Stripped Bounty (23 page)

Alvaro landed a punch to Badger’s ribs and Rosie flinched as a harsh groan shot out of her man. Badger recovered, gaining the upper hand again. He grabbed Alvaro by the hair, raised his head off the ground and slammed it down on the concrete. Alvaro let out a yell before bucking Badger off him.

Keeping her movement slow—as Badger and Alvaro continued to beat the ever-loving piss out of each other—she squatted down trying to gain entry into the room without being noticed. As she shifted her weight to her other foot—

Rosie flinched at the loud pop and snapped her attention back to where both men were. Not more than six feet away, Alvaro stood with his back to her. His arm still raised in the air, gun pointed at Badger…and fired again.

No! Noooooo!
Oh God, how was this happening?

The bullet hit Badger in the right shoulder, far too close to his chest, and his body jerked back, listing to one side from the impact. The spot immediately turned red, filling with blood and then trickling down his shirt. Rosie sucked in a deep breath and… “
Baaaaadddddddgggeerrrrrrr
!”

Alvaro had just shot her man and by the looks of it, was about to pull that trigger again. He’d already taken so much from her. It would be the end of the world as she knew it, if he took Badger too.

Her new world.

Her perfect world.

Raw, blistering fear raced through Rosie’s blood stream at the thought of losing him. There was no way in hell she was going to let Alvaro rob her of anything more. “
Nooooooo!
”

“Rosie!”

She had a moment to glance to her left and see Wolf staggering toward her. His arm out, reaching for her. A deadly calm came over her as she looked back to Badger and then all her focus landed on Alvaro. With Wolf’s gun tight in her fist, as if driven by pure animalistic instinct, she raised her arm and gripped the butt of the gun with both hands…and squeezed the trigger.

The bullet entered the back of Alvaro’s head and exited the front, bone and brain matter expelling outward—some of it landing on Badger.

Not really comprehending the damage she’d just done, Rosie screamed ready to shoot again until she saw Badger stumble to his side before falling to the ground, as Alvaro’s lifeless body fell face first onto the concrete floor.

Wolf got to her. His fingers clamped loose around the wrist of the hand she still held the gun in. “Let it go, darlin’.”

On autopilot mode, Rosie looked to his face.

“Let it go, darlin’. It’s okay.” The expression in Wolf’s bright blue eyes, soft and comforting.

Rosie swallowed before nodding, then released her grip and let Wolf take the gun from her hands. She ran to her man, sliding to her knees beside him. “Badger…” She pressed her palm to the bleeding puncture at the base of his neck where it met his shoulder. There was so much blood from the knife wound, more than where he’d been shot even. God, why was there so much blood?

“Fuuuckkk! This sucks.” Badger glanced up at her, his face far too pale.

“Hold still, honey. Please?”

He cupped her cheek and managed a weak smile. “You got him, baby. That’s my woman. So proud of you.” He drew in a strangled breath. “Fuck that hurts.”

Tears trickled down Rosie’s cheeks. “Just…dammit, Badger. Hold still. Stop moving and look at me. Please? I can’t lose you.”

“I am looking at you, baby. Always looking at you. You’re beautiful. Most beautiful thing I ever had.”

“Shh…honey please—” Rosie sobbed as she bent forward and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, “—just breathe. I can hear sirens. Help is coming.”

“Most beautiful thing I ever got to have in my life. Didn’t deserve it, but got it anyway. So perfect. So different.” He sucked in a hard breath. “I love you, Rosie.”

Sobbing, she found his other hand and clasped it. Adrenaline pulsed through her system in time with her heart. “Please, Badger. Oh God, don’t leave me!”

“Never gonna leave you. It’s okay, baby. Just need to rest…” Badger squeezed her hand and closed his eyes.

“No!” She dropped his hand and gripped his jaw between her fingers, shaking him. “Stay with me, dammit!”

How could this be happening? How could she lose him now, after everything they’d gone through? She should’ve stayed home like he’d wanted her to. She should’ve listened, and let him take her on vacation. She should’ve done a lot of things.

And it was too late now, the damage was done.

There was so much blood—he was so pale. Rosie pressed down harder on the wound, trying to stem the steady stream. Badger could bleed out right before her eyes, and she had no idea what to do.

