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breaths.
Ryan s bark of laughter sounded a bit
hysterical. I should be asking you that.
Sam smiled at the sentiment, and took the gun
from Ryan s hand. He turned toward the shifter
still slowly crawling toward them. Stand down,
he commanded. Stand down so we can help
you.
In response, the tiger snarled, baring its fangs at
them.
Lifting the weapon, Sam tried again. Last
chance, he murmured, knowing with the shifter s
hearing, he d be able to hear. Let us help you.
The tiger lifted a paw and swiped at them, just
missing as Ryan urged Sam backward. That s
when Sam got a really good look at the shifter s
eyes. No intelligence showed in them, instead,
only rage and pain and aggression.
Sam sighed. I m sorry. He lifted the Glock
and fired.
The tiger shifter lay still.
Sam shook his head sadly. He hated taking
another s life, regardless of species, but the tiger
had ceased to be a shifter. There had been no
spark of humanity in his eyes. Sam sighed,
knowing what he d done had been a mercy. No
shifter would want to live like that, as only half of
themselves.
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Charlie Richards
As the adrenaline left him, the pain swept in.
Sam grunted and he sagged against Ryan. He
moaned as the new position put pressure on his
side and hip. Fuck, he grunted as black spots
once again danced across his vision.
Shit, Sam, Ryan growled, wrapping his
second arm around him.
Damn, isn t that a sexy sound?
Now, I know you need to lie down, Ryan
grumbled, easing him to the floor.
Well, fuck, I must have said that out loud.
Yeah, you did, Ryan muttered. Now, lie still.
I ll be right back.
Sam s lips twitched, and even though he d
prefer to have his mate by his side he obeyed.
Sighing, he stared up at the white tiles lining the
ceiling. He concentrated on filling and emptying
his lungs with oxygen because it was a hell of a lot
better than thinking about anything else& like the
pain permeating every inch of his body.
Shit!
Just relax, Ryan soothed, appearing again in
his field of vision. He dropped a first aid kit on the
floor next to him.
Where d you have that? he slurred, watching
his mate pull supplies out of the small plastic kit.
Ryan glanced at him before focusing on
cleaning the wound on his side. I was in the
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Texas Longhorn Surprise
military. Standard procedure to carry at least a
rudimentary first aid kit in a combat zone.
This a combat zone? Sam mumbled inanely
before hissing at the pain spiking through his side.
We did just get attacked by a psychotic tiger,
Ryan pointed out.
Right. Sam sighed. Dumb question. He
hissed again, then wanted to kick himself for
showing weakness& or maybe that was because
he d made his mate grimace and glance toward
him, looking like he felt bad for causing him
additional pain.
Where are Mutegi and Payson? Sam asked,
wanting to focus on something else.
Not sparing him a glance as he applied a
butterfly bandage to a particularly deep cut, Ryan
answered, After you gutted the tiger s back end,
they figured we could handle it. They went to take
over the control room.
Sam nodded, having figured as much. Red
flashing in his peripheral vision drew his attention
to his mate s right arm and he remembered what
had caused the tiger s focus. How s your arm,
babe? he slurred, lifting a hand to catch Ryan s
sleeve.
Ryan smiled and gripped his wrist, gently
dislodging his hold. I m fine. It just grazed me.
The force spun me around, hitting my shoulder
into the wall, so it stunned me a bit. To Sam s
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Charlie Richards
surprise, and pleasure, Ryan traced two fingers
along Sam s jawline. Thank you for pulling me
out of the way of his next shots. I owe you my
life. His gaze focused on the dead shifter for a
second and he grimaced. For more reasons than
one.
Before he could say what was on the tip of his
tongue that he always wanted to be there for
Ryan if only his mate would let him footsteps
pounding down the hallway reached Sam s ears.
Ryan instantly went on alert, picking up his Glock
and pointing it toward whoever approached.
Just as quickly, he lowered the weapon and
called, Eli! Thank God. Sam s been injured.
Eli dropped to his knees next to them. Mutegi
called me, he said, sweeping his gaze over both
men, his expression assessing. And it looks like
he s not the only one injured.
I m fine, Ryan countered.
No, you re not, Eli stated, but he did turn
back to peer at Sam. However, you re right in the
assessment that your injury can wait. Eli ran his
hands over Sam s torso and checked the bandages
already in place. Next, he moved to Sam s right
leg and shook his head. I need to set your leg,
Sam, and it s going to hurt like a bitch, he
warned. Ready?
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Texas Longhorn Surprise
Sam had known his leg was broken, probably
in more than one place. He jerked a nod and
growled through gritted teeth. Do it.
Hold his shoulders down, Eli instructed
Ryan.
Ryan obeyed, moving to Sam s head and
gripping his shoulders. Sam started to smile, but
then Eli moved his leg. Agony surged through his
body, tunneling his vision. He could hear Eli
talking, although he couldn t actually make out
the words. He felt the heat of a body draped over
him and recognized the scent of his mate. Bringing
up his arms, he wrapped Ryan in a tight hug,
letting the man s scent soothe him. When a fresh
wave of pain surged through him, Sam didn t
fight the darkness.
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