Page 32 of Wrecked (McIntyre Security Bodyguard #16)

I introduce myself to them, and we sit together in the waiting room, all of us feeling numb. I explain to them exactly what happened.

“I’m glad the young lady is okay,” his mother says. She smiles as she tries to pretend she’s not about to start crying.

I nod. “They’re very close. It would have killed him if something had happened to her on his watch.”

Dr. Newman comes out to the waiting room to tell us the surgery went well. Both of the surgeries, really. On his skull and another on his leg. As soon as he’s out of recovery, they’ll return him to his ICU room.

“He did well,” the doctor says, trying to sound encouraging. “His vitals are strong. That’s a really good sign. Now, we just need for him to regain consciousness. That will tell us a lot about his condition.”

It’ll be a while before Sam is returned to his ICU room, so his mom and sister go to the cafeteria to get something to eat. I promise to call Michelle when he’s brought back to his room.

Lia and Jonah return to check on Sam. Lia fills me in on the details of the accident, like how she was able to apprehend the male driver of the car that hit Sam. “The accident is under investigation,” she says cryptically.

Sam returns to his room, looking pale and far too still. He hasn’t regained consciousness yet. I text Michelle to let her know.

“Can you guys stay here with Sam?” I ask Lia and Jonah. “I’ve got to check on Beth. I won’t be gone long.”

Lia gives me Beth’s room number.

When I walk into Beth’s room, Shane’s there with her. I look her over. She’s battered and pale, with cuts and abrasions on her hands and arms. “How is she?” I ask him.

“Better,” Shane says. “They’re sending her for an X-ray soon. Her wrist might be broken.”

“How’s Sam?” Beth asks. Her bloodshot eyes are wet with tears.

“He’s critical, but stable. Lia and Jonah are with him. I wanted to check on you, kiddo.”

“He saved my life, Cooper,” Beth says. “He pushed me out of the way.”

My heart swells painfully hearing her say that. Of course he did. That’s just the kind of man he is.

A nurse comes into the room. “We’re going to take her to X-ray soon, to get a look at her wrist. Honey, is there any chance you could be pregnant?”

Beth shakes her head. “No. I’m on the pill.”

Pregnant?

That thought has never before occurred to me, but now alarm bells are going off in my head.

A pregnancy would explain all the recent changes in her behavior.

Her lack of appetite in the mornings. Not feeling well.

Getting tired earlier. “Actually,” I say to the nurse, drawing everyone’s attention, “I think you’d better make sure. ”

Beth shakes her head a bit more adamantly. “I’m not pregnant. I’m on the pill, and I’m very careful to take it right on time.”

“Birth control isn’t one hundred percent foolproof, kiddo,” I say. I level a stern look on Shane. “She needs to take a pregnancy test.”

Shane nods. “Let’s be sure.”

While they sort all that out, I return to Sam’s room and take up my station at his bedside. Please wake up, baby.

Michelle and Rachel are here as well, seated on a sofa, waiting right along with me.

* * *

I’m exhausted and I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast, but I don’t want to leave his side again. Now that I know Beth is going to be fine and is in good hands, I can concentrate on Sam.

Sometime later, Lia walks into the room. She lays her hand on my shoulder. “So, you and Red, huh?” she asks quietly.

“Not many people know. Just Shane and Beth. And Sam’s family.”

Lia shrugs. “It’s cool. I won’t tell anyone.”

When Sam groans, we all turn our attention to him. His face contorts with pain, and he starts to struggle.

Michelle and Rachel rush over to the bed.

I shoot to my feet and lean over him. “I’m here, baby,” I say, gently laying my hands on his shoulders to hold him still. “I’m here.”

His eyes flutter open for the first time, and he stares at me with an unfocused gaze. He’s clearly in pain. Tears are running down his cheeks.

“Sam?” I ask. “Baby? How do you feel?”

His face screws up in agony as he glances around frantically.

“Sammy, please talk to me.” When he doesn’t respond, I start to get really nervous. “Sam, do you know who I am? Please, baby! What’s my name?”

He frowns as he stares up at me. “Danny?” His voice is little more than a croak.

Relief rushes through me. “Yeah, baby. I’m here. Try to relax.”

He winces in pain. “Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital.”

He makes a face. “God, my head hurts!”

I grasp his hand and link our fingers. “You hit your head. Do you remember anything about the accident?”

He frowns. “Accident? What accident?”

Lia comes around to the opposite side of the bed. “Someone tried to run Beth down while we were crossing the street outside of Clancy’s. You managed to push her to safety, but in the process, you got hit instead.”

