29. Michael
CHAPTER 29
For the second time in as many months, I’m sitting in an emergency room waiting for news on Reyna’s condition. Only this time, she was in much worse shape when she arrived. They’d had to cut her out of the car, slicing through the metal in order to free her pinned body.
She’d hit the tree so hard—and on her side—that it’s amazing she survived at all.
Liam—or rather Wesley—on the other hand, was relatively fine. At least upon impact. I certainly made a dent in him once I’d ripped him from the car.
Once he regained consciousness, he made a deal with Carter to testify that Zeke Phillips has been running Willy Carson’s business and was behind the attacks on Reyna and me.
Even better news, they’d managed to catch Asher and the other two men Zeke sent to Hope Springs as they tried to get into Andie’s house. Because of Reyna’s warning, Sheriff Vick had stationed deputies at everyone’s homes, and they’d gone to hers first.
They’ve been arrested and have also agreed to help put their boss in prison. Though my request to spend ten minutes alone in a room with Asher was denied, I’m grateful to know he’ll be rotting in a cell alongside his boss.
He and Zeke Phillips will spend a lot of time in prison.
But that doesn’t help me right now. Not when the woman I love is in surgery to repair a bleed in her abdomen.
Lance sits beside me, his silent presence calming some of my fear, but only because if the worst happens and she doesn’t pull through, I won’t have to fall apart alone.
God, please don’t let that happen.
The doors slide open and I look up as my mother and father come in. My dad’s expression is furious. “How is she? Did you get him? Tell me you got that?—”
“Reggie,” my mother interrupts.
“We got him,” I tell my dad.
The former cop looks relieved, but he leans forward in his wheelchair and places a hand on my leg. “She’s a tough one,” he tells me. “She’s going to be fine.”
It means the world to me that he’s here at all. That either of them is. Especially since before my abduction, the only time my parents left the house was for my dad’s appointments or the brief moments my mom had to go run an errand. “I hope so.”
“Lance,” my father greets as he offers Lance a hand.
“Mr. Anderson,” Lance replies, shaking his offered palm.
“You took care of my boy. You call me Reggie. We’re family.”
The sentiment makes Lance smile, and truth be told, I’m grateful for it, too. “Reggie,” Lance replies. “Michael is tough as nails. I’ve no doubt he would have found a way to save himself.”
I nearly snort, a half-smile gracing my face despite my inner turmoil. “Doubtful. Not unless Reyna had been able to carry me out herself.”
“Knowing her, she would have,” my mother replies. She smiles softly at me as she takes a seat on my other side. “How are you?”
“Scared.” I don’t sugar-coat it. Why would I? The woman I love is fighting for her life.
“Any news?” Margot rushes in with Matty at her side. The teen looks tormented and for good reason. He was the one who found Jaxson bleeding out on the floor of Reyna’s office when he’d gone to drop off some cookies my sister made.
He’s the only reason Jaxson is alive. Silas had been tranquilized, the gun discarded since it had only contained one more dart. Which is why Wesley used a .45 on Jaxson instead of just knocking him out as well.
I shake my head, tears burning in my throat. “I feel so helpless. It’s been hours.”
“She’ll pull through, Uncle Michael. She’s tough.” Matty takes a seat across from me.
“She is,” Margot agrees. “I’m going to run back and check on Jaxson, okay? Matty, do you want to come?”
“No. I’m going to wait here. If that’s okay.”
She smiles softly. “Okay. I’ll be right back.”
“Wait, I want to go. I’d like to meet this former detective,” my mother says as she strands. “If you’ll be okay?” She hesitates beside my father.
“I’m fine, Delilah. Go.” He smiles, and she kisses him quickly, then follows my sister down the hall. If I wasn’t so broken inside, I might have fallen out of my chair at the sight of their affection.
I haven’t seen an actual show of affection between them since before high school.
“What? Can’t kiss your mother?” he asks, noting my shock.
“Just happy to see you both happy,” I reply truthfully.
He smiles like a teen in love. “I missed my Del. It’s been far too long since I was myself. I owe Reyna for that. She verbally smacked me so hard it made me see the past in a whole new light.”
The lump in my throat is suffocating. “You were brave today,” I tell my nephew. “You should be proud.”
He shrugs. “I didn’t do anything.”
“But you did. Doc said you applying pressure as you called 9-1-1 is the only reason Jaxson is alive. Thank you. You saved my friend.”
