“No.” Dom shook his head. “He was the man my stepdad was arguing with at school. He supplied cleaning stuff. I heard my stepfather argue with him a few times, saying he needed more. There was always an argument when I saw them. Something about payment. I think his name is Boyd or something.”
I took the photo and looked at it. It took everything I had not to rage and scream. In most cases, parents would rage and yell, and their attorneys would quiet them down. Because of who I was and my understanding of how things worked, there was a concern that a defense attorney would try and argue that I coached Dom. It was for that reason I needed to remain not only calm, but quiet during all interviews with Dom.
Agent Lamb pulled the photo back and frowned. “This man was at your school?”
“Yes, Sir.”
The man nodded and his eyes narrowed and I could tell all the pieces were fitting into place for him. He would get his man. He would make sure the world was safe for my son.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
BEX
I hated waiting rooms. With four brothers who found trouble, then the military and after that, they each managed to find a different brand of trouble, so waiting rooms were not unfamiliar territory. The smell of cleaning detergent, flowers and old people’s perfume somehow always permeated each and every waiting room, no matter where it was.
It wasn’t even the first time I waited for Logan in a waiting room. He’d broken his arm falling out of one of the trees that lined our property when he was ten and my dad rushed him to hospital. I hated the wait then and I hated it just as much all these years later.
I knew the bullet wound was not fatal. But they needed to put him under to remove it from his abdomen. He was going to be pissed as hell to be booked off work. Especially since he was in line for a promotion. Hopefully, it would not be impacted by his absence.
A doctor walked through the swing door and frowned at me and my family. He was the doctor who’d done my surgery a while back. I was almost certain he was the same doctor who had operated on Mason when he’d been shot nearly two years earlieras well. Marina De Ferrier Medical center was not exactly a big hospital, and I doubted we had that many surgeons.
“Ms. Salinger.” He didn’t smile. Did he ever? “I think your family alone keeps my lights on. Though, Dr. Evans isn’t really family, is he?”
My Dad stood up behind me but I waved him off. The last thing I needed was for my family to antagonize the man fixing the love of my life. “Doctor, I’m sure you remember that Logan was the one at my bedside when I got shot. He was also around when my brother got shot before that. He is the man I’m going to marry. And above all of that, he is the father of my children. I am his family. Also, I called his mother and she put the phone down on me. I doubt she’s going to show up.”
“Very well.” The man looked as nonplussed as he normally did. “I removed the bullet, he is very lucky. It barely hit muscle. Never went near anything vital. He’ll make a full recovery but it will take a few weeks. He’s in the recovery room and should be awake soon. I’ll allow two visitors at a time.” He eyed the sleeping children in my parents’ arms and the teenagers on the side sitting with Dom. “But no one under twelve. The young man with the bandage is his son, right?”
I could only nod.
“I’ll allow him. I’ll send a nurse out in a moment to lead you through.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” I nodded again and he walked away without another word. I turned to my family and let out a long exhale. “I think it’s… it’s over.”
I sank to a chair and lifted my hands to my face. I ignored the shuffling next to me until little hands patted my knee. “Bets is okay.” I dropped my hands and smiled through my tears as I pulled Landon onto my lap. He looked up at me with big blue eyes and patted my arm. “Bets is okay.”
I smiled at my little boy. “I’m more than okay, kiddo.”
Mason came up to me and bent down to Landon. “Why don’t we go and see if they have cookies in the cafeteria and maybe we can share them with everyone.”
Landon nodded and turned back to me. “You want a cookie?”
“I’d love one, sweetie.” He slid off my lap and I looked up at my brother and mouthed, “Thank you.”
He winked at me. “Anytime.”
A nurse I recognised walked up to us. Lieutenant Avery Nelson often took shifts at the hospital, filling in wherever she was needed. Her mint green scrubs was pristine with no creases. She’d obviously just started her shift. Or maybe she had changed after being in the operating room.
“Family for Logan Evans?”
I stood and lifted my chin over at Dom. “Come on, kid. Let’s go.”
We followed the nurse down a long hallway. The dull gray walls reminded me it wasn’t just waiting rooms I hated, it was hospitals in general. That mixture of antiseptic and medicine made my stomach roll. And the fucking beeping was just downright annoying.
Walking into Logan’s room was nerve wracking. He was hooked up to machines and despite the small bed, he still looked a bit too fragile. Nothing like the man I loved. His eyes fluttered like he sensed us in the room with him.
I held Dom’s hand and we walked closer to the bed. “I think he’s starting to wake up.”
“Do you think… uhm.” Dom turned to me. He didn’t look uncertain, just a little curious.
