Repairer of the Breach by Ashwood Sarah

Author:Ashwood, Sarah
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

“Gone? What do you mean, gone? You mean he’s dead?”

Either Ellie was hard of hearing, or stunned, or in shock. She was having a hard time comprehending the message.

“He’s dead, Ellie,” Carter repeated. “When the phoenix ignited, James was too close. The blast, the explosion, the fire…he was enveloped, Ellie. No way he could’ve survived. He’s gone.”

“The phoenix?” She looked confused. Switching topics, she gestured toward the body Javier had hauled out in the nick of time. “Who is that, if it isn’t James?”

“Sean,” Carter answered, grim. “He’ll make it. I think. I had just enough time to get in front of him. Shield him.”

She studied him, anxious. “You shielded him? With yourself? Honey, are you sure you’re okay?”

Her questing hands fluttered over his face, his neck, his shoulders like she was checking for injuries. Carter caught one hand. Bringing it to his mouth, he pressed a kiss to her palm. “I’ll be fine. I need to check on Sean.”

He let her go, making his way through the rubble to where Javier had placed their employer in a safe spot. Ellie followed, kneeling next to him. Carter didn’t have to ask or suggest that she check him. She already was. Her fingertips felt for a pulse, then gently probed the large lump on the side of his face next to his left eyebrow. She laid a hand on his chest, then an ear. She unbuttoned his shirt to examine the cut where blood was seeping out, staining the fabric.

Carter and Javier waited while she finished up by running her hands over his arms and legs, checking for broken bones. Finally she sat back, pushing her glasses further up the bridge of her nose.

“I can’t say for certain about a head injury without a CT scan, of course,” she said, “but I don’t see anything potentially life threatening right now. He could have a concussion, of course, but it looks like you did your job.” She nodded at Carter. “Hopefully, he’ll be fine. I heard sirens a minute ago. EMTs should be here soon. We’ll get him in the ambulance and get him to the hospital for further tests.”

“No.”

The word was so garbled that Carter didn’t even realize at first that Sean had spoken.

“Mr. Costas?” Ellie leaned over him. “Mr. Costas, can you hear me? How are you feeling?”

“Uh…like I was hit. Hit by a truck.”

His voice was breathy, laced with pain. He hadn’t opened his eyes, but he was coherent, answering questions. That was a good sign, right?

“Not a truck, but a piece of wall or ceiling, I think,” Ellie half-chuckled. “Carter took the brunt of it for you.”

“Carter?”

At this, Sean’s eyes opened to slits, rolled around, seeking him.

“I’m here.”

Carter knelt next to his wife on one knee, hovering over his boss.

“Get—get me out of here,” Sean said quietly, but his voice had firmed considerably.

Ellie shot Carter a look, shaking her head. “He needs to go to the hospital,” she mouthed.

Sean must’ve heard or discerned what Ellie was insisting on.

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