She watched Colton place two fingers at the base of Seneca’s neck and held her breath as she prayed her friend’s heart was still beating.
“She’s got a pulse but it’s thready and weak and her breathing seems labored. Get an ambulance now.”
Everything slowed down as Aja watched Jackson pull his phone from his pocket and call for an ambulance. Her mind was racing, but everything around her seemed to be happening at a snail’s pace. She shook her head, trying to focus on what Jackson was saying. Even though she could see his lips moving, she couldn’t hear any of the words coming from his mouth. The only thing she could hear was the loud thud of her heart. It was beating in time with her panicked thoughts and fears for her still unresponsive friend.
What can I do? What can I do?
Aja closed her eyes, trying to pull herself together. She was useless to Seneca this way. And then, breaking through the silence, she could hear the voice of her late mother repeating something she’d always said when young Aja was worried about her dad being on active duty.
“Good thoughts and a little prayer go a long way, Aja girl.”
So Aja did just that. She prayed.
She asked God for all sorts of things, bargaining everything from her wealth to her own eternal soul if help could arrive in time, if Seneca could be well again. But by the time the ambulance arrived and Seneca’s reddish-brown complexion had turned to an almost ghostly gray, Aja was terrified her prayers had gone unheard or, worse, ignored.
Chapter 38
Jackson sat with Colton in the waiting area. The man was tense, his eyes darting back to the open door that led into a busy corridor. “You okay?”
“Are you?”
Jackson let the flippant reply slide. Colton’s inner asshole made way more appearances than it should, but somehow Jackson knew this wasn’t his usually charming self. No, this was panic. It was clear in the way he couldn’t seem to keep still. Even when he was seated, some part of his body was moving in a semifrantic way. Like now: they were in uncomfortable plastic chairs that didn’t bend or mold to the human body, and Colton’s leg bounced up and down like a jackrabbit.
“What’s going on, Colton?”
“You know as much as I do. Why hasn’t Aja or Brooklyn or the doctors or someone come back here and let us know anything about how she’s doing?”
“They’ve only been gone a few minutes. I’m sure Aja will let us know as soon as she knows anything.”
Jackson placed a firm hand on Colton’s shoulder, hoping to offer the man some comfort. It didn’t matter how many years you worked in the military or law enforcement; seeing someone literally fall in your arms never got easy. “You did all you could, Colt. If you hadn’t been with her, God knows what could’ve happened. Because you were there, she got the help she needed immediately.”
Colton bounced his leg up and down again, but the far-off look in his eyes didn’t give Jackson much hope that the man had heard anything he’d said. Colton was too focused on Seneca to care about Jackson.
Concerned about the friend who sat next to him and the young woman who’d collapsed in his arms, Jackson stood and walked to the information desk. He found a young woman sitting there tapping away on computer keys. “Excuse me, I need to find out some information on a patient. Her name is Seneca Daniels. She was brought in unconscious this evening.”
“Are you family or next of kin?”
Jackson expected that. “No, ma’am. I’m a friend.”
The woman gave him a sympathetic glance. “Sorry, sir, the only thing I can tell you is that the medical team is tending to her and she’s stable. Any other information you’ll have to get from her or her family.”
Jackson tapped the counter and gave her a respectful thank-you before pulling his phone out of his pocket and texting Aja to try to find out more. He’d tried not to bother her while she was in the back with Seneca, but Colton’s anxiousness was worrying him. She responded she’d call down to the information desk for him.
Aja called immediately, and the young woman administered visitors’ passes. Jackson motioned for Colton to follow him, and within moments, they were walking through the door.
“You used your badge to get in?”
“No. I called Aja. I’m surprised you didn’t use yours, though. Especially with how antsy you’ve been since they brought Seneca in.”
“It’s in the blazer I left inside my truck at the ranch. I didn’t think to get it as I hopped in the ambulance with her.”
“No worries, brother. You’ll be able to see her soon.”
They stopped in front of her room, and Jackson knocked on the door and opened it slowly. Seneca was sleeping in her hospital bed. Almost every time he could remember seeing her, she was smiling or laughing or making everyone around her smile and laugh. But tonight, Aja and Brooklyn hovered over her from opposite sides of the bed, their faces long with sorrow and fear.
As Colton pulled up the rear, Brooklyn stood and walked to the door. “I need some coffee. Anyone else want one?” They all shook their heads. Brooklyn left, closing the door behind her, while Colton took her place on the opposite side of Seneca’s bed.
Jackson stood next to Aja, wrapping a comforting arm around her. “How’s she doing? Do they know what caused this?”
