Lynn nodded, just once. “I thought so, but it’s good to hear it confirmed. My grandmother would never volunteer my services to anyone who was fighting on the wrong side of the battle of good versus evil.”

  The doctor’s attention was pulled away by his commanding officer for a moment, and Lynn closed her eyes. A lot had happened in a very short time. She had a great deal to think about, once things settled down. For now, she had to play helpless victim for a little while longer.

  It wasn’t that big a deal, because she really was feeling the effects of having been injured. Oh, the wound might be healed, and there was no pain any longer, but getting shot had definitely taken quite a bit of her energy. The initial shock and intense pain as her system tried to deal with it had sent a burst of adrenaline through her body. That was dissipating now that she was safe, and the resulting fatigue wasn’t entirely unexpected.

  It would be good to get off the boat and rest somewhere that wasn’t dipping and rolling beneath her. She wasn’t an experienced sailor to begin with, and laying down on a flat deck while the ocean did its best to rock the ship in every direction was starting to get to her.

  Lynn did her best not to think about it. She had to focus on something else. Letting the activity of the men around her just fade into the background of her mind, she tried to focus on her grandmother’s words in that letter. Gram had been suitably vague, but over the years, Lynn had learned to read between the lines of her grandmother’s speech. It was clear that Gram wanted her to be here, working with these men. Gram undoubtedly had her reasons. Gram always had reasons for everything she did, or caused other people to do.

  In Lynn’s case, she had no doubt that her grandmother only had Lynn’s best interests in mind. Her grandmother loved her, and Lynn felt the same. She’d do anything for Gram. She’d just never thought she would end up taking a bullet doing something her grandmother had wanted her to do. Never in a million years, could she have imagined such a situation, but here it was, and Lynn had lived to tell the tale.

  More than that, this experience had been a radical, undeniable explanation of just what these soldiers could do. Lynn understood now, that they could be a force for peace. She also understood why Gram had sent her to help them.

  “All right, are you with me, Dr. Tucker?” Rick’s voice came to her, and she opened her eyes. “We’re almost to the island,” he told her, his handsome face looming over her. She must’ve dozed off or had succeeded in focusing her thoughts to such an extent that she’d lost track of time. “We’re going to get you into the transport basket, and then, we’ll get off this tub, okay?”

  She nodded. “Ready when you are,” she said, her voice a bit weaker than she’d expected. Yeah, getting shot had done a number on her, despite the magical doctor’s best efforts.

  Lynn didn’t object when one of the Coast Guard men brought over a hard, man-sized basket with handles. She allowed them to help her into it and then lay quietly until the boat docked. She closed her eyes again, only opening them when a few men lifted her and began moving. She said nothing while the men carried her ashore and placed her, in her long basket, into the back of a truck.

  “We’re going to take you right to our building,” the doctor told her, sitting beside her in the dark interior of the truck. “You can get up now, if you like. The entire island is safe from surveillance, and we left the Coasties on the dock. Everyone here is in on our secret, so you’re safe.”

  Lynn sat up slowly, her head spinning a bit. “Thanks. I definitely feel the effects of blood loss, but that should clear up given time. Coming down from the adrenaline high was rough. I’m not usually one for daredevil sports or adrenaline rushes,” she admitted with a grin as she held on tight to the raised sides of the metal basket.

  The doctor was giving her a strange look. “I never really thought about that. The kind of life I lead, and job I do, lends itself to a lot of adrenaline surges. Especially when we’re in action. I guess I’ve just gotten used to managing it.”

  “I work in a lab most of the time. The most exciting thing to happen to me in the past six months was when I forgot the Bunsen burner was lit, and I accidentally set fire to a report I was reading when I moved back to my lab bench.” She laughed at her own absentmindedness, though having the sheaf of papers go up in flames in her hands had gotten her heart racing at the time.

  “If you’re still feeling shaky, we can easily carry you inside,” he told her, a little frown on his handsome face.

