Page 42 of Two Weddings and a Shoot Out

Willa nodded and patted her shoulder. Max nodded and then left.

Stella led her into a room to get cleaned up and helped her change into clean scrubs. She’d been content with marrying Locks whenever, but she realized that Locks was it for her. And she had no rights here. If they needed consent, they’d have to call whoever he designated for his healthcare.

“Benji,” she asked. She’d been so shocked over what happened with Locks that she hadn’t given a thought to Benji. She really needed to be better in a crisis. She snickered and started laughing.

Stella’s arms wrapping around her had the laughter turning to tears. Stella patted her back.

“Let it all out, Hope,” Stella said softly.

Hope cried until she didn’t have anything left to cry. Her eyes hurt, and her throat was tight. She needed to quit crying and check on Locks. She shuddered, then opened her eyes and looked at Stella.

“I need to check on Locks.”

Stella nodded and gathered their stuff.

Locks felt the wind as they pushed the gurney inside the hospital, and then people were talking, but he wasn’t sure what they were saying or asking. Then someone put a mask over his face, and everything went black.

The next thing Locks saw was a dark tunnel with a bright light. It was cold where he was standing, and he could feel the warmth emanating from the light. He was drawn to it for some reason. He didn’t understand where he was, but he walked toward it. The brightness and warmth weren’t scary or disconcerting. It washed over him, and he felt at home, loved, and at peace.

A figure that he couldn’t make out walked toward him. He thought he should walk toward it, but he stood still and let it approach. In a flash, the figure became visible, and tears filled his eyes at seeing Kathryn again.

He smiled. “Kathryn,” he said softly.

“Noah, it’s not your time. You need to go back,” she said.

“But…”

“Benji and Hope need you. We had our time, and I’ll see you again, but just not yet.”

“It’s been so long,” Locks said.

“It’s been the blink of an eye. Now I love you. Go live for our grandkids,” she said.

Locks looked behind him at the darkness, then turned back to Kathryn, but she was gone, as was the light. It was dark and coldaround him. He wanted to go back to Hope, Benji, and his girls, but he didn’t know how. How did he get back?

He wanted to be back with his family. He’d close his eyes, and maybe he’d find them when he woke.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

HopestoodwaitingwithRemi, Sarah, Jesse, Winnie, and what seemed like half of Bluff Creek. The room was full. Locks had been in surgery for hours. They’d received two updates that he was still being worked on. She couldn’t sit down right now. She’d paced for a while and was now just leaning against the wall.

Roland had died at the scene. When he’d fired his gun, Dex had just been getting situated with his sniper rifle on the roof of the building across the street. He’d taken the shot, and Roland had died. Two of the others with him were taken out by bikers attending the celebration. The last two with him were taken by ambulance to the hospital. She didn’t have an update on that, and frankly, she couldn’t find any mercy in her heart to care about them at all. They’d come with the intent to rob the MC and kill her all because of her son.

Remi had made the decision to bring the RV to the hospital along with the SUV used to transport everyone to Wichita. Itprovided a place for them to get away, and they were taking turns keeping the kids in it. Clara and Faith were on shift for now.

It was a relief to get to hug Benji but not have him in the waiting room with her. Hope was petrified they’d walk out in a little bit and say he hadn’t made it through. Stella kept telling her to have faith, but all she kept seeing was all the blood he’d lost. Every time she started to beat herself up by blaming herself, she’d hear Locks’ voice in her head telling her he cared for her. He wouldn’t want her to blame herself.

She glanced at the clock, and only fifteen minutes had passed since the last time she looked. Why did time in a hospital pass so slowly? She needed to see his face and feel his chest rising with his breath.

Maureen came over beside her and leaned against the wall. She held up a granola bar, a muffin, and a candy bar. The thought of food made Hope nauseous, and she shook her head.

“You’ve only had the breakfast you had with Locks at eleven this morning. It’s after five. You need the fuel so you don’t crash. You don’t want to end up in the hospital too,” Maureen said.

“Anybody tell you that you’re annoying?” Hope asked, grabbing the chocolate muffin and taking a bite.

“Lexi does all the time,” Maureen replied.

After she ate the muffin, she was starving and ate the granola bar followed by the candy bar. When she looked around for a drink, Maureen held up an electrolyte drink and a bottle of water. Hope took the bottle of water and drank it.

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