Chapter 1 #2
“For starters, she lost a lot of blood due to a nicked artery. We were finally able to repair it, but the process took longer than expected because of its location. While my team and I worked to stop the bleeding, another surgeon removed the bullet and began working on the rest. Unfortunately, the bullet traveled through her spleen. We had no choice but to remove it.”
“Her spleen.” Slade nodded, running a hand down the length of his weary face. “Okay, what does that mean, exactly? What are we looking at as far as recovery?”
“Not having a spleen can come with its own set of risks. For starters, Alice’s immune system will be weaker, which leaves her susceptible to infections.
We’ve already started her on IV medications to help prevent that while she’s here, but once she leaves the hospital, she’ll need to be on a lifelong regimen of precautionary medication to prevent complications in the future. ”
“That’s it?” Slade blinked. “I mean, I get that the spleen thing is a concern, but other than that . . . that’s it? You’re telling me my wife is going to be okay?”
“Barring any unforeseen complications post-surgery for the . . . spleen thing . . . yes. We’ll keep her here a few days, of course.
Shouldn’t be any longer than a week. During that time, my team and I will closely monitor her vitals and lab numbers.
As long as everything looks as expected, I see no reason your wife won’t make a full recovery. ”
It was the first time since those bullets rang out that Rafe felt he could fully breathe. “When can we see her?” he asked.
Slade’s eyes slid to his before returning to the surgeon making the call.
“Alice is intubated at the moment and heavily sedated to give her body time to rest and begin its process of healing. I can let a couple of you back now, but only one at a time. And you can only stay in the room a few minutes.” The doctor looked at Slade.
“Aside from you. You’re allowed to stay the night, of course. ”
When Slade looked Rafe’s way, Rafe motioned toward the door. “You should be the first.”
“Thanks.” The Tac-Ops team leader glanced at the others standing close by. “And thanks to you all, too. I really appreciate you being here.”
“No thanks needed, brother.” Ethan “Apollo” McCallister spoke up from a few feet away.
Immediately following, Coulter Morgan—the newest member of the team—chimed in. “Apollo’s right. You’ve stepped up for each of us. Of course, we’re going to be here for you.”
“Not to mention . . .” Bones stepped closer, throwing himself into the ring. “Shadow’s saved our asses more times than we can count. Anything we can do for her or you, all you’ve gotta do is ask.”
When Slade’s expression grew stone cold, Rafe knew exactly what the other man was about to say.
“What I need is to find the men who did this.” Their team leader’s tone sounded lethal.
“You want to help Shadow? Start with gathering all the intel you can find. Check the CCTV footage, and not just from this afternoon. If someone did target Shadow specifically, there’s a chance they’ve been watching her for a while.
Maybe not, but it’s someplace to start.”
“Go through our recent ops, too,” Rafe added. “Double-check anyone we’ve helped lock up. Reach out to contacts and call in favors. Maybe we’ll get lucky, and someone out there has been running their mouths. Perhaps not, but it’s worth a shot.”
“We’re on it.” Bones nodded. To Slade, he offered a reassuring, “Don’t worry, brother. We’ve got this.”
“Mr. Garrison?” The surgeon called out from the door.
“Go on, son.” Rafe gave his daughter’s husband a friendly pat on the back. “The others will start looking into this, and I’ll be here waiting whenever you’re finished.”
Slade nodded. “I won’t be long.”
“Take your time.”
The two men shared a look before Slade left with the doctor. A short discussion with the rest of the team later, Rafe was standing in the too-quiet room alone.
He wasted no time removing his phone from his pocket and putting in that call to the warden he’d promised to make.
After that, Rafe would reach out to every other contact he had.
Several minutes later, he was in the middle of one such call when the door opened and Slade reappeared.
His hair was mussed; his eyes were red, and the fear in his gaze was impossible to miss.
“I’ll call you back.” Rafe ended the call and slid his phone back into his pocket. “How is she?”
The question was inarguably stupid, but one he asked all the same.
“She’s sleeping.” The other man swallowed hard, his tone soft and almost wooden. “There’s a tube down her throat, like the doctor said, and one of those small ones in her nose. She’s hooked up to a bunch of cords and stuff, but other than that, Shadow looks like she’s just sleeping.”
“She made it through surgery, Slade. And the doctor said he expects her to recover fully.”
“I know.”
“Then hang on to that thought,” Rafe encouraged. “The rest will work itself out. So hang onto the fact that your wife is alive, and she’s going to be okay.”
With a jerky nod, the other man tilted his head toward the door. “Come on. I’ll take you to see her.”
The two made their way along the hospital’s stark white halls to the elevators that would carry them upstairs, to the ICU. Minutes later, Rafe found himself standing outside his daughter’s room.
“Go ahead,” Slade rumbled. “I’ll wait out here.”
“I won’t be long.” He stepped up to the automatic door.