“Gunshot wound to the back, we need to get him to the hospital,” I heard someone next to us say and I craned my neck to look in that direction as they moved Bronson onto a stretcher.
I heard a surprised gasp and the lady EMT was looking down at the man who had protected me. “Bronson, it’s Lake, you’re going to be okay. I’m going to make sure of it.” Then they were moving him as I heard him groan the woman’s name.
The look on her face was filled with surprise and concern, but there was something else I noticed in the depths of her pretty eyes. And it didn’t scream that Bronson was just a casual acquaintance of hers, but something a lot more personal.
What if he isn’t okay? What if my baby isn’t okay?My breathing started coming out in choppy pants.
“Darlin’, breathe,” Pax said softly.
“We’re going to put her on a stretcher and get her to the hospital to get checked out. I need you to move back, sir.”
A growl erupted from deep in Paxton’s chest, but he slid out of the way to let them get to me. As soon as they had me set, he grabbed my hand again and we headed toward what I’d assumed was another ambulance, because one had already flipped on its sirens and sped away.
As they put me into the ambulance, a mass of people was at the back doors. I looked into the faces of all my friends, concern and tears evident on most of them. But one face held a murderous scowl and her hands gripped a purple bat. Yup, Alley was ready for action with one of her famous bats as her weapon.
Then I scanned the crowd again and didn’t find who I was looking for.
“Where are Gemma and Bodie?” I asked, trying to sit up.
“Please lie back down,” the gentleman trying to take my blood pressure said.
Pax brushed his hand softly down my cheek. “Baby, don’t worry, please. Gemma and Bodie are headed to the hospital too,” he said as he gently helped me lie back as asked.
The back doors on the ambulance started to shut as the ladies yelled out that they would see me at the hospital. I glanced up at Paxton and could tell there was something he wasn’t saying.
Frowning at my guy, I asked, “What aren’t you telling me?”
He sighed. “I don’t want you to worry, but Gemma’s water broke and they took her to the hospital.”
I sucked in air. “But she has a few weeks left. Was she or Bodie hurt?”
Shaking his head, he replied. “Honey, they weren’t hurt, but all the excitement must have had their little one ready to make their debut. Once you are checked out we’ll see about checking in on them and Bronson.”
When he said Bronson’s name, a shadow fell over his face. I could tell he was really worried about him. The cop in him had sprung into action. But the way he’d done it said a lot about the type of man he was.
Even with shit hitting the fan so quickly, he’d swiftly taken me down, shielding me with his body but had done it gently at the same time. I was sure he was thinking of our baby.
“He saved me and was careful with our child in the process,” I whispered.
As I said the words out loud to Paxton, I felt a small thump in my belly. My hands flew to my stomach and I sucked in a breath.
“Sweetheart, what is it?” Paxton asked in a panicked voice.
I smiled as another thump landed against the inside of my tummy. “The baby is kicking me.”
Worry seemed to drain from Paxton’s face and tension released from his body in one swoop. His shoulders relaxed and a smile split his face, bringing out those dimples I hoped to see on our child one day.
He leaned down and placed a feather-light kiss on my lips, sending a tingle of love rippling through my body.
“Everything is going to be okay,” he said softly, his mouth a mere inch from mine.
* * *
Paxton was right.
I’d been given a clean bill of health and the ultrasound showed that the baby was doing just fine. I had finally been sprung from the hospital and although I was exhausted, I wasn’t leaving until I knew Gemma and Bronson would be okay.
With my hand clasped in Paxton’s, we walked into the waiting room to find it packed with everyone dear to us. I found myself surrounded by all the ladies, hugs coming from all directions and Pax’s hand slipped from mine in the process. I adored the women, but I almost felt desperate to have his hand back in mine.
