Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
His sharp gaze landed on Saylor. “I told you to take cover.”
“I did. I just figured out Sammie was safe before you did,” Saylor answered, crossing her fingers that he wouldn’t tell Max. Inside she knew there was no chance he wouldn’t. Her butt was toast.
Maybe a distraction would make him forget. “Can we go where Da… Max is?”
“No way, Saylor. We’ll stay right here. Max will return as soon as he can.”
“Incoming, Murdock!”
Saylor recognized Jerico’s voice as he warned Hank he was entering. She turned to greet the team leader with relief and waved as four men jogged inside. The rest of the team had come to join them.
“They let you on base?” Hank asked.
“Jerico pulled rank and the rest of us glided in behind them,” Koa explained. His appreciation for Jerico’s leadership had grown quickly when the newest member of the team had joined months ago.
“He’s handy like that,” Hank acknowledged. “They called Max in to help.”
“Max will take care of whatever’s happening. Does he need backup?” Caden asked. His gaze passed Hank’s large frame. “Who’s that?”
Sammie peeked out from behind the team’s sniper. Hank turned slightly and wrapped his arm around her waist to guide her forward. “These guys are safe, Sammie. Let me introduce you.” He pointed at each soldier and told her their names. “That’s Caden, Koa, Jerico, and Zale. We’re all teammates, including Max who’s taking care of a problem.”
A muffled boom sounded. Saylor jumped and looked around the room in horror. “Did something just blow up?”
“Yes, but safely, little girl. That was something being exploded in a controlled environment. One threat has been eliminated. Let’s listen for the second,” Caden assured her.
Long minutes passed as Saylor hardly breathed. She swayed and everything got fuzzy around the edges of her vision. Stiffening her knees, she kept listening for anything that would signal that Max was okay.
Zale stepped forward to run his hands over her arms. “Let’s go sit down, Saylor. You look pale. Inhale deep for me as we walk.” He guided her over to the bleachers and sat down with her. “Do you feel like you’re going to pass out? Put your head down between your knees if you’re dizzy.”
“I’m okay. Can we go check on Max?” she asked.
“Not now. As soon as they give the all clear,” Zale told her.
“This is so hard,” she whispered.
“I know. Max’s skills are without equal. And now he has even more reason to be careful,” Zale said.
“Because of me?” Saylor needed to hear someone say it other than the voice in the back of her mind.
“Definitely. He just found you. He won’t risk missing time with you,” Zale reassured her.
Saylor inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself. She did one of the breathing exercises her therapist had taught her to settle her nerves, and her fogginess cleared. Another muffled boom sounded. Saylor’s gaze rebounded to Zale’s face. “That’s a good sound?”
“The best ever,” Zale answered with a smile.
“We should get the all-clear announcement soon,” Jerico predicted.
The entire team turned as one and stepped in front of the two women to shield them as the door opened.
“Hey, did you schedule a party and not invite me?” Max’s voice came from the doorway.
“Daddy?” Saylor launched herself up and ran to jump into Max’s arms. He absorbed the impact easily as he squeezed her tight. Saylor wrapped her legs around him, clinging to his hard body like a monkey.
“Did she just call him Daddy?” Sammie’s voice asked from behind her.
Saylor didn’t care if the woman judged her. Her daddy was safe.
“Come sit down and let me clean that,” Zale said from behind her.
“Are you hurt?” Saylor immediately lowered her legs and pushed away from Max. She spotted the bloody towel wrapped around his hand. The haziness rebounded, and she felt herself falling as the reactions around her seemed to come from a long distance away.
When she blinked her eyes open, Saylor sat on her daddy’s lap. His concerned face watched her intently. “Daddy?”
“You passed out, baby. How do you feel?”
“Shaky,” she admitted.
“Me, too.”
Saylor remembered his injury and sat up straight quickly. “Whoa,” she whispered and clutched his shirt to steady herself.
“Drink this, Saylor,” Zale said, handing her an open sports drink.
She took it and almost spilled the bright blue liquid inside. Max steadied the bottle with his towel-wrapped hand. “You’re hurt.”
“Not bad. The device was booby-trapped with glass. I cut a finger as I removed the cover. I’m fine. A few stitches and I’ll be as good as new.”
“If Max will ever let me sew him back together,” Zale muttered.
“Daddy! Let him fix you,” Saylor urged.
“Only if you’ll keep sipping on this,” Max told her, lifting the bottle in his hand slightly.
“I will. Let me hold it.” Saylor pulled the container from Max’s fingers and took a drink to show him she would follow his directions.