He was screaming and talking crazy when the cops untied him and put him in cuffs. I don’t know what to make of that man. He’s lost his mind, which only makes this all the more sad.
People always think they know what’s best for others, pushing their will upon them. Cole’s father became so extreme in his views that in trying to save people, or so he believed, he’d lost it all.
“You with me, rebel?” I force my eyes back open. I hadn’t realized they’d started to close.
“My dad?” I ask. It’s the same question I ask over and over.
“Getting his X-ray still.” I nod. At least we have good insurance, and my diabatic ass always hits the deductible on my own.
“Are they watching us?” I ask Bam, flicking my eyes over to the two uniformed officers who are mulling around in the emergency waiting room. Fortunately, the place is dead.
“Yes,” he mutters.
“We have to talk to them, don’t we?”
“I’m sure.” We had spoken to them some when they’d arrived on the scene to give them details of what all had transpired. I’m in no rush to speak to the police.
“Ms. Gries,” a nurse calls. I jump to my feet; my knees give out, but Bam’s arm wraps around me.
“My numbers are good,” I tell Bam before he can go down that path. “Just exhausted.” His mouth forms a hard line, but he nods.
“Are you okay, miss?” the nurse asks, having seen me.
“Yeah, but my dad?”
“They are about to start casting his leg up now. You can come on back to see him.” She nods for us to follow her. Bam keeps his arm around me until we get to my dad’s room.
“I’ll wait out here.”
“No, you won’t.” I shake my head. “You’re family, Bam. We both go in.”
“All right,” he says, giving me one of his half smiles that always warms me from the inside out.
“Dad!” I say when I spot him, rushing over to give him a hug. I have to fight not to burst into tears. I knew he’d be okay, but it’s all still very raw. I squeeze him extra hard, knowing today’s outcome could have been a lot different for all of us.
“You trying to break some more of my bones?” he says, placing a kiss on top of my head. “I’m fine, kiddo. I’m a toughold man, going to take a lot more than a broken leg to keep me down.”
“Guess this means you’ll be home with me for a while,” I tease him, stepping back so that they can start to cast his leg. There is only one other chair in the room. Bam sits down in it, pulling me into his lap. It’s the first time I’ve been able to relax, knowing that both Bam and my dad are okay. That we all made it out of that crazy situation with minor injuries. I lie back against Bam, and my eyes fall closed.
It’s short-lived though. They snap back open when an alarm starts to sound. The nurse in our room books it out, and I see two cops run past. I’m on my feet now, wide awake.
“Rebel.” Bam’s tone is filled with warning, like he’s going to spank me. Ope, that doesn’t sound terrible, actually, but that is for another day.
“I have to peek. I can’t help myself.”
“She really can’t,” my dad says with a dopey smile. Those pain meds must be fully kicking in now.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell him when another cop runs past. Bam stands. “You can’t come; you’re all giant and noticeable.”
“I’m following you either way, so—” He shrugs.
“I would threaten to tie you to that chair because I know how to after today, but you two don’t care for my dark humor, so off we go!” I spin around, rushing out of the room.
It’s not difficult to see where the action is happening. I hurry down and notice that while everyone is now hovering outside of a room, it has gone quiet. I pretend I’m simply walking by, but one of the cops that had been lingering in the waiting area sees me. I hurry my last few steps to get a peek into the room.
“Oh shit.” I turn back around, running into Bam. “Abort,” I tell him, pushing on his chest. Bam takes a couple of steps back before his hand wraps around my wrist, and he leads me back toward my father’s room.
“What was it?”
