Page 111 of Resist

“So you’re sure there’s no permanent damage?” Sandra asked, squeezing her son’s hand. She looked to me for answers.

“Yes.” I stood up and walked to the side of Lucas’s bed. “That chest tube is drainingthe build-up of fluid and air in his lungs caused by the bullet perforation. It’s helping them expand as they should. Other than that and the obvious skin, fatty tissue, and muscle damage, he’s very lucky to have come through this relatively unscathed.”

“I wouldn’t say unscathed,” she said, her tone angry.

“Muuum—”

“It’s okay, Lucas.” I touched his hand.

Her anger was perfectly warranted; after all, this was all my fault.

“I’m sorry, Sandra. I didn’t mean to say it like that.”

Her eyes softened, but only for a second. “Why was your ex-husband there with a gun anyway? Why wasn’t he in jail?”

“He was there to kill me,” Jason said, interrupting, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.

I walked back to where my son was seated on the windowsill and touched his head, the purple of a bruise at his hairline. “This isn’t your fault.”

“Lucas wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me.”

“NO!” Lucas tried to sit but coughed. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Colin.”

“And where is he now?” Sandra asked.

“In custody. The police caught him fleeing my property as they arrived at the scene.”

“Good.” Sandra turned back to Lucas, but his eyes were now closed. “Luc—”

“It’s okay.” I let go of Jason and stepped up to Lucas’s side once again. “It’s normal for him to drift in and out of consciousness until the anaesthesia wears off.”

“And when will that be?”

“The doctor said in a couple of days.”

“Right.”

“In the meantime, I’ve arranged for you all to stay at a friend’s hotel complex in the city. You’re of course welcome to stay at my house, but considering what happened there—”

“Thank you, Helena, the hotel will be fine,” Fred said.

I nodded.

“When you’re ready, I have a driver downstairs that will take you all to City Towers. Just ask for Lexi when you arrive. She’ll look after you.”

“Come on, Mum.” Bec held out her hand to Sandra. “We should let Lucas rest.”

Sandra stood up and kissed Lucas’s forehead. “If anything changes, Helen—”

“You’ll be the first to know, I promise.” I gave her a hug, although I didn’t feel it was overly welcome. “Oliver is waiting out front. He’ll take you wherever you need to go while you’re here.”

She pulled away and gave my arms a light squeeze. “Thank you.” She lightly touched the bandage over my eye that a nurse had applied after a quick consultation. “And I’m sorry this happened to you and your son.” She glanced at Jason sympathetically before they all left the room.

Slumping down on the seat next to the bed, I laid my head next to Lucas’s thigh. “That didn’t go too well.”

“Sure it did,” Lucas murmured.

My head shot up. “You’re still awake?”