Page 85 of Justified Fear

“No fucking way,” he growled.

Del held up his hands.“Listen, I get it.I do.I almost lost Emma years ago.It was a close call, so I know right now you’re blaming yourself.But you can’t.”

He shook his head.“I knew there was something off about that guy.I just thought I was being jealous.”

“You were being a protector.And none of us liked the guy, but until we got that video, we didn’t know.”

“He’s been tracking her all this time.”

He nodded.“While working his way up in the Lobos Cartel.They were the ones who were running the kidnapping scheme.The FBI is all up in our business, but they are helping out.Ray’s the head of the cartel and, apparently, he spent all those years building his control.”

“Jesus, how old is he?”

“Thirty-five.He’s had a little work done to keep himself looking younger.The FBI has been looking for him for ten years.”

“Brothers?”

Del shook his head.“Dead.Seth’s call sent him to a house where Brothers had been shot to death.Seems those two knew each other way back in high school.I bet we find out that the two of them have been in contact for years.”

Ryan shoved a hand through his hair.Just then, the doors that led back to surgery opened and a man dressed in scrubs strode out.His eyes widened.

“Keely Templeton?”

Ryan walked forward.“We’re here for her.”

He nodded.“Dr.Bradford.It was touch and go there for a while, because the bullet nicked an artery.I’m worried about the concussion, but other than that, she should be right as rain.”

“When can I see her?”

The doctor looked around at the crowd.“Are you family?”

He opened his mouth to say no, but another voice interrupted.

“He’s her fiancé,” Lulu Singh said.

“The nurse will come get you as soon as she is settled in ICU.”

He drew in a deep breath.

“Aunty, you could get in trouble for that,” Adam Lee said.

The small Asian woman smiled.“Please, like they can hang anything on me.”

She walked to him.“The family is on their way over.”

“The family?”

“Father, mother, couple of brothers.One of them is staying behind to keep an eye on her tutu.”

He sighed and nodded.

“Do not tell me you’re going to be a typical man and blame yourself?”

“I should have known.”

“Get over the guilt because she is going to need you.She is strong, but all of this pain because of some man’s obsession is going to hurt her tender heart.Take care of it.”

A few minutes later, the nurse led him back to her room.The machines beeped, and she looked so still.So pale.