Prologue
Ice
It’s another waiting game at the hospital. I can’t stop pacing. He’s gotta fucking make it through this. It’s been over an hour since we arrived, and the waiting is killing me. I need answers. I need to know he’s gonna survive.
Several minutes later, Dr. Siegel comes into the waiting room. “We’re taking him into surgery now to remove the bullet. I’m sorry for the delay, but we had to stabilize the bleeding. He’s got some internal bleeding, and once I get inside, I can assess the damage.” He pauses and turns toward me. “I’m sorry, but he’s not out of the woods yet.”
“He’s gotta live. Whatever it takes. Please,” I plead.
“I’ll do my best,” he replies and turns to leave.
Two hours later, Dr. Siegel returns. By the look on his face, it’s not good news. “Hawk is out of surgery and is still holding his own for now. We were able to remove the bullet, and thankfully, it bypassed his heart. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, however, the bullet punctured a lung. He’s currently got a breathing tube and a machine to help him breathe.”
“The prognosis?” I ask.
“I’m gonna be honest with you. It’s not good. He’s lost a lot of blood and has been breathing with limited oxygen. We’ve given him a blood transfusion, and we’re hoping he won’t need any more. The breathing machine is helping him breathe with full oxygen. The next forty-eight hours are critical. If he survives and can breathe on his own, then his chances are good, keeping in mind the healing process afterward is gonna be long and uncomfortable for him. I’m sorry, but it’s all I can give you right now. We’ll just have to wait and see and pray he gets through the next couple of days.”
Guilt consumes me, and I can’t hold back my thoughts any longer. “That should be me fucking lying in that bed, not him!”
Rebel steps up and grabs my arm. “No, it shouldn’t. Get a hold of yourself. He did what any of us would have done in a similar situation. He did what you would’ve done. Don’t start this shit. He needs you right now to be strong for him. Hell, he fucking needs all of us.” He waits for me to calm down a bit.
I look at him. If Hawk dies, he will be my next VP. He’s strong and is already stepping up.
“If anyone can get through this, it’s Hawk. You gotta have faith, man.”
“Fuck! I feel like shit!”
“I know, but we can’t change what’s happened. We just have to deal with it.” Rebel pulls out his phone. “Do you want me to call the girls?” I rake my hand through my hair.
“Yeah, they need to know.”
“What if they want to come back to New York?”
“As much as I don’t want them here, we can’t keep them away. Emma would have my head, and Honey—oh fuck, Honey.” I rub at my temples to help ease my growing migraine. “Get them here as fast as you can. Have Sainte drive them.”
“No,” Michael says, interrupting. I totally forgot he’s still here. “You don’t want them to wait the eight-hour drive to get here. They can use the jet. Just give me a time, and I’ll make sure it’s at the airport and ready to pick them up.”
Relief washes over me. Maybe with Michael’s jet, the girls will arrive in time. “Thanks, Michael.”In time… how much time does he have?Reality finally settles in the pit of my stomach. We’re on borrowed time, and there’s a good chance we’re gonna lose Hawk.Fuck!
Rebel walks away, his phone in hand ready to make the call.
I turn back toward Dr. Siegel. “Is he awake?”
“No, he’s still out. It’ll be a while before he wakes up. Keep in mind his body has suffered a major trauma. He may not wake up even after the anesthesia wears off. It’s nothing to be alarmed about at first. It’s just his body’s way of preserving what it needs to help him heal. Just be patient, son.” He pats my back.
“Patience is something I don’t have, Doc. I gotta see him.”
“You’ll be able to see him tomorrow. Right now, he needs rest.” Dr. Siegel turns to leave but turns back. “You boys should go back to the Vitalis’, get some rest, and hopefully you’ll be able to see him first thing in the morning.”
I shake my head and whisper under my breath, “I can’t fucking believe this.”
“Doc, just let him see him for a minute. He needs to see him,” Michael says encouragingly.
“Michael, I really shouldn’t.”
“Doc, please?” Michael asks.
Reluctantly, Dr. Siegel agrees. “Fine, but just a minute. Then you need to promise to let him rest.”
