Page 25 of Shattered

She forced a tight smile and nodded once. “I know.” She appreciated the support and camaraderie. But they couldn’t do anything for her. No one could, except the doctors working to save Nathan’s life.

It took forever for someone to come talk to her. Briar and Tuck accompanied her into a room where a doctor gave a brief update on Nathan. Saying he was still in surgery where surgeons were trying to repair his collapsed lung, lacerated spleen and liver. No one was entirely sure yet about the severity of the head injury. They would perform more tests once Nathan was in the recovery room.

Assuming he survived the operation.

After the doctor left, Taya leaned her head back against the wall and stared at the closed door, a million turbulent thoughts tumbling through her brain.

Tuck stood and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Can I get you anything?”

Taya started to shake her head, but Briar interrupted. “Get her some weak tea and toast or crackers. Maybe some fruit.” She lifted a tentative hand to brush a curl away from Taya’s face, Tuck already heading out the door. “I bet you’re a little sick to your stomach in the mornings now, huh.”

Surprised, Taya looked at her. “A little.” She rested a hand over her abdomen, striving for at least the semblance of calm. She had to have faith. Be strong.

But she’d never been tested like this before. Not even during her captivity, or the desperate flight through the mountains when she’d escaped. Or that terrifying hostage situation during the Qureshi trial.

Losing Nathan frightened her more than any of that.

“You’re shivering. I’ll go find you a blanket.” Briar stood. “Need anything else?”

“I’m going to call my family. Let them know.” She needed to hear her father’s and brother’s voices.

“Okay. I’ll give you some privacy for a bit, but if you need anything, I’ll be right outside the door.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, pointing behind her.

“Thanks.”

A few moments later she was alone. In the sterile silence of the empty room, Taya pulled her phone from her purse and dialed her dad. “Dad?” Her voice cracked. She bit her lip, swallowed the tears rushing to the surface once more. “It’s Nathan. He’s been hurt.”

The call ended with her dad promising to get on the next flight there. She called her brother next, but there was no answer. Sometimes he couldn’t answer the phone while at work, so she texted him.

After waiting several minutes for him to respond, she sighed and lowered the phone to her lap, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. The fear was still there, the anxiety, but the panic had faded now, leaving a sucking exhaustion in its place.

Her eyes snapped open when the phone vibrated in her hand. She jerked it from her lap, expecting to see a response from her brother. But it wasn’t a Kentucky area code. The number was vaguely familiar though.

I just saw the news. Is he okay? Was he involved?

It took a few seconds for it to hit her. Then realization dawned.

Nathan’s sister. She must have seen or heard a story about the crash. The reporter must have mentioned the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team being involved.

Taya bit the inside of her cheek, debating what to do. She’d made the mistake of giving Dara her cell number, not realizing Nathan would have such a harsh reaction to his sister establishing contact. And because Taya hadn’t seen any harm in it at the time.

For a moment, she considered deleting the message and blocking the number, because she knew that was what Nathan would want. But something stopped her. Bad history or not, Dara and Nathan were family. The only blood family they had left, now that their mother was gone. Dara at least deserved an answer, to know what was going on.

So Taya did the polite thing and typed out a short response.

No. He’s in surgery.

A few seconds passed before the response came back.Oh, my God. How bad is he?

About as bad as it could get.He’s fighting for his life.

She lowered the phone back to her lap, waiting for a reply. It had barely touched her thigh when it began ringing.

Taya stared at the screen, wrestling with her conscience. Her impulse was to answer it, but she held back.

Nathan had been so angry about Dara contacting her. He wasn’t the sort of man to cut someone out of his life without good reason, and Dara’s behavior about the inheritance after their mother’s funeral proved what kind of a person she was. He didn’t want her in his life. Didn’t want her in Taya’s or their baby’s life, either. It was so out of character for the loving man she knew, Taya had to respect it, even if she wished his relationship with Dara was different.

Her resolve hardened. She declined the call, and sent another message instead.I’ll let you know what happens.

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