Sheer terror brought more tears as it swamped her system and she became near hysterical. “
Wolf
!
Do something
!”

“Darlin’, you gotta breathe.” Wolf’s hand landed on her shoulder and gave a squeeze. “And not for nothing, but I get knocked unconscious for what? Five minutes? And mayhem ensues, you shoot a drug dealer in the back of the head, and fast as lightning go into a dramatic display of hysterics. Although this is damn exciting to watch, buck up and get your shit in check. Your man needs you.”

“Are you crazy?” she said through a sob.

“Might be. But it’s a fun ride.” He smiled that smile of his, crinkles forming around his gorgeous eyes.

Rosie shook her head and started to laugh. “Yep, crazy.” Drawing in a deep breath, she got a grip on her hysterics. “But you’re my kind of crazy. Thanks, Wolf.”

“Anytime, darlin’.” He gave her a wink.

She smiled up at him before turning back to Badger. Wolf gave her exactly what she needed in that moment. Humor amidst the insanity, which brought her right back to where she needed to focus. And that was stopping Badger’s bleeding, however she could do that. Pulling her hand away, she yanked her shirt over her head, balled up the fabric and pressed it against the wound. His breaths were so shallow as he shivered. “Badger, listen to me. Honey, please open your eyes.”

No response. No nothing. Just her and him and what was left between them.

God, she loved him and she was losing him. She was losing everything.

W
ith a papery
-plastic blanket the cops had given her wrapped around her shoulders, Rosie watched the ambulance pull away from the sidewalk, her hands cuffed in front of her body, from the backseat of a patrol car. Badger was inside it on his way to the hospital. Phoenix officers as well as the Crime Scene Response unit were crawling all over the scene. They’d cuffed her and Wolf when they’d first invaded the building.

It was to be expected. How in the hell did they know who shot who, and who might do more shooting. Three dead bodies, and two injured at the scene? Damn right she was first in line for cuffs; Wolf had been second.

Rosie let out a sigh and glanced to the right. Another team of paramedics were attending to Wolf, though he was still in his cuffs. Thanks to the body armor beneath his shirt the bullet hadn’t entered his body. But he’d cracked his head so hard when he tripped and fell backward, that he needed stitches and the medics were concerned he had a concussion.

With the back passenger window open just far enough so she could hear, he was refusing to go to the hospital and trying to just get them to stitch his “noggin” up right then and there. Which pretty much told Rosie, he was going to be fine. Too ornery to not be. Fortunately for him, one of the medics was female, and apparently not immune to the beautiful toxicity of Wolf’s blue eyes and perfect smile, so it looked like he was going to get his way.

Badger had been wearing body armor too, but it’d done little to protect the curve of his neck from a knife wound and his shoulder from the bullet Alvaro had planted there.

Unlike Wolf, she had no idea if Badger was going to be fine.

The officer that had cuffed her had said they’d be questioning her shortly. She had to wait. Something she was definitely not good at. Wait while they got some of the particulars uncovered and sorted, like the fact that Alvaro was still holding his gun in his dead hand, but was also facing a murder charge for the murder of her husband, as well as being a known drug dealer, who had left the state, violating the terms of his bail—something she’d advised them of as they’d cuffed her and walked her to the police car.

A man in a gray suit, white dress shirt, and tie approached the car and opened the back door. “Mrs. Santini. I’m Detective Hammel. May I have a word, please?”

“Sure. Not like I have a choice.” She raised her cuffed hands.

“Yes, well. I’m sure you understand the reason for those.” He helped her from the backseat, uncuffed her, and walked her away from the police car. “I’m hoping you’re still in a cooperative mood. If so, based on what your friend Mr. Stevens advised the nine-one-one operator and what I’ve seen upstairs, as well as the details around Mr. Alvaro that he provided, we should be able to handle this without going down to the station.”

Relief washed through her as she thanked God that Deuce had been outside and called the cops. “Thank you. Sorry, I know you’re just doing your job. Of course I’ll cooperate. There’s no reason not to.”

They needed the details now, the ugly nitty-gritty of it. She’d killed a man, after all. And not just any man, the man that’d murdered her husband. Rosie’s actions still hadn’t quite sunk in because she felt nothing about what she’d done…or maybe she just didn’t care? Her whole focus had been on Badger when she’d pulled that trigger. And then, even after Alvaro had fallen to the ground, Rosie had been preoccupied with getting to Badger…helping him. Trying to save him.

