a sudden, violent shift in the air. A heavy weight slammed into

ainst a solid wall of muscle. The world spun out of control as th

of the impact, his back slamming into the railing. But the arm around her never loosened

ent echoed in the concrete shaft, mixed with a low

denly, it

face pressed into the collar of his uniform. She could smell the sharp tang o

ened h

in the crook of her neck. He was heavy, his dead weig

whispered, her

est. He shifted slightly, propping himself up on his forearms. His

first thing he did was look at her. His gaze swept

asked. His voice

r heart was racing so fast she thought it might burst. The

door burst open. Heavy boo

a halt on the landing above them. He took in the scene-his superior officer ly

s heels, holding his right arm against his chest. The shoulder of his uniform

rked, his voice hoa

exit," Bell reported, his face grim.

stand, but his legs buckled. Bell lunged f

u need a

ell, swaying slightly. He looked down at Caroline, who was still sitting o

pping down his face from a cut on his forehead, and he was giving orders. He had just thrown himself

ell asked, offerin

ll, her eyes still on Romero. He was leaning against the ra

ted, her voice crac

irs. "Lock down the hospital. No one gets in or out. I want a full rev

octors-" Be

ing at her, climbing the stairs with a rigid, pained gait. "Get her to safety. And Bell," he added,

e in her chest. She wanted to say something-thank you,

Doctors and nurses were rushing around, MPs were shouting

le. "Oh my god, Caroline! Are you o

she wasn't fine. She was shaking, her teeth

an arm around her shoulders. "L

eak room, Caroline collapsed onto the couch, her legs finally g

enna said, dabbing at the

ed in pain. "

a taped a gauze pad over it and sat down nex

s eyes, the feel of the scalpel against her skin, the

.. I saw his shoes. And the way he held

noticed his shoes? While

re," Caroline said.

ou know that? The rumor mill is already going crazy. They're

ll there, stronger now. "He did. He just... wrapped

shoulder is a mess. Probably fractured his scapula

of her. He had sacrificed his body to protect

said gently. "You're in sho

ine said, her voice holl

What kind

dried blood on her neck. "A date. I have t

ine, you were just held host

f to walk toward the door. "If I don't go, my mother will call the hospital. She'll call Cromwell. She'll make a scene that will echo through these halls for a month. I ca

fter her in disbelief. She walked past the guards, past th

sassin. Now she had to