Caitlin broke free from his hug and said, “No need to thank me, Duncan. I’m glad that Ronan will be okay and I’m sure the doctors will see to it that Kayla makes a full recovery.”
“We’ve been waiting to hear something from the doctors for some time now. Every time those fuckin’ doors open, I’m hoping to finally hear some good news. How are you holding up?”
“I’m going to be okay. The doc said that I only have a mild concussion.”
“Thank God. I heard from Dec that you were questioned about shooting Tom?”
“Yeah, some dip shit thought it was the perfect timing to go over the shooting right after I got stitched up. I know they need to investigate because my shot killed the SOB, but come on...
“Did you know that Tom had been committed to a psych ward when he was a teen? Apparently, he’d stalked and attacked a girl. He’d been released five years ago, but he obviously was still a nut job.”
“No kidding, Cait?”
Duncan let this information sink in. He was grateful for Caitlin saving his wildflower and his brother. Caitlin was knocked down, but luckily she woke up just in time to shoot Tom before he could do even more damage. Ronan was slowly coming to, but he was pretty much still out of it. Tom used some heavy tranquilizer, and if Ronan wasn’t such a big fucker, he wouldn’t have gotten away from this by simply sleeping it off.
Declan had called Calum as soon as he heard, and Kayla’s family took the first available flight out to Austin. Duncan felt for them, being so far away and unable to get there immediately.
Duncan felt awful meeting the rest of Kayla’s family for the first time while she was fighting for her life. After Calum was done with the introductions between families, they all waited in silence for the doctors to tell them about Kayla’s condition. They knew they were operating on Kayla, but that was hours ago.
It was after four in the morning, almost ten hours after the attack, when the swinging doors opened and a sturdy nurse came into the waiting room to give them an update. “Family of Kayla Walsh?”
Duncan and Kayla’s parents stood and rushed over to her. “Please tell me she’s going to make it.” Duncan noticed the trembling in his voice.
“It was a close call. Miss Walsh suffered a gunshot wound to her stomach, but we were able to pull out the bullet without doing harm to any organs. She’s suffered some internal bleeding, but it looks like the operation went well. She still needs to be monitored, but she’s been transferred to a recovery room. You may see her, but only two visitors at once.”
Of course, that meant her parents were going first. Duncan couldn’t stop pacing the waiting room, and after half an hour, Calum stepped into his path. “I know you need to see Kayla, and she would want you there. Wait here.” Calum made his way to Kayla’s room and returned to the waiting room a few minutes later with his parents, who walked out with their heads bowed.
Duncan said nothing as he rushed to Kayla’s room. Those damn beeps. Duncan had hated the beeping sounds when his mother was hospitalized, and now the love of his life was lying in a hospital bed with tubes coming out of her mouth. Her skin was ash gray, and she lay there with things sticking into her arms.
“Dunc? Can I come in?” Brennan asked.
Duncan nodded before resting his forehead on the back of Kayla’s hand. “I can’t lose her, Bren. I can’t,” Duncan sobbed. He was a big guy, six foot four, weighed almost two hundred and fifty pounds, and was full of muscle, but he couldn’t protect his wildflower. Feeling helpless, he couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
Brennan’s big hand squeezed his shoulder. “Come on, Dunc. The doctor said the operation went well. She will be back being your wildflower before we know it. Trust me, she’ll be all right.”
Duncan nodded and dabbed his tears away with his free hand. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “Sorry, man, I—”
“Stop, Dunc. You can cry, scream, punch, and kick all you want. But may I suggest you do it with me at the dojo? Come on, stop with the tears. We need to be strong for Kayla. When she opens her eyes, and you know she will, then she’ll want to see a strong Duncan. She needs to know she’s safe, that we’re all here for her.”
While he nodded some more at Brennan’s words, Kayla’s fingers gave the slightest of movement. “I feel her, Bren. She’s moving her fingers!” Duncan held on to her hand as he stood from his chair and hovered over Kayla’s face. “Wildflower, sweet, sweet Kayla. Wake up, buster. No need to scare me anymore, you hear? Come back to me. Stay with me... love me, like I love you. God, I love you, Kayla. Come back to me,” he begged her.
Overcome with emotion, Duncan rested his forehead on her shoulder, but because of that, he didn’t see that Kayla tried to open her eyes. She startled him when she yanked on the tubes from her mouth. He jerked his head back so he could see her. She had the most frightened look in her eyes.
“Shh, wildflower, you’re safe. It’s okay. You’re in the hospital. Don’t take out the tubes yet, you hear?” He looked at Brennan and snapped, “Go find a doctor to take out the tubes. Fuck.” He then said, “Kayla, please lay still. Let us help you.”
She let her hand fall from the tube, and she looked a little less scared.
“It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. I promise you. You’re safe, and I’ll never let you out of my sight. I might tickle you every day, but you don’t mind, do you?”
Her eyes narrowed at him, making him chuckle. Even gunned down by a crazy stalker and fighting for her life, she was still filled with that admirable fire.
Brennan returned with a nurse and a doctor, and they removed the tubes after checking Kayla’s vitals. The doctor thoroughly checked her over while explaining her condition to her. When he was finished, he stepped back and encouraged her to speak.
“Dunc?” Kayla said, her soft voice cracking. She immediately coughed, and the nurse held out a cup of water to her, placing the straw to Kayla’s lips.
“Only a couple of sips for now, Kayla. Easy there,” the nurse said softly. Kayla sipped a couple more times from the straw, and the nurse put the glass down.
Kayla turned back to Duncan, squeezing his hand tightly. He looked up into Kayla’s eyes, but he couldn’t see her clearly through his tears.