Page 107

“It’s Mrs. Patton now,” Brett said.

The name tugged Thea’s lips into a smile, despite the pain in her chest. The excitement of the quick wedding yesterday hadn’t left yet. Now that this was over, they had so much to celebrate.

The man looked up at Brett with a grin. “Congratulations. I’m glad to hear it. I hope this wasn’t your wedding present.”

“How… How did you know my name?” Thea asked, nearly breathless.

“Unfortunately, I saw you in a similar condition a few weeks ago.”

Brett squeezed her hand. “Thea, this is Matt. He took good care of you before. I’m sure he’ll do it again.”

Matt slipped on his gloves and said over his shoulder, “We need the longboard.”

“I was wearing my seatbelt. In the car.”

“Tell me about the wreck,” Matt said as he gently prodded around the wound on her head.

“A truck drifted into our lane, and Hadley swerved to miss it. We ended up in the ditch.”

“So your vehicle was the only one involved?” Matt asked.

“Yes.” The more she talked and calmed down, the easier it was to breathe. Hopefully, that was a good sign. Maybe her broken ribs had just been aggravated. At least she could breathe.

Brett stood from where he’d been crouched beside her, and she looked up at him. His attention was drawn to the open bay of the building.

Gage stepped out flanked by two police officers and two SWAT officers. His hands were cuffed together behind his back.

“What’s happening? What are they doing?” The panic was back, stronger than ever.

Brett rubbed a hand up and down her arm, failing to rein in her fear. “I don’t know. He shot Cain,” Brett whispered.

Everything that had happened today jumbled together in her mind. Gagehadshot Cain. She hadn’t forgotten. The gunfire had drawn a terrified scream from her, and while she’d seen Cain writhing on the floor, she’d been too worried about Brett, Gage, Linc, and Emerson to pay him any more attention.

“Is he—”

“He’s alive,” Brett said.

Thea reached for Brett’s shirt and gripped it hard. Gage had defended her. Cain would have shot first if given the chance. “But what are they doing?”

Gage’s chin lifted, and their eyes met. If he was afraid of being escorted out in handcuffs, he didn’t show it.

No. He’d protected her. He’d defended himself.

He couldn’t take the fall for this. It wasn’t his fault. He hadn’t intended to hurt anyone.

“Thea!”

She turned at the call. Hadley ran over the gravel lot with Ridge and Cheyenne close behind her. She had a bandage covering the upper part of her left arm.

A police officer stopped Hadley, but she pointed and shouted, “That’s my friend!”

The officer lowered his arm, and Hadley darted past him. Locking eyes with Thea, she dodged a paramedic and kept running.

“Thea! Are you okay?” Dark makeup streaked down her cheeks, and the bandage on the side of her forehead had a small spot where the blood had soaked through.

“I’m okay. Are you okay?” Thea asked as she reached for her friend.

“I’m fine. Just a bump on the head and a scratch on my arm. Where is Gage? Is he okay?”