Page 97 of Keeping Penny

“Get a medic down here immediately.”

“No time for that. We’ll bring him up to them.”

“Jones, start documenting the scene. I want pictures of this shitshow.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Is the guy cuffed to the pipe alive?”

“Yeah. So is the one by the elevator. Just unconscious.”

“Okay, send a medic down after you get up there with him.”

The conversations between the police officers and his team sounded muted. As if his ears were clogged and he was watching them from far away.

“We’re going to lift you, Pyro. Don’t put any weight on that leg, okay?”

It took him a moment to realize that Casper was talking to him. “No problem. Hurts like a motherfucker.”

“I bet. You have a hole in your thigh and a busted knee and a broken leg. Not to mention another half dozen slices on various parts of your body.”

“How the hell is he still conscious?” one of the police officers asked.

“Because he’s a Night Stalker. And Night Stalkers don’t quit. And because he’s a tough son-of-a-bitch.”

Pyro didn’t feel tough. He felt like shit. All he wanted to do was sleep. But when Casper and Buck lifted him and put his arms around their shoulders, wrapping their own around his waist to keep him upright, the only thing on his mind was trying not to puke. The only reason he didn’t was because he had nothing in his belly to throw up.

One of the police officers joined him and the other three Night Stalkers in the elevator and they made their way back up to the main floor of the house. When the doors opened, Pyro saw the looks of shock on the faces of the paramedics who were waiting. Then they got to work, wheeling a gurney over to where his friends were basically carrying him.

The second Pyro was lying down, his eyes closed once more.

“Pyro!” Casper barked. “What did I order?”

With effort, Pyro slowly opened his eyes. Everything was blurry and his head felt stuffed. “Trying.”

“Try harder!”

There was a commotion in the room—and Pyro heard the most beautiful sound in the world.

Penny.

“Pyro?! Oh my God!”

Then she was there, leaning over his upper chest and face as the paramedics worked on cutting off his pants and getting an IV started in his arm on the opposite side from where she stood.

Pyro was confused. What was Penny doing here? She shouldn’t be here. It wasn’t safe!

“Not safe,” he managed to whisper.

“Yes it is,” she countered. “There are police everywhere. And of course your team. It’s over. Tex made sure Colvin’s going to prison. He won’t be coming after me or Bowie again.”

Relief swam through Pyro’s veins. “Bowie’s okay?”

“She’s perfect,” Penny told him quietly.

His gaze narrowed to her face, to the love he saw in her eyes. It was as if they were the only two people in the world, even though they were surrounded by strangers and friends alike.

“You saved her. Protected her. She’s already acting as if she just had a big adventure. I love you so much.”