Page 103 of Silver Linings

“Hawk and Stone just ran upstairs. I think it’s best if you stay here. We’re safe in the office.”

“I shouldn’t have let them in. If he’s hurt, it’s all my fault. I need to go and I need you to keep Sage safe.” Lily pulled her baby from the carrier over her chest and handed her over to Mae.

Her heart pounded as she raced up the stairs, noting the sound of sirens in the distance growing closer.

“Gunner?!” her frantic voice called out as she walked into the apartment and saw him sitting on the ground. Blood was the first thing she registered as she ran towards him. “Oh my god, oh my god. Are you okay? What happened? Did someone call an ambulance?”

“Lily Kate,” his voice strained as he said her name. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine, Gunner. Don’t give me that load of shit. They shot you. And you’re bleeding all over the place!” She frantically looked from Gunner to Stone. “Can you help him? What do you need?”

A tear tickled the skin on her cheek and she swiped it away quickly. Gunner needed her to be strong. He didn’t need to deal with her being in shambles. She could fall apart later. After she knew he was going to be okay.

“We got the wound packed as best we could, Lil. Now we just wait for the paramedics.”

“Where’s Hawk?” she asked, looking around the apartment.

“He took off after the guys who shot Gunner. The window to your fire escape was open.”

“Where’s Sage?” Gunner grumbled, his head listing to the right slightly. Lily panicked, her eyes flying to Stone’s, seeing if something more was happening. It’s okay, he mouthed, but she didn’t believe him. Gunner was pale and his skin had a fine sheen of sweat across it. She’d never seen him in such a state before, and it caused every emotion in her body to fly into overdrive.

“She’s with Mae. I need to grab her diaper bag so we can go to the hospital with you. Oh my god, Gunner, who were those people?”

“Definitely not anyone who works for Clarence County.”

“They almost took Sage.” Lily felt her body shake violently. “This is all my fault.”

“Doc,” the warning in Gunner’s voice startled her.

“Yep. I got it, Reap. Lily, I want you to sit down next to Gunner and take some deep breaths for me, okay?”

“I’m fine,” she whispered.

“You’re hyperventilating. Slow breaths, Lily,” Stone instructed.

She wanted to nod or give some sort of response. She really did. But her body wasn’t listening. Her limbs were shaking uncontrollably, and she feared trying to move right then would end with her lying with her face flat on the ground.

“Hold this to your side. I need to help Lily.”

The groan that escaped from Gunner as he pressed his own hand down on the bullet wound brought Lily back.

“I-I’m okay now. Sorry.”

“Nope. Shock will sneak up on you sometimes. So you just sit down next to your husband and hold his hand. Everyone is going to be just fine.”

“And you’ve never seen these people before?”

Hank Porter arrived at the hospital just after Lily left Gunner’s side. She’d cried tears of relief and gratitude when the doctor told her the bullet had passed straight through his muscles and soft tissue. The CT scan they’d hauled him off to almost immediately after they arrived showed his organs and major blood vessels were untouched. Gunner was stitched up and grumpy as all hell about having to spend the night there for observations, but he was going to be just fine.

“No,” Lily sighed. “They showed me their identification, and it looked real. I would never think someone would pose as child services trying to take Sage away.”

“Why would someone do that?”

“I don’t know if it’s connected, but Sage’s paternal grandparents are trying to get custody of her.”

The sheriff raised his eyebrow.

“Gunner’s parents? I thought his mother had passed.”

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