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Garrett crouched down on the other side of Joe’s still form and did his own check of the man’s pulse, bolstered by the fact that at least there was one Parker looked stunned and bewildered Garrett quickly reached across Joe to cup her cheek in his hand and force her eyes up to his
"It’s okay, we’re going to get him help," Garrett assured her
He hoped like hell he wasn’t lying to her right now It wouldn’t be easy for her toit under norht in front of her, before she got any kind of explanation about his sudden reappearance in her life, he was afraid to think about what that would do to her She was hanging on by a thread as it was While he continued to keep an eye on Joe’s heart rate and bent down to listen to his labored breaths, he glanced up at Parker as she sat on her knees with her ar down at her father’s still for and he took his eyes away froot a pulse, but it’s slow Did you hear any shots?"
Parker listened to Garrett’s steady voice as he questioned Brady, instead of focusing on the fact that her father, who on the floor in front of her Parker refused to believe the last words she would ever hear him say to her were lies She wondered if by soative Whoever it was used a silencer Call Captain Risner iet an extra team in here for back-up One of them should be on stand-by and ready to deploy at our coave a few more orders, and Parker partially listened to hile word her father said to her that evening
The next few hours were a blur of people rushing around, answering questions for ht’s events On top of it all, they still needed to maintain their undercover positions as husband and wife on the off chance that Fernandez had nothing to do with the shooting
Garrett re his ar calls fro her side only once, just long enough to get her a cup of coffee
Joe was initially taken Hospiten Bavaro, the local hospital only a few short miles away from their resort Once he was stabilized, they transported hio Garrett and Parker followed the ambulance the entire way and hadrooery
Garrett avoided asking Parker any questions about her father during the drive to the second hospital, not wanting to open up that can of wor an additional SEAL tea Captain Risner on the status of events Risner assured Garrett that he knew nothing about Parker’s father or his surprise visit to them Garrett ended the call with an assurance that Risner would send back-up to them within the next few hours, and Garrett promised Risner that as soon as he found out more information about Parker’s father, he would call him
Garrett slid his cell phone into the pocket of his pants and walked across the waiting rooainst aout of one of the dark s
Parker heard Garrett’s footsteps behind her and let out a huge sigh of relief when she felt his arms wrap around her waist and felt his chin rest on top of her head She closed her eyes and turned in his ar her arms around his neck Garrett leaned down and placed a soft kiss to her lips, pulling back far enough to look at her
"How are you doing?" Garrett asked, watching as Parker slowly opened her eyes to him
"Honestly? I have no idea," Parker replied "My father just showed up in the Dominican Republic, over two thousand miles away frounned down right in front of me It sounds even more insane when I say it out loud What did your Captain say?"
Garrett shrugged "Prettyabout Joe or why he would be here in thehe was CIA"
Parker pulled out of Garrett’s ar in front of hiht now if I tell you that I’ that what he said is true?" Parker asked
Garrett stuck his hands in his pockets so his arms wouldn’t feel so empty after Parker moved out of them and stared at her as she walked back and forth in front of hient Rich?" Garrett asked
"Yeah, he didn’t answer I left hi "I left hi too when you were in the bathroom and told hioing on I forgot until just now that he never returned that call"
Garrett didn’t like the sound of that He was pretty sure the CIA didn’t just ignore phone calls froents
"Do you think that bullet was meant for one of us?" Parker asked
"I don’t think so There have been plenty of opportunities for whoever it was to take us out Neither one of us were out in the open when the shot was fired I was covered by the door and you were covered by your dad Whoever made that shot ht everything Garrett said on the drive over to the hospital She didn’t know if she felt justified or more confused to hear him voice the same theory out loud
"If my father isn’t really with the CIA, never had uided form of protection, then why in the hell would anyone want to shoot him?" Parker asked
"Maybe all roads really do lead back to Fernandez," Garrett said with a shrug "He kneere getting too close, and he did so her head before he finished talking
"Fernandez is too sout as going on"
Garrett thought for a one off on his or her own Maybe Fernandez did so person Maybe if we do finally piece everything together, Fernandez won’t be the only one io bad You know people like him never do their own dirty work anyway"
Garrett and Parker both knew exactly who Garrett was referring to when he said it, though, neither one of them would say his name out loud
"He’s dead," Parker whispered
"As far as we know," Garrett replied gravely