  “Oh, no. I’ll be fine,” she insisted, experimentally lifting one leg over the top of the metal basket.

  She discovered there was no elegant way to climb out of the contraption. She settled for sort of rolling herself out until she was on the floor of the truck. She would get up from there, once they stopped moving. The doctor helped by holding the basket steady and then moving it out of the way, once she was out.

  Lynn hadn’t seen who was driving the truck. She thought she had noticed the captain walking away with the base commander and his son, so the driver was probably another member of the unit. The truck was a big one, with bench seats along each side and a canvas top that provided cover. It wasn’t the cleanest thing in the world, but her clothing was already ruined after the adventure of the day.

  She could see a little bit of the island out of the back of the truck, which was open. There were a few buildings scattered around the grounds and roadways connecting them. When the truck stopped, she wasn’t sure what to expect. She couldn’t see much, besides a pathway leading down to the beach.

  “This is our building,” the doctor told her. “Come on. Let’s get you inside.”

  He helped her slide down to the edge of the truck bed and then jumped down himself. He stood ready to assist her, should she need it, as she allowed her feet to dangle off the back of the truck then made the short hop down to the ground. Her knees buckled, and Rick caught her.

  His warmth surprised her. His strength did not. He was every bit as hard and muscular as she’d suspected, and it was difficult to focus on her priorities as his strong arm settled around her shoulders.

  “Whoa, there. You okay, Doc?” he asked, his voice low and concerned.

  “Sorry. Just a little shaky. I’ll be okay in a minute,” she replied, a bit mortified at her own weakness. Then again, she didn’t go around getting shot every day. This was definitely a new—and concerning—experience for her.

  “You okay to walk?” he asked after a moment.

  “I think so,” she answered, taking one step and then another. Her feet were growing more confident with every stride.

  A little wave of dizziness hit her, and she paused to catch her breath. Rick was immediately at her side, his arm supporting her. Rather than admit to weakness again, she took a look around, breathing deeply of the crisp, ocean-scented air. They were very close to the shore, which was only a few hundred yards distant.

  She looked to her left, and the building was more imposing than she’d expected. Old. Built of brick and stone. At least three stories tall.

  “That’s been here a while,” she observed, still looking at the building. “Is my lab in there?”

  Rick followed the direction of her gaze. “It is, but don’t worry. You haven’t been bamboozled. We’ve fixed up the inside with all the modern conveniences. Not much else to do while we cool our heels here, trying to figure out where we go next.” He looked back at her, his expression unreadable. “The labs are on the top floor. Living quarters are just below, and common areas are on ground level. The basement is for tech and mostly off-limits to civilian personnel.”

  That sounded mysterious, but she let it go. She was feeling a bit better, but her strength was iffy, at best. Getting shot had taken more out of her than she’d expected. She began walking, hoping to make it inside before she had to rest again.

  The driver of the truck went up the steps and to the side door of the building, opening it and holding it for her while Rick held her arm throughout her journey up the steps. Her legs were shaking by the time she reached the top, but she made it. She smiled at the man holding the door for her.

  “Thanks,” she said as they passed into the building.

  “Dr. Tucker, this is Sergeant Ezekiel Miller,” Rick made the introductions as they walked into the building together.

  “Thank you, Sergeant Miller,” she replied more formally, smiling at the other man as he held the second set of doors for her.

  “No problem, ma’am. Call me Zeke.” Lynn liked the handsome sergeant’s open smile. He was a bit of a giant and had the look of a man who liked working with his hands.

  “At ease, Sergeant.” Lynn didn’t miss the raised eyebrow Rick shot his comrade.

  “Yes, sir,” Zeke replied with the same casualness that indicated a long-time friendship between the two.

