Chapter 35

thirty-five

ALEX

I threw on my backpack and ran into the garage. Dylan already had the snowmobile halfway out the door. Grabbing the other side, I pulled hard, yanking it clear of the garage.

Dylan shoved my helmet into my hands. “I called Jeremy. The two SUVs belong to the FBI. Someone from the Haqani Army is on their way here. Liam and Jeremy are waiting for us at the ranger’s house.”

“Why don’t we stay here with the special agents?”

“It’s too dangerous.” Dylan sat on the snowmobile and started the engine. “Are you ready?”

I nodded and pulled on the helmet. “Let’s go.” As soon as I was seated, Dylan opened the throttle and flew toward the back of the property. When we drove past the first trees, I looked over my shoulder.

The headlights of the two trucks were close to the house. Dylan swerved to the left, and I tightened my hold on him. I didn’t know where he learned to drive a snowmobile, but he wasn’t wasting any time. Snow rose behind us, spraying like a waterfall through the air. We zigzagged through the trees, keeping as close as possible to the route we’d chosen.

The ranger’s house was close. The abandoned home would give us shelter, warmth, and a place to rest until we knew what was happening. I didn’t know how long we’d be there, but it was better than navigating the roads at this time of the afternoon.

Dylan yelled something over his shoulder, but I couldn’t work out what he’d said. My grip tightened around his waist as he veered to the right, steering the snowmobile away from the house.

Where was he going?

We headed into another clump of trees. I flinched, feeling the sting of a branch as it whipped past my shoulder. More branches scraped my helmet.

Pain exploded in my arm. I glanced at my jacket, expecting to see torn fabric.

Blood.

The red stain grew, and the pain tripled. Clenching my jaw, I desperately clung to Dylan, hoping he’d turn toward the house soon. Without warning, he veered left, pushing the snowmobile hard across the snow-covered ground.

Taking a deep breath, I ignored the sweat stinging my eyes. Every bump jarred my arm, sending a hot spear of pain through my body. I concentrated on Dylan and holding onto him.

We circled back to the ranger’s house. I sighed with relief. This time, Dylan stayed on course. Keeping the throttle open, he hurtled across the property, only slowing when we were hidden behind the house.

As soon as we stopped, Dylan jumped off the seat. “I saw someone in the...” He looked at my arm, then into my eyes. Before I’d taken my next breath, he grabbed hold of me and helped me off the snowmobile. “Hold on. I’ll get you inside.”

The back door banged open. Jeremy rushed down the stairs. “What happened?”

“I’ve been shot,” I told him.

As soon as we were inside, Dylan led me into the kitchen. “Sit on the floor while I get the trauma kit.”

Jeremy lifted my backpack off my shoulders. “We need to see how much damage the bullet has done.”

I leaned forward as Jeremy carefully removed my jacket. I moved my arm and nearly passed out from the pain.

Dylan rushed back into the room. “I saw someone in the trees. I didn’t know they had a gun.” He glanced at my arm. “I’ll need more than a pressure bandage.”

Hunting through the trauma kit, he pulled out a large sterile packet. “This should stop the bleeding.”

Jeremy pulled out his satellite phone. “I’ll call 9-1-1. We need to get you to the hospital.”

“Ask them to send the rescue helicopter.” Dylan ripped off the packet’s seal and pulled out a syringe.

I hated needles almost as much as I hated being shot. The syringe in Dylan’s hand was about the same size and shape of my worst nightmares.

“What’s that?” I asked.

Dylan held it against my arm. “It’s called an XStat syringe. The small sponges expand inside your arm. Within a few seconds, they’ll seal off the wound.”

“Have you used one before?”

Dylan’s worried blue eyes connected with mine. “I’ve seen medics use them. It’s either this or risk bleeding to death.”

I nodded and looked away.

“This will hurt, but whatever you do, don’t move. ”

I braced myself against the cupboards. If I thought the pain couldn’t get worse, I was wrong. Dylan plunged the syringe into my arm, forcing the sponges deep into the wound. Pain exploded inside my body. I yelled, cussing worse than I’d ever done in my life.

When it was finally over, sweat ran down my face, and I wanted to vomit.

“It’s done.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Dylan held onto my wrist, his fingers cold against my skin. “How do you feel?”

“Sore.”

Gently, Dylan touched the side of my face. “It’ll be all right.”

From where I was sitting, it didn’t seem like it.

Jeremy moved from the kitchen window. “There’s a delay with the helicopter, but they’ll send it as soon as possible. Liam’s arrived.”

The special agent ran into the kitchen. He took one look at me and frowned. “Where did you last see the shooter?”

Dylan took a sling out of the trauma kit. “He was about five hundred yards north of the house.”

Liam pulled out his phone. “My team will be here in about fifteen minutes. I’ll go outside and help Connor.”

I tried to focus on what was happening, but everything blurred around the edges.

Dylan held my hand. “Take these painkillers. They might help.” He dropped two pills into my palm. “Do you need water?”

I started to shake my head, but the whole world tilted at a strange angle. “I don’t feel too good.” The last thing I saw was Dylan’s anxious glance at Jeremy.

I was in trouble, and I knew it.