He doubted Damon would’ve said anything to his boss, considering they’d been in a fucked-up situation and any communication would’ve been only necessary information, and not gossip of any kind.
There was no way he could fudge his injury with his boss. “It’s fucked. It wasn’t great before this dislocation, but now I think it’s worse. Once everything has settled down with Indigo, I’ll get it looked at.” It pained Wilt to say the next words, but he couldn’t keep it quiet. “My recovery is going to be long. I’m going to be limited in what I do. I don’t think I’ll be able to join the others on any missions for the foreseeable future.”
It pissed him off that that was going to be his life for the next few months, but he had to believe after he completed his recovery, he’d be able to go back to doing what he could with his team.
“Right. Whatever it is, however long it takes, you’ll have our support with anything you need,” Steve stated emphatically.
“Even working remotely?” The idea had been fermenting in his mind while he’d been sitting in the waiting room. Indigo’s career and life were centered in Sydney. He would never ask her to give up her career just to accommodate his. If he had to stop being active in going on missions and only do the computer work for the company, then that’s what he’d do.
Of course, this was all hearsay anyway, because Indigo may not want to be with him after all that had happened and howhe’d let her down. But he hoped she would consider this as an alternative for them.
“If that’s what you want, yes.” Steve’s immediate agreement was also what Wilt expected.
“I don’t know what’s happening yet, but it’s great to know that’s an option.”
“While I’d hate to lose you from our active team, you’re still integral to our operations. We couldn’t do half the shit we do if we didn’t have you on our side. Not only are you a brilliant sniper, but your computer skills have become more and more valuable to us.” There was no bullshitting in Steve’s tone. He meant everything he said.
“Thanks.”
“Whatever you need or want, it’s yours,” Steve said.
A man wearing scrubs appeared in the doorway, and Wilt tensed, all pretense of continuing his conversation with Steve gone. “I’m looking for the family of Indigo Elara.”
Indigo didn’t have any blood relatives, but everyone clumped around him was her found family, even if she didn’t know it. She would soon. Wilt stood. “That’s me.”
The doctor looked around at everyone congregated, and nodded. “I’m Dr. Dampier, the surgical resident here. Ms. Elara is out of surgery. She’s in recovery and should be in ICU in about an hour. The stab wound in her arm was superficial and only needed stitching. The abdominal wound was more serious. Her liver was severely lacerated, but we were able to staunch the bleeding and stitch it up without losing any part of it. Her gallbladder was damaged and we had to remove it. She received transfusions because she lost a lot of blood. But the prognosis is promising.”
Wilt latched on to the final sentence and held it close. “When can I see her?”
He glanced around the room. “As I said, I anticipate her transfer from recovery to ICU will be in about an hour. Once there, she’ll only be allowed one person at a time, and only for a period of ten minutes.”
“Understood.” He may want to stay with her for longer than the allotted time, but he would respect it. As it was, he wasn’t truly related to Indigo, but he didn’t need a piece of paper to know that she was his.
“I’ll send a nurse down to let you know when you can see her.”
“Thank you.” The past twelve hours of emotion slammed into Wilt like a wave thundering onto the shore. He plopped down on the chair as the doctor left, and his head dropped forward. He let out one breath. Then another.
His shoulders shook as the tears began to fall. Wilt couldn’t recall the last time he’d cried, but knowing that the woman who owned his heart was alive and breathing, overwhelmed him.
He didn’t care that he was crying in front of his friends, they were family, and family stood by each other like he was going to stand by Indigo’s side for the rest of her life.
If she would have him.
Chapter
Nineteen
Indigo shifted on the hospital bed, eager to get out of there. The last ten days had been stressful, but she’d gotten through it all with Wilt by her side.
“He’ll be here, like he has since the day you were brought in. I don’t know why you’re fidgeting,” Zara commented, looking up from her phone.
“I know he will.” And she did. Her nervousness about seeing him made no sense, especially today of all days.
Zara was right, Wilt had hardly left her side. He’d been the first person she saw when she woke up after surgery. He’d smiled and pressed a soft kiss to her hand. It had triggered a memory of him doing it when she’d been in the ambulance.
The next time she was conscious and able to string more than two words together, she’d asked him if he’d done it. He’d smiled beautifully, and told her he had. In that moment she’d almost blurted out that she loved him, but she didn’t want him to think it was because of the drugs flowing through her bloodstream that had caused her to say them.
A couple of times she’d been sure he was going to say the words to her, but then he’d say something else, and she convinced herself her feelings for him weren’t returned.
