If the Dark Wins (Finley Creek Book 4) Read online

  Lanning went over the side. His scream was one Travis would never forget.

  Travis didn’t give a damn.

  There was so much blood. And it was hers. “Rafe, do something!”

  Rafe helped him lower her to the concrete and he ripped her tee shirt out of the way. His brother’s curse told him everything.

  Someone else was there, and she thrust her own shirt into Rafe’s hands. Travis looked at Lacy’s best friend and saw his own wild fear reflected back at him.

  Rafe took the flannel and balled it up. He pressed it against the front of Lacy’s chest.

  She didn’t so much as move.

  Jillian reached for her neck, checking her pulse quickly. “We need to get her downstairs quickly.”

  “Patel and Jacobson are open now.”

  “Then let’s get her there,” Jillian yelled over the sounds of approaching sirens.

  Rafe lifted her. “Trav, get the doors. Make sure we have a clear path. Beck, can you keep the pressure on the entry as I walk?”

  “Yes. Is there an exit?”

  “No. I think it’s still in there.”

  “Then let’s move.”

  93

  Jillian Beck must have called in her version of the troops. Just as Rafe had called in his. Marc was on his way. Most of the Becks were close enough that they returned to the hospital within minutes of Rafe carrying Lacy into the surgery ward.

  Patel and Jacobson had jumped into action. The entire hospital had known what was happening, the TSP had arrived just as Lacy was being prepped for surgery. Rafe tried to reassure himself that Patel and Jacobson, especially, were some of the best trauma surgeons he’d ever seen.

  Lacy McGareth would be all right. She’d had immediate medical care, after all. He’d seen many recover from wounds just as grievous, with far less medical care than she’d receive here at the best hospital in the state.

  But that didn’t help him erase the look of terror and panic in his younger brother’s eyes.

  He’d sat by one brother when he’d lost the woman he’d loved. He’d never forget the devastation Marc had faced.

  Was he about to go through that with Travis?

  He kept by his brother, one hand on Travis’ shoulder, just letting him know he was there.

  He hadn’t realized they’d loved each other so deeply. He’d thought it was Travis being Travis, chasing after yet another pretty woman until he got her. Thought McGareth was just as casual as his brother. Neither had even hinted it was more than that...

  But this...they’d both been willing to die for each other. Without hesitation.

  Someone leaned down next to Travis and Rafe looked at her.

  Jillian.

  Her pale cheeks were streaked with tears. Her best friend’s blood was gone; she’d changed into a pair of sunny yellow scrubs that had frolicking kittens on them and washed her hands. “Trav... let’s take a look at your arm, ok? Get you bandaged up.”

  Rafe cursed.

  He’d forgotten his brother had been shot, hadn’t he? “Damn it, Trav. I’m sorry. I...”

  “Let’s just get him into a room, Dr. Holden-Deane. We’ll take care of him and get him back with the family as fast as possible.” She had Travis by the hand and was pulling him. His brother followed her meekly.

  Hell, so did Rafe.

  She was calm and steady, as she cleaned the wound and handed Rafe the tools he’d need to suture the hole in his own brother’s arm. They worked almost silently.

  Rafe knew his brother wasn’t really there with them. Everything Travis had was in that room a hundred yards away.

  “I should have--” Travis said, looking at the woman in between him and Rafe.

  “No; one thing I have learned recently. Things just happen. We can’t predict the future or control anything. Anything. We’ll never know why Dr. Lanning did what he did. Why he felt why he did. Maybe...maybe it has to do with what happened between them before. If that’s the case...she never would have been hurt now or then if it wasn’t for her connection to me, to my family. There are so many what-ifs, Travis.” Jillian covered the wound with a bandage. Rafe just kept silent. “To focus on them will drive you crazy. My sister Mel has a saying, Fear robs you of the future. She’s right in that. But also that should haves never change the past and you can’t let the darkness win. Wise woman is my sister Mel. I’m going to be like her when I grow up.”

  He didn’t have the words for his own brother. But apparently, she did.

  “She...she’s in there alone.”

  “No. She’s not. One thing Lacy struggles with is her place in the world. Understandable, and we both know that. But the team back there--Virat, Allen, Wanda and the rest--they are her friends. They care and they will do everything they can to see she comes back to us. Her family. Lacy’s made herself a place in my family, and now yours. She’ll never be alone ever again.” Jillian hugged Travis quickly.

