Page 44 of Playboy

“Any news on Gabby yet?” Graham asked concern etched on his face.

Playboy shook his head. “No. Nothing yet.”

Graham rubbed his jaw and then looked at the couple, his expression softening.

“Mr. and Mrs. Allen, this is Playboy and his team. They were with Gabby when the accident happened.”

He heard Gabby’s mom suck in a breath before she looked up at him. “You’re Tanner?”

Playboy almost smiled at her, calling him Tanner.

“Yes, Ma’am,” Playboy responded, extending his hand. But he was shocked when the petite woman ignored his hand and instead hugged him.

She sniffled. “Gabby has told us so much about you.”

When she pulled away, she reached behind her and grabbed her husband’s hand. “I’m Wendy, and this is my husband and Gabby’s dad, David.”

Playboy shook David’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Sir. I just wish it were on different terms.”

“Pleasure to meet you as well. Captain Graham said you and your team were with Gabby. Can you tell us what happened? Or how she is?”

Playboy looked to Bear, his team leader, and Bear nodded, gesturing toward the group of chairs.

Once everyone got settled and introductions were made, Playboy began to recount the sequence of events.

“We were unloading some contraband from a narco sub,” Playboy began, trying to keep his voice free of emotion. “Everything was going smoothly, and then we saw a boat coming at us, fast. Way too fast.”

Her father’s brow furrowed in confusion. “And Gabby?”

Playboy clenched his fists, the memory replaying in his head like a nightmare he couldn’t shake. “Gabby was in another boat. She saw the other boat and acted before anyone else could. She intercepted it with her own boat, making sure it didn’t hit us. But the other boat was bigger and didn’t slow down. They collided, and Gabby was thrown into the water. When we got to her, she was pinned between the wreckage.”

Her mom gasped, her face going pale. “Was she—?”

“Unconscious,” Duke finished for him, his voice grave. “Her left leg was also badly injured. A few members of the Coast Guard team drove us and Gabby to the closest beach, where an ambulance was waiting. By the time we got here, they had already taken her back for surgery.”

Gabby’s teammates were quiet. But then Graham leaned forward in his seat, his expression a mix of shock and sorrow. “How long ago was that?”

Playboy looked at his watch. “Almost two hours.”

Before anyone could say anything else, the door to the waiting room opened again. This time, it was a doctor. She was dressed in green scrubs. Her face held a grim expression.Playboy felt the room hold its breath, everyone bracing for whatever news was about to be delivered.

“Are you all here for Gabriella Allen?” The doctor asked.

Captain Graham took the lead. “Yes. I’m her Commanding Officer, and these are her parents and colleagues.”

The doctor shook Graham’s hand. “I’m Captain Ebers. I’ve been overseeing Gabriella’s treatment since she was brought in.” She looked at Gabby’s parents. “Because of HIPPA laws, before I update you about your daughter’s condition, do I have your consent to speak in front of everyone?”

“Of course,” Gabby’s dad told the doctor.

Captain Ebers took a deep breath. “Gabriella is out of surgery,” she started, but the weight of her words made Playboy’s stomach drop. “While her condition is critical, we do have her stable. However, I’m afraid I do have some difficult news.”

Playboy felt his heart drop, and a cold sweat broke out across his forehead.

“When she hit her head, she sustained a head injury. She’s currently in a coma. We are monitoring her closely and are watching for any signs of swelling or bleeding in her brain. But it’s difficult to predict how long she’ll remain unconscious.”

“Oh, God,” Gabby’s mom let out a sob, and her husband gripped his wife’s hand. His knuckles were white.

Playboy, on the other hand, felt like the ground had been pulled out from under him.

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