Page 91 of Last Chance

She nodded. “I’m on duty until 7:00 tomorrow morning. I know you’re a paramedic, but I’m only supposed to let two people at a time into the room. Family only.”

“No problem. Janie and Sawyer will visit David. I’m here to offer moral support and jargon interpretation.”

Daisy laughed. “All families should be lucky enough to have you explain medical terms.” She turned to Janie. “Is Sawyer your husband?”

“I will be when I convince the lady to set a date,” Sawyer said.

“Aww. Congratulations. I’m happy for you. If you’ll come with me, I’ll escort you into the ICU. Remember, only two minutes, all right? It’s even more important for David to rest after this second surgery.”

“We won’t stay long,” Janie promised. “I want to remind him I’m close, and he will get better soon.”

“He has more bandages now,” Daisy warned. “Don’t let it upset you.”

This was tough for anyone, much less someone who had a rocky relationship with her brother and feared he wouldn’t survive. But Janie was made of sturdy stuff. She could handle this. Sawyer had faith in her.

Daisy led them to the nurses’ desk and inclined her head toward the room David was assigned.

Sawyer threaded his fingers through Janie’s and escorted her to the room.

She walked to David’s bedside and wrapped her free hand around her brother’s. “David, it’s Janie. You’re going to be fine. Do you hear me? You had a setback, and the doctor took you back to surgery. You came through with flying colors, bro. I’ll be close if you need me. Daisy, your nurse, will have my number, and she’ll call me when you ask her to contact me. I love you, David. Rest, and I’ll be back later to check on you.” After squeezing his forearm gently, she turned to Sawyer with tears in her eyes.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked with her from the room. In the hall, he nodded at the Fortress bodyguard assigned by Brent to watch over Janie’s brother. Thankfully, the hospital administration was cooperating because of the extreme circumstances and ongoing threat to David’s safety. “Let’s talk to Jesse, then we’ll return to the house.”

They found Max and Jesse in the waiting room. Both men rose. “How is he?” Jesse asked.

“Bandaged up like a mummy,” Janie said. “He looks rough, Jesse. Worse than when I saw him earlier.”

“It’s normal. Bruising and swelling will increase over the next few days, then recede. He’ll be colorful for a while.”

“What about security?” Max asked.

“A bodyguard is on duty in the hall outside David’s room,” Sawyer said.

“Good.” Jesse turned to Janie. “I know you want to stay. You can’t help your brother that way. He’ll need you at full strength when he wakes.”

“If he wakes.” Her voice broke.

“He’s stable for now. That’s a good sign. Go back to the safe house and rest, Janie. Taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for your brother.”

“Although I know you’re right, I hate to leave him here alone.”

“He has a good nursing staff here as well as top flight surgeons and physicians. He’ll be well cared for. What the staff can’t do is take care of you.”

“It’s our job to watch your back,” Max said. “Sawyer wants to take care of your needs. Let him.”

She looked at Sawyer.

“They’re right.”

Janie’s eyes narrowed. “No one better try to convince me to leave the hospital if you’re the one in ICU. I won’t have it. They’ll have a fight on their hands.”

“Wouldn’t think of it. In that case, you’d get a different support. This is what’s best for both you and David. It could be hours before we know anything. The nursing staff will watch over him. When he’s out of danger and awake, you’ll help care for a grumpy patient.”

“How do you know he’ll be grumpy?”

“We would be. Men don’t make the best patients.”

She held up both hands. “I give up. You’re right. Let’s make sure Daisy has a contact number and we’ll go.”

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