He shrugs again.
“You’re a hero, kid,” my dad says. “Just like your uncle.”
“And his grandfather from the stories I hear,” Lance offers. “You’re a legend with the Sheriff’s department.”
My dad snorts. “I don’t know about that.”
“It’s true.” Lance crosses his arms. “Just ask Sheriff Vick the next time you see him.”
As they talk, I lean back and close my eyes, trying to keep my mind steady. For hours now, people have been coming and going. Pastor Redding and his wife. Lilly and Alex. Felix. Mrs. McGinley. They’ve been popping in, looking for updates, but I have none.
Leaning forward again, I stare down at my bruised knuckles. I’d slammed my fist into Wesley more times than I could count, stopping only because keeping him alive means answers. But I’d wanted to kill him.
I’d wanted so badly to deal that final blow.
And the entire ambulance ride back to the hospital, I’d been apologizing to God for allowing such violent thoughts to take root in my mind.
I’d begged for Him to heal Reyna.
And now, I have to wait.
I hate waiting.
The doors slide open, and Andie walks in alongside a little girl who appears to be no older than five.
“Any word?”
“No,” I tell her. “Is that?—”
“Silas’s niece, yeah. Eloise, this is Lance and Michael. They’re some of your uncle’s friends. Lance, Michael, this is Ela.”
“Hi,” I greet, offering the girl the gentlest smile I can manage when inside, my emotions are a war zone. “This is my nephew, Matty. And my dad, Mr. Anderson.”
“Hello,” she greets, her cheeks turning a deep pink.
My dad and Matty both offer her similar smiles and nods.
“We went out for ice cream, but I’m bringing her back to her uncle now. Do you need anything?” Andie asks.
“No. Thanks.”
“I’ll be back in a few if you change your mind. Come on, sweetie.” They disappear down the hall, going the same direction Margot and my mother went.
The trauma doors slide open, and Reyna’s mother comes out.
I stand, trying to maintain my composure as she crosses toward me, bottom lip quivering, eyes full of tears. Please, God, no. Please no. “She’s out of surgery,” she tells me.
The relief I feel is immeasurable. “She’s alive?”
“Yes. Doc said that she lacerated her pancreas, collapsed one of her lungs, broke three ribs, shattered bones in both of her legs, and had a tear in her stomach. But she’s alive.” She covers her mouth with a hand and chokes on a sob, so I wrap my arms around her and hold her against me, doing my best to keep my own tears at bay.
She’s alive.
That’s all that matters.
“She’s not out of the woods yet, but he’s hopeful that she’ll pull through.”
“Can I see her?” I ask, pulling away.
“Yes. Of course. She’s not awake yet, but come on.” She turns away and heads toward the doors.
I look back at Matty, my dad, and Lance.
“Go. I’ll be fine.” He takes the seat I just vacated, and my dad offers me a nod, letting me know he’ll watch out for him. Lance does the same.
As I follow Reyna’s mother down the hall and onto the recovery floor, it’s all I can do to keep putting one foot in front of the other. My legs might as well be as heavy as lead, and I’m terrified.
What if she never wakes up?
She gestures toward a door. “Go. I’m going to call Carter and Henry so I can let them know her status.”
I stare at the door a moment then take a deep, steadying breath, and push into the room.
It’s mostly dark, with just a light over her bed casting a dim glow across her battered body, the machines beeping in the distance. An oxygen mask is perched on her face, and both of her legs are in casts.
My stomach plummets, and I lose the fight with tears.
The sobs come in rapid succession as I make my way over to the bed and kneel beside her. I take one of her slender hands in mine, gripping it like a lifeline.
“I am so sorry, Reyna. I let you down again.” I suck in a breath. “I failed you, and I am so, so, so, sorry.”
My shoulders shake uncontrollably as I let out all of the fear and grief I’ve been holding in. Every single moment since I saw her in that car.
Since I watched her crash into that tree.
Heard the metal crunching.
And the screams ripped from her throat.
I let it all out, and then her hand tightens on mine. I look up and meet her gaze. “Hey, hey, baby.” Using my free hand, I wipe my tears and get up so I can get closer to her.
She reaches up and tries to remove the oxygen mask, but I shake my head.
“You have to leave it on.”
“Are you okay?” The words are barely audible as she speaks them.
But just hearing her voice makes me smile. “I am now.”