Page 94 of Fatal Intent

At the three-hour mark, Iona arrived to pace with her. “Where’s Elias?” Rayne asked.

“Standing watch outside Mr. Bowen’s operating room. Elias can handle guard duty by himself for a few minutes while I check on you.”

“I’m fine.” She wasn’t anywhere close to fine.

“Uh huh.” Iona sounded skeptical. “Take five. That’s an order. I’ve got the watch.”

Rayne protested, then realized the futility of it. Her team leader kept close watch on her team and she’d figured out Rayne was at the end of her tolerance for waiting patiently. She held up both hands in surrender. “Five minutes.”

Rayne looked for a vending machine and was in luck. Three vending machines were around the corner in an alcove. After purchasing a soft drink and peanut butter and crackers, she returned to Iona. “Thanks for the break.”

“Do you need more time?”

She shook her head. “I’ll be all right now.”

“If you’re not, I better hear from you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

After Iona left, Rayne sipped her drink and wolfed down her snack. Even though the Bowen kids ate dinner, the operatives hadn’t.

Thirty minutes later, the surgeon opened the suite door and said, “Rayne?”

“Yes, sir.”

“We’re finished. Mr. Bowen did well. His vitals are stable now and he should recover fully.”

“The surgery took longer than the ER doctor said it would.”

“The bullet nicked his liver. That’s why he lost so much blood. We’ve repaired the damage so he should be fine.”

“When can I see him?”

“He’s on his way to recovery right now. A nurse will come for you in a few minutes and take you to him. He’ll take a while throwing off the effects of anesthesia. Don’t expect him to carry on a deep conversation and make sense or to remember anything you say.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

“Sure. I’ll talk to you in a few minutes when I check on him.”

Rayne resumed her pacing until a nurse arrived to walk with her to the recovery room.

“Rayne? Come with me, please.” The nurse updated Rayne as they walked. “He’ll be groggy because he was under anesthesia for so long.” The nurse led Rayne around a corner and through a set of double doors into the recovery room.

Grant was in a cubicle in the left corner of the long, large room. At the other end of the room in the right corner, Iona and Elias stood watch outside the curtained off area where Grant’s father lay.

The nurse drew back the curtain and motioned for Rayne to go inside Grant’s area. “I’ll check on you both in a few minutes.”

Rayne set a chair alongside Grant’s bed and threaded her fingers through his. Considering he’d just gone through major surgery, Grant looked good. Of course, being in top physical shape helped him tolerate surgery and hopefully recover faster.

Minutes later, Grant’s breathing pattern changed. Rayne stood and leaned close to him. “Grant, you’re in the recovery room. You’re safe. I have your back.”

He groaned. Seconds later, Grant opened his eyes to mere slits. “Rayne,” he whispered.

She smiled, her vision blurry from unshed tears. “Welcome back, handsome.”

“You okay?”

Of course Grant would worry about her when he was the one who took a bullet. “I’m fine. You’re the one who was shot, remember?”