“Dane!” No...this couldn’t be happening.
I knelt by his side even as I fumbled with my phone, quickly dialing nine-one-one and begging them to send an ambulance as I pulled off my sweater, bundling it and pressing it against Dane’s wound. “Stay with me. Please... I can’t lose you.”
“Avery...” His eyes slipped shut as I begged him to hold on, trying to assess his injury. He’d been hit in the back, off to one side, and though I’d guess that the bullet had likely missed his heart, chances were good it’d hit some vital organs.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, as blood soaked my sweater, the air pungent with the smell of iron. And then I heard the sirens... I choked back a sob of relief, though I was still worried that they were too late and I’d lose the only man I’d ever loved.
The paramedics pulled me away so they could work on Dane, though before long, they were putting him on a stretcher and rushing him to the ambulance. It was all a blur as I climbed into the back and sat by Dane’s side, trying not to get in the way as we raced to the hospital, which thankfully wasn’t too far away.
––––––––
They ran him down the hallway to the ER, leaving me behind as I was forced to let him go. I hated leaving his side, though I knew they had to work on him and time was of the essence.
His family... I had to call them. I plopped myself down in the nearest chair, my legs shaky, and quickly dialed Slater’s number, trying to ignore that I had Dane’s blood smeared all over my hands. Luckily, Slater was quick to answer. My words tumbled out as I rambled about Dane and what happened, not even sure I’d made any sense with my incoherent rambling.
“Fuck, Avery... I’ll be right there. Are you hurt?” It was sweet of him to even think about me when his brother was in dire straits, though I couldn’t help but feel guilty. Dane had tried to warn me that this wouldn’t be the end of it—and now he might lose his life because of me. Because I had no doubt this was retaliation for locking up Stubbs.
“I wasn’t hurt. Dane...he shielded me.” And now, Dane might pay for it with his life, though I was sure they would have shot both of us if they’d had the opportunity to do so. “Your mom and brothers...they should know.”
Especially when I didn’t know if he’d survive his injuries.
“I’ll call them now and then head right over. Just hold on, sunshine...I’ll be right there.”
Once Slater hung up, I called Turner to let him know what happened. I had no doubt Stubbs or one of his brothers was somehow involved. But I needed Turner to put an end to this before anyone else got hurt.
“I’ll head over to Blackthorn’s place to collect evidence. Did you see the vehicle?”
“Black SUV. Dane has security cameras around the house. I’ll see if one of his brothers can meet you there and get you access to his system.” I hung up and texted Slater with the update, hoping one of them could get over to Dane’s. The faster we tracked down the asshole who’d shot him, the safer everyone would be.
With Dane in surgery, time seemed to slow to a crawl as my mind kept thinking the worst had happened. But then Slater was at my side, taking my hand in his, as the rest of his family piled into the waiting room. No one said anything about my blood-soaked clothes, or my bloodstained skin, but at some point Dane’s mother took me by the hand, her sweet Irish lilt and the pain in her voice bringing tears to my eyes. “Why don’t we get you cleaned up, love. You don’t want Dane to see you and worry.”
I knew she was just trying to make me feel better, but the lump in my throat kept me from speaking. All I could do was nod and let her lead me to the restroom. In true motherly fashion, she took over when she realized I was still in shock, running the water and soaping up my hands, washing them.
And then she spotted the engagement ring on my finger. “Oh, love... Did he finally ask you?”
I nodded, trying to swallow down the sob that wanted to escape. “He’d asked a couple months ago, but I finally said yes this morning.”
Just in time to risk losing him.
She turned off the water and grabbed some paper towels, handing them to me. “Then he has all the more reason to fight. He wouldn’t dare leave you on your own.”
Except that he wouldn’t be fighting for just my sake. “He has to pull through—and not just for me. I’m pregnant.”
“Och, love...” Her kind smile lit up her blue eyes as she teared up. “Then there’s nothing that will stop my boy from coming back to you and his child.”
Except that it was my fault he’d been shot—my fault that he might lose his life.
We sat back down and did the only thing we could. We waited and we waited—all while I was left to wrestle with my guilt.
I never should have agreed to tagging Chameleon. Never should have gone behind Dane’s back. I didn’t know what I’d do if I lost him.
“Distract me, Slater... I can’t stand not knowing what’s happening to him.” My mind kept drifting to a life without Dane, and I couldn’t stand it. I could lose him.
“Did I tell you about the job I’m working on?” I knew Slater was now working for his cousins at Blackthorn Security, but didn’t really know much beyond that. “I’m running the security team for this heiress and her daughter. You would not believe the things they’re dealing with.”
I wanted to groan. This job sounded way too dangerous—and I didn’t like him becoming collateral damage when some greedy psycho decided they wanted this woman’s money. “Slater...I swear, if you get yourself killed, I’m going to be really angry with you.”
“I promise...I’ll be safe.” Slater took my hand in his and gave it a squeeze as we went back to waiting for some answers on Dane’s condition.
Yet the last person I expected to come out to speak to me about Dane’s surgery was Huck. I got to my feet as he approached our group, grabbing his arm and pleading with him for answers I wasn’t sure he had. “Did you operate on him? Please...tell me he’s going to be okay, Huck.”
“When I saw him come in, I asked to assist with his surgery. The surgery did go well, but the bullet nicked his liver and caused some internal damage. He’d lost quite a bit of blood by the time we got him into surgery, but he’s young and healthy, so I’m hopeful. I’m sorry I don’t have anything more definitive for you, Avery. It’s a bit of a waiting game now.” Huck and Dane had their differences, but there was no one I trusted more than Huck, and I was grateful he’d been there to help take care of Dane.
“When can we see him?” I hated the thought of Dane waking up and being there on his own.
“They’re getting him settled in his room, and he’ll still be working through the sedation he was given, but a nurse will come to let you know when you can go in.” Huck pulled me aside, giving us a bit of distance from Dane’s family. “How are you holding up? I’ve been so fucking worried about you.”
I shrugged, trying to stay strong even if it felt like I was about to fall to pieces. “They came out of nowhere. Dane had just enough time to shield me when he was hit.”
“We’ll see him through this, okay?” He reached out and gave my hand a squeeze, when his brow furrowed and he brought my hand closer to look at it. My engagement ring... “You finally said yes?”
“I love him, Huck.”
“I know you do—and it’s clear he loves you too. I’m happy for you, Avery.” He pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head, the tension in my heart easing just a little.
“I just need him to be okay.” I didn’t know what I’d do if I lost him.
“He will be. You need to believe that.” Huck then tilted his chin up, motioning for me to turn around. “I think you’ve got company.”
I turned to find Turner standing there, along with Ash, Dane’s brother. Hopefully they were able to get access to Dane’s security cameras. “Please tell me you know who shot Dane.”
“We do—and we have him in custody. It was Stubbs’s nineteen-year-old son. Between his father going to jail, and them seizing all of his family’s assets, he lost it. Wanted revenge.”