CHAPTER EIGHT
Jaxson
Covered in my wife’s blood, I sit in the emergency room; my eyes trained ahead—heart cold.
Body numb.
Annabelle is curled against my chest, my arms wrapped securely around her as she sleeps, the day’s trauma leaving her depleted.
I drop a kiss on the top of her head, lingering as I breathe in her scent. The same shampoo her mother uses.
Our lives have been changed forever, even more so if my wife doesn’t come out of surgery with a beating heart.
The thought has agony ripping through my wounded chest.
Just this morning I touched her, kissed her, loved her the way I promised to do, and to know there is a possibility I will never get to do those things again leaves me feeling dead inside.
I can’t live without her. I need her, Annabelle needs her. Without Julia, our family will never be whole.
“What can I do?” Anna asks, her throat raw with grief as she rests her head against my shoulder where she sits next to me.
She and Logan have been here with me since the beginning, answering the phone as everyone else continues to call, anxiously waiting on news like we are.
“Nothing,” I croak.
There’s nothing anyone can do to make this right. Not unless they can change time and take me back to this morning.
If only I had made it to her a minute sooner, hell, even seconds earlier, I could have prevented that shot. Just like years ago, I was minutes too late for the girl who sits next to me.
The guilt will weigh on me for the rest of my life and so will this ever present rage.
That bastard I took out deserved a hell of a lot more than a bullet between his eyes. I’m not finished. Everyone who had a hand in this will fucking pay.
Revenge will be had and justice will be served by my hands. They will know the same fear and pain they inflicted upon my family.
“Mr. Reid?”
My head snaps up, breath locking in my chest at the sight of the doctor walking in. Beads of sweat dot his forehead beneath his blue cap, his expression somber.
I climb to my feet, unable to say anything, fear paralyzing me. My heart pounds, hammering in my ears as I wait for the verdict that could very well ruin my existence.
“Your wife is going to be okay.”
Anna wraps her arms around me, crying in relief, but I remain still, my mind trying to process what he just said.
“It was touch and go for a while. Julia lost a lot of blood and was given several transfusions. We were able to extract the bullets, including the one that was lodged into her intestines. It will take some time but other than a lot of rest and care over the next few weeks, I expect a full recovery.”
It isn’t until he finishes that I’m able to take in my first full breath. I bury my face in Annabelle’s hair, hugging her tight. “We’re going to be okay, baby.”
She doesn’t stir, her body still heavy with sleep, but there’s no denying the feel of her tiny heartbeat tapping against my battered one.
My attention reverts back to the doctor. “I want to see her. I want to be with my wife.”
He nods. “That can be arranged. She’s in recovery now but I will have a nurse come get you soon.”
Shifting Annabelle to one arm, I extend my hand to him. “Thank you, for everything.”
“You’re very welcome. Nurse Betty will be in soon to get you.”
Once he leaves the room, Anna hugs me tighter, her arms wrapped around both Annabelle and me. “I knew she would pull through,” she cries.
I’m glad one of us did because I wasn’t as certain.
“Why don’t we take Annabelle home with us?” Logan suggests.
“No.”
Anna steps back and tries to reason with me. “Let us take her, Jax. It will give you time with Julia. We can bring her back in the morning.”
I shake my head, panic thrumming through my veins at the thought of letting her go.
“I’d never let anything happen to her,” Logan adds. “You know that. I’d die for her.”
“I know, and I appreciate it, but she stays with Julia and me.” The firmness in my tone has them backing off respectfully.
Anna stretches up, kissing my cheek. “We’ll come back first thing in the morning and bring you some stuff from home.”
“I’d appreciate that. Would you mind calling everyone and letting them know she’s going to be okay?”
“Of course. I was already planning on it.”
“Thanks.”
“Mr. Reid?” the nurse calls as she enters the room. “I can take you to your wife now.”
I nod over at Logan and Anna, bidding them good-bye. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Thanks for everything.” My strides are quick as I follow the nurse out, urgency fueling every step.
“I had another bed brought in for your daughter,” she says quietly.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she whispers, emotion building in her voice. “I’m just so sorry about everything that happened in that school. My heart breaks thinking how scared those poor children must have been.”
What happened today affected everyone in this town, a reminder of the monsters that walk among us, waiting to inflict terror.
Monsters I will always be there to take out.
We reach an open door to one of the rooms and it brings me to a cold, hard stop, because there lies my wife with tubes streaming from every angle.
“You can put your daughter here,” the nurse whispers, pointing to the bed next to Julia’s.
Swallowing thickly, I get my feet moving again and lay Annabelle down.
“I’ll be right outside if you need anything,” the nurse says, touching my shoulder. “Otherwise, I’ll be back in a little while to check on Julia.”
I nod, unable to speak past the knot in my throat. Once she disappears, I put one foot in front of the other, my feet mechanical as I take the chair next to Julia’s bed.
Grasping her cold, fragile hand, I bring it to my mouth for a kiss but the grief I’ve been holding in all day rips apart my chest. My head drops down next to her, overcome with despair as the day’s events finally catch up to me. I think about how close I came to losing her when I promised long ago I’d never let anyone hurt her again.
It’s minutes later when the sound of a whimper penetrates my grief. Lifting my head, I see Annabelle, tossing and turning, a terrified sob purging from her as she sleeps.
I pull myself together and climb into the small bed with her, my large body wrapping around her tiny one. She instantly settles down, burying her face into my chest.
Reaching over her curled body, I grab Julia’s hand. For the rest of the night, I remain that way. My tears soak my daughter’s hair as I hold my family close, vowing once again to never let anyone take them from me.