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Russell looked at Naomie. “Mass General,” she replied immediately.
“Rich? Mass General is where the team Naomie has arranged will be."
"Then I'll make it happen. Shall I arrange ground transportation?”
"Can you?"
"I can and I will."
Thank you, Rich. I owe you."
"Like hell, he's family. And he's a hero, Russ. He and the man who saved him, Gunner Hale. You owe Hale a debt of gratitude. If it weren’t for him, Riggs wouldn't have made it."
"He'll have more than my gratitude. Thank you again."
"Glad I could help. I love you, brother."
"Same here."
Russell ended the call. "Okay, can you call your people again? We need to leave this evening, so we're there waiting when he arrives."
"I'm on it,” she hugged him and started for the door, then paused and looked at him. "You're okay, right?"
"I am. Or will be. Thank you, Naomie. You seem to make a habit out of saving my family."
"Our family," she corrected. "At least it will be six months from now when we say I do."
"You think he'll walk by then?"
"He will."
"Then go do your thing and get packed."
"On it!” She gave him a smile and headed upstairs where she'd left her phone. It wasn't until she was behind the closed bedroom door that she allowed the tears to come. Riggs wasn't just Russell's son, he was someone special to her, more than a friend. He was a man she could count on no matter what, a man she had a singular love for that she felt for no one else. She had to make sure he was healed.
And that's exactly what she was going to do.
Chapter Two
Russell felt an unaccustomed rush of panic. Until now, he'd not considered the grief seeing Riggs in a hospital bed would bring. He stopped outside the door to Riggs' hospital room to steel himself. The last thing Riggs needed was a father who fell apart after one look at him. Naomie squeezed his hand. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." His voice didn't convey certainty, and that angered him. His son needed him to be strong. The second time he spoke, he looked directly at her and spoke with conviction. "Yes. I am.”
"Then let's go in and see him."
He nodded and opened the door, waiting for her to enter. Naomie walked in and stopped. When Russell entered and looked across the room, it seemed like something suddenly took up residence in his throat, making it hard to swallow.
Dear Lord.He hadn't envisioned this. Not Riggs. He'd expected his son to be less than his robust self, but this? Riggs lay in that hospital bed unmoving. Russell couldn't help but notice the pallor of his skin, the IV bags, and the monitors beside the bed – it all made him want to roar in anger and grief for what Riggs had suffered and might lose.
The man sitting beside the bed turned and saw them. "Mr. Walker, sir," he rose and stepped over to offer Russell his hand.
"Gunner," Russell clasped his hand. "Thank you for bringing my boy home."
"He's family, sir."
"As you are to us, son," Russell replied, then released Gunner's hand and gestured to Naomie. "Gunner, this is my fiancé, Naomie Taylor."
Gunner smiled and offered his hand. "Riggs talks a lot about you, Dr. Taylor."