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“What’s wrong with her?” I asked again, as I saw Terror coming toward me. Smoke and Sniper were over at the car with the kids.
“She’s been shot in the upper chest. I’m sorry, we’ve got to go.” He turned and started to push her to the ambulance. My legs gave out and I hit my knees in the dirt. Terror got to me and gripped my shoulder hard.
“Take a deep breath and don’t lose it. Let them get her to the hospital. Before you go after her, you need to speak to the kids. They’re hysterical and calling for you and their mom.”
“Terror, if she—” he cut me off.
“You’re not going to think like that. You’re going to have nothing but positive thoughts. Get over there. Your kids need their dad.”
Somehow, I got to my feet and went to them. I didn’t even know what I told them to try and calm them. All I knew was the whole time I talked, all I could worry about was what if she died? I’d lost one woman, I couldn’t survive losing Tonya. Eventually, I was pushed out of the way as the second ambulance came to take the kids. They didn’t appear to be seriously hurt, only upset, but I still needed them to be checked out. Gordon showed up out of nowhere. I recognized another paramedical I knew. He gave me a chin lift.
“Jake, I’ll take your squad car back to the station and tell the chief what’s going on. Go with your family.”
“Thanks, Gordon.”
He took off for town. With all three kids in the ambulance, there wasn’t room for me to ride in the back with them. Since the second paramedic would be in the back with them, I got up front with the one I knew.
As we pulled away, I saw my club get on their bikes to follow us. A couple stayed behind. I figured it was until the car was cleared. They’d let me know if they overheard anything, although the sheriff should tell me what they found.
The move from the ambulance to the ER area was hectic with all three of them. Since they were underage and their mother was hurt, they allowed me to go in the back with them, especially when they heard the kids calling me Dada and Daddy. As they put them in the curtained off areas and opened the curtain between them, so they could see each other and me, I caught one of the nurses.
“I need to be kept updated on Tonya Ewing, their mother. She’s my fiancée. My name is Jake Cane.”
“Officer Cane, I promise as soon as we have any news someone will come find you. In the meantime, stay with your children and keep them calm if you can. We’ll be as fast as we can to clear them.”
“Thank you. What’s your name?”
“It’s Pam. I used to work with Janessa and Regan,” she told me with a smile before she hurried off.
I needed to have Janessa or Regan in here, so they could talk to their old coworkers. They might be able to find out things before they came to tell me. I knew they were busy and had to prioritize their work, but for me, Tonya and the kids were the number one priority. I fumbled to get out my phone. I scrolled until I found Regan’s number. I’d try her first. I sent a text.
Me: Please, can you or Janessa come to the ER and see if you can find out anything about Tonya? I’m in the ER with the kids. A nurse named Pam said she’d keep me informed, but I’d feel better if someone I know and trust is here.
It wasn’t more than a minute later when she responded.
Regan: We’re on our way. Just heard what happened. Figured you would need us. ETA twenty minutes. Hang on.
Me: TY.
As soon as I put my phone away, I was swarmed by people needing information on Tonya and the kids to treat them. When asked about insurance, I told them what the kids had but that Tonya didn’t have any. I made them put me down as the responsible party for the bill. At a time like this, I wish we were already married, so I could have covered all of them myself.
After answering all their questions, or at least the ones I could, I went from bed to bed, talking to the kids. They were still upset and scared of all the people coming in to do things to them. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when the cavalry in the form of Janessa and Regan came through the curtains. They each took a kid. I was the one to sit with Dylan. He was the most confused and scared. How did you explain what was happening to a child who was just over a year old? Janessa took a moment after talking to Dena to come over to me.
“We spoke to Pam on our way in and she assured us she’ll pass the word to tell us anything about Tonya. She’s not back here right now because they took her straight to surgery when she came in. They said she had a gunshot wound to her upper left shoulder. She lost a good bit of blood, but she’s young and strong. All you can do right now is pray and stay strong for your little ones. You let us or the club know if you need anything.”
“I can’t thank you enough, both of you. I want to split myself four ways and it’s killing me. Christ, I can’t lose her, Janessa. If I do, it’ll fucking destroy me.” I whispered the last part, so the kids couldn’t hear me.
“You’re not going to. I told you, positive thoughts and prayers. They have some very good surgeons who know what they’re doing here, despite us not being a huge hospital. If she’s critical, they’ll send her to Knoxville. It’s a good sign they didn’t already do that.”
She gave me a hug then went back to sit with Dena. Later, Regan came over to essentially tell me the same thing and to give me a hug too. The kids were beginning to calm down and so far, the things the doctors had tested for were coming back negative, which relieved a little of my worry. However, as much as I was worrying about them, the biggest part of me was with Tonya. All I could do was sit and pray or pace and pray. Time went by slowly.
Law: Chapter 17
It had been over four hours since I got the call about the accident and showed up at the scene. The kids were looking like they would be cleared to go home soon. The doctors said the car seats had protected them except for some bruises. They’d calmed down and were napping in their beds.
I jumped up when I saw Pam coming. She’d been great about coming at least every hour, sometimes more often if her work allowed, to update me although she hadn’t known much. All she could tell me was Tonya was still in surgery and it appeared to be going well.
“Is she out of surgery?” I asked impatiently.
