“Ryder connected the symbol on the threats to his artwork,” Jos adds. “We were listening to the game reports, and she heard that he’d been released and. . .I don’t know. She started to put the pieces together.”
I stand, needing space to try to process this. “So, she assumed he’d want revenge.”
Tracker nods. “She at least suspected.”
I pace as my mind fills with every interaction I’ve ever had with Will. He tried to take me out but hit Ryder instead. I want to ram my fist into a wall. It should be me, not her.
“I could kill him.”
“Well, us, too,” Jos says from her seat against the wall. “But for now, we have to stay here and make sure Ry’s ok.”
I rest my head against the wall and close my eyes as they fill with tears. I don’t know how long I stand there, praying she’ll be ok, when I hear a rustle.
I open my eyes as a surgeon in blue scrubs and a bright-colored cap enters. We all wait silently for the report.
He opens a file folder. “Are you all Ms. Jones’s family?”
“Yes,” Hope says quickly.
My stomach pulls into a hard knot, and my lungs still.
“She made it through surgery. The bullet tore through ligaments and caught the artery, so we had some extensive repair work to do. She’s strong and healthy. I expect with some time and physical therapy, she’ll regain full function and mobility.”
“She’s going to be ok?” Tracker asks, clarifying what we all need to know.
He nods. “She’ll have some extensive recovery time ahead of her in hopes she’ll regain full mobility.”
“She’ll love that,” Jos says, shoving through the fear in the room.
He smiles. “She’s being monitored but will be transferred to a room shortly. One of the nurses will come to get you when you can see her. She’ll be out of it for a while, so you all might want to go home and get some rest.”
Tracker shakes the surgeon’s hand, thanking him, and then the doctor turns to me.
“She’s a lucky young woman. You’ve saved her life.” He shakes my hand. “Good game today. My son will lose his mind when I tell him I met you.”
“Thank you, and thanks for taking care of her.”
I scribble my name on the back of a piece of paper, and he leaves us.
“I’ll find coffee and bring back a couple of pitchers,” Jos says.
I slide down into a chair, resting my head in my hands as relief fills my lungs. I count the minutes, needing to see her.
When I do, she’s going to have to just deal with me loving her. There’s no other way anymore, so I hope she’s ready.
Chapter 43
RYDER
Warm fingers encase mine. A soft hum fills my ears as something grips my legs, holding them and squeezing.
I try to open my eyes, but my eyelids are so heavy. I pry them open enough, but it’s dark. Nothing but the glow of. . .
Where am I?
I can’t move. My mind kicks my heart into action, and I’m suddenly alert. My head swirls as I try to push up with my free elbow. Wires swarm me, and my legs won’t budge.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