She hoped to God she had.

The detective led her to the Crime Scene Response van where they’d set up a couple of chairs. “Have a seat, please. Can I get you anything?”

“A shirt would be nice. Bottle of water would be good, too.”

“Sorry, no spare shirts. But water I can do.” He signaled to one of the officers near by. “Why don’t you tell me what happened.”

An officer came over and handed her a bottle of water. She thanked him, took a long swallow and then began telling the story. The only part she left out was the money. Wolf had told her, before the cops got there, that Badger hadn’t actually brought the money, but had stuffed the bag full of old newspapers.

Instead, she made sure to let them know that Wolf had acted in defense of her as well as his own life. She couldn’t offer any info about the other bodyguard that Badger had taken out and assumed that if they hadn’t already spoken to Badger about the other dead man, they’d be doing it at the hospital.

All through her detailed disclosure to the detective, Rosie kept searching her soul for even a splinter of guilt for what she’d done, but it was no where to be found. After everything Alvaro had taken from her, she couldn’t feel bad for taking his life from him. Granted, he was someone’s son, and a parent should never have to suffer the loss of a child. It was possible he was someone’s husband, father, or brother, too. If that was the case, she did feel bad for them, but that was it, that was as far as it went.

Only God knew how many other people had suffered at Alvaro’s hand, or how many addicts died from the drugs he pushed. There was no way to know. And maybe that was all just her way of justifying what she’d done.

Aside from letting her know that Badger had regained enough consciousness to advise them that she pulled the trigger, shooting Alvaro in defense of Badger’s life, he refused to discuss Wolf or Badger further, or if any charges could be brought against them. But they’d both acted in self-defense, so for now, she was going to tell herself they wouldn’t.

The detective asked her a few more questions before finally releasing her. He didn’t feel they would be pressing charges, considering she’d been kidnapped and assaulted, and Alvaro was about to kill Badger. Never mind the fact that the man was to stand trial for the murder of her husband. But regarding her, she’d have to wait and see if the DA agreed. Yay, something new to look forward to. A couple of officers showing up at her door to take her to jail. Or even Badger to jail. God, how she would so much rather just look forward to something simple like…going on a date with her man. Going to the movies or even going to work for fuck’s sake. Rosie shook her head at the randomness of her thoughts as she stepped away from the detective in search of Wolf.

She found Deuce instead, standing outside the police barricade tape. With a big smile, he held his arms out to his sides. “Hey, little lady.”

Rosie did a face plant into his chest, and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m really glad you’re here, but, Deuce, why didn’t you go to the hospital with Badger?

“Nope.” He gave her a squeeze before letting her go. “Badger would kick my ass if I left you alone. Not happening. The ass kicking or the leaving you alone part.”

“But I don’t want him to be alone. What if he…” Rosie sucked back a sob and wiped a tear away that escaped.

“What if nothing. He’s gonna be fine.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “Besides, Evie’d kick my ass harder than Badger if I left you. So, little lady, it ain’t happening.”

Rosie turned and hugged him again. He was such a good man. “I’m so glad you weren’t in there. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you and Evie was left on her own.”

“I should’ve been in there, but Badger, the stubborn ass that he is, banished me to wait outside.”

“Stubborn but smart.” She pulled back, a small smile curving her lips.

Deuce gave her another one of his big smiles. “He’s a good man.”

“Better than good. We need to get to him now, though. Do you know if they’re done with Wolf?”

“Not sure. Since you’re on the other side of the tape, you might have better luck finding out if they’re letting him go.”

“Got it. Back in a bit.” Rosie stepped away from Deuce, fear and concern racing through the back of her mind almost like a white noise.

Between her worry for Badger’s well-being and her confusion regarding her lack of emotions around killing a man, Rosie felt like she was moving through quicksand. Did her lack of guilt or remorse make her just as much a monster as Alvaro? Could she be that cold inside? She hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone. But she had…

And she’d do it again if it was necessary.

