Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

breed apart.”
    Garrett released his hold on Judd, knowing he’d received the message loud and clear. “Damn right.”
    “Yo!” Skip hollered through the window of the cabin. “A call just came over the radio. The Double Dippin’ took gunfire, and her captain’s been taken to the Infirmary.”

C HAPTER F OURTEEN
    What had Judd said about SEALs being a tough breed? Knowing that Sonya was hurt had Garrett quaking like an old woman. His pulse pounded until he felt like his heart would beat him to death. He’d had buddies shot down beside him, held one in his arms as he took his last breath, believing his own death would be next, and yet he hadn’t been as afraid as he was right now.
    Skip had powered the Calypso to the cannery and tied up next to the Double Dippin’ . The side window of Sonya’s drift boat was blown free. Jagged pieces of glass still stuck in the edges of the broken frame. Blood trailed down the steps from the pilot house, over the rail, and up the ladder to the dock of the cannery.
    “Skip, don’t let anyone besides us board that boat.” Garrett clenched his jaw.
    “You can count on it.”
    He reached for the ladder. Blood was spattered on each rung. His own raced with dread as he climbed. Judd followed him. They didn’t speak as they gained the dock and jumped into the Jeep. He gunned the engine and made for the village, which began on the back side of the cannery.
    The commercial area of South Naknek was about a city block long, with the outlying areas dotted with small houses for the hundred or so residents. It was definitely a place you wouldn’t get lost in. Main Street consisted of a restaurant/bar, the Pitt, an old Russian Orthodox Church, fire station, school, library, and Community Center. All were within shouting distance of each other.
    Tires skidded on the dirt road as Garrett brought the Jeep to a rocking stop. He jumped out of the vehicle and hauled open the door to the Community Center, which housed the offices for the village officials, their one village public safety officer—or VPSO— and the Infirmary. If Sonya was seriously hurt they’d need to call in a helicopter. Then he remembered the fog. No flying meant the village doctor was their only option. How trained would the guy be? What if Sonya was hurt worse than the doc could handle?
    Don’t borrow trouble.
    He grabbed the door to the Infirmary and yanked it open. In the waiting room sat Wes, Peter, and Nikolai, their faces drawn and pale.
    “Where is she?” he asked, their solemn expressions making him that more afraid.
    Nikolai pointed to the closed door opposite the bench the three of them occupied.
    “Damn it to hell, Wanda, that hurts!” Sonya hollered from the behind the barrier.
    Garrett nearly dropped to his knees in relief. If she had the energy to yell, she had to be all right. “How’s she doing?” he asked Nikolai.
    A bit of a twinkle entered Nikolai’s worried eyes. “Swearing up a storm. It’s a good thing my Maggie May isn’t here listening to that potty mouth.”
    Garrett took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Judd entered the room, having caught up with him. Garrett made the introductions and then got down to business. “Tell me what happened.”
    “We were pulling in our net when the window to the pilot house exploded,” Nikolai began, worrying the rim of his hat in his hands. “It sounded like a gunshot.”
    “Was Sonya hit?” There’d be a bullet to recover if she was. And, by God, he’d find the gun that matched it.
    “Not by a bullet,” Nikolai answered, “but she was cut up bad by flying glass.”
    “There was blood everywhere,” Peter said in a hushed voice. The kid looked shell-shocked.
    Nikolai patted Peter’s back. “She’s going to be okay, Peter.” By the sounds coming from the exam room, Sonya was holding her own. “That’s one tough sister you got.”
    “Yeah,” Peter said, though he didn’t sound convinced. Was Nikolai putting on a strong front for the other men? Was Sonya hurt worse than they thought?
    “Judd, finish taking their statements. I’ve got to see Sonya.”
    Garrett reached for the doorknob, but stopped when Nikolai stood and grabbed his arm.
    “Before you go in there, let me give you a few words of advice.” Nikolai leaned in, and lowered his voice, “The more scared Sonya gets, the louder and mouthier she becomes.”
    “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.” He knocked and entered the exam room before a “come in” was