Page 68 of Wyoming Bodyguard
He leaned into her touch. “I hope you’re right.”
A second ambulance blared its siren and spend into the lot.
“Who else was hurt?”
Anger flashed through the worry in Madden’s eyes. “The man who shot Reid. The one responsible for putting us all through hell and trying to kill you and your father. And if the asshole lives to see another day, I’ll make sure he pays.”
Chapter 25
Anxiousness crawled over Madden’s skin like a pack of red ants. Waiting for word on Reid’s condition was agonizing. He wasn’t family, so no one would tell him anything, even if Reid was just as close to him as his own brother.
Lily sat beside him, her hand glued to his. She hadn’t said a word since they’d taken their spots in the waiting room but had stayed as close as possible since he’d returned to the hospital. The relief in her eyes when she’d seen him spoke volumes. He’d wanted nothing more than to sweep her off her feet and carry her far away from this place.
But Reid needed him now, and Lily instinctively understood.
Deputy Sanders rounded the corner and stalked toward him. The bags under his eyes hung lower than usual and wrinkles lined his uniform.
Madden started to stand, but his father’s old friend gestured him to stay seated.
“Don’t get up. I’ll sit. My feet are killing me.” Deputy Sanders sank onto the empty chair on the other side of Madden. He groaned as if he’d just finished an eight second ride on a bucking bronco.
“Have you heard anything about Reid?” Madden could barely get the question through the tightness of his dry throat. Too many memories of another time, another accident, another brush with death sat at the forefront of his mind, transporting him back to the desert.
A place he never wanted to go again.
Deputy Sanders nodded. “Just spoke with the doctor. Figured you’d want an update. He got a few stitches from where the glass cut his face, and he has some fluids and medications being fed to him through an IV. He’s awake but lethargic. Nothing too complicated. Nothing life threatening. Shock and loss of blood gave him a double punch. They’ll monitor him overnight, but he should be free to return home in the morning.”
The vise squeezing his lungs loosened, and Madden leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. He drew in a deep breath, blowing it out slowly.
Lily kneaded his shoulder. “Thank God. I knew he’d be okay. Can we see him?”
“He’s in room number 203. Not sure if he can have visitors or not, but worst they can do is ask you to leave.”
Now that he knew his friend would be okay, Madden straightened and cleared the emotion from his throat. Reid might have been his priority, but updates regarding his friend’s condition wasn’t the only thing that needed addressed.
“What about the shooter? Get an identification on him yet?”
Lily’s hand tightened on his shoulder.
Sighing, Deputy Sanders rubbed the top of his head. “Guy’s name is Jason Simon. Ring a bell for either of you?”
“Not at all. Lily?” He glanced down at her wide eyes and dropped jaw.
She shook her head. “No. Is this the man who shot my dad?”
“We believe so,” Deputy Sanders said. “As of now, the department is looking at him and no one else. The truck’s registered in his name and is the same one witnessed at your father’s shooting. The casings found in the parking lot match the bullets used at the site of your dad’s shooting. Forensics will be able to add more weight there, but we’re waiting for that report to come through. The way things go around here, it could take a couple days.”
“Did he give you any details about why he targeted Mr. Tremont?” Madden asked. Getting the evidence against this asshole was important, but he needed to understand the motive behind terrorizing Lily.
Deputy Sanders frowned. “No, not yet.”
Lily inched forward on her seat. “Why not?”
“He hasn’t woken up from surgery, and we’re not sure if he will.”
Lily stiffened beside him.
“Son of a bitch.” Madden reined in his temper. He might want answers, but not as badly as Lily. She deserved to know the reasons her life had been turned upside down. “Any idea who this guy is? Where he’s from?”
