Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 140742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“She’s my daughter,” Jackie says, rushing forward.
“Is she okay?” I ask and step forward as well.
“She’s stable.”
My heart squeezes and my eyes fill again, but this time, with nothing but gratitude.
“She was lucky. And I mean lucky,” he says. “The bullet went straight through her arm and missed a major artery and organs. She definitely had someone watching over her,” he says, shaking his head. “I haven’t seen a case like this in years.”
“Can we see her?” Jackie asks desperately.
“She’s sleeping. She won’t be awake for a long time. When she got here, she was already out of it, and with the anesthesia we gave her…” He shakes his head. “She’ll be sleeping for a while.”
“Can we see her?” I ask, probably a little too forcefully.
“Are you her husband?” he asks, glancing at me like he knows I’m not.
My heart pounds harder. “Not yet.”
I feel every eye on me, but mine remain on the surgeon.
“Let her parents go in first,” he says after a moment. “Two at a time.”
My heart sinks. I swallow hard. I don’t think I can handle waiting any longer, but I remain silent. I know her mother needs to see her. I know Titus and Damian are family. I know all of this, but it doesn’t make it any easier to stay put. I watch her mother and Titus go, and kick the nearest chair when I turn around. Fuck this place. My phone buzzes, and I take it out to hopefully take my mind off the fact that I’m not at Josslyn’s side right now. When I see my father’s name, I answer.
“Did you know?” I ask.
“No,” he says, his voice quiet. “I didn’t. Is … is Josslyn okay?”
“NO, SHE’S NOT OKAY! SHE WAS SHOT!” I yell, my chest rattling. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a security guard and lower my voice.
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
He exhales. “I don’t know why your mother would keep this from us. All this time…”
I stay quiet and try to get a grip on the anger I feel rising when I think of my mother. Josslyn called her to warn her about Mallory. She hugged her at her birthday.
“If there’s anything you need, let me know,” he says.
“Do you donate to SPH?” I ask.
“Yes. We helped fund their new cancer center.”
I can’t believe I’m asking him for another favor. “They’re only letting two people visit at a time.”
“Did you tell them who you are?”
“No.” I let out a single laugh. “I don’t think the surgeon cares who I am.”
“He should!” my father says, his voice fierce. “I’ll make a call, but you should tell them your name is Finneas Barlow. Our last name is on the street that leads to the cancer building, for fuck’s sake!” He hangs up and I lower my phone but keep it in hand.
“What happened in the house?” Lucas asks quietly. Damian, Ella, and Olivia are right behind him waiting.
“Mallory shot Josslyn, so I shot her,” I say. “I didn’t think she’d do it. If I thought she would … and I couldn’t…” My voice breaks.
“She’s your sister,” Ella says quietly.
I look at her. “If I knew she was capable of using that gun on Josslyn, I would have killed her on sight.”
Her eyes widen.
The doors open again and a nurse appears. We’re the only ones in the waiting room, so I step forward.
“Is she okay?” I ask quickly.
The nurse smiles. “Yes. She’s been moved to the private suite and can take more visitors.”
My heart skips.
“I’ll wait here,” Lucas says before I start walking.
I turn to him. “Thanks for coming. You don’t have to stay. I won’t be leaving her room until she does.”
He stares at me. “You have games.”
I shrug. “Let them fire me. I don’t care.”
“I’ll get you some clothes,” he says.
“I’ll go with you,” Ella says and looks at me. “I’ll be back, and I’ll fill Will in on everything.”
I give them a grateful nod and follow the nurse with Damian and Olivia on my heels. My phone buzzes in my hand with a call from my father again.
“Thank you,” I say upon answering. “I…” I swallow hard. “Thank you for everything.”
He’s quiet on the other end. After a moment, he clears his throat and says. “Any time.”
I put my phone away.
“You’re really going to miss the next game?” Damian asks.
I look at him. “Yes, but you should go. She’s stable, and the bullet didn’t hit anything vital.”
He nods. In his eyes, I can see what he’s not saying. She’s stable, and the bullet didn’t hit anything important, so why aren’t you going? I wasn’t kidding about getting fired. Hockey was my first love for a long time, but nothing compares to what I feel for her.
63
FINN
Irush into the room and freeze when I see nurses surrounding Josslyn, and Jackie standing off to the side with a hand over her mouth. Behind me, Damian and Olivia gasp at the state-of-the-art suite. My heart pounds hard, in tandem with my steps as I close the distance. The nurses pause when they see me, but don’t say anything as they move away from her and step out of the room. The relief that rushes over me when I see her makes my knees go weak. I grip the bed rail to keep from falling and swallow hard as I take her in.