Chad bustled in not three minutes after them.He looked disheveled.
“What happened to you?”I asked.
Chad rolled his eyes.“One of my best friends got shot is what happened to me!”
“It was a through-and-through, Chad,” I muttered, never in my life thinking those words would leave my mouth.
Chad turned his outraged expression to Kristen.“Do you hear her?Where is Ryan?”He looked at Alexandra.“I’m sorry, you don’t know me, but—”
Alexandra grinned.“It’s all right.I get it, but be thankful she’s awake and on this floor.If she were downstairs, things would be far worse.”
Chad took a deep breath.“Right.”He looked at Kristen.“Did you try to see Ricochet?”
Kristen shook her head.“It isn’t like that, and he has family who should be there.Not me.”
My mind wandered while the three of them became better acquainted.It really had been a close call, and I prayed Killian would be taken off the ventilator.
Ryan and Mickayla wandered in a couple minutes later.Mickayla gave me a feeble hug since I had one arm in a sling.Kristen crossed the room to her and gave her a better hug than I could.
“How is he?”Kristen asked.
Mickayla twisted her hands up.“No changes, but supposedly that’s good.A nurse pointed out that he’s not going to be able to navigate stairs for a few weeks if he recovers because of his lung needs to heal.That means he can’t stay at the clubhouse.”
I cleared my throat to get her attention.“He’s welcome to stay at my place.The master bedroom is on the first floor.He wouldn’t have to climb any stairs.”
“Trouble,” Ryan muttered.
I shook my head.“I could stay with you for a few weeks, since Icanclimb stairs.”
“He won’t want to put you out of your home,” Ryan said.
Chad waved at Ryan.“I’m also in a first-floor condo, and he’s more than welcome to stay at my place.”His eyes darted to me and back to Ryan.“My bathroom is better than hers, not that I’m biased.”
I gave a silent chuckle, then stopped because that movement made my shoulder hurt.
Ryan’s eyes widened with concern.
“I’m fine,” I said.
He looked at Chad.“That’s incredibly nice of you, man.He’s got a best friend from back home who’s in the military and stationed at NAS Jax.His house isn’t far from the clubhouse, and he’s offered, too.Pretty sure Killian will take him up on that.Plus, Colton’s going on deployment soon, and Killian and I were already on board to do weekly check-ins on the house.Now, it won’t be an issue.”
Chad nodded.“Good to hear.Just know, it’s a standing offer in case something falls through.”
A doctor knocked on the open door.“Ms.Brummis?”
I nodded.“That’s me.Are you here to tell me I can go home?”
He chuckled.“If your exam is good, that will happen very soon.”
Everyone but Ryan murmured their good-byes and moved toward the door.
After the doctor was done (I had the all clear to go home), a police officer sauntered into my room.
He nodded at Ryan, and I realized they’d already met.I spent close to half an hour answering his questions about what had happened.
Once he left, Ryan and I finally had a moment alone.I waited a couple minutes to be sure the officer wasn’t within earshot.
I grabbed Ryan’s hand.“What happened to Rusty and Sig?It all happened so fast, and the officer didn’t really say.”
