Damn panic attacks.
A tortured moan filtered across the hallway from a closed room. Garrett! Jase’s head jerked up. His legs leapt into motion before his brain could bellow a caution.
“Wait—” Talen yelled, leaping for him.
Jase’s foot hit a tripwire, and a loud click echoed. Talen caught his shoulders and threw him just as the device detonated.
Then the world slowed.
Jase flew through the air, all sound disappearing until he smashed into the block wall. With the rush of a sonic shriek, sound pierced his ears. Pain crumpled his bones. He slid to the floor, his vision going black. The gun clunked next to him. A body landed solidly on his legs.
God. Talen. Jase shook his head, his body screaming. His vision returned, tinged with red. Smoke filled the air along with an odd buzzing. Or maybe that was in his head. He tried to focus, but the hallway took on a surreal tint. Using his good hand, he rolled his brother over.
Talen coughed, blood dribbling out of his mouth.
Thank God. He was alive. This was Jase’s fault. He’d forgotten all his training and had almost gotten his brother killed. Jase shook him and grabbed his vest. “Get up.”
Three Kurjans ran out of the room at the end, hissing through yellow fangs. Shit. Jase dropped his brother and crawled over him as a shield. The closest Kurjan pointed a green gun and fired.
Pain ripped into Jase’s chest, and he flew back into the center of the hallway. At least a couple of the bullets had missed the vest, damn it. Blood bubbled up from his chest, and he coughed it out. Blades of damage ripped into his lungs.
Conn stormed out of the room, bullets spraying.
Talen shoved up, gun out and firing.
Jase grabbed his pistol, aimed in the general direction of the Kurjans, and fired.
Dizziness caught him. He swayed and fell back, sparks detonating behind his eyes as his head hit the floor. Then, he was out.
Jase awoke to find himself sandwiched between Talen and Conn in the back of the helicopter as it descended through a blowing rainstorm. Dusk had fallen. Man, they’d been at the warehouse all day. He hoped they’d found Garrett.
Jase shook his head. “Status?” he croaked.
Talen didn’t open his eyes, and a sense of healing came from him. Good. He was repairing the damage Jase had caused.
Conn kept his gaze out the window. “Garrett wasn’t there. His tracker led to the basement, but it was hidden in some rock. We have four injured, two dead.”
Damn it. Two bullets were still burrowed deep in Jase’s upper chest. He’d lost the ability to push them out mentally, the same way he’d lost the ability to alter the elements. Those gifts took mental concentration, and for some reason, he couldn’t focus long enough to make it happen. “It was a trap.”
“A good one,” Conn muttered.
Guilt pierced sharper than the bullets. Jase nodded. “I know.”
The helicopter set down.
Dage looked over his shoulder. “Report to the infirmary.”
Jase slid from the helicopter. “I’m fine. Going home.” Without a backward glance, he fought the pain and jogged through the storm. Lightning flashed, not nearly as hot as the piercing gazes from his brothers.
They should’ve yelled at him. Shit. They should’ve beat the hell out of him. His actions had almost killed Talen.
He didn’t belong there anymore. It was time to find the demons and end this.
First he had to get the bullets out of his flesh.
Chapter 14
Brenna stirred the stew on the stove. She’d ordered groceries, and a very nice vampire had delivered them. Moira had called to say they hadn’t found Garrett. She’d also mentioned Jase had been injured.
As a vampire, he’d probably be healed before he arrived home. So, Brenna had made dinner. By the time he showed up, they’d have a late meal. Though she’d reached out to every contact she had in the immortal world, nobody had a line on Garrett. Yet. But she was still waiting to hear from a couple, so maybe she’d have good news for him.
A thump echoed on the front porch. Brenna tilted her head. Another thump. Setting down the spoon, she hurried to open the door.
Jase fell inside.
Brenna gasped and reached for him, almost hitting her knees as she took his weight. He grabbed the wall for support and left a bloody handprint. Bruises and burns marred his face and exposed skin.
Panic shoved Brenna into motion. “You need a doctor.”
“No.” Half-leaning and half-tugging her along, he maneuvered them into the kitchen, where he dropped into a chair. “There’s a medical kit in the cupboard by the fridge.”
A medical kit? Was he freakin’ crazy? Her heart pounding so hard her ribs hurt, she stumbled to the counter and yanked out the metal box. “I’m not a doctor.”
“I know.” Groaning, he tried to unhinge his vest.
She placed the box on the table and slapped his hands. “Let me.” Ignoring his wince of pain, she pulled the Velcro free.
He exhaled sharply when she slid the vest over his head. Wounds dotted his upper chest—two bullet holes.
She leaned closer, and the scent of smoke and gunpowder assaulted her nose. “The bullets are still in?” That wasn’t possible.
“Yes.” Closing his eyes, he reached for the bottom of his tattered shirt and gasped in pain. “My healing abilities haven’t returned completely.”
Her breath caught. “Oh.” After years of being free? What the damn demons must’ve done to him. Then she grabbed his hands and stopped him. “Hold on.” Reaching for a junk drawer, she retrieved scissors and cut his shirt free. Stepping back, she stared.
Purple, red, and yellow bruises covered his torso along with plenty of blood still sliding from the bullet wounds. “What in the world?”
“Explosive.” Jase tipped back his head. “I don’t suppose you’d mind taking out the bullets?”
Bile surged from her stomach. “Why didn’t you go to the infirmary?”
“Why didn’t you tell your family you were dying?”
Good point. “I can get the bullets.” Probably. She eyed the sink in case she needed to puke. Her hands trembled, so she shook them out. Grabbing a scalpel, she peered closer at his injury. “Take a deep breath and hold it.”
He sucked in air, his eyes remaining closed.
She sliced a bigger opening in his wound.
He didn’t even twitch.
Okay. That had to have hurt. She clasped tweezers and slipped them into the hole. Blood spurted. Searching, she caught on something. Angling the metal closer, she pinched and tugged out a green bullet. His flesh made a squishy sound as the projectile was removed.
She swallowed several times and released the bullet onto the table. Then she went for the second wound. “Did you know that my people invented the lasers that turn into metal bullets upon hitting flesh?”
“Yes. Anything that includes altering matter to another state is usually from you crazy witches.” His lower lip tipped on the last.
She found the other bullet and removed it. “You’re just jealous.”
“Very.” He grimaced.
“Do I, ah, need to stitch you up?”
“No.” He lifted his head, desperation and anger sizzling in his eyes. “I can heal the holes now that the bullets are out.”
Brenna nodded and cleaned up the mess, turning to face him.
He sprawled in the chair, wounded and hurt. She shook her head. “What happened?”
“I forgot all my training and almost got my brother killed,” Jase whispered.
“Is he all right?” It didn’t really matter which brother, so she didn’t ask.
“Yes.”
“Then it’s over.” She reached for him. “Let’s get you cleaned up so you stop bleeding all over this too-perfect house.”