Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 73192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Chapter 24
I wonder how many people think ‘what the fuck’ after talking to my woman.
-Tyler’s secret thoughts
Tyler
The towing of the rigged-to-blow car was anti-climactic.
I hadn’t even made it halfway to the destination when a small poof of smoke and sparks lifted away from the vehicle and into the air.
Moments after that, there wasn’t even smoke.
After pulling over to the side of the road and making sure that I was the only thing within a few thousand yards, I backed away slowly, staring at Dusty’s work with a critical eye.
Using the mic at my shoulder, I called it in to dispatch. Nobody answered.
Frowning at my mic, I realized that I might be too far out of town for the mics to work.
Which was why I called into dispatch by phone instead. Katy was the one to answer.
“I’ll reroute the bomb squad,” she answered. “They’re less than ten minutes away.”
With that, I walked backward until I was far enough away that nothing would affect me if it did decide to blow and waited for the bomb squad to arrive.
All the while, I worried about Reagan.
Something was souring in my gut the longer that I stood there. Something was wrong.
I hadn’t gotten the confirmation yet, but I knew in my heart that something big had happened and nobody was relaying it to me—maybe out of consideration for my life seeing as I was supposed to be driving a rigged-to-blow vehicle into nowhere.
Then again, it could also be the fact that my mic was out of range and I couldn’t hear anything more. Whatever the reason, the feeling was growing like a fever pitch inside of me.
Something strong was urging me to go and I was never one to ignore my gut.
I’d just started jogging in the direction of town when a vehicle raced toward me.
The bomb squad.
I waved the vehicle down and pointed to the truck.
After relaying everything I knew and what had just happened with the puff of smoke, five men got into gear.
I’d just contemplated calling in to Katy again when Rome pulled up on his motorcycle.
I took one look at his blood-stained white t-shirt and knew that my suspicions were warranted.
“Is she okay?” I asked, staring at the blood—my worst nightmare come to pass.
“She was stabbed in the stomach.” He paused. “And she lost consciousness and was still unconscious when the ambulance took her away.”
Rome never beat around the bush. Never sugar coated anything.
And for once, I hated him for being so direct.
“Take me to her.”
***
“The stab wound wasn’t too severe, but it nicked her aorta.” The doctor pressed to his own stomach to explain where she’d been stabbed. “She’s fine in that aspect. The nick was so small that it was able to clot on its own. However, she needs to be extremely careful with herself over the next couple of weeks. Fortunately, the knife was a small blade and she should make a full recovery as long as there’s no infection.”
Those were the sweetest words I’d heard in my entire life—knowing that she was going to be okay.
The few minutes it took to get to the hospital had been the toughest ten minutes of my life.
Every single scenario had gone through my brain as I’d ridden bitch—and hadn’t even cared—to the hospital with Rome. And every single second it took to get there, my heart had been in my throat.
“Can she go home?” Bennett asked.
“I need to keep her overnight, just in case. But tomorrow, as long as everything still looks good, we’ll release her. She’s a lucky woman.” He paused. “The blow to her face did, however, fracture her cheekbone. She’s likely going to have a headache for a while, but that should heal up just fine on its own as well.”
Blow to the face. Stab wound to the stomach. Kidnapped.
I wanted to slam my head against the wall.
This wasn’t what I’d signed up for. I’d never, not in a million goddamn years, thought that this was where life would take me.
I was scared. I was worried. I was in love with a risk taker.
I was fucking screwed.
“Which one of you is her husband?”
The entire hallway was filled with men. Old men. Young men. Every single one of them looked in my direction.
“Fiancé,” I said carefully, trying not to get my face punched in when all I wanted to do was get to Reagan and lay eyes on her, make sure that she was all right.
“Good.” The doctor nodded. “All of you can wait out here. I’ll let you know when it’s okay to come back.” He stared at me, a look crossing over his face for a few brief seconds before turning back to me. “You’re welcome to come back with me now.”
With that, the doctor turned on his heel and started toward Reagan’s room and I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t stop to make sure it was okay with her father. I just walked and didn’t make eye contact with anyone. Eye contact would admit that I wasn’t sure of my position, but I was.