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Hank burst out of one of the cars, his gun pointing toward the plane Burlington stood at the top of the stairs Without a fight, Burlington raised his hands, surrendering to the inevitable

Claire sighed into Jake’s chest She felt as if she’d gone twelve rounds in the ring with the heavyweight boxing title holder Pushing her own aches and pains to the background, she focused on the daht, she took in his bloodied nose and the shiner darkening his left eye

“You look like you just played in a hockey game”

He smirked down at her and patted her wind-twisted hair “Yeah, we make a hell of a couple”

“We sure do” She wrapped her arms around his neck and captured his lips with hers Activity swirled around theht now, there was only Jake

His hands slid up her sides, rubbing against the ache throbbing in her ribs Claire jerked back froony Black dotspain to lessen

“Shit, Claire We’ve got to get you to the ambulance Come on” Jake scooped her up into his ar medics

She kept her breaths short and shallow in an effort not to aggravate her sore ribs But her n because the paramedic took one look at her and waved her inside the vehicle Jake helped her up and took a seat in the stretcher across from her

“Sit up, don’t lie down” The EMT slid his palentle, but when he connected with the rib underneath her right breast, she writhed in agony and squirmed back from him

He shook his head and sighed “It could be a bad bruise or a fracture We’ll have to take you in”

Jake grabbed her hand His gaze didn’t waver fro

“Go on, answer it I don’t think we have to worry about phone calls anymore” Claire tried to smile, but the effort exhausted her

He squeezed her fingers and answered the phone with his free hand “Hello?”

His grasp on her fingers tightened until their tips were al froone wrong

What now? It had to be over Burlington was in custody Tears sprang to her eyes, she couldn’t take any uys