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  As soon as the jet stopped and the door opened, two muscle-bound men boarded and came to the back bedroom. “Need a stretcher, Nico?” Bruce asked.

  He shook his head. “I’ll carry her.” Sam had put Mercy’s arm in a sling to immobilize her shoulder during transport to the vet clinic.

  A nod from the former operative. “How many of your unit are staying with you?”

  “All of them. Our principal is a high-value target.”

  Speculation lit Bruce’s gaze. “We’ll set up cots in the back. Dr. Sorensen has been in touch with Sam so he’s aware of your patient’s condition and is ready.”

  Some of the tension left Nico’s body. “Good. I’ll bring her out in a minute. Make sure we don’t have company.”

  “Copy that.” The two men left the plane.

  Trace walked in. “I’ve got your Go bag. The others followed Bruce and Ken to the tarmac to provide security. Need help with her?”

  “The IV.” Nico looked down at Mercy to see her gaze locked on him. “Welcome back.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “We landed in Texas. We’re transporting you to a doctor who’s on retainer with Fortress. I’m going to carry you to the SUV.”

  She gave a slight nod and closed her eyes again.

  Praying he didn’t hurt her, Nico lifted Mercy into his arms, careful to avoid contact with her shoulder injury. He maneuvered her through the jet and down the stairs to the tarmac, trusting his teammates to do what was necessary to protect him and their vulnerable principal.

  He climbed into the backseat of one of the waiting SUVs and laid Mercy on the seat, sitting on the floor beside her to keep her from rolling off or to cover her with his body if trouble developed.

  Bruce parked behind the vet clinic at a private entrance and hurried to open the door for Nico.

  Scooping Mercy into his arms once again, Nico eased from the SUV and carried her into the clinic.

  “In here.” Ted Sorensen indicated the room to his right. “Lay her on the bed and take a break.”

  He shook his head. “I’d rather stay.”

  The cantankerous doctor scowled. “Tough. I don’t need an audience, and you need a shower and food. You won’t be any good to her if you collapse from neglecting yourself.”

  Nico scowled. “I won’t collapse.” Sorensen should know better than that.

  “Go, Nico. I’ll send someone for you if she needs you.”

  As he laid her on the examination table, Mercy opened her eyes again and stared at him. “I’ll be fine,” she murmured. “Take care of yourself.”

  “See?” Sorensen pointed at the door. “Out before I have Bruce kick you out.”

  Nico stilled. “It will take more than Bruce to make me leave,” he reminded the doctor softly.

  “Yeah, yeah,” he said, proving that he was not in the least bit intimidated by Nico. “I’m not the enemy here. This young woman’s shoulder wound is. The sooner you get out, the faster I’ll be able to patch her up. Send Sam in. I can use an extra pair of hands.”

  Nico looked down at Mercy who still watched him. “I’ll be down the hall. If you need me, send Sam for me.” He couldn’t say why he did what he did next, but Nico couldn’t stop himself. He leaned down and brushed her lips with his. A butterfly kiss, so light as to almost not qualify as a kiss. The light caress, though, sent a bolt of lightning through Nico’s body.

  When he straightened, Mercy’s eyes were wide. “I’ll be close,” he reminded her and forced himself to leave the operating suite without looking back.

  Sam was waiting in the hall.

  “The doc asked for you.”

  She laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll take care of her.”

  With a nod, he continued down the hall to the kitchen where the rest of his team was loading their plates with the sub sandwiches, fruit, and chips Sorensen had ready for them.

  Trace glanced up. “Your bag’s in the recovery room. Figured you’d want to stay with her.”

  “Thanks. I’m going to clean up. Leave me a few crumbs.”

  He found his bag and pulled out clean clothes. Depending on how long Mercy needed to stay in Bayside, he’d have to send one of his teammates to buy clothes for her. Probably Sam, he decided. The others wouldn’t be comfortable buying personal items for Mercy.

  He frowned as the hot water pounded his tired body. Now that he thought about it, he didn’t want one of the other men on his team to buy anything personal for her.

