Page 75 of Force At Third

“No latex allergies.” I pull out my phone. “I can get the rest from her mom, but?—”

“Take your time, kid.” Jase nods to the waiting room.

“She’s going to be okay, right?” I ask as a fucking tear falls.

“We’re going to do everything we can. We’ll know more when we get the x-rays back.”

She looks at Jase. “You boys did good.”

I scroll through my phone to find Deborah’s number. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” I sit down and hit call.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Ms. Debbie.”

“Leland.” The way she says my name, she knows something’s up. “Did they get him?” Her voice breaks.

“They did. They got him. But here’s the thing; Gwen is heading up to surgery soon. She was shot in the arm.”

“Oh my God,” she gasps.

“And I know Annie’s around there somewhere. Assure her that Marks is good. He has him in custody. Can you tell me, aside from strawberries, what allergies Gwendolyn has?”

“None.” She sniffs.

I look at Jase and shake my head no, and he heads to the desk to relay the message.

“I’d tell you not to cry, but I’m fighting that fight myself. What I can do is promise you that I’m not leaving her side until she opens those gorgeous eyes she got from you.”

“She made sliders and mac”—she sobs—“in the crockpot.”

“Yeah?” I ask.

“She said she made extra for y’all, but I know she made it because it was your favorite at our place.”

I can’t help but laugh a little. “She may get ornery if she knows you told me that, but Ms. Deb, Gwendolyn’s certainly gonna be upset when the nurses tell her she’s my fiancée.”

“You didn’t.” She laughs then sniffs.

“Oh, you know I did,” I say, realizing how deep my southern drawl is when conversing with anyone from home. “I’m gonna be here. You don’t mind me messaging you when I get word now, do you?”

“Annie’s making flight arrangements now. we’ll make sure to get the Wi-Fi upgrade.”

“All right. Now, let me know your flight information, and I’ll arrange a car to bring you from the Trenton airport to Mercy West.”

“Please tell her I love her and give her a kiss for me.”

“I certainly will, Ms. Deb. You fly safe now, you hear?”

I head to the desk. “Any word?”

“The doctor will be out to speak to you before surgery.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Anything I can do?” Jase asks.

I shake my head. “I need to call Whitley.” I glance at him. “Roman may need help with the cops.”

---