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“You okay?” Vincent asked when he reached me.
I nodded. “Yeah, just…memories, you know?” I murmured.
“Yeah,” he replied before he pulled me into his arms for a quick hug. “Ronan called.”
I pulled back. “Is it Reese? Is he okay?”
“He’s awake. He’s lost feeling from the waist down, but his doctors are hopeful that the paralysis they’re seeing is temporary.”
I managed a nod, even though I felt sick to my stomach.
“Listen, Ronan was also calling me to tell me his guys caught the shooter.”
“What?” I asked, not sure I’d heard him right. They’d gotten the guy who’d attacked me? It was over?
“One of the shots Reese fired at the guy hit him, and he eventually passed out from the blood loss and crashed his car into a ditch just outside Dare. Ronan’s guys found him before anyone else could, and they’ve moved him to a secure location. I’m flying out there to question him myself. I want to find out if he was a lone wolf or if he was working for someone. I need you to stay here, okay?”
“Okay,” I said as my head spun with all the information he was throwing at me.
“Don’t leave the property, do you understand me?”
“I won’t, I promise.”
Vincent brushed his mouth over mine. “I’ll call you when I land.”
I nodded and kissed him again. “Be careful.”
“I will.” One more kiss, and then he was gone.
I sank back down on the chair I’d been sitting in. I wasn’t surprised when I felt Brody’s hand on my shoulder. I reached up to grab it, grateful he was there.
It was a lot more than I deserved.
But I’d definitely take it.
Chapter 28
Vincent
It was early afternoon by the time I arrived in Missoula. As eager as I was to question the man who’d tried to kill Nathan and who’d hurt Brody and Reese, I needed to check on Everett first. I hadn’t been completely honest when I’d given Nathan an update on Reese’s condition. I’d heard the despair in Everett’s voice, and while I knew he had some support in the form of Agent Nash and Ronan, I knew it wasn’t enough.
The hospital was quiet and the man who’d picked me up from the airport – another of Ronan’s men – led me past the information desk and straight to the third floor. I’d expected him to take me to Reese’s room, but instead, he showed me to what looked like a small conference room. Nash was standing stiffly outside the door.
Ronan’s man bid me farewell, leaving me and Nash alone.
“What’s going on?” I asked. “Is Everett in there?”
Nash nodded. “He is.”
I glanced around us. “Why isn’t he in Reese’s room?” Panic flared in my belly. “Did something-”
“No,” Nash quickly interrupted. He dropped his voice. “His son asked him to leave.”
“What?” I asked, not sure I’d heard him correctly.
“When Reese woke up and saw him…” Nash hesitated and dropped his eyes. “It wasn’t pretty.”
Anger simmered through me. “Thanks,” I said to Nash as I opened the door. Everett looked up at me from where he and Ronan were in deep conversation. My steps faltered as I took in Everett’s disheveled appearance. His rumpled clothes were the same ones he’d been wearing yesterday and his hair was all over the place, like he’d been running his fingers through it over and over. His eyes were swollen and red, proof he’d been crying.
I walked over to him and instead of sitting down next to him, I crouched in front of him. I put my hand on his arm. “Talk to me,” I murmured.
The only time I’d ever seen Everett like this had been the few times he’d gotten drunk and allowed himself to truly mourn the loss of my brother. He’d always hidden his grief behind closed doors otherwise.
“They…they aren’t sure if he’ll be able to walk again,” Everett whispered, his voice hoarse.
“He’s strong, Ev. Look at everything he’s been through. Gets that from his father,” I said softly.
Everett nodded and wiped at his eyes.
“What about his other injuries?” I asked. “The burns.”
“They’re mostly on his chest and arms,” Ronan said. “He’ll need skin grafts. It’s going to be a long recovery process.”
My stomach rolled violently, but I managed to quell the urge to vomit. “He’s going to make it, Everett. You’re going to get him home and take care of him.”
Everett began shaking his head. “He won’t let me see him, Vincent. He’s…he’s so angry.”
Frustration went through me as I climbed to my feet. I was heading for the door before I even realized what I was doing.
“Vincent, don’t!” Everett called.
But I ignored him as I left the room. I had one goal in mind.
“What room is he in?” I asked Nash, my voice cold.
“315.”
It took less than a minute to find the room. The curtains on the glass walls were drawn, so I couldn’t see inside. I took a deep breath to calm myself before opening the door. I stilled at the sight of the young man in the bed. His upper body and arms were wrapped in layers and layers of white bandaging. There was another bandage around his forehead. His face was turned away from me at first, but when I stepped farther into the room, he slowly turned to look my way.
