Page 9 of Wanted

I kept picturing Sara lying helpless on the floor, bleeding outright in front of me. All because she took it upon herself to try and protectme.

To save me instead of the other way around.

A wide range of emotions flooded through me. Anger and fear werebattling for the title, and I wasn’t quite sure which one was going to hold thebelt in the end.

There were so many things I wanted to say to her. I only hoped I hadthe chance to tell her how much she truly meant to me. I also needed to expresshow angry I was with her. Upset she put her own life in jeopardy, a life I’dspent the greater part of a decade trying to protect. Without thought, she tossedit all away, threw caution to the wind with one fateful, selfless and stupiddecision.

The more I thought about what had transpired, the more my chesthurt.If I don’t watch it, I’m going tobe lying right next to her. We could be roommates.

In the middle of my internal meltdown, I noticed two people walkingtoward me in the waiting room. Looking up, I saw Alexa was holding on to Matt’sarm, despair written all over her face. I’d filled them both in when I went tolook for her, so when I placed the call she was in the hospital, they knew itwasn’t good.

Matt helped Alexa to her seat before he approached me. He reallywasn’t a bad guy. Actually, the more I saw him interact with both Sara andAlexa, the more comfortable I was with him being in my woman’s life. He caredfor them as if he was their brother. I had to admire that.

He extended his hand and, for once, I took it withoutreservation. He was almost as worried about his dear friend as I was.

“How is she? Have you heard anything? What happened?” he spouted,question after question falling from his lips without a break.

“I don’t know how she is,” I grated. “These bastards won’t tellme a damn thing. All I know is she was taken into surgery four hours ago.”

“Surgery?” Alexa cried. “What happened, Alek?” She held my gazeuntil her face dropped into her hands, sobs racking her body as she wept forher best friend.

“She was shot.” Three of the worst words I’d ever muttered in myentire life. “Honestly, I don’t know anything yet. The doctor hasn’t even beenout to update me on her status. Hell, I don’t even know if she’s still insurgery.”

Matt stared at me as if he held me responsible for Sara’spredicament. Could I blame him? I would forever carry around the guilt until mydying day.

Without saying a word, Matt joined Alexa on the small sofa in thecorner of the waiting room. We glanced at each other from time to time butother than those fleeting moments, we sat and waited in silence. Well,theysat. I continued to do what I did best:pace.

When I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, a doctor camestrolling into the room.Where the hell ishis sense of urgency?Doesn’t he knowthe love of my life lay clinging to life somewhere in this hospital?

“Mr. Devera?” he asked as he looked around the room, trying topinpoint which one of us was going to answer. When I walked closer, basicallyannouncing I was the man he was looking for, he opened his mouth.Please, tell me good news.

“Miss Hawthorne’s surgerywent well. Luckily, there wasn’t too much damage to her shoulder. She shouldhave full range of motion after some physical therapy. Other than that, she’llbe fine.”

Her shoulder?I couldhave sworn she was shot directly in the chest. I was preparing myself toreceive news the bullet had pierced her heart.

Because that was exactly what it had done to mine.

“When can I see her?” I asked, standing a little too close tohim.

“I’ll send a nurse out soon to take you back. But please, don’tstay too long because she’s still quite woozy from the anesthesia. Plus, sheneeds her rest.” He left before I could ask him any more questions. His staffhad probably warned him about me, so he made sure to give me an update then gotthe hell out of there.

Sure enough, not five minutes later, a nurse escorted us back toSara’s room.

“Normally, we only allow one visitor but seeing as how you allhave been here for hours, we’ll make an exception this time. Don’t be too longbecause she needs her rest.”

I quickly thanked her before rushing to Sara’s beside.

My heart all but stopped when I saw her lying in the bed, lookingdamaged and broken.

My soul broke apart inside me, piercing my heart like tiny razorblades, making me bleed out all of my hurt, anger and fear.

~6~

Sara

I was lost between delirium and reality when I saw him approach. Helooked so broken, like a piece of him died when he rescued me. With each stephe took, I could see the immense love laced in his eyes, but there was also agreat fear lurking underneath.

Knowing he must have been going out of his mind with worry thewhole time he was unable to find me, I wanted nothing more than to comfort him.I had no doubt he was beating himself up, taking the blame for my abduction.

---