Page 167 of Fought and Freed

She nodded and twisted off the cap to take a sip.

Another doctor came into the waiting room, and everyone stopped talking. “Ryder Williams’ family?”

Maddy stood. “That’s us.”

38

MADDY

The doctor joined them. “Mr. Williams was very lucky. A centimeter to the right, and he wouldn’t be here. The bullet nicked his heart, and we had to go in and repair it. He should make a full recovery.”

“Can we see him?” Maddy asked.

“He’s in recovery,” the doctor informed them. “Once he’s moved to a room, we’ll send a nurse for you.”

Maddy leaned against Jace. “Thank you, Doctor.”

Jace hugged her. “See? He’s going to be fine.”

Skylar came back from visiting Cody and took them in. “What did I miss?”

Maddy filled Skylar in on what the doctor said.

He sighed with relief. “The visiting hours for the ICU are over for now. How about we go home, freshen up, and eat before coming back in a couple of hours for the next visiting time?”

“I don’t want to leave until I see Ryder with my own eyes, but you should all get some rest.” Maddy rubbed her bare arms. “Can someone bring me a sweatshirt when you come back?”

After much talking and debating, Lucca, Skylar, and Giselle headed home for a bit.

Another hour of sitting left Maddy’s back killing her. The waiting room had the most uncomfortable chairs ever.

Jace tried to help her by rubbing her back, but it was no use.

“Maddy?” a voice called out.

Her head snapped up. “Uncle Marco?”

He walked over, his cane tapping against the ground. “I came to see how your boyfriends are.”

She filled him in on Ryder’s and Cody’s conditions.

“Good, I’m glad.” He settled in the chair next to her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t quick enough to shoot that bastard. If I was, Ryder wouldn’t have been wounded. He did what I would have done. I couldn’t protect you when you were young, but I will do everything in my power to protect you now.”

“Thank you for watching out for me.” Maddy smiled at him. “In less than thirty weeks, you’re going to have a great-nipotina or nipote to protect.”

His eyes lit up at the news, and tears dropped down his face. “I wish your mother was here.”

Tears burned Maddy’s eyes. “I do, too.”

“Maddy!” Harry came running in.

Maddy leaped to her feet. “Did you find Kelly?”

“Yeah.” He glanced back the way he came. “The doctors are trying to check her, but she won’t stop screaming.”

“Take me to her.” Maddy turned and looked back at her uncle. “Would you mind staying here?”

“Go.” He shooed her away. “I’ll inform you when you can go back to see Ryder.”

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