  She looked so damned small next to his brother. That sonofabitch Lanning had shot at her, too. It could have been her back there in surgery. Yet she was calmly fixing up his brother.

  Woman had a backbone of pure steel.

  “Come on, Travis. Come sit with the rest of the people who love Lacy. We’re her family, in so many ways. Be with us while we wait. Who knows, we may even make room for him. If he behaves himself.”

  “He’s reasonably house-broken. Most of the time. Marc trained him well.”

  “I’m sure he did. Come on...I’m sure Elliot and Gabby are here by now, too.”

  She led Travis out just as firmly as she had led him in. Once again, Rafe followed her and Travis without a word.

  94

  Virat removed his gloves as the team of surgical nurses finished with Lacy and prepped her for the recovery room. He stepped closer to the table where his friend lay so still. While he’d been operating she’d had to remain only the patient. He’d pushed aside images of her laughing at him, calling him a butthead, and dancing around the cafeteria in his arms.

  Her spirit and fire had long pulled at him. Thrilled him. But now she was so still. Why? How were they ever to understand what had made Logan Lanning snap the way he had?

  Lacy hadn’t deserved this.

  He touched her naked shoulder lightly, just needing to reassure himself that she was still alive. He looked at the monitors next to the bed. They were where they were supposed to be. Right where they were supposed to be.

  “She’s a fighter, Vir,” Wanda said. “Don’t forget that.”

  “Yes. But she shouldn’t have to be. Let me know when she’s ready to be moved. I want to go with her. Take her down myself.”

  “Of course.” The older woman patted him on the back. “You going to go tell the family? That rancher of hers?”

  “She loves him. And I think he’s good for her.” And would be, if Lacy pulled through. Travis Worthington-Deane adored her. Everyone had seen that tonight.

  “You’re a real romantic, Dr. Patel. The woman who gets you will be a lucky one.”

  “Ah, but Wanda, Janine already has the woman I want. She’s the lucky one.” Virat’s attention wasn’t fully on what he was saying, but on the woman he’d long admitted he loved, too. It wasn’t like what she shared with Worthington-Deane, but it was enough to remind him that Lacy McGareth mattered to him too.

  “Yes, she is. I’ll tell her you said that.”

  “Do that. Maybe she’ll make me some of those little cookies again. Your wife likes me.” All joking aside, it was time. He always hated this part, especially when the prognosis wasn’t good. He reminded himself that Lacy’s was better than he had expected at first. When Holden-Deane had carried her into the surgical ward…Virat would never forget that sight.

  He pulled his composure and professionalism around himself and straightened. It was time.

  Being the bearer of bad tidings was never a fun thing to do.

  He waited until they were ready to move her. He stayed next to the gurney, helping guide it down t
he hall. Everyone they went by stopped moving for a long moment and nodded at him, looked at her. The world at FCGH just stopped for that moment.

  The silence was a sign of deep respect. For her.

  She was one of the real hearts of the hospital; did she realize that?

  95

  Rafe was prowling around the room, and around the hospital itself. Travis was barely aware of his brother. His other brother was on his left side with one hand on his shoulder. Marcus squeezed gently, letting Travis know that he wasn't alone.

  Just like he and Rafe hadn't left Marcus alone, the night they lost Carissa. Travis looked at his older brother, into eyes as green as his own. "I can't lose her. I just found her. She was right there, almost as if she was just put there. Right where she was supposed to be. For me to find. I mean, hell; if I'd made it to Elliot’s wedding, I would've met her then. I would've met her at that damned dinner at Barratt’s. So many ways I could have met her. What does that mean, tell me?"

  "It means it was meant to be. Obstacles or not. You found her. Now you decide what you're going to do next, little brother. I know what I would do."

  "Would you marry again? If you found another woman that you loved. Just like you loved Carissa."

  "I could never love another woman the exact same way that I loved Carissa. It just wouldn't happen. But do I think I could love another? Well, I'm not sure. I'm not sure that I'm even ready to. Will the time ever come? I don't know. Do I want to spend the rest of my life alone? I don't know if I want to do that, either. I haven't really let myself think these past four years. I do know that I wouldn't trade a single day that we had together for anything else in this world. That I cherish each and every minute I had her with me. Do you know what I mean?"

