Glitter and Gunfire/Bulletproof (Shadow Agents 4)

He was furious.

“Get your damn priorities in order,” he snarled at him.

Then the doors closed.

He couldn’t see Mercer anymore. Good. He didn’t want to deal with Mercer then.

Only Cassidy mattered.

“C-Cale?” Cassidy was shaking.

No, seizing.

When he heard the EMTs say that her blood pressure was dropping too much, Cale felt his own heart start to sputter with fear.

He held her even tighter. As the medics worked on her, as they tried to stabilize Cassidy, he held her tight.

Because she wasn’t just an asset to him.

* * *

MERCER WATCHED THE ambulance rush from the scene. He swallowed the lump that wanted to choke him. When he’d first seen Cassidy, cradled in Cale’s arms, with all that blood...

I thought I’d lost her, too.

“Mercer?” Gunner’s quiet voice. “I saw a video camera on that last red light that we passed. I’ve already called Sydney—she’s gonna pull up the feed.”

And Sydney would be able to show them all just what had gone down on that dark road. Just how his daughter had wound up bloody and broken.

He tried to control the rage growing in him. With his job, he wasn’t supposed to let emotion rule him.

He wasn’t supposed to—

Marguerite had looked as broken as Cassidy. With blood on her body. So pale. Just left in the street.

Like his Cassidy.

His fingers were shaking. Mercer balled

them into fists.

“Sir?”

Had he spoken? He must have, because Gunner was frowning at him.

“We find them. We take them out.” His words were brittle. “I want every tech we’ve got going over that video. We’ll put an all-points bulletin up for the vehicle, and we will have that van.” He wanted that van found within the hour. The video would show them the make and model of the vehicle Cassidy had described. “Cassidy shot one of the assailants, so he’ll need medical help. Get men at the hospitals. Anyone comes in with a gunshot wound, I want to know about it.”

He paused, sucking in a sharp breath as he realized that his words had fired out too hard and fast.

Not controlled.

Not any longer.

Cassidy’s blood stained the street.

Gunner stepped closer to him. “Mercer...”

“Cale can’t be trusted to keep her safe.” Flat. He believed those words with every fiber of his being. Because he’d seen the way the man looked at Cassidy when she was loaded onto that stretcher. That look wasn’t just about attraction.