  Had Rick just warned off the younger man from flirting with Lynn? She almost laughed at the idea, but a secret part of her was incredibly flattered. She wasn’t exactly femme fatale material, and men didn’t usually make a fuss over her. Not at all. Then again, they were probably just being nice because she’d been shot. That had never happened before, either.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “This way.” Rick guided her, still holding her arm as they entered the main part of the building. He opened a door to a supply closet and reached in, quickly grabbing a couple of things, then led her to another doorway. “I figured you’d want to get out of that bloody shirt,” he explained as he opened the door to a large bathroom. “Will you be okay on your own, or do you need my help?” He put the small pile of supplies he’d gathered on one of the sinks.

  “I can manage. Thanks,” she told him as he backed away. The bathroom was built for multiple users, with stalls and a row of sinks.

  “I’ll be just outside. Take your time, but call if you need anything, okay?” He backed out the door, not letting it close until she’d nodded her agreement.

  Lynn took a moment to just stand there and regroup. She looked up into the mirror and was a bit horrified by the image she presented. Her shoulder was covered in a red-tinged bandage, and her hair was a mess. She stripped off her ruined shirt, only noticing then, that the bra strap over her damaged shoulder had been cut.

  She looked through the little pile of supplies, glad to find that the doctor had thought of everything. There was a stretchy sports bra that would fit her, along with both a T-shirt and a heavier sweatshirt, as well as some toiletries and a roll of paper towels. She could wash off the blood without ruining any of the nice fabric hand towels that were stocked in this bathroom. Smart thinking.

  Getting the bandage off with one hand was a little tricky, but Lynn managed it then set to work cleaning off the dried blood. She took a good, long look at the place she’d been injured and was amazed to see the results of the doctor’s treatment. It was almost unbelievable, except she couldn’t deny the proof before her eyes. Amazing.

  The doctor had provided a small trash bag, in which she put her ruined clothes, the used bandage and any other debris from her cleanup. She changed into the sports bra and T-shirt. She was chilly enough to also put on the sweatshirt, which was oversized on her but made her feel warm. It wasn’t her usual working attire, but she was comfortable again, for the first time since being shot, and she was grateful.

  Rick had also thoughtfully provided a plastic comb, and after freshening up, she used it to try to untangle the mess of her hair. Fatigue was starting to catch up with her, so she did the best she could and then went to the door. She was as presentable as she was going to get for now and felt a lot better just being clean and out of those bloody clothes. She opened the door to find Rick, as promised, standing guard. He turned when she appeared, concern in his expression.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked solicitously.

  “A little tired, if I’m honest, but glad to get cleaned up. Thank you,” she replied.

  “Let’s see if we can’t find you a place to sit down for a while,” he said, his voice warm as he ushered her across the wide hallway. He took her through a doorway to what looked like a giant living room, helping her sit on one of the leather recliners. “Comfortable?” he asked as she leaned back.

  Zeke had disappeared into the main part of the building when they’d arrived. For the moment, she was alone with the handsome doctor.

  “I feel like this chair is swallowing me whole,” she joked as she sank into the soft leather.

  “Want your feet up?” Rick smiled and reached down to the lever on the side of the chair.

  She looked up, finding him closer than she’d expected. Her breath caught in her throat as she nodded, unable to speak. His gaze held hers as he worked the mechanism that lifted her feet off the ground, then he moved away, and she was able to breathe again.

  “This is the living room, so to speak,” he told her. “It’s where we gather off-duty to hang out and watch sports or just unwind. Since we don’t get to leave base much, unless we are on a mission, this building has become our home, more or less.”

  Lynn looked around and realized the large room had multiple uses. There was a pool table in one corner with a dartboard set up nearby. A giant screen along one wall opposite her chair and a group of couches and other chairs was probably for watching movies or television. There was also what looked like a large dining room table in another corner, where she could see a jigsaw puzzle in progress, as well as some crafting items, like a glue gun and a spool of red ribbon. Her eyebrows rose at that, and Rick followed the direction of her gaze, chuckling when he saw what she was looking at.

  “Some of the ladies like to be creative,” he told her. “Casey, the captain’s wife, used to do a lot of interior design. Since we’ve pretty much finished fixing up this building, she hasn’t had much chance to stretch her creative muscles. She’s started crafting things, and she’s a menace with that glue gun.”

