Rebecca Zanetti - Sweet Revenge

“You didn’t plant the chips in our spines, right?” Shane’s eyes darkened.

She sighed and grabbed a blanket off a low shelf to spread over Matt. “No. I’d never cause such harm. The oath I took—it meant something.”

Shane nodded. “Do you miss being a doctor?”

She bit her lip and allowed herself to really examine the question. “I’m not sure. I became a doctor to give myself security and because I enjoyed learning at school.” She brushed hair away from her face. “But I like being a bartender better. Or rather, I guess I like who I am as a bartender better. There’s no ambiguity.”

“Maybe once we take care of these chips, you can be a bartender in town.” Shane smoothed the blanket over Matt’s legs as if he couldn’t help but stay close to his brother.

Laney stilled. “You think I’m staying?”

“Do you love my brother?” Shane’s formidable focus narrowed right on her.

She fought the urge to squirm. “Yes.”

“Then you’re staying.” Shane smiled. “We need you to cut out the chips, anyway.”

Why was it the Gray brothers seemed more predatory than relaxed when they smiled? Must be something in the genetics. “That’s true,” she murmured. Might as well boss Shane around while she could. “Stay here and keep an eye on Matt. I need to check on Nathan’s concussion.” After waiting for Shane’s nod, she pivoted on squishy shoes to head upstairs to her next patient. She found him seated in a chair upstairs in a main living area, pretty much growling at a glaring Josie, who sat on the sofa.

“How’s your head?” Laney asked, tapping her fingers along his neck to feel for a pulse.

“My brain hurts.” A sprawling purple bruise cascaded out from Nate’s temple to his forehead and cheek. “But I’m fine.”

Laney dropped to her haunches and pointed a penlight in his eyes. “Hmmm.”

“I told you,” Josie said, hands on her hips. “You have a concussion, and you are not going to sleep.”

Laney patted his arm and stood. “Stay awake for two hours, don’t throw up, keep your vision, and we’ll talk.”

“How’s Matt?” Nate asked, dark circles forming bruises under his eyes. Even so, a deadly tension cascaded around him.

“I’m fine.” Matt hitched into the room, his arm around Shane’s shoulders.

Laney twirled around. “What the hell? You should be prone.”

“Is that an offer?” he asked with a grimace.

“No.” Laney helped ease him next to Josie on the couch. His color looked better. “How are you feeling?”

“Like raiding the facility in Colorado.” Matt lifted an eyebrow and focused on Shane. “Find it yet?”

Shane nodded and headed for the door. “Yes. Right now, I need to secure the helicopter in the barn. Be right back.”

Josie jumped up and hustled after him. “If we’re raiding, I’m going, too.” The door closed behind her.

Matt held out a hand, and Laney took it, all but falling next to him on the sofa.

She had no interest in raiding anything. Ever. “You’ll need a doctor on the raid,” she murmured.

“No.” Matt said, tangling his fingers with her. “We don’t need a doctor, we need soldiers. Right, Nate?”

Nate’s eyelids flipped back open. “Right. Although Laney Lou is a badass on a mission.”

Warmth slid through her with the compliment. She had a feeling Nate didn’t give them often. “Thanks.”

Matt shifted his weight and grimaced. “Did you two bond or something?”

“Yeah,” Nate said softly. “I welcomed her to the family, Mattie. We’re keeping her.”

Tears pricked the back of her eyes. When had she ever been part of a family? Never. Surprise filled her at how badly she wanted to be part of this one. To be part of the Gray family. “You’re sweet, Nate. Thanks.”

“I am not.” He shut his eyes again.

“Open your eyes.” She put snap into her tone. He couldn’t fall asleep yet.

He flipped one eye open. “Control your woman, Mattie.”

She grinned. “If I had more energy, I’d take out your other temple.”

“Later.” Nate pushed off the chair. “Oddly enough, I’m starving. I’ll go get breakfast going.” He limped into the other room.

Matt played with her hair. “Thank you for saving my life.”

“You saved mine, too.” She snuggled into his good side. “Tasha said somebody shot Jory, and he was taken to another facility where miracles happen. I don’t know if that means anything, and the woman was nuts. But I thought you should know.”

Matt exhaled slowly. “Emery hinted at the same thing. I keep getting my hopes up about Jory, but I know he can’t be alive. If so, he would’ve contacted me by now.”

“More than likely.” Laney couldn’t take away all hope. Matt had lived without it for too long. “But you live odd lives full of danger and intrigue. So don’t give up completely. Just be prepared.”

“Good plan.” He relaxed next to her, the muscles letting go. “The commander may know something, and I’ll find out what it is while he’s still alive.”

Laney wanted to be kind and right, but deep down, she knew the commander had to die. So long as he walked, he’d hunt the people she loved. “I’ll help you do whatever you need to do, Matt.” Her loyalty and heart belonged with him, no matter how dark the world became.

“I have to go on the raid to Colorado,” he said softly.

“I know.” She turned her head to study his battered face.

His left eyebrow lifted. “You understand?”

“Sure.” She slid her hand over his heart to feel it beat. “I love you—all facets of you. I’d never ask you to be anybody other than who you are.”

“Who am I?” he whispered.

“A guy who’d give a damaged surgeon another chance.” She blinked back tears. “A guy who’d spend his last ounce of strength dodging bullets in order to get his fallen brother to a helicopter.” God, she loved him. More than she would’ve ever thought possible. “A guy who’d raid a facility with few weapons to search for the chance that his youngest brother still lived.”

A hero. The real kind. Without a doubt, hers .

Matt’s hold tightened. “I don’t think you see the real me.”

“You’re wrong. I see you clearly.” How could he not know he was a hero?

He ran his knuckle along her cheekbone. “You’re the amazing one, Laney. The way you overcame your fear of blood and performed surgery in a shack? Incredible. And you weren’t damaged, ever. What happened wasn’t your fault.”

“Maybe.”

“Thank you again for saving me. For taking care of Nathan.”

“I love you. How could I not?”

His eyes darkened, and he lifted her with his good arm to straddle him. “I promise. The second we get these chips out, you and I are going to live a wonderful life. Full of family, fun, and peace. If I accomplish nothing else, I’ll find you peace.”

If anybody could engineer peace, it’d be Matt. She cupped his face and gently kissed him. “Peace or no, I just want you. Forever.”

He deepened the kiss until she pulled back, not wanting to hurt his arm. His eyes gleamed an unfathomable gray. “Forever. I’ll make sure of it.”

Matt leaped off the helicopter and headed toward the ranch house, his strides long and sure. The Colorado raid had been a success. An easy one, which concerned him. Sure, they’d gone in under the radar as soldiers, and they’d blended right in. The security had been complex, but they’d easily maneuvered into secured locations to find information.

Not a shot had been fired.

In fact, there was a chance the commander hadn’t known the Gray brothers had infiltrated Colorado.