  Forcing the uncharacteristic possessiveness to the back of his mind, Nico focused on completing his shower as fast as possible. Clean and dressed, he returned to the kitchen to see a loaded plate waiting for him at the table along with Trace.

  “What do you want to drink?” the sniper asked.

  “Water.”

  Trace stood. “How’s Mercy?”

  “Lucid, at least. Sorensen’s looking at her now. Sam’s in there with him.”

  “We set aside food for Sam, too.” Trace fell silent.

  Nico chewed and swallowed a bite of the sub before he said, “What’s on your mind?”

  “If this mission drags on for a time, Maddox might pull us off for another job.”

  “I know.” He wasn’t happy about it, either.

  “Will you be comfortable with someone else tasked with Mercy’s safety?”

  He slid his friend a look. “Why do you ask?”

  “You have an attachment to the lady.”

  Nico froze. Had the sniper seen the kiss? “Is that a problem?”

  A snort. “Not for me. Might be for you if you have to leave her while she’s still a target of the Scorpions.”

  He took another bite before replying. “I’ll handle it.” Didn’t mean he wanted to. He could, however, hand pick the team tasked with her safety. If Shadow deployed, he’d insist that Adam Walker’s team take over Mercy’s protection. They were well-trained and tough as nails. It also didn’t escape his notice that his mind automatically turned to an excellent team where all the members of the unit were married. What was wrong with him? He was never territorial over women. Somehow, this one mattered. A lot. “Where are the others?”

  “Joe’s in the other shower. Ben fell face down on the bed.”

  “When Joe is finished, take a shower and rest.”

  “We’ll spell you, Nico. You haven’t slept in over 24 hours.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve gone longer without sleep. So have you and the others.”

  Trace inclined his head in acknowledgment of that fact. “If the Scorpions find us, you’ll have to be sharp and ready.”

  “I’ll rest, but I won’t leave her side. You and the others can relieve me while I’m in the room.”

  “Understood.”

  Joe returned. “Shower’s open,” he said to Trace. “I’ll take the first watch.”

  A nod from the sniper. “Wake me in four hours to take over.”

  Nico ate the rest of the sub and fruit, then polished off his water. “I need to check in with Maddox.”

  The spotter rose. “I’ll be in the hall outside the operating room. No one will disturb the doc or get to Mercy.”

  He clapped his teammate on the shoulder and closed himself into the room Mercy would be using during her recovery. A moment later, his call was answered.

  “Talk to me.”

  Nico updated Brent Maddox on everything that happened since Shadow stepped foot on the Fortress jet in Nashville. When he learned about Mercy’s fever for the last hours of the flight, Maddox growled. “Prognosis?”

  “Unknown. Sorensen and Sam are working on her now. I’ll let you know what the doc says. Sam did a good job with Mercy. I’m afraid the time in the cave with the open cut on her leg introduced an infection to her system. The bullet wound added to the problem.”

  “Do you need backup?”

  “Not yet. Brent, if you have to send Shadow for another mission before Mercy is safe, I want Walker’s team as her protection detail. No one else.”


  His boss was silent a moment. “Something you need to tell me, Nico?”

  “No.” He couldn’t explain to himself what was going on inside much less his boss.

  “If that changes, I need to know.”

  Anger simmered in Nico’s blood. “I know how to handle myself, Brent.”

  “When emotions are tangled, our objectivity goes straight out the window.”

  “You ought to know.”

  A bark of laughter came over the phone’s speaker. “Well said. Let me know how I can help. We’ll take care of it. Keep me posted. I’ll expect a sit rep as soon as you know anything about Mercy.”

  “Copy that.” Nico slid his phone into his pocket as a light tap sounded on the door.

  Joe stepped inside. “Sorensen needs you.”

  Heart in his throat, he hurried past his teammate and into the operating room. “What’s wrong?” he asked the doctor.

  “Mercy needs a pint of blood. Sam tells me you’re the same blood type and would want to donate.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Excellent.” Sorensen patted the gurney he’d positioned beside the operating table. “Lay down, Nico. Can’t have you passing out from donating a pint.”

