Page 39 of Worthy of Sunsets and Second Chances

“Alright, on my count,” Eric says, snapping my attention back to Kendra.

“I’m going to lock the back door and then the front door. I will meet you in the rig.” I stride back to the kitchen and flip the lock on the back door. Just as I am about to shut off the lights, I realize that I should probably grab Kendra’s phone, keys, and wallet with her ID and insurance card. Her phone is face down on the eat-in table next to her purse. As I walk that way to get it, I step on something and reach down to pick it up.

It’s the photo strip of us tonight.

I grab Kendra’s bag and phone. The entire screen is cracked.

All the pieces are falling into place as to what happened in this house tonight . . . and it’s my fault.

I cut in on their dance.

I pulled her into that photo booth.

I kissed her.

I let her leave with that asshole.

I didn’t protect her.

I left her.

Never again. Kendra is mine. And she deserves so much better, so much more. That starts right now. I slide the photos of us into my pocket, next to my matching set, and let out a shaky breath.

I lock the front door, jump into the back of the ambulance, and pick up Kendra’s right hand. I keep making mistakes when it comes to her, but I can’t stand by anymore and watch the only woman I’ve ever loved, always just out of my reach. And I sure as fuck won’t allow her to be hurt like this ever again. I’m ready to step into the flames for her, I just hope she is willing to keep supplying the oxygen.

30

Eli

Thank fuck being a firefighter and familiar face around the hospital gives you certain perks. When I walked into the ER with Kendra, nobody told me I couldn’t be with her after I simply said she was mine. I claimed her, and that was all the staff needed to know. Does that work everywhere? Probably not. Do I give a fuck? Not a single one. Right now all that matters is that I get to be with my woman, where she asked me to be.

The doctors and nurses worked in a choreographed whirlwind, assessing and diagnosing Kendra. Every word felt like a punch in my own gut as they listed off all her obvious injuries and the suspected ones. I wanted to fight them when they had to wheel her away from me to get scans and X-rays, but they told me I couldn’t be in those rooms anyway . . . that they would bring her back soon. I knew they were right and that I was possibly turning into a bit of an overprotective caveman, but I couldn’t help it.

As I watched the clock tick off our separation minute by minute, there was a knock at the door and Danny McEntire, our friend and Fox Grove’s newest appointed police detective, came in. I had just seen him a few hours ago at the wedding, toasting our friends and having fun. Now we both looked at each other somberly, and he clasped a strong, reassuring hand on my shoulder.

“Hey, man,” I say in a voice that doesn’t sound like my own.

“Damn, Eli. Are you okay?”

“I am going to kill that fucker, I swear to God, Danny.” I growl, hands fisting.

“Alright, I am gonna let you have that one off the record. But you can’t say shit like that to me. Seriously. I know you’re pissed, but you are not gonna do that. You are gonna let me do my job, and you just take care of your friend and your baby, okay?” His stern voice helps the anger clouding my mind recede some.

“It’s my fault. I never should’ve let Kendra go home with him.” I swipe the tears from my cheeks that I have no chance of holding back anymore, and Danny pulls me into a hug.

“This is not on you, Eli. I have officers going out right now to arrest Bennett Cross. There’s no way he is going to get away with this. Once Kendra’s awake she can give us more details.” He pulls back and locks eyes with me, giving me a look that says more than any other words can.

A nurse rushes into the room; I can’t remember her name, but she was here when we brought Kendra in. “You’re Kendra Powell’s family, correct?”

“Yes,” I say without hesitation.

“Okay, sir. Her scans indicate that she has a ruptured spleen and has internal bleeding. She is being prepped for emergency surgery right now. I can take you to that waiting area if you will follow me.” She holds her hand out gesturing for me and Danny to follow her out into the hallway.

Before I let myself collapse because of all this, break down right on the hospital floor, I feel Danny’s hand on my back, guiding me behind the tall, raven-haired nurse. Once we get to the waiting area of the surgical floor, she assures us that we will be given updates when possible.

“Have you called anyone else?” Danny asks as we sit down together in matching stiff blue-and-green-patterned chairs meant for much smaller humans.

“No. Shit, Danny. Who am I gonna call right now? It’s Rem and Lainey’s fucking wedding night. After all that they have been through I don’t want to put this on them, tonight of all nights. I will pop their bubble of bliss in the morning.” I shake my head at him.