Page 34 of Conner's Choice
While he waited for news about Elizabeth and for the Bennetts and Christian to arrive, Conner slumped into a comfortable chair and held his pounding head in his hands. A swirling mass of emotions rocked him to the core of his soul.Elizabeth. She’d enthralled him from the moment they met. He loved everything about her. Her gray eyes and dark hair. Her incredible body. Her intelligence and wit. Her laugh, her smile, and her courage. Hell, he lovedher. Period. And the powerful revelation that he was in love with her only increased the cold knot of fear in his gut.
Christian joined Conner in the surgery waiting room, and they shared a hug. “Any news?”
“No.” Conner ran both hands through his hair. “I’m lost, Chris. Really lost. If Elizabeth doesn’t make it…if she dies because I failed to protect her, I won’t be able to live with myself. I won’t be able to live without her. I’m in love with her, man. I’ve never felt like this about anyone. Not Melissa. Not even Britain. Not ever.”
Christian laid a sympathetic arm across his friend’s shoulders. “You have to stay positive, Con. Britain’s uncle is the best trauma surgeon in the state. He’ll do everything in his power to save Elizabeth’s life. Have faith.”
They fell silent, absorbed in their own private thoughts, until General Bennett and Lydia rushed into the waiting room. Conner and Christian jumped to their feet, introduced themselves, and shook hands with the couple.
“Have you heard anything, O’Donnell?” Bennett asked brusquely.
Conner shook his head. “No, sir. Nothing yet.”
“Do the police know who did this to my daughter?”
The words hardly left his mouth when Kevin burst into the waiting room, followed by his father, Kevin Warner, Sr.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Kevin announced in a grim voice. “And why the hell did I have to find out what happened to my wife through the media?”
Everyone turned to stare at him. Something in the tenor of his tone and the odd light in his eyes set off warning bells in Conner. As he glared at the intruder, he recalled the familiarity of the figure who stabbed Elizabeth, and he knew without a doubt Kevin had done it. He clenched his jaw and made a fist, ready to strike Warner, but General Bennett was quicker. He threw a hard punch that sent his soon-to-be-ex-son-in-law flying backward into an armchair.
Chapter Eleven
Abrawl eruptedwhen Warner, Sr., bellowed in rage and attacked his former commanding officer. He spun him away from his son and threw him against the opposite wall. Conner rushed forward, intending to help Elizabeth’s father, but Christian restrained him. While the older men slugged each other, Kevin seized an opportunity to lunge at Conner. Lydia saw him coming and took him down with a well-executed round kick. She grinned at Christian, who yanked Kevin to his feet and punched him twice in the stomach.
The commotion brought doctors, nurses, and a security guard into the waiting room. A doctor pulled Warner, Sr., off Bennett while the security guard helped the retired general.
“This is a hospital, not a bar,” one of the doctors told them sternly. “Another outburst like this one, and I’ll toss all of you out of here.”
Warner, Sr., wiped his bloody nose with the back of his hand and snarled, “I want General Bennett, his wife, and Christian Stone arrested for assaulting my son. Call the cops.”
“At ease, everyone,” Bennett commanded with a dismissive wave of his arm. “Give us a moment alone.”
“I’ll be right outside, sir, if you need me,” the security guard declared.
Bennett turned his cold eyes upon Warner, Sr. “No one is being arrested, Kevin. I know what you did in Germany, and I’ve kept your secret all these years. If you don’t want it to become public knowledge, you and your son are going to get the hell out of here. The worst decision I ever made was sanctioning a marriage between your son and my beloved daughter. He cheated on her and broke her heart.”
He gazed at his son-in-law, whose left eye was already swollen and bruised. “You’re nothing but a damn coward. If I find out you did this to Elizabeth, I’ll kill you. I’ll put you in the earth. That’s a promise. Leave. Now. Both of you.”
When the others were alone, they burst into laughter as they took note of their bloody fists and faces.
“Damn, I love a good fight!” Bennett exclaimed. He rolled his broad shoulders and cracked his neck. Grinning at his wife, he added, “Nice kick, baby.”
“Kevin did it. He stabbed Elizabeth.” Conner’s stark announcement stunned the others into silence as their heads whipped in his direction.
“Conner, are you sure?” Bennett demanded. Lydia slipped her hand into his.
“Fairly sure, sir. I think I recognized him on the security camera footage.”
“And we let him go? I should have beaten him to within an inch of his life!”
“Warner isn’t exactly free, General. The D.A. is building a case against him, which I’m not at liberty to discuss. Trust me. Eyes are on him.”
Bennett was about to grill Conner for more information when Justin joined the small group. He looked tired but relieved.
“How’s Elizabeth?” Conner and her father asked simultaneously and glanced at each other.
Justin introduced himself to the Bennetts and shook their hands. “I’m happy to report Elizabeth did well during surgery. She lost a lot of blood, but we were able to repair the internal damage. She’ll fully recover in a few days.”