  With a roll of his eyes, Nico climbed on the bed and stretched out. He turned his head to look at Mercy who slept. “How is she?”

  “She’ll be fine. The stronger antibiotics Sam administered started her on the road to recovery. Mercy had a couple bullet fragments in her shoulder that would have been impossible for your medic to remove without actually doing surgery on the plane. The bullet wound was a through-and-through, and I stitched the damage once I was sure the foreign particles were removed from the wound. That cave in Mexico didn’t do your girl any favors. She had a number of scraps and cuts, though none needed stitches aside from the one on her leg. She should be fine as long as she rests and takes her meds. Have Sam keep an eye on her once you return to Nashville. Take her to one of the doctors Maddox trusts in Nashville to check Mercy if her symptoms worsen.”

  “I’ll take care of her, Doc. Thanks.”

  Sorensen nodded, then looked at Sam. “Handle the transfusion. I have four-legged patients to see in the clinic.”

  As soon as the doctor left, Nico slid his hand over Mercy’s and threaded his fingers with hers. Stupid, but he wanted her to know he was there. Maybe it was his imagination, but he thought her fingers tightened around his a fraction.

  “Relax, Nico. This should take a few minutes. Catnap. I’ll wake you when this is finished. I won’t leave the room, and Joe’s guarding the door. You and Mercy are safe.”

  With those reassurances, Nico fell into a light sleep.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Mercy woke in an unfamiliar room in the dim light of early morning. Utilitarian walls, but no bars on the windows. She was definitely not in Mexico with Hector and his buddies. Her shoulder hurt and she was thirsty. She also needed to visit the bathroom in the worst way.

  She became aware of another person breathing in the room. She looked to her right. Nico slept on a cot beside the bed, his hand wrapped around hers. An invisible band squeezed around her heart at the sight. She didn’t have to ask if he had been there the whole time. She knew he had.

  More than two years since she’d awakened with someone else in the same room. Not since Aiden. Having Nico here, even under the guise of protecting her, felt strange.

  Mercy’s breath stalled. He’d kissed her. She didn’t remember much about the past three days, but that memory was clear as glass. Nico Rivera had kissed her. Hadn’t he? Maybe the pain and drugs tricked her mind into thinking the handsome operative kissed her.

  As if sensing she was awake, Nico’s eyes opened and focused on her. He sat up. “How do you feel?”

  “Muzzy headed. My shoulder hurts.”

  “Not surprising. Sorensen operated on you. He cleaned out a couple bullet fragments and stitched the wound.”

  “I need to get up.”

  His lips twitched. “Ah. Hold on a minute.” He strode to the door and spoke to someone in the hall. His teammate, Ben, followed him into the room.

  “Looking good, beautiful,” the other operative said. “Nice to see you’re awake.”

  “If you’ll handle her IV, I’ll carry Mercy into the bathroom,” Nico said.

  Mercy’s cheeks flamed. “I can walk.”

  “I doubt it. Your body went through trauma fighting off that infection. You’re weaker than you realize. Plus, if you fall and rip out those stitches, Sorensen will tear a strip off my hide. I’d prefer to avoid that. Doc Sorensen is one scary dude when he’s riled.”

  “Is he what you’re afraid of?”

  Nico smiled as he scooped her into his arms. Ben maneuvered the IV pole into the bathroom ahead of them. As soon as Nico set Mercy on her feet and steadied her, Ben left the room. “I’ll be right outside the door.”

  Mercy staggered to the door two minutes later, dragging her IV pole behind her. Nico caught her up in his arms again. Between them, they managed to shuffle the IV to the bedside, and he returned her to the bed.

  She drew in a deep breath. “Thanks. You were right. I can’t believe how weak I feel.”

  “It will pass. You’ll be stronger than ever soon.”

  “Where are the others?”

  “Ben’s on watch in the hall. Joe and Sam are buying clothes for you. The doc says you can’t leave here until tomorrow at the earliest. Trace is sleeping.”

