Page 67 of Fighting for Brielle
“Not this time. This time you hit the jackpot. Mr. and Mrs. McAdams are of the opinion that their daughter is absolutely crazy about you. Apparently, I have, and I quote, ‘raised a fine young man.’” Franklin snickered. “They haven’t figured out yet that you’re a real smartass sometimes.”
Justice chuckled and opened his eyes. “Aw, come on, Dad. I learned from the best.”
“Yeah, your mother taught you well,” Franklin joked. At the stunned expression on Justice’s face, he laughed outright. “What? Your mother had quite a mouth on her. In more ways than one,” he added just to make his son even more uncomfortable.
“Again with the sex talk, Dad? What are you? Sixteen?”
“What are you? Five?” Franklin shot back.
They stared at each other a moment before bursting into laughter.
“Wanna come with me to see Brielle, Dad?”
“I’ll wait until she’s awake. Go ahead. Mr. and Mrs. McAdams will be back soon with food. I’m famished.”
“Have I thanked you for flying all the way out here to be with me?”
“No. You’ve been too busy scolding me for talking dirty.”
“Well, thanks. I appreciate it. Now, go talk dirty to Adrienne.”
At the mention of Adrienne’s name, the levity between them ended abruptly.
“I don’t think she wants to see me or talk to me,” Franklin remarked.
“You won’t know until you try,” Justice said as he left the waiting room.
* * *
Justice refused to leave Brielle alone and sweet talked the night shift nurse into letting him stay with her in ICU. The chair wasn’t comfortable, but he’d been able to change out of his uniform when Franklin brought him a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.
Cameron and Brianna, realizing their daughter was in good hands, stayed until midnight. They’d texted back and forth with their five other children, assuring them that their little sister was in stable condition.
Justice texted Faith, introducing himself and sharing what happened to Brielle. She’d texted him back, sending her love and thankfulness that Brielle would be all right.
He wondered about that as he begged Brielle to open her eyes. “Please, baby. Wake up. You’ve been asleep for a really long time. And I need to tell you something important.”
Justice dozed off and on during the long night. At one point he jerked awake from a dream, believing he’d heard Brielle crying out for him. Glancing toward the bed, he sucked in his breath. She lay staring at him, her amber eyes dull from her ordeal.
“Justice.” She croaked his name.
“I’m here, baby.” He reached for the pitcher of water on a rolling bedside tray, poured a cup, and held it to her dry lips.
She took a few sips and lay back upon the pillow. “The two victims. Did they make it? The husband and wife?”
Justice’s heart exploded with love for her. She’d nearly lost her life, yet her main concern was for the other shooting victims. He gripped her hand and kissed it. “Yes, they made it. How do you feel, sweetheart?”
Brielle grimaced. “In pain.” She tried to shift her position. “My leg. It feels like lead.”
“You have nerve and muscle damage, but the surgeon assured us you’ll make a full recovery. You’re going to need physical therapy,” he explained. “By the way, your parents are here.”
“At the hospital?”
“At a hotel at the moment. So’s my dad. He’s at the house.”
She gazed at him and squeezed his hand. “You were that scared?”
“Yes. Petrified I would lose you.”
