Free Boreal and John Grey Season 2 by Chrystalla Thoma Page A

street.
    Shit. Did Finn wear his Kevlar vest — did she have time to—
    She threw herself in front of Finn, opening her arms as if that would serve any purpose — and an impact in her chest stopped her breath.
    The darkness rushed in.
     
     
     
    ***
     
     
     
    “Ella. Ella!” Finn’s voice, from somewhere above her. “Can you hear me?”
    “Damn, yes.” Why was he yelling like that? She blinked, and ow, her head hurt. “Not deaf.”
    Her jacket was open, her shirt — torn? The strap of her Kevlar jacket was undone. It was damn cold. “What are you doing?”
    Finn’s face came into focus. His eyes looked dark in his ashen face. “Just checking. How do you feel?”
    “I feel...” She shifted and the flare of white-hot pain in her chest took her breath away. She brought her hand up and Finn caught it. “What...?”
    Finn glanced at the side — the elevator. They were indoors, the door behind them closed. “You were shot.”
    Shot. Damn, yes, that was right. She recalled a flash on top of a nearby building and moving to shield Finn. “So that’s why,” she muttered. She tried to look down at herself, going cross-eyed. “Hurts like hell. I’ll have a pretty bruise.”
    Finn’s hand hovered over her collarbone. He gripped her arm instead. “Nothing broken?”
    She let him pull her up and sat, considering this. It hurt, yeah, but when she felt the area with her fingertips she didn’t scream. That had to count for something, right? “I don’t think so.”
    That was the thing. Stay cool and calm. She gritted her teeth and repeated the mantra in her head as Finn pulled her to her feet. Steady. Everything’s okay. Yeah.
    Now, if the bullet had struck a couple inches higher, she’d be dead.
    Jeez, that was the wrong thought. Shakes started in her legs and her knees felt like rubber. Oh crap.
    “Ella.” Finn wrapped an arm around her and bent to grab her under her knees.
    He was going to carry her.
    Hell, no. “I can walk.”
    “You’re shaking.”
    “Still can walk.” You thought you were the only stubborn one, huh? “Just let me lean on you.” Small concessions were the spice of life.
     Still frowning, Finn grabbed her around the waist and half-pulled half-carried her to the elevator.
    “Dave must be here by now,” he said as the elevator doors closed and the ride down began. “You can ask him—”
    “Dave has no clue where we are. This was a trap.”
    “I’m telling you, he’ll be here.”
    Whatever. Who was after them? And how had she not seen it coming? Too pissed and frustrated with Finn, she’d let herself lose focus.
    Stupid, Ella.
    They walked out into the lobby to find Dave and a group of agents waiting at the elevator doors. Huh. Look at that, Finn had been right.
    Dave’s mouth opened and closed. “Ella?”
    “How did you find us?”
    “Doesn’t matter.” Dave shook his head irritably. Then his eyes zeroed on her open shirt. “You got shot?”
    “I’m fine, boss. Kevlar did its job.”
    Dave stepped closer, cast Finn a glance and halted. “Are you okay, Ella?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Sure?”
    Ella struggled not to roll her eyes. “Yes, I’m sure. You might wanna check who’s hacked into your lines, though. I had a call from your number — a certain agent Niels telling me to come here. Said it was per your instructions.”
    “Next time you get instructions only from me,” Dave grated.
    “I figured as much.” She sighed. “I think I’ll just head home.”
    “Put some ice on that.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “You take care of her, son, you hear?” Dave nailed Finn with his gaze, as if this was Finn’s fault.
    Finn’s hold on Ella tightened. His heart boomed against her side. “Back off,” he bit out.
    “Only saying you—”
    “Save it.” Finn hauled Ella through the lobby, past Dave and his agents, out into the night.
    Whoa, looked like it was Finn’s turn to be angry — but why? She pushed off him.   “Finn?”
    His scowl darkened. He shrugged and