  Lynn smiled at the image. She would’ve asked him for more details, but at that moment, a group of women entered the room. They paused when they saw her then moved cautiously closer.

  “You must be the new consultant,” one of the women said, addressing Lynn directly. “I’m Dr. Jeana Holbrook. I’ve been leading the research team.” She shook Lynn’s hand gently. “Was there a problem getting you here?” Jeana’s gaze went from Lynn to Rick and back again.

  “If you call getting shot by a sniper a problem, then I guess so.” Lynn had to chuckle at the weird turn her day had taken.

  “Shot?” All the women looked concerned by the news, but it was the researcher who continued to act as spokeswoman.

  “And healed,” Rick protested, holding up his hands, palms outward. “She’s okay, just a little weak from blood loss and shock.”

  “I’m truly sorry,” another woman, who was very obviously pregnant, came forward, a frown marring her brow. “The boys usually aren’t that sloppy, to allow someone to get shot on their watch.” She moved closer. “I’m Casey, by the way. The unit’s captain, Hal, is my husband. This is Rosie and Hannah. Mandy’s on her way with snacks. We were going to watch a chick flick if you want to join us while you unwind and recover.”

  “I hadn’t planned on watching the movie,” Jeana clarified, speaking again. “My plan for the day was to show you around your new lab and workspace, but seeing as how you’re recovering from being shot…” the woman shook her head and narrowed her eyes at Rick, as if it was his fault, “…a movie might be just the thing.”

  “We try to get the ladies together at least once a week for a little girl time,” Casey went on, smiling welcomingly. “We’re pretty much outnumbered on this island, so we need to stick together.”

  “What movie is it?” Lynn asked, warming to the chatty woman.

  “The new one with Rendall Smith and Kat Valiant. One of the women on the other side of the island loaned it to me. She said Ren, as she called him, was one of her cousins, and he sent her an early copy. This isn’t even in theaters yet!” Casey fairly squealed. “Their wedding was so romantic.” Casey sighed happily. “Trina—that’s my friend who’s in the Navy—said Ren and Kat are very close with Sullivan Lane and her new husband, who is rumored to be Mark Pepard’s best friend and right hand man. Trina says she’s distantly related to Pepard, too, and has a home on that exclusive island he owns, but prefers to work for a living.” Casey shook her head. “I don’t get it, but then again, I married a Green Beret. I know how he feels about serving. I suspect Trina feels that way too.”

  Lynn knew that Kinkaid and his son were both shifters. She’d sensed that about them the moment they’d met. If Kinkaid had a group of shifters working for him, then it stood to reason that this Trina, whoever she was, was also a shifter. If she was related to the reclusive billionaire, Mark Pepard and the movie star Rendall Smith, then both of them might also be shifters. Lynn had long suspected something of the kind—just by their looks alone in the photos she’d seen—but she couldn’t tell for sure if someone was a shifter or not without meeting them in person.

  She wondered if Casey and the other women knew about shifters. Lynn would have to find out just who knew what before she opened her mouth and started taking things for granted. The shifter secret was a closely held one. Lynn was one of the very few non-magical folk who were in on it. Her Gram had impressed upon her early how important it was to keep that secret. She wouldn’t—couldn’t—discuss the existence of shapeshifters with anyone who didn’t already know about it. To do so, would be to invite all sorts of trouble that Lynn definitely didn’t want.

  Especially not now, when she was working so close to Commander Kinkaid and his somewhat intimidating son. She was at their mercy on this island. She would have to tread carefully until she got the lay of the land.

  Lynn spent the next two hours watching an incredibly good movie with the other ladies. Even after the film ended, they sat together discussing all sorts of things, from movie stars to the current political situation in the world. The women had widely different backgrounds. Each one had their own areas of expertise and experience, and they all shared a strong intelligence and wit. Lynn liked them right off the bat.