  He’d mentioned everyone but himself. “When do you go on guard duty?”

  “I’ve never gone off.”

  She blinked. “You have to rest, Nico. Don’t you trust your teammates with my safety?”

  “Of course. I’m not leaving you.”

  Exasperating man. She knew his type. Nico reminded her of Aiden. He would knock himself out to protect her without regard for his own needs if he were still alive.

  A quick knock sounded on the door. Between one heartbeat and the next, Nico’s gun was in his hand and pointed at the door.

  “It’s Sorensen. I’m coming in soft.”

  When the doctor opened the door, Nico relaxed and holstered his weapon.

  “You’re awake, Mercy. Good. How do you feel?”

  “Like someone shot me in the shoulder.”

  “Cranky, are we?”

  “Sorry.”

  Sorensen waved her comment aside. “I want to check your shoulder and leg.” He glanced at Nico. “Wait in the hall.”

  Nico wrapped his fingers around Mercy’s. “I’ll be right outside the door.” With a pointed glance at the doctor, he left the room, shutting the door behind himself.

  “What was the look for?” Mercy asked.

  “Put me on notice that he was holding me personally responsible for your safety,” came the doctor’s wry reply. “If you so much as stub your toe while he’s gone, I’ll be hearing about it from your young man.”

  She opened her mouth to object to labeling Nico her young man, and decided it wasn’t worth wasting her waning energy. Besides, it was nice to belong to someone for a few minutes, false relationship or not.

  Sorensen checked her shoulder and leg and declared her in excellent shape. “If you keep progressing as you are, I’ll release you to return to Nashville.”

  “I live in Kentucky.”

  “Until your pesky problem with the Scorpions is resolved, you’ll be staying with the Shadow Unit.”

  Shadow Unit? “Nico and his friends?”

  A nod.

  “Why are they called the Shadow Unit?”

  “That’s a question to ask Nico.” The doctor patted her foot. “Rest. You’ll need every ounce of strength for the plane ride tomorrow.” He left, had a low-voiced conversation with the men in the hallway, and hurried away.

  Nico walked inside. “Doc Sorensen says you’re doing great.”

  “Lucky me.”

  His eyebrows rose.

  Mercy held up her hand. “I’m grumpy when I hurt. Ign
ore me.”

  Before he could reply, a light tap sounded. “It’s Sam. I have Mercy’s clothes.” The medic walked into the room with two bags from a big box store. “Comfortable clothes. Button up shirts and jeans, socks, and tennis shoes. Underwear. We’ll have more clothes for you at the safe house.”

  “Thanks, Sam.”

  “How do you feel?”

  She forced a smile to her lips. “Not bad considering I was the hostage of some gang in Mexico yesterday.”

  “What did Sorensen say?” While she and Nico updated the medic, Sam replaced the empty IV bags with new ones. “Sounds good. The doc wouldn’t turn you loose if you weren’t ready. Tomorrow morning, we’ll remove the IV and switch you to oral meds. We’ll walk with you up and down the corridor a few times today. Other than that, you should rest. Tomorrow’s going to be tough.”

  The rest of the day, Nico and Sam helped her walk every couple hours, insisted she drink plenty of fluids and eat. Thankfully, everything they brought her was easy on her stomach.

  Late in the afternoon after another circuit of the hall, Mercy settled back on the pillow, frowning. “Why do I hear dogs barking? Does Dr. Sorensen have more than one?”

  An amused smile curved Nico’s lips. “Sorensen is a vet. You’re hearing his patients.”

  She froze. “You brought me to a vet clinic for medical treatment?”

  “He used to be a trauma surgeon, one of the best in the country. He joined Fortress as an operative for several years, then decided he’d had enough and became a vet. Fortress is lucky to have him on staff.”

  A vet. Amazing. After the vet clinic grew silent, Sorensen returned to check on Mercy. Following a thorough checkup, he straightened. “You may tell your contingent of bodyguards you’re cleared to travel at their convenience.” Although his expression morphed into a scowl, his eyes twinkled. “I need the bed space for real patients.”