Page 6 of The Truth

She just went to her sister’s side and emotionally pulled back. But Gunn got the impression she wasn’t going anywhere.

Of course, none of them were.

Finally, a guy three inches taller and one hundred pounds heavier than Gunn stepped into the waiting room.

His gaze went to Aubrey, like he was checking on her for himself, then he turned to Guthrie. “Where’s Dr. Fields, or need I ask?”

“He went in with her, to recovery,” Guthrie said, dryly, and shook his head. “Just get on with it, Caine. I want to send my parents home.”

“The damage was superficial. She’s going to be sore for a few weeks. And she’ll need to keep her injured shoulder immobile for at least the first week. But barring any complications, she’s going to be fine. Probably out of here tomorrow afternoon,” Dr. Alvaro said.

“And that bastard?” Guthrie asked. “Does anyone know what happened to him?”

“Chantal’s older brother took him away two hours ago,” Aubrey said. “I gave Charlie my statement.”

“Is he still saying Chad attacked him first?” Guthrie asked, one hand on that woman’s shoulder as if he was trying to comfort her. Shelter and protect. Well, Gunn definitely understood that. He’d put his own body between his parents, Giavonna, Greer, and Ayla and the door.

Protecting was what a man did.

“What? That guy is lying,” Gunn said. “Chad was clear across the room when it happened. I don’t know how he moved that fast to get to her. He was there before I was. And I was half as far from them.”

“That’s what I told him. I went ahead and had security bring the tapes,” Aubrey added. “Dr. Hodges had been harassing her here for a few weeks now.”

That had the predictable reaction.

His brothers’ anger rose again. In a roar.

Gunn wondered if anyone else saw how both Ayla and her sister flinched when Gene started pacing and Grady demanded to know why they hadn’t told him.

When the two men got too close.

It struck him then—Aubrey and Ayla Fisherwereafraid.

Seriouslyafraid.

Not just nervous because they didn’t know them. They wereafraid. Of him and his brothers and their father.

Well, maybe not that afraid of Guthrie.

His older brother had pulled Aubrey into his arms, right there in front of all of them. And was just sort of rocking her gently. Like he couldn’t let go of her right then. Guthrie’s hand cupped the back of her head and he guided her head to his shoulder. She almost collapsed against him.

Guthrie kissed her forehead... gently. And just... rocked her. Held her so close. Gunn had never seen his older brother look like that with a woman before. Definitely never seen Guthrie lookata woman like that at all.

Ayla just stared at her sister and his brother in awe. Like she’d never seen a man touch her sister before. She hadn’t dated... maybe her sister hadn’t, either?

Gunn looked back at Guthrie, and that’s when he realized what he was seeing.

Guthrie was in love with Dr. Aubrey Fisher.

Did his brother even realize that at all?

4

“How involved with Aubrey are you?”Gunn asked, after he had his brother loaded into his truck, long after Guthrie and Chad had argued over who was going to stay with Genny tonight.

They’d both lost.

Giavonna and Greer were in Genny’s hospital room tonight. Their mother and Chad were coming back in the morning—but everyone demanded Chad get some rest first.

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