Page 35 of Ruthless Love

"C'mon."

Glancing up, Wyatt is running from his position. He grabs hold of my arm and drags me behind one of the SUV's. "Are you hit?"

"Yeah," I pant. "In the fucking leg, and took two to the vest. I need to open this fuckin' thing."

"Nope, not yet." He instructs. "We need to get Cord taken care of first."

While I know what he's saying is true, I need to take a deep breath and I can't because of the impact to the vest. I feel like I can't open my lungs up enough to take one.

"Taking the vest off isn't going to help that." Wyatt reminds me.

"I know, it just feels like it's suffocating me."

It's as if I'm in some sort of movie, watching the guys fight this battle without me. It isn't until my vision starts to go dark that I realize how much blood I've lost. Looking down, I seethat my pants are soaked. Reaching over, I try to get Wyatt's attention, but it's as if I can't stretch my arm out far enough. After three attempts, I'm tired, and I can't do it any longer.

Instead, I give up and let the darkness take over.

Ris looks incredible as she stands at the front of the aisle, holding our daughter in her arms. They're dressed for Serena's christening. I'm hurrying to catch up with them. I was stuck at work, processing an accident. "I'm here," I yell as I finish buttoning up my shirt.

Her eyes find mine, a smirk spreading across her face. "Oh thank goodness, I was worried you weren't going to make it."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." I drop a kiss onto her forehead, then reach forward to caress Serena's chin. She's the best of the both of us. Her eyes are the spitting image of Ris' and the jut of her jaw is mine.

Everyone standing around are friends and family. Many of them are fellow officers. Ones who I heard when I was shot. They'd said prayers around me as I'd lain on the ground, trying to keep my mind right.

"Thank you for wearing the button-down and rolling up your sleeves so I can see the tattoo," Ris whispers as we stand next to one another.

"It was completely for you, babe."

As we stand in front of everyone and the christening starts, I'm watching everyone who means so much to us. It's standing room only. The Willow County Sheriff's Department has come out in full force, as has the Miller family. My parents are seated in the front row, as are Ris'. It's a miracle none of them are arguing with each other.

"Welcome everyone to the christening of Serena Miller. Let's bow our heads and pray..."

When I lift my head up from the prayer, some of the people who had been standing around the back of the room are gone.As I move my gaze, more of them start to disappear, until it's just the three of us standing there.

"What's happening, Ris? What the hell is happening?"

She smiles softly. "You have to decide."

"What do you mean?"

Reaching forward, she grabs mine hand with hers, holding Serena up so that I can see her face. "You have to choose. Do you want to stay or go, Cain? You were injured, and this is a look at what our life will be like if you choose to stay."

"Do you want me to?" I question, fighting hard to make the right one.

"Yes," she answers. "Please don't leave us."

And it's then that I feel as if I'm surfacing from underwater, and taking the breath that guarantees I'll be able to breathe for the rest of my time here on this earth.

Marissa

This is never where I expected to be. In a hospital, waiting on a surgeon to tell me if my husband is going to make it or not. Of course I've thought about it. You can't be a police wife and it not cross your mind once in a while, but I've been lulled into complacency.

He's been an officer for as long as we've been married, and we've never had a scare like this. Of course there were moments when I'd see police cars and SUV's screaming down main street, and my chest would clinch.

Save one time when he had to get stitches, I've never been the wife of an injured officer.

Pinching my fingers is the only thing keeping me sane until I look up and see Katie walking through the doorway. Charlene isn't far behind.

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