* Troy Dunston and Ezra Carter kept their distance. They'd checked in with the Alpha and agreed to stay until Caiden Bauer's next of kin showed up. Next of kin. Jesus. I raked my hand down my face. Gabriel Jericho sat beside me, both of us beat up and defeated. Gina-Leigh Jericho had not yet regained consciousness. Caiden was in emergency surgery. And I was being eyed by the Alpha of Bellingham's two enforcers as the one responsible. Fuck. I was responsible. If I had just done this meeting on my own, this wouldn't have happened. "You'd be dead." Gabe dead panned. "I know what you're thinking. And you're wrong." His tone brooked no argument. "I may have killed your sister and her mate." My voice was thick with gravel. "No. Cantwell and Wilson may have, not you. But I will tell you, right now, you've gotta be dead. Troy and Ezra are going to fly back out and set it up to look like you died in the explosion." I didn't know where he was going with this, but I agreed. I'd do whatever I had to. "Jericho?" A nurse stood at swinging door, holding a clipboard. She was in scrubs and booties, obviously having been in the operating room. Gabe stood up quickly and made his way to her. Troy and Ezra stood up taller to listen. "Dr. Bachman has finished up with Gina. He'd like to speak with you privately." Gabe nodded and disappeared behind the door. I closed eyes that burned from debris and smoke. "Mr. Adams?" There was a soft spoken name. When I heard it again, I turned. There was a nurse there, with a wheel chair. "You should be evaluated now." I waved her off. "Im fine, thank you." She hesitated before moving away. I dropped my head into my hands and waited for news. *
* Troy Dunston and Ezra Carter kept their distance. They'd checked in with the Alpha and agreed to stay until Caiden Bauer's next of kin showed up. Next of kin. Jesus. I raked my hand down my face. Gabriel Jericho sat beside me, both of us beat up and defeated. Gina-Leigh Jericho had not yet regained consciousness. Caiden was in emergency surgery. And I was being eyed by the Alpha of Bellingham's two enforcers as the one responsible. Fuck. I was responsible. If I had just done this meeting on my own, this wouldn't have happened. "You'd be dead." Gabe dead panned. "I know what you're thinking. And you're wrong." His tone brooked no argument. "I may have killed your sister and her mate." My voice was thick with gravel. "No. Cantwell and Wilson may have, not you. But I will tell you, right now, you've gotta be dead. Troy and Ezra are going to fly back out and set it up to look like you died in the explosion." I didn't know where he was going with this, but I agreed. I'd do whatever I had to. "Jericho?" A nurse stood at swinging door, holding a clipboard. She was in scrubs and booties, obviously having been in the operating room. Gabe stood up quickly and made his way to her. Troy and Ezra stood up taller to listen. "Dr. Bachman has finished up with Gina. He'd like to speak with you privately." Gabe nodded and disappeared behind the door. I closed eyes that burned from debris and smoke. "Mr. Adams?" There was a soft spoken name. When I heard it again, I turned. There was a nurse there, with a wheel chair. "You should be evaluated now." I waved her off. "Im fine, thank you." She hesitated before moving away. I dropped my head into my hands and waited for news. *
* I followed the surgeons assistance as she led me down a hall of private rooms. She stopped outside of one of the rooms. * Dr. Bachman will be in shortly. Mr. Bauer is still in the OR. As soon as I know something, I will pass it along. Gina is in here. * She opened the door and I stepped inside. Gina was propped up in the bed, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. * Hey. * She swallowed as tears shone in her eyes. * Hey. * I was at her bedside and hugging her close. * Are you okay? * I asked her. * Are you? Have you called Bo? Gabe, she's going to be sick with worry. * I cupped my sister's face. * Bo will kick my ass, but I have to know, are you okay? * She nodded, but it wasnt convincing. * Caiden? * She asked. * Still in surgery. * There was a sharp knock and a doctor stepped around the curtain. He was tall and his signature gave off demon vibes. * Mr. Jericho, Im Dr. Bachman, and I've had the privilege to take on your sisters case. * I shook his hand as he flipped out an x-ray. He set it on the projector box and turned on the light. Immediately, I felt sick. Gina's spine had snapped at the previous fracture. * I'm sure you see the seriousness of this situation. * Gina was silent. * What options do we have? * He made sure to include Gina. * We can attempt a spinal fusion here. We don't have a high success rate, unfortunately. We do have alternative options - which we have used previously with Miss Jericho. * I looked at my sister. She nodded. * Is she stable for now? * Dr. Bachman nodded. * She is. * I preferred Damon examine my sister. * We have medical transport arriving this evening. No offense, but given the severity of the attack, I think it's safer for us to be on home soil. * The doctor nodded. * I do agree. * Gina slid forward. * Can I please see Caiden? * The doctor nodded. * As soon as he is out of surgery and settled in ICU, we will come and get you. I'll bring a wheel chair. * I looked at Gina as the doctor stepped out of the room. * We're gonna fix this, okay? We're gonna get you walking again. * She nodded, her eyes tearful as she did. *
ReplyDelete* I wished that I could say I hurt, but truth be told, I couldn't. I felt nothing but fear for Caiden. Gabe held my hand as we waited.
ReplyDelete"Coop will want to come back to see you."
"I can't right now. I need to see Caiden." I looked at Gabe. "He's my mate. And he may have died protecting me." I closed my eyes against the burning tears.
"Gina..." The door opened and a nurse came in with a wheelchair.
"Dr. Bachman asked me to come and fetch you directly to Mr. Bauers room." I eased up in the bed, ready to do what was needed. My back had been braced painfully and it kept me from moving too much.
"Let me help you, now." She set the brakes on the wheelchair. Slowly, she guided me up. Gabe eased my useless legs off the bed. Together, they eased me into the chair and then I was being pushed down a hall.
"I'll be in the waiting room." Gabe called. I tried to navigate where we were going but it was difficult. Finally, she stopped outside of a room with double doors that were closed. She pushed a button and wheeled me inside. My breath caught seeing Caiden laying in the bed with all the wires and tubes. The nurse wheeled me closer to the bed.
"Just a few minutes." She cautioned. I nodded and reached for Caiden's hand. I stopped short. I didn't want to hurt him. He was already hurt enough. I finally took his hand softly in mine. It was warm which was a relief to me. I sniffed back a sob and slid my fingers over his forehead.
"Caiden, please. Please wake up." I kissed the back of his fingers. "Please don't leave me like this." I laid my head on the bed next to his side.
"Please." I sobbed into the blanket, oddly comforted by the respirator that was breathing for him. God wouldn't be so cruel as to bring Caiden into my life and then take him away, would he? I had done a lot of terrible things in my past, and maybe this was my punishment. To have a taste of love, but never the whole thing. My mind wandered as I laid my head beside him. The doors slid open and Gabe stepped inside. Without a word, he ran his palm down the back of my head and sat in a chair next to me. His support was silent, but it was strong and just what I needed. *
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