It was as if he could sense that too because he squeezed through the ladies and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side where I felt safe.
“Does anyone have an update on Gemma and Bronson?” Paxton asked the group.
We’d been there over three hours and I had been so worried. I was incredibly grateful for Bronson, but I couldn’t help but feel guilty that he was hurt because of me.
“They took Bronson into surgery to remove the bullet that found its way into one side of his lower back just under his bullet proof vest,” Lyric answered. “If it had hit a few inches up, that vest would have done its job.”
Hearing that made me feel even worse and I felt my shoulders sag.
“Hey, darlin’, he’ll be okay and it’s not your fault.” Paxton turned me to face him. “We’ve been over this. Bronson was doing his job and what I know him to do as a good man.”
Lyric stepped closer. “He’s right. Bronson is as tough as they come and honorable too. He wouldn’t want you feeling bad about what happened.”
They made me feel marginally better, but then I remembered the look on the EMT’s face. People must be worried sick about him.
Looking toward Lyric, I asked, “Did someone call his family?”
Lyric nodded to a group of guys on the other side of the room. “That's his family. I’m his family. His mother died when he was young and his father passed away not long after he joined the military.”
I could relate to Bronson, losing our families, but we both found new ones and we were lucky in that regard. I tilted my head, thinking back to earlier.
“There was a woman,” I said, looking at Lyric because maybe he’d know something. “She was one of the EMT’s on the scene helping Bronson. She knew his name and seemed as if she knew him personally. Said her name was Lake.”
Lyric’s eyes widened, a bewildered look crossing his face. “Lake was there? You saw Lake?”
His expression and questions confirmed what I had been thinking when I’d seen the woman’s reaction as she first saw Bronson outside of Alley’s house. There was definitely something between them.
“Yeah, like I said, she was one of the EMT’s. Do you know her?” I inquired.
Everyone was listening to the exchange. Bronson had been around lately and after tonight he was definitely one of us. He may have been more of Lyric’s friend at first, but he not only had his police family, he had our group too and they wanted to know about him.
Besides, let's face it. When you started talking about a guy and a girl, my friends were like sharks just waiting to attack and make a love match.
“Bronson has told me a lot about her,” Lyric said.
I wasn’t sure if he was going to add anything else or not because a doctor called out from across the room grabbing everyone's attention.
“Who’s here for Caddell?”
Those sitting stood and we all moved close to the doctor. That was when I saw someone I hadn’t noticed before. Over in a far-off corner on the other side of the large area by the doors stood Lake. She was nibbling on her lip, concern once again etched across her pretty features.
Paxton grabbed my hand again and pulled me closer. I looked at the doctor expectantly and when he delivered the amazing news that Bronson was out of surgery and doing great, I sighed in relief. Cheers and smiles were exchanged among the group. More than curious, I couldn’t help but turn to see how Lake looked.
She was gone.
Why would she leave?I wondered. There was obviously something between them. Maybe Lyric would say more but it wasn’t my place to pry. Even if Ireallywanted to.
There was no time to keep pondering my thoughts about Bronson and Lake because Bodie walked out minutes later with the biggest smile on his face.
“It’s a boy!” he shouted. “I have a son. Dalton Dean Huxley.”
The room exploded and congratulations were given. The proud dad had a permanent grin on his face that I didn’t think would disappear for a long time—if ever. He told us how amazing Gemma was and how for a first-time mom she’d delivered really fast. And even a couple of weeks early, she and the baby were doing so good.
It had been a scary night when the gunshots were fired and Bronson was hit, but we couldn’t let that take away from the good things that had come from the evening as well.
I did wonder if anyone would find who had taken the shots because none of us saw much with all hell breaking loose the way it had. Everyone had gone into protective mode. This all was because of me and it always made me feel sick inside that I was putting people I loved at risk.
“Ready to go see Bronson?” Paxton asked.
