No! Feeling frantic, Ryker continued holding pressure on the gunshot wound. “Harper! Wake up!” He raised his head, looking at the various bystanders who were blatantly gawking. “I need a doctor here now! Hurry!”
“They’re on the way.” The security guard came over to kneel beside him. “What can I do?”
Ryker shook his head. “I don’t want him to die. The FBI has been searching for this guy and his partner. He can’t die!”
“Okay, I get it.” The security guard rested a hand on Ryker’s shoulder. “Are you a cop?”
“Not exactly.” Ryker wondered if he’d be arrested for shooting the guy, despite the fact that he’d only done it to save Olivia’s life. “I need you to secure the video for this parking garage. The Feds will want to review it.”
The security guard’s eyes widened as he nodded. “I can do that.”
“Good.” Where in the world was that medical team?
“Speaking of which, Marc Callahan is on his way.” Tony Seavers gestured at the area around the SUV. “He’ll work with the locals to clear the scene.”
“Olivia?” Ryker craned his neck in an attempt to make eye contact with her. “Are you all right? You’re not really in labor, are you?”
“I’m fine.” She stood leaning against the SUV, with Duncan beside her. “Don’t worry about me.”
He nodded, but couldn’t relax. Hearing the pounding of footsteps on the ground, he was grateful to see several men and women wearing scrubs rushing toward him. He didn’t move, not until the medical team was close enough to take over.
“Gunshot wound to the chest.” He moved out of the way. The team surrounded Harper Moore, the tall redheaded female obviously in charge.
“Get his chest wound packed with dressings. Get his vitals.”
Ryker stared at his blood-stained hands with a sense of dismay. He didn’t regret doing what was necessary to save Olivia’s life, but wished he hadn’t hit Moore in the chest. If the guy didn’t make it, they’d be no closer to finding Kevin Blake.
“So much blood,” Olivia whispered.
He grimaced, knowing she was right.
“Why don’t you wash up?” She gently tugged on his elbow. “You’re covered in blood and the restrooms aren’t far.”
He didn’t want to leave her alone, but he didn’t want to get her covered in blood, either. He followed her back inside the hospital to the restrooms just off the main lobby. After scrubbing the blood from his hands, he returned to find her waiting for him. Ryker longed to pull her into his arms, but noticed Marc Callahan striding toward them.
“You okay?” Marc’s keen gaze raked over him. “No injuries?”
“I’m fine. Olivia’s the one who needs to see a doctor.”
“No, I’m okay.” Olivia turned toward Marc. “Moore wanted the bank-account information.”
“He claims Seth Willis told him about the embezzlement scheme,” Ryker added. “He didn’t say one way or the other if Kevin Blake was involved. When I asked where Kevin was, he said dead.”
“I’ll need to corroborate his claim that Blake is dead, although it doesn’t make sense Moore would lie about that. Why would he want Blake to get all the cash?” Marc blew out a heavy sigh. “We’re going to need your statement and Olivia’s before you can leave.”
“Duncan’s, too.” Ryker knew the drill. “I asked the security guard to secure the video. Figured you and the local authorities will want to review it.”
“We will.” Marc held out his hand. Ryker solemnly shook it. “Nice work. Glad you were able to stop him.”
“Thanks.” Ryker noticed the medical team was bringing Harper Moore’s gurney inside, in a flurry of activity. The beeping heart monitor was somewhat reassuring, but the grim expressions on the faces of the team members told him that Moore was only hanging on by a thread. He couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away as they wheeled past him.
“It’s not your fault.” Olivia’s soft voice drew him from his dark thoughts. “He made the decision to come after me with a gun in an effort to get his hands on the money.”
“I know.” He pulled her close and buried his face against her silky hair. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“We both are.” The baby kicked, making him smile. “Actually, all three of us are. You saved us again, Ryker. I’m sorry you’ve had to face so much violence to do it.” Her body shuddered as if the memory was horrifying to her.
And he couldn’t blame her.
Emotion clogged his throat, and for a moment he couldn’t speak. Violence. She’d witnessed him doing violent acts from the moment they’d met. All along he knew that once Olivia returned to her normal everyday life, there would be no place for him.
Now he realized that the opposite would be just as bad. Having him around would only make her remember the horrible things she’d witnessed. All the blood she’d seen spilled.
Now that Harper Moore was out of the picture, and Kevin Blake was likely dead, there was nothing more for him to do.
It was time to let Olivia and Aaron go. To give them the normal life they deserved.
She relished being held in Ryker’s warm embrace, but it was over all too soon. He eased away, looking at Marc. “Let’s get these statements out of the way as soon as possible. Olivia wants to see Aaron and deserves to get some rest.”
“Olivia can speak for herself, thanks.” She wasn’t sure why Ryker’s tone irked her. It seemed as if he was pulling away from her. “I’m fine.”
Marc’s lips twitched. “Okay, I’ll talk to Olivia over here. Tony Seavers will take your statement.”
Ryker gave a curt nod and moved away, without giving her a second glance. She frowned, wondering what was going on with him. She knew Ryker was likely feeling a bit of guilt over his role in taking down Harper Moore, but it wasn’t as if there had been an alternative.
Marc Callahan led her to a seat in the corner of the lobby cordoned off from the rest of the public.
