“We…we’d….”
“Open your eyes, sweetheart,” I demanded. “Tell me about the promise!”
Willow managed to open her eyes again, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep her talking because already her words were slurring. “Family,” she murmured tiredly. “Always a family.”
“You promised them you’d always be a family?”
But she didn’t answer me and when her head lolled to the side, I dropped my head to her chest and listened and then checked her pulse. “Fuck,” I snapped and then I glanced over my shoulder. “Zane!” I yelled and he was there at my side. I had no idea what had happened to Nicole, but she wasn’t with him which I was glad for. “I need to do CPR,” I said. “Keep pressure here,” I said as I grabbed his hands and made him press down hard on the bullet wound. I began chest compressions and sent out a silent prayer of thanks when the ambulance rolled up a moment later.
My eyes locked with one of the paramedics and I recognized him from the time Brennan had been shot the previous summer.
“We gotta stop meeting like this, Doc,” he murmured without humor as he began inserting an IV while his partner got the gurney ready.
“Yeah,” I muttered.
“You know this one too?” he asked as his partner reached us and they got the gurney into position.
“Yeah,” I said. “She’s family.”
Chapter 8
Memphis
“Memphis, over here,”Tristan said as he tugged on my hand before I could even talk to the woman behind the desk. I turned to where he was pointing and saw Ronan, Seth, Zane and two little kids sitting in one corner of the busy waiting room.
“Ronan,” I called softly because it looked like both kids were asleep. The little boy was tucked up against Seth’s side and the girl was pressed up against the boy.
Ronan got up and leaned down to say something to Seth who nodded. Both men looked like shit.
“I’m gonna go sit with Seth,” Tristan said to me as his eyes shifted back and forth between Ronan and Seth. I nodded and brushed a kiss over his lips.
“Can you text Brennan and let him know where we are?” I asked. Tristan and I had been grocery shopping when I’d gotten the call from Ronan to meet him at the hospital. Brennan had been in class at the time so we hadn’t wanted to disturb him, but he would be on his way home now and I knew he’d want to be here to support our friends.
“Yeah,” Tristan said. He reached out to hug Ronan as he passed him on the way to where Seth was sitting. Ronan returned theembrace and then he made his way to my side and motioned to a section of the waiting area where there weren’t as many people.
“Thanks for coming,” he said, his voice sounding rough.
“How’s the girl?” I asked. Ronan had given me enough information over the phone that I knew the basics of what was going on.
“She’s going to be okay. They’re closing her up right now. The bullet nicked an artery but luckily didn’t do any other major damage.”
“Thank fuck,” I muttered as I shook my head.
“Listen, I need you to stay here with Seth and the kids and keep an eye on them. There was an…altercation…between me and the guy who shot the girl. I rode over in the ambulance so I’m guessing the cops will be here soon.”
“What kind of altercation?” I asked.
Ronan lifted his eyebrows just slightly and I shook my head. As if on cue, Declan Barretti appeared and immediately zeroed in on Ronan. He glanced briefly at Seth and Tristan and I saw Tristan get up and go to him. The big man embraced his nephew and then said something softly in his ear and Tristan glanced at me and Ronan worriedly. But he returned to his seat. I saw Zane and Declan acknowledge each other before Declan made his way to us. I automatically tried to stand in front of Ronan, but Ronan put his hand on my arm to stop me and shook his head. Declan and I hadn’t gotten off to the best start with each other the previous summer when Brennan had been shot, but we’d managed to make peace after I’d begun seeing both of his nephews. And he’d been instrumental in dealing with the fallout from Brennan, Tristan and Tanner’s abduction.
“Ronan,” Declan said with a nod and then his eyes shifted to me. “Unclench Wheland,” he said with a slight smirk.
“Fuck you, Declan,” I said, though there was no real anger behind the words. I knew the guy was just doing his job. I’d seen the man with his partners and his daughters and knew he was actually a good man.
“If we could do this outside, I’d appreciate it,” Ronan said as his eyes shifted to Seth. I didn’t miss the tension in Seth’s gaze and Iguessed if he hadn’t had the kids to worry about, he would have been at Ronan’s side.
“Here’s fine,” Declan said and I felt my gut clench.
“Declan-” I began, ready to ask the guy nicely not to arrest Ronan in front of his husband and new family.
