"Stand back, please."
Reluctantly, Logan and Caden moved away at the request of the paramedics. Along with Sam, Noah, and Mike, they retreated to the SUVs parked at the curb to watch the paramedics slide backboards beneath Burke and Carson as they continued to check their vital signs.
"This wasn't supposed to happen!" Caden said in a low voice, gripping his hair. "Something has to be done about the old man."
Logan paced a few feet away and back. "He almost cost his son his life, not to mention his own. Don't you think that'll be enough to rein him in?"
Caden scoffed. "Not for that dickhead."
"They're loaded; let's go," Mike said.
In tacit agreement, they followed the ambulances to the hospital. None of them could go farther than the waiting room, even Caden and Logan as family members.
"Just until they've been fully evaluated. As soon as we know something, I'll come get you." With that, the nurse walked off.
Though Logan and Caden weren't happy about it, they sat. Mike, Sam, and Noah left with orders to find out what was going on with the rest of the operation and to listen to the gossip about who the authorities thought might be responsible.
"I know Burke considers us his equals," Caden began. "But I'm not interested in running this circus without him."
Logan shook his head. "He'll be okay."
"Should I call Aunt Elena?"
"Not until we have word on their conditions. Then I'll call her and Anna."
Settling in to wait was harder than they'd expected. Logically, they knew Carson and Burke weren't so close to the blast zone as to sustain severe injuries, but they'd also gotten much closer than the area they'd planned out to be safe. Between the metal frame supporting the door bending and collapsing and the shattered panes of glass, there was no way to know what the outcome would be until the doctors saw to them.
More than an hour passed before a different nurse appeared. "Mr. Gallagher, you may come with me."
Caden rose. "What about Logan?"
"Just one of you for now," she replied.
With an apologetic look at Logan, Caden followed the nurse's rapid pace down the gleaming white hallway.
"Your uncle is in the ICU. Your cousin is on this floor. Who would you like to see first?" she asked, pausing near the elevator.
"Burke," he answered without hesitation.
She continued several feet down the hallway, stopping to push open a windowless navy door and hold it for Caden. "Mr. Gallagher received a blow to the diaphragm. He has a few lacerations and severe bruising and will experience difficulty breathing without pain for a time. Currently, his course of treatment is oxygen, pain management, and rest. If you have any more questions, his doctor will come around shortly to speak with you."
Caden thanked her, and she left the room. With his gaze on his cousin's face, he sat on the chair nearest the bed, seeing that Burke was pale with bruises blooming along his jaw. It almost looked as though he'd lost a fist fight.
"Caden?" I rasped.
"I'm here."
"Dad?"
"In ICU."
I rolled my head in Caden's direction and blinked a few times. "How is he?"
"I haven't got a clue. They gave me the option of seeing you or him, and I chose you."
Struggling, I pushed at the cannula and tried to sit up. "Fuck, that hurts."
"Just be still," Caden ordered, and rested a hand on my shoulder for good measure.
