Page 64 of Mine to Hold
He shook his head. It had been touch and go for a while. They had to stabilize her before operating, and then it was a six-hour surgery to remove the bullet and repair the damage. Thank Godno internal organs had been hit. She’d been lucky. “The doctors can’t give me a reason why she hasn’t come to and they said they wouldn’t really try anything until this morning. Something about her body needing rest.”
“They’re right.” She squeezed his good shoulder. The other arm was completely useless. While the bullet had gone in and out clean and all he needed was a good flush and stitches, he was in a sling for three weeks. Then physical therapy. It would be two months before he was back in business. “How are you feeling?”
“Like shit,” he admitted.
“At least they didn’t hit your shooting arm or writing hand.”
He glared.
“What?” His mother shrugged. “After you take some time off to help Rumor recover, you’re going to be on desk duty pushing papers.”
“What if she doesn’t wake up?” That thought had been weighing on his brain for hours. He’d been talking to her, telling her of all the dates he planned on taking her on. Long walks on the beach. Boat rides. Romantic dinners. He told her stories about his past. His childhood. Things he was afraid of. Things he never told anyone. Anything he could think of that might get her to peek open even a single eye.
But he got nothing.
“Don’t talk like that,” his mom said. “She needs you to be strong and she’s going to need a lot of help for the first couple of weeks. You need to be her rock.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Jameson, Rhett, and Miles are at your place now. It’s cleaned up. You can’t tell anything happened.”
“Except I’ve got no sliders,” he mumbled.
“Jameson called in a few favors and found your doors. They are installing them as we speak. It will take a couple of days, but the doors will be fixed before you take her home.”
Home.
God, how he wanted to make a home with Rumor. He wanted to jump into the deep end, but he didn’t want to scare her away.
“Now, eat that damn breakfast sandwich I brought you. I have to go to the station. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He rubbed his clean-shaven face. After he’d been taken care of and while she was in surgery, his family forced him to go home and take a shower. His stomach growled. He dug his hand into the bag and pulled out the food. Lucy Ann made the best bacon, egg, and bagel sandwiches he’d ever tasted. Better than his own.
His mother hovered, waiting for him to dig in.
He took a big bite and his taste buds went wild, while his guilt ate him alive. If only he’d been able to buy a little more time, Rumor wouldn’t have been shot. Maybe if he’d stayed in the bedroom a few minutes longer.
Fuck. He could do this to himself all day, but it wouldn’t change a damn thing.
“I love you, Emmerson.” His mom leaned over and kissed his temple like she’d done a thousand times when he’d been a small boy. “Call me when she wakes up.”
“I will. I promise.” He leaned back in his chair and finished his sandwich. He took a few more big gulps of his coffee, letting the caffeine hit his brain before taking her hand again and giving it a good squeeze. “Come on, babe. All your vitals are strong. Pulse is solid. Blood pressure is normal. You’re breathing on your own. You don’t even need oxygen, so please, open your eyes for me, Rumor.”
Her finger twitched.
His heart went into overdrive. He stood, leaning closer, pressing his mouth over her dry lips. “That’s it, honey. Wake up.”
A tiny moan escaped her lips. Her eyes blinked. A groan. Then a gasp and her eyes opened wide. “Emmerson?”
“I’m right here, sweetheart.”
“Where am I?” She turned her head left, then right. Fear filled her beautiful eyes. “What happened? Where’s Tony? Tom?”
“Shhhh, babe. They can’t hurt you anymore.” He ran his hand over her forehead and down the side of her face. “You’re in the hospital and you’re safe.”
She tried to shift and winced in pain.
“Try not to move,” he whispered. “You were shot. The doctors had to remove the bullet. You’re going to be sore for a bit.”
