“Finley will corroborate my story.”
“She’s unconscious.”
“Which is why I want her taken to a hospital,” he snapped. “When will the chopper get here?”
“As soon as it can.”
Luke’s frustration and fear ratcheted higher. “It’s taking too long.”
After a long moment of silence, Romano began to ask Luke aseries of questions. Luke told him about the treasure hunt. About Ken’s sister, Carla, and her connection to Finley’s father. About Ken, Dennis, and Jeff. Their possible motive. He told him that someone had been in Finley’s house and tried to hack his computer.
Every second that he waited for Finley to wake—and she didn’t wake—turned to agony. Every minute that he waited for help that didn’t come grated like knives on his skin.
Finally, he registered the drone of a helicopter. Louder and louder. Deafening. It centered them in its spotlight. Luke’s hair whipped in its downwash.
A litter, accompanied by a man in paramedic gear, lowered from the chopper. The man strapped Finley to a board with a neck collar while the female officer related what they knew of Finley’s injury and status.
“Finley,” Luke tried one last time.
Then she was lifted into the night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Three hours later, the staffers at Northwestern’s ICU finally gave Luke permission to enter Finley’s room. This hospital, located thirty minutes from Misty River, was the only facility in this part of the state large enough to receive patients by helicopter. He walked down the hallway, watching the numbers beside each doorway increase.
201. 202. 203.
This was it. 204. Finley’s room.
Emotions gathered heavy in his chest as he let himself inside.
Everything about this hospital room was as expected. The automated bed. The dull wallpaper, windows, machines. One thing in this room, though, was so wrong that it jarred the air from his lungs.
The sight of Finley, lying unmoving. Still unconscious.
He came to a stop near her shoulder. Lines and tubes were attached to her. She looked pale, frail, and vulnerable.
He felt as if he were caving in on himself.
His love for her was a fire inside. Bigger than time.
Helplessly, angrily, he wished it were him with the brain injury. Him in the hospital bed. Never, never her.
“I’m here.” His voice came out rusty.
He hadn’t succeeded at the one thing he’d promised Ed andhimself he’d do: protect Finley. Everything about tonight had gone wrong.
If she recovered—whenshe recovered—he would get everything right. No more mistakes. He would do whatever it took to help her heal. He would be careful and patient. He had a lot of strength, and he would give it all to her. He would make sure the Vance brothers were brought to justice.
Finley had seen how difficult he could be. Now she would see how sacrificial he could be.
For long minutes, he remained at her bedside like a statue. Then he sent a text to Ben and moved to the chair in the corner. He hunched over, holding his head in his hands, silently begging God to heal Finley.
Around midnight, someone rapped on the door, then opened it.
Ben had come, but he hadn’t come alone. Sebastian, Natasha, and Genevieve flanked him.
A Miracle Five reunion.
