Wordlessly I point to Anthony’s arm, and Anders comes in, Everett right behind him. Fuck, that’s a lot of sexy in one rescue mission.
Everett helps Anthony out of his shirt and cleans the wound. “Shit, dude. He was going for your brachial artery. He was only off by a few centimeters.”
“Thank God for bad aim,” Anthony says, fist-bumping him as he smiles at me.
While they’re finishing up, Anders approaches me. I don’t know who this guy is, but he’s got a distinctly Hopper vibe.
“Your nose broken?” he asks, tilting his head to get a better look.
“I tried to set it. Hurt like a motherfucker.”
He nods, impressed. “You did a good job.” Looking around, he sneakily withdraws a small syringe from his vest. “I’ve got some new shit for field repairs. It’s super top secret, but it’ll heal your nose up quick.”
I step back. “Uh, that’s okay. I’ll let my body do its thing.”
He shrugs, slipping the syringe back into its little pocket. “Your choice.”
Turning to Anthony, Anders unsheathes a dull needle for the larger syringe and, with Everett’s help, draws a viscous liquid along Anthony’s cut. Seconds later, the wound is perfectly sealed.
Have I mentioned how hot my boyfriend looks shirtless?
Anders busts me lusting over Anthony’s abs and winks at me. “The compound will be absorbed by the body, and the exterior layer will fall off once he’s fully healed, two to three days, tops. You two should avoid any vigorous physical activity until then, though a thank-you-for-rescuing-me blowjob isn’t gonna hurt anyone.”
I laugh, but Anthony is Mr. Stoic Pants and refuses to take the bait. “Got it, Anders. Thank you.” Turning to Everett, he dips his chin. “And thank you for the clean-up.”
Everett smiles, his eyes a brilliant blue. “I’m a tattoo artist by day, so clean-up and sanitation is kind of my jam.”
Everett’s hand goes to his ear, and I realize he’s got a communication unit. He laughs softly. “I’m not flirting, Rafi. Please do not threaten our new friends with a sniper bullet to the head.”
I widen my eyes, looking out the window. A light flashes in the distance, and Everett sends a kiss in its direction.
Fuck, Anthony really did put together an entire team to save me.
It’s Anthony’s turn to put his hand to his ear. “You got it, Ryder,” he says, pulling out his earpiece. “She wants to make sure you’re okay.”
I nod and insert the piece into my ear. “Ryder? It’s Mads.”
“Oh fuck, thank God. I did not want to deal with a new boss now that I’ve got you properly trained.”
“Thanks for your concern,” I snark.
“Only the best for you, Mads,” she snarks right back, but I can hear the emotion in her voice.
“I’m okay, Ry. I know you helped them find me, and I won’t ever have enough words to thank you for that.”
There’s a sniff on the line, and I smile wide. “Shut up. I can see you smiling through Rafi’s scope. Stop it.”
I flip her the bird, and her dark laugh feels like a hug.
* * *
We work through the night,cleaning up the blood, with Anders bemoaning the lack of alligators.
I decide I don’t want to know what he means by that.
My mother, who I’ve yet to talk to, speaks up. “We do not have alligators, but we do have snow leopards. There's a preserve about ten kilometers out.”
Both Anders and Hopper light up, and it is, frankly, terrifying. “Do you have a truck or other means of transporting approximately twenty bodies?”