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I should have stopped him.
“Did you do that?” the EMT asks, pulling me from my thoughts. Looking at him, he’s pointing to the tourniquet, and I nod. They’ve left it in place but replaced my makeshift bandage with a proper one. Blood is still seeping to the surface though, and I can’t help but wonder how much more blood she can stand to lose.
“I’m pretty sure you’ve saved her life. Any longer, and she probably would have bled out.” He squeezes my shoulder before taking a seat behind Hallie’s head.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling up outside the emergency room at Summerville Medical Center. I reluctantly drop Hallie’s hand, stepping aside as they wheel her off the ambulance and into the building. Following the gurney, I’m stopped by a nurse as they take her through a set of double doors.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t go through there.” She takes my shoulder and gently guides me to the check-in desk. “Maybe you could give us her details?”
I answer all their questions before taking a seat in the waiting room, then drop my head in my hands and break down. I’ve held it together until now, but I’ve got no fight left.
If I lose her, I don’t know what I’ll do.
ChapterForty
Sawyer
Unaware of how long I’ve sat with my head in my hands, I suddenly feel someone kneel on the floor in front of me. “Sawyer.”
Looking up, I stare into Brooke’s scared eyes. “Is she…” she trails off and clamps her hand over her mouth.
“No,” I exclaim, standing up and pulling her into my arms. “At least, I don’t think so. No one’s been out to tell me anything yet.”
She sags against me, and I hold her close. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
Checking behind her, Logan has his arm around Jess, both of them looking as worried as Brooke.
Pulling out of the embrace, Brooke hands me something. “I brought you a shirt.”
“Thanks,” I tell her, pulling it over my head.
“Jess, do you have Hallie’s parents’ phone number?” I ask, knowing I need to let them know what’s happening.
“I called them. They’re on their way.”
I nod, silently relieved I haven’t had to make the call, as selfish as that sounds. I’d be pissed if someone was meant to be looking after my daughter, and she ended up getting shot.
I can only imagine how they’re feeling.
The same nurse from earlier comes out from behind the double doors and makes her way to me. “We’ve stabilized Hallie enough to take her down to surgery. Are you her husband? I didn’t see a ring.”
I shake my head. “Surgery?” I ask, fear bubbling in my stomach. “No, we aren’t married. I’m her boyfriend. Is she going to be okay?”
“She’s stable at the moment. We need to operate to remove the bullet.” She must see the look on my face and kneels in front of me. “She’s in the best hands.” The nurse gives me a small smile before standing back up. “Someone will be out with more information when we have it.”
“Please take care of her,” I whisper, and she nods before walking away.
We all sit in silence in the waiting room for what feels like forever, but it’s more like a couple of hours when a doctor finally appears. “The family of Hallie Anderson,” he calls out, looking around the room.
I jump up. “I’m her boyfriend.”
“Is there a next of kin here?” My heart pounds, and a cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck.
“They’re on their way. Is she okay?” My voice must give away my desperation, and he seems to take pity on me.
“She’s stable. She was lucky. The bullet missed her femoral artery. Half an inch to the left, and we’d be having a different conversation.” I swallow the lump that’s formed in my throat as I realize how close I came to losing her. “I’ve removed the bullet and repaired the damage. She should make a full recovery.” Relief washes over me, and the need to see her is overwhelming.
“Can I see her?”
