Page 66 of Fighting for Brielle
“Mr. and Mrs. McAdams? I’m Dr. Nunag. Shall we speak privately?”
Cameron shook his head. “There’s a whole room full of cops waiting to hear news about Brielle’s condition. And this is her boyfriend, Chief Justice McQuaid.”
Dr. Nunag nodded. He followed them into the waiting room. Everyone gazed expectantly at him.
“First, let me say that Sergeant McAdams is out of danger. We successfully extracted the bullet that came within a half inch of her heart. The bullet that hit her leg damaged nerves and muscles, but I’m confident she’ll fully recover with physical therapy.”
An audible sigh and murmurs of gratitude echoed among the officers. Relief swept through Justice. He turned away from the others so they wouldn’t see the tears burning in his eyes. He couldn’t deny it any longer. Didn’t even want to try. Brielle held his heart in the palm of her hand, and now he ached to tell her that he was in love with her. He wasn’t sure if she felt the same way about him but staying silent wasn’t an option anymore. Life was too damned short not to risk laying it all on the line.
Scrubbing his face with his hands, he addressed the surgeon. “May we see Brielle?”
“I’m keeping her in ICU for the next twelve hours. Right now, she’s sleeping, but you can visit her in small groups of two or three for a few minutes at a time.”
Cameron and Brianna and Justice shook hands with Dr. Nunag and thanked him.
Addressing Justice, Cameron ordered, “Go on, son.”
“No, sir. I can wait. I’ve been waiting for your daughter my entire life.”
Cameron and Brianna glanced meaningfully at each other before they joined hands and went to see their daughter.
When they returned fifteen minutes later, they confirmed Dr. Nunag’s observations, and kept Justice company while members of Brielle’s squad and SWAT and LBPD visited her.
After seeing Brielle, Tawny marched up to Finnigan and chastised him. “You’re an asshole. You treated Brielle like a piece of garbage. She told us everything you said. Something to the effect of not wanting her on your team. And now look at her. She’s lying in ICU because she saved your ass, Asshole.” To Dooley, she added, “Let’s go, Stud.”
She hugged and kissed Justice and Cameron and Brianna and said she’d be back the next day. Dooley followed her, along with Hutch, River, and Martini.
“Close your mouth, Finny,” Justice murmured. “Tawny is off limits. Besides, she thinks you’re an asshole.”
“I love a challenge.” He smirked.
Justice ignored him. He wasn’t in the mood for jokes as he waited his turn to see Brielle.
With the waiting room finally empty except for Cameron and Brianna, Justice made his way to ICU. He thought he was prepared for the sight that met his eyes, but he wasn’t. He recoiled in shock as his breath hitched in his throat. Brielle lay pale and still, hardly breathing. Leaning down, he brushed her bloodless lips with his.
“I’m here, sweetheart,” he whispered. “I know you’re just sleeping, but I really need you to wake up so I can look into your gorgeous eyes when I tell you that I’m in love with you.”
Justice sat in a chair next to her bed and brought her cold hand up to his lips. He stayed like that, caressing her hand and talking to her, until a nurse shooed him out of the cubicle. Reluctantly, he rose to his feet, unable to tear his gaze away from Brielle. He promised he wouldn’t leave her alone and rejoined Cameron and Brianna, who sat speaking quietly with Franklin, who’d just arrived at the hospital.
“Dad.” Anguish filled Justice’s voice.
Franklin hugged him. “I’m so sorry, son. How is Brielle?”
“Sleeping. But I wish she’d wake up.” Weariness colored his tone.
“Justice, you’re worn out, and you must be hungry. Let’s all go get something to eat,” Brianna suggested.
“No, ma’am. I’m staying.”
“Honey, let’s check into our hotel. We can bring sandwiches back with us,” Cameron interjected.
“That’s a good idea,” Franklin agreed.
When they were alone, Franklin pinned Justice with his eyes. “So, you love this woman, huh?”
Justice sank into a chair and stretched out his long legs. Leaning back, he closed his eyes. “Yeah. And I’m not in the mood for one of your lectures about it.”
Chapter 17
