused to stop pacing. “They’ve had her for ten hours.”

“It takes time,” Fury reminded him. “You insisted on them giving her the healing drugs. They had to put her in deep sedation and stabilize her heart before they operated to stop the internal bleeding. No news is good news. It means she’s still alive.”

He halted. “Maybe they are afraid to tell me.”

Trey sipped his coffee. “I would be.”

“You’re not helping,” Ellie muttered.

“Would you want to tell him? He’s scary when he’s pacing and randomly striking out at walls.” Trey arched his eyebrows. “They’d tell you though. I was trying to lighten the mood. She’s hanging in there.”

“Why are you even here?” Darkness glared at the human.

“I want to know how your girlfriend is. I’m rooting for her.”

“Shouldn’t you be at the task force meeting?”

Trey hesitated. “I wasn’t invited. I’m suspended for a few days.”

“Tim suspended you?” Darkness growled. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Easy there,” Trey murmured. “You want someone to pulverize but it had nothing to do with you or what we did on scene last night.”

“Why are you suspended?” Fury frowned. “I haven’t heard anything about it.”

“It’s between Tim and me. I broke a rule of his. He’s pissed but he’ll get over it. I’m not saying anything more.” Trey grew quiet.

Darkness resumed pacing. Justice entered Medical and Darkness glared at him. “Do you have something to say to me?”