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Chapter 36

Craig tightened his arm around Tina's limp form. The dread pumping through him blossomed into a sheer white, hot panic.

Craig had made inquiries when Tina hadn't arrived in the hangar with the children. Learning Gina had disappeared, Craig felt a sense of panic, frantic, heart-stopping terror. A search had been arranged immediately, but John and his connection with Gina had headed them in the right direction. The explosion on the rooftop sent everyone into a frenzy. All Craig could see was the struggle on the side of the building and the sound of a gunshot sent him flying up the side of the building. An ability he had not needed to use but right now, he was happy he had it. Looking up, he saw Gina leaning over the side of the building, tears running freely down her cheeks.

"Is she okay?" Gina sobbed, swiping at her wet face with grimy hands.

"I don't know," Craig said, not wanting to frighten the child, "Gina, there are going to be some people coming to help me get Tina up. They are not going to hurt you."

"Okay," the child nodded, turning to look across the rooftop.

Craig had to smile when she started waving her hands and hopping up and down, pointing over the side of the building. Remaining where he was, scared of letting go of the precious load lying against him.

"Craig," Jarred called, "how is she?"

"Unconscious and losing blood fast," Craig said, "we need to get her up quickly."

"She was shot twice," Gina offered, "please ..." she swallowed hard, "don't let her die."

"We're going to do the best we can," Craig heard Scott say as he saw a body harness come over the edge, "Rose won't let her sister die if she can help it."

"Where is Rose?" Gina whispered, looking around.

"She's coming," Scot said, glancing at the child.

Craig saw the significant glance between Jarred and Scott before Jarred took the harness and continued lowering it to where Craig hung on the wall with Tina.

"Can you wedge her between the wall and yourself," Jarred called.

Craig shook his head, "If I let her go ..." Craig looked over his shoulder, "she'll fall."

"I have an idea," Scott said, coming back to the side of the wall and swinging his leg over, "bring the harness up."

Jarred looked at Scott with wonder in his eye, "You saw something I didn't."

"I'll go down and get Tina," Scott said, "Gina is worried about her life force diminishing."

"Her what?" Jarred asked, handing the harness to Scott, who quickly slipped it over himself and moved down the wall toward Craig and Tina.

"Life force," Scott said, grinning at Jarred's expression as he worked his way down the wall, "Craig, give me Tina. I'll take her up, and you can come up on your own."

Craig handed Tina over to Scott and waited while the other man held her in his arms while being pulled up to the top by Jarred, Todd and his team. Only when the pair disappeared over the edge did Craig climb the rest of the way up the wall. Pulling himself over the edge, he watched as Gina stood staring at the motionless form lying on the floor. Scott and Jarred worked as quickly as possible to stop the bleeding from her side as Rose ran across the rooftop, pale and crying. Dropping next to Tina, she moved her hands over the wet area of her body.

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"Do you know where she was shot?" Rose asked Gina.

"Her side and her leg," Gina said, swiping at her face again, "there was a third shot, but it missed us both."

"Where is the person who took you?" Rose looked at Gina then.

"I sent her away," Gina whispered.

"How?" Jarred asked, frowning at the child.

Gina looked at Craig. The fear in the child's eyes tore at his heart.

"She's a light thrower, among other things," he said, "leave her alone."

Gina smiled slightly at him before moving in his direction, "How did you know?"

"I saw you while I climbed the side of the building," Craig said, watching the cautious child come toward him, "I saw that woman's body drop past me."

"I sent her away," she said again.

Craig nodded, "You helped Tina. Thank you."

Gina turned to watch Rose work on Tina. Jarred found and worked on her bleeding leg while Scott helped Rose with bandages and whatever was needed.

"Will she live?" Gina whispered.

"She has to," Craig whispered, "I need her to. I need them all to live."

"You love her," the words were not a question, only a statement.

Craig nodded slightly, "With every beat of my heart."

"I know she loves you," Gina whispered, looking at Craig through her lashes.

"How do you know that?" Craig asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"All the attention she was getting at the house from the other men," Gina said, shaking her head, "she never reacted to any of it. She never had an emotion until she saw you at the facility."

"Gina," Craig warned, "how do you know?"

Gina peeked at him again, "I can … feel intentions."

"Do you know what that means?" Craig asked, squatting next to the child.

"Not really," Gina said quietly, "it is what I was told about one of my abilities."

"How many do you have?" Craig looked from the thoughtful expression to Roses' tense posture as she frantically worked to save her sister.

"I have a few," Gina whispered, "I don't remember all of them at the moment."

"It's okay," Craig said, "let's see if Rose is ready to move Tina."

Gina nodded, calmer than when he had first pulled himself onto the roof. Craig rose, moving toward the group, carefully lifting Tina onto a stretcher.

"Ready to move?" he asked, his gaze never leaving Tina's still form.

"Yes," Rose nodded, "we need to get her back to base. I have mended what I can, but I need Hana's help, and we'll probably have to find all the pieces."

Craig heard the words and felt his blood run cold. Pieces. Propping his hands on his hips and tilting his head back, he stared at the sky. He knew those bullets. He knew what they could do, and one was inside Tina. They could have killed his children; they could still kill the woman who held his world in her hand.

There was a lot of talk about them disappearing or stolen or shipments being hijacked. He tried to breathe through the terror of losing Tina to something like that.

"Craig," Rose said softly, "she will make it ... they all will."

"Are you sure about that?" Craig cleared his throat, looking down at the worried expression.

"She has to make it," Rose spoke with unusual determination, "if she doesn't, none of us can exist."

"How is she alive now?" Craig asked, frowning.

"We're holding her here," Rose swallowed hard, "determined to help her and ensure they all make it."

Craig nodded, understanding sinking in, "How much blood has she lost?"

"A lot," Rose said, "I didn't understand where it could be. Scott said that there was none on the side of the building."

Craig followed the direction of her gaze, looking down at his right side, "I guess these will need to be washed."

"Repeatedly," Rose smiled tightly, "thank you."

"Let's get Gina down to the others," Craig said, moving the group toward the elevator, "we need to get home now."