Page 31 of Justified Fear (TFH Team Bravo #2)

Seventeen

T hey were once again at the hospital, Tripler to be exact. Queens had a major call out for a multiple car accident, so they had rushed Keely to the army hospital.

Ryan was pacing the hallway outside of the operating room. He’d called Lulu Singh, and she said she would take care of the family. Still, it had been hours of waiting. Maya sat patiently watching his every move. He now knew that Keely had put herself at risk to make sure Maya didn’t get shot.

I think I might love you.

He didn’t get to tell her that he already knew he loved her. When they loaded her up in the ambulance, he’d insisted on going too. She hadn’t regained consciousness by the time they rolled her back into surgery. That had his fear spiraling, but her vitals had been strong.

He should have never left her alone. This was his fault, from beginning to end. How did he not see that Ray was a threat?

“You’re making my head hurt, Morrison,” Del said.

Ryan slanted a look at his commander.

“I get it.”

He had spent a little time with the top guy at TFH. Ryan had a lot of respect for him, but he did not want to deal with Del right now. He wanted to see Keely. Once he saw her, he would be fine.

“Listen, you need to control your freak out. She’s going to be fine, and everything will turn out okay.”

Another ding and the elevator revealed more TFH members. When one of them was hurt, they all showed up. Add in the multitude of Dillon Security, and it was getting damned crowded.

“I want to know how he got a gun in there.”

“A cop. We found the guy knocked out in one of the lobby offices.”

“Jesus.”

“You know he’s probably going to get off for insanity because he is still talking about marrying Keely.”

“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.

“She’s fine,” the nurse said. “She’s resting, and that’s what is most important. I’m sorry your dog couldn’t come back.”

“She’s my partner. And Keely saved her life.”

“Oh, well, as soon as she gets into a regular room, you can let her see Ms. Templeton. Do you need anything?”

“No. I have everything I need right here,” he said, as he took a seat and slipped his hand into hers.

Keely woke up to beeping noises. Not irritating noises, but just repetitive. She blinked her eyes open and looked around. It was white everywhere, but soft, as if the lights had been turned down.

She tried to move her hand, but something had hold of it. Turning her head, she found Ryan holding her hand.

“Keely,” he said, his voice hoarse.

The events of the day came rushing back to her, as the machines beeped around her.

“Everything is okay. You’re safe, baby.”

“Is Maya okay?”

He smiled. “Yes. Didn’t even get a scratch on her. She was none too happy that she wasn’t allowed back to ICU, but they told me she can come see you once you’re in your room.”

The door opened and a nurse came striding in. “You’re awake. Good. That means you can head to your room soon. The hospital is getting irritated with the massive amount of people waiting to check on you.”

“People?”

“Task Force Hawaii and Dillon Security are here,” Ryan said.

“Not that I’m complaining. There is a Brit with that Dillon group, and his accent is to die for. Anyway, I’ll let Dr. Bradford know you are awake.”

Then she headed out, leaving them alone.

“You have another concussion.”

“Is that why everything is fuzzy?”

“Well, you lost a bit of blood, so I bet that is the main reason. Do you remember anything?”

“Ray. He was the security guard from the kidnapping incident.”

He nodded. “He actually worked for the kidnappers, but he kind of fell for you.”

“What? Weird.”

He chuckled. “I understand the feeling.”

“Oh, so you would obsess about me for a decade and a half, kill a bunch of people, and try to abduct me?”

“No. But I do understand falling for you.” He raised their joined hands, so he could kiss her fingers. “Do you remember what you said to me before you passed out?”

She started to shake her head, but pain speared through her brain. “Oh, damn , that hurt.”

He cocked his head. “You said you might be falling in love with me.”

Oh, shit, she had. “I have a concussion.”

“So you don’t love me?”

“It’s not that.”

“I hope not, since I know I love you.”

Her heart seemed to stop, but she knew it was still working since the monitors kept beeping. “You don’t have to say that.”

“Why do you think I’m saying it?”

“I know that sometimes people feel they have to reciprocate when someone professes their love.”

“Really? I’ve never felt like saying it before. Not to a woman.”

He was being difficult. She wanted this more than anything in the world at the moment, but she knew better than to believe his comment.

“Listen, I get that you got scared that I was hurt.”

“When I heard the gunshot, my world almost ended.”

He was watching her, his gaze steady on hers. She felt the backs of her eyes burn and when she blinked, tears rolled down her face.

“Don’t cry, baby.”

“I know you’re trying to be nice to me, but I can handle that you might not feel the same way. What I can’t handle is lies.”

“Not lying.” He kissed her knuckles again. The sweet gesture had her heart turning over. “Ask me why I love you. Go ahead.”

“Tell me why you think you love me.”

“I don’t think. I know. It’s because you are kind and sweet, but you don’t take shit off anyone.

At least not for too long. You put other people first, and you have a good heart.

And I knew how I felt before you were shot.

Or I was beginning to. I just hadn’t had time to wrap my head around it.

Then…you put yourself in front of Maya. How could I not love someone with such a brave, beautiful soul? ”

In that instant, she realized that he was telling the truth. He hadn’t looked away or tried for flowery words. He just told her exactly how he felt.

“Do you believe me now?”

She nodded.

“Can you quit crying? It’s breaking my heart, baby.”

He stood to lean over to kiss her.

“That’s enough of that,” a male voice said from behind Ryan.

Ryan pulled away with a smile, but he kept hold of her hand. The man standing at the foot of her bed was wearing scrubs. He looked like he was in his forties.

“Well, it’s nice to see you’re awake, but I agree with your man there. You need to stop the crying.” He eyed Ryan. “Did you do something to upset her?”

“Happy tears, doctor. He told me he loved me.”

“Well, that’s great. Seeing how he refused to let you out of his sight until he got here, I would say that he’s telling the truth. I need to examine Ms. Templeton.”

The nurse slipped into the room. Ryan kissed her knuckles again. “I’ll go tell everyone you’re good.”

“Okay.”

Then he left the room.

“Let’s check you out and then maybe we can get you into a room soon,” the doctor said.

It took a few hours to get to her room. There was a lot of rearranging because, apparently, she had too many people waiting for her. Keely smiled at Aunty Lulu.

“This is something I would expect out of your brothers,” she said. The woman had been complaining to her for what seemed like hours. She glanced at the clock. It had only been fifteen minutes.

“And another thing, all those police make me nervous.”

“You better get used to them.”

Lulu frowned, then looked at Maya. Maya had been allowed in her room when she’d been moved. She had yet to leave.

“I take it you’re keeping Blondie.”

She chuckled. “Yeah. I am.”

Lulu harrumphed, but Keely could tell she was pleased.

“I have to go to the airport.”

The switch in topics almost left Keely dizzy. “Wait, what?”