* * *

R
osie got
out of the truck and, with both Deuce and Wolf by her side, walked through the emergency room entrance at County Hospital. They’d let Wolf go, which was a good sign, but the fear that had been a constant in the back of her mind kicked into high gear on the drive from the warehouse of horrors to the hospital. And it’d taken what felt like a lifetime to get there. She swore to God they hit every fucking red light possible along the way, and Rosie had bit every one of her fingernails, with each stop, down to stubs. Knowing she must look like hell, and not caring, she stepped to the intake window. “Drew Baxter, please?”

“Are you family?”

Wolf came up beside her. “She’s his woman. We’re his brothers.” The growl in his tone was enough to make her nervous.

The young man dressed in scrubs looked up
and
up
at Wolf, eyes wide before a small smirk formed on his lips. “Yeah, okay…just a minute.”

“Try not to scare the shit out of the staff.” Deuce crossed his arms.

Wolf jerked his chin. “It’s County. That’s not really possible.”

Rosie smoothed her hands over the top of her hair, and ran her fingers through the length. “I’m sure I’m not helping the situation. How bad do I look?”

“Rosie, you look beautiful. Fat lip and bruised cheek make no difference, darlin’.” Wolf shot her one of his drop dead gorgeous grins as he made a show of cracking his knuckles.

“Be glad I had an extra T-shirt in the truck, else you’d be sporting your pretty paper blanket over your bra right now. Though Badger might not complain about that.” Deuce laughed.

“Hey, at least I was wearing a bra.” She snorted.

Wolf shifted. “Hey now—”

“Excuse me, gentlemen…and ma’am? Go down the hall there and make a left at the end.” The kid gestured to his right as a set of double doors opened automatically. “Mr. Baxter is in room eight.”

“Thank you!” Rosie grabbed Wolf by the shirt and moved for the door.

“He called us gentlemen. How cute.” Wolf chuckled.

Deuce stepped to Rosie’s left. “That’s because he has manners. Unlike you. Behave, ya big Viking.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Wolf grinned.

Rosie shook her head and kept moving. “Why is he still in Emergency? Shouldn’t they have admitted him by now?” No one answered her, probably because she didn’t give them a chance to. She continued down the hall and made the left as the reception kid said to. Room five, six… “Eight!” Hustling, she barreled into the room and stopped short.

Badger was on the gurney, eyes closed, sitting up but at a low angle. His shirt was gone, and there was a pile of gauze taped to where the knife wound was, and another secured to where the bullet wound was. An IV bag hung to his right, the tube taped and plugged into his arm. Little plastic monitor on his finger hooked up to a machine on his left pumping out a steady beep. His face was bruised, eyes swollen and his lips split in a few places from all the hits he’d taken.

Wolf scooted around her and moved to the other side of the gurney. “Sweet Jesus, brother!
Look. At. You
. You
are
a goddamn mess.”

“Good to see you too, asshole.” Badger opened one eye but didn’t raise his head. “Made ’em wait to take me to surgery ’til you all got here.”

And Rosie blew out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding before sucking in needed oxygen that was Badger—because one more time, she hadn’t lost him.

Deuce came up next to her and she felt his warm palm on her lower back. “You all right, sweetheart?”

Unable to find her voice, Rosie nodded as she raised her fingers to her mouth. Badger looked so much better than he had when they’d loaded him into that ambulance and taken him away from her.

The relief she felt was instantaneous. But then the whole scene back in that room in the warehouse started to play before her eyes…like some sort of endless rerun of a B horror flick.

Except it wasn’t a movie, it was real life—her life and Badger was about to die and she’d blown someone’s brains out. Rosie flinched and turned away as the sound of the gun in Alvaro’s hand going off echoed in her mind.

“Rosie!”

Badger…

With tears dripping down her cheeks, Rosie turned back toward the sound of his voice. He’d raised his head off the pillow and was staring right at her. “Woman, get your ass over here. Now.”

Rosie stepped forward, one foot in front of the other until she was beside him. With a slight cringe, he grabbed her by her T-shirt and pulled her down so she was nearly nose to nose with him. Distantly, she was aware of Wolf and Deuce leaving the room, but she didn’t dare look away from Badger’s gaze.

He stared at her for what seemed like an eternity—his eyes roaming over her face like a physical touch. Until finally, he spoke. “I told you to run. Didn’t I?”

Oh fuck,
really?
Rosie swallowed past the knot in her throat. “Yes, sir.”

“Why didn’t you run?”