Page 28 of Cursed Fox (Willow Creek Security #4)

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Lex

The trip to the hospital was agonizingly slow. As Nancy's daughter, Jessie, was able to ride in the back of the ambulance while I was stuck driving my Jeep. I tried to follow right behind the ambulance, but was cut off at an intersection and hit every red light after that.

By the time I got to the hospital, I parked my Jeep illegally in the drop-off area and raced inside. Jessie met me just inside the doors and it was then I noticed the blood on her hands.

Nancy's blood.

My legs gave out and I fell to my knees right there in the reception area, tears pouring down my face.

Jessie knelt down next to me and put her arms around my shoulders. "The bullet hit her femoral artery. They've taken her into surgery."

My chin hit my chest as the tears continued to flow. I didn't care to stop them. Things were bad. Really bad. The only hope was that we had done enough before she got to the hospital to give Nancy a fighting chance.

A nurse ushered us out of the lobby and into a waiting room where two other families huddled together and waited for news of their own loved ones.

"I need to call your brother and my team," I told Jessie when I finally found my voice.

"Let me talk to Jimmy and explain what's going on."

I nodded, handing over my phone, secretly glad she was taking that responsibility off my plate. And rightfully so. Jimmy was going to be mad I hadn't kept his mother safe. Wes was also right to question me after what just happened.

I listened as Jessie explained the situation to her brother.

I tried my best not to listen to how he reacted, but it was hard not to hear the loud wail as Jessie had to pull the phone away from her ear.

I thought I felt bad before, but it was nothing compared to the guilt that tore through me at hearing that sound.

When she finally got off the phone, I called Wes.

He answered on the first ring. "Tell me you got the bastard?"

Nolen was keeping him apprised of the situation, so Wes knew when we got the call from Thomas.

"I did but . . ."

The words were stuck in my throat.

"But what?" Wes hissed. "Spit it out, Lex."

"Nancy was shot in the process." The words were like glass in my throat. I could feel them shredding me from the inside out.

"Jesus fucking Christ. How bad? Tell me she's alive, Lex. Tell me she's not dead."

"The bullet nicked her femoral artery. She's in surgery now."

Wes cursed again. "Tell me which hospital she's in and I'll be there soon."

I rattled off the information and was about to hang up when Wes called my name.

"Yeah?"

"This isn't your fault. You're not cursed. Do you hear me? I was wrong for what I said. This isn't your fault and I know you did everything you could to take care of her."

I hung up without saying a word. The truth was I wasn't sure I believed what he had to say. I was cursed. Those I cared about always got hurt. Nancy was yet another person to be affected by it, but I was selfish enough not to want to give her up.

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Several hours later, the doctor finally came out to let Jessie know that Nancy was out of surgery but currently in ICU. She had lost a lot of blood and would need some time for her body to heal.

Wes and my teammates had shown up pretty quickly. Apparently Wes had several pilots in his employment who were more than happy to get him and my team here. Shortly after that, the men and women from Wes's employment also showed up. The waiting room was full of people who cared deeply for Nancy.

The only people we were waiting on were Jimmy and Nolen, who were forced to drive down.

I knew the moment Jimmy hobbled in on his crutches that things were about to get worse.

"You!" He headed straight for me. "You were supposed to keep her safe. Does this look like she's safe?" Jimmy yelled.

I flinched at his accusation knowing full well he was right.

Wes stepped in to defend me. "Back off, Jimmy. This wasn't Lex's fault."

"It's both of your faults," Jimmy continued to holler, turning on Wes. "You were supposed to protect her too. Where were you while my mother was getting shot, huh? Not protecting her like you always said you would."

"You know damn well where I was, Jimmy. I was with my family. They needed me."

"What about us?" Jimmy tapped on his chest. "We were supposed to be your family, too. But the one time my mother needs you, you're nowhere to be found."

"Jimmy, stop." Jessie pushed her way through the crowd of men and got in her brother's face.

Well, as close as she could to it considering she was nearly a foot shorter than him.

"No, I won't stop. Mom always told us we could depend on Wes, but look where that got us. Then there's this guy." He pointed to me. "Promised to keep Mom safe."

"I'm sorry." It was the best I could offer, because I knew he was right.

"No. Don't you dare apologize." Jessie looked at me and then back to her brother.

"Our father shot Mom. He had the gun trained on Lex and then at the last second swung it toward Mom and just fired.

No warning. No time for Lex to do anything.

This wasn't Lex's fault. He did everything he could to keep her safe. "

I watched the fight leave Jimmy's body. He physically sunk further down on his crutches. If it weren't for them, I was sure he would’ve fallen to his knees. Just like I did earlier.

"This wasn't supposed to happen." A tear slid down Jimmy's cheek. "If I had just quit the team like he asked, this never would've happened."

"You don't know that." Maverick stepped up and spoke. "There's no guarantee your father would've accepted that. He didn't just want to ruin your life, but your mother’s as well."

"He wanted to kill her in front of me," Jessie cried. "That was what he told her on the phone before she showed up. I don't think you quitting would've done any good."

"It's no one's fault but Thomas's," Falcon boomed. "May he rot in hell."

Everyone in the room nodded at the man. Even Jimmy seemed to bolster from the statement. Neither Jessie nor Jimmy appeared bothered by the fact that Falcon just said their father should rot in hell.

Silence fell throughout the room. We were all waiting for news that we could go back and see Nancy. It wasn't coming fast enough. I was starting to get antsy when everyone's attention suddenly shifted over to the door.

"Lex Holland." A nurse in blue scrubs called my name.

"That's me." I pushed my way through the crowd until I was standing in front of her.

"Nancy's asking to see you."