He tries to move his head. “It hurts!”

“Try to lie still, please,” I beg him. “Just rest. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“Where’s Beth?” he asks, suddenly panicked. “Where is she?”

“She’s here in the hospital, but she’s okay. I promise you.”

“In the hospital? I need to see her. I need to know she’s okay.” He squeezes my hand hard. “Danny, I need to see her. Where is she?”

I glance across the bed at Lia, who nods. “I’ll go get her.”

As Lia rushes off, I try to comfort Sam. “Shh, baby.” I gently stroke his forehead. My throat knots up and tears prick my eyes.

He’s restless and agitated. “Danny, my head hurts,” he cries. “And my leg.” He flinches when he tries to move his leg. “Why does my leg hurt?”

“It’s broken, Sam. I’m so sorry.” I try to hold him still, but he’s fighting me. “Baby, please, lie still. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

I lean down and kiss the bit of Sam’s forehead that isn’t covered in bandages. “Shh,” I murmur against his skin. “It’s going to be okay.”

His shoulders shake as tears roll down his pale cheeks. “What happened? I don’t remember.”

“Sam, honey,” Michelle says as she gently touches his face. “Mom’s here. Rachel, too.”

“Mom?”

“Yes, honey. I’m here.”

I push the button to call a nurse. When she answers, I tell her Sam’s awake and that he’s in a lot of pain. She comes right in and checks his vitals. She pushes a button to administer more pain medication.

A short while later, Shane and Beth arrive at Sam’s room. Michelle and Rachel return to the waiting room. There’s a limit of two visitors at a time, and we’ve already violated that a number of times.

When Shane wheels Beth into the room, she stares at Sam, horrified by all the wires attached to him. He’s hooked up to so many monitors, and half of them are sounding alarms because Sam is agitated. His pulse rate is high. His blood pressure is high.

“Sam, look!” I say. “Here’s Beth. She’s fine, see?” I motion for Shane to wheel Beth closer.

She reaches for his hand. “Sam, it’s okay.” Her voice cracks as tears stream down her cheeks.

“Beth?” Sam looks her over. “Are you okay? I pushed you so hard, and I saw you fall. I’m so sorry.”

At least he’s starting to remember what happened. That has to be a good sign.

“Are you kidding me?” Beth says. “You saved my life, Sam.” She scans his body, looking at the bandages on his head and his leg in a full cast, from the top of his thigh to his foot. “I’m so sorry, Sam. You’re hurt because of me.”

Shane lays his hand on Sam’s shoulder. “I’m in your debt.”

When Sam tries to shake his head, he grimaces at the pain. “I was just doing my job.”

“Yeah, sure you were,” I say. He tries to downplay his actions.

The nurse returns then and chases everyone off, but me. “Sam needs rest more than anything right now.”

I step out of the room long enough to have a quiet word with Beth and Shane. “He’s going to be laid up for a while with that broken leg. I want him to stay with us, so I can take care of him.”

“Of course,” Shane says without hesitation. “He’s always welcome. You don’t need to ask.”

I return to Sam’s room, to sit at his bedside, hold his hand, and stroke his arm.

“My head hurts, Danny,” he cries quietly.

My throat tightens. I’d do anything to take this pain from him. Anything. I kiss the back of his hand. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

“My leg hurts, too.”

I stand up and gently kiss his cheek and then his lips, which are dry. “Here, drink some water.” I bring a cup to his face and angle the straw between his lips. “Just a few sips. Please, Sammy.”

My heart is shredded. I don’t know what else I can do right now to comfort him. We still don’t know the extent of the damage to his head. He’s still listed in critical condition.

When Sam finally falls asleep, I allow my own tears to fall. This beautiful young man is so kind and brave and empathetic. He deserves better from me. He deserves everything, and I’ve let him down so many times. And yet, he still wants me even when I don’t deserve him.

I cup his hand in mine and gaze at him through tear-filled eyes. “Please get better.” The alternative is unthinkable. “I love you, Sammy.” I swallow against the hard knot lodged in my throat. “I love you.”

When visiting hours are over for the day, Michelle and Rachel return to their room at the Hyatt Regency hotel not far from the hospital. They plan to stay until they know Sam’s going to be okay.

But I’m not going anywhere. I camp out in the chair beside Sam’s bed, holding his hand, comforting him when he cries.

Fortunately, no one says anything to me about staying past visiting hours.

In fact, his nurse brings me a pillow and a blanket so I’ll be more comfortable.

I fall asleep in that chair, my head on Sam’s bed, never once letting go of his hand.