  "Yes. I do." He knew he loved her. But the depth, he had never understood the depth of love before. Not like this. Was this what it had been like for Marcus? To love this deeply, and then to sit there in the damned waiting room not knowing if he'd ever see her alive again? Carissa hadn’t died right away. There'd been brain damage but she’d been on life support. She’d never even seen her son. Marcus had had to make the decision to end life support. He'd made that decision himself.

  Travis didn't know if he would ever be able to make that decision. But his brother had. Just exactly how strong his brother had been sank in again.

  Marcus had gotten through, but he was alone. Except for his kids and his brothers. Marcus was loved.

  Just like Rafe was loved. And Travis. They might not be overly close to their mother, but they loved one another. They were brothers. They were family. And he wanted to share that with Lacy. Give her a family of her own, too. Have a future with her. If Logan Lanning hadn't taken that from them. He looked at his brother again. “I don't know if I can survive losing her."

  Marcus looked at him, his own wild grief there in his eyes. "I know."

  Travis stood, and prowled around the waiting room, opposite of his brother. Jillian sat on the edge of the waiting room couch, her arm around Ari. Both were crying quietly. The rest of the Becks had arrived long ago. Travis wasn't really aware of when it had been. He just knew they were there. Even Brynna had been wheeled downstairs, her baby clutched in her arms. To wait.

  Like the family they were.

  Travis sucked in a deep breath. He was going to keep himself together, no matter what he had to do. No matter what he had to do.

  96

  He found Lacy’s family in the waiting room, as well as half of the hospital staff, it seemed. Those who cared about the young woman who’d touched so many of their hearts. Fin Coulter was buzzing around like she always did, so quickly Virat felt sick just watching her for a short moment, making sure the family had everything they needed.

  Virat looked for Lacy’s rancher. He was between his brothers, a dazed look on his face. One Virat had seen far too many times on loved ones faces. Jillian Beck, that beautiful little thing with the hair of fire, stood. Came toward him. “Virat?”

  He held out a hand to her. She took it in both of hers. Virat looked over the crowd. “Our Lacy came through the surgery and we removed the bullet. I won’t lie, it did some damage. The region around her heart was lacerated significantly because of the angle of entry. Her collar bone was shattered, probably from impact. She lost a significant amount of blood. To be honest, if she had been anywhere but here when this happened she wouldn’t have made it to surgery. We have repaired the damage as much as we were able. The rest is up to her. She will be in ICU for a while, but I am cautiously optimistic that she will make a full recovery. It is going to take her quite a while to feeling up to dancing around any ballrooms, though, so I am counting on all of you to make her behave.” His voice broke at the last. He just hoped no one else caught it.

  Lacy McGareth was his closest friend in Finley Creek, after all.

  And he had almost lost her, just like the family surrounding him now.

  The rancher looked up at him. “She’s going to be ok?”

  Virat hesitated. This man loved her, truly loved her. The way it should be. “I won’t lie; she’s going to be very sore and very weak--which we all know will drive her insane--but she should make a full recovery. Wanda and Cherise have her in Recovery now. We’re going to keep her sedated for a while, possibly three or four days; I don’t want her moving too much until some of the healing process begins. And we all know she’ll push every boundary we give her if she can. I will have Cherise let you know when someone can go back and see her. But yes, she should be just fine.”

  Virat left them there and headed back to his office. Where he lay his head down on the desk and let the emotions flow.

  97

  She became aware of sound first. Then smell. Then the early morning sun shining in the window. Of course, the hospital was a familiar smell, so she knew where she was almost immediately. Had she fallen asleep in the lounge again? She’d done that a few million times before.

  But never with her chest on fire and her whole body aching.

  Something wasn’t right.

  Lacy forced her eyes to open. The dark was not going to win. Only way she was going to get the answers she needed was if she opened her eyes and did it.

  Fluorescent lights turned down low were the first thing she saw. She tried to turn her head, but it was difficult.

  They’d sedated her, hadn’t they?

  Why?

  She shifted as much as she was able, then gasped. Her entire chest felt like someone had taken fire to it. And her shoulder...damn.

  A shadow leaned over her and she tried not to flinch away. She didn’t manage. But she did recognize the man leaning over her. After a moment.

  “Lacy? Sweetheart?” Holden-Deane said her name softly. She felt a huge hand cover her free one. Her other one was taped down, an IV in it. And something else, something heavy... “Blink once if you can hear me.”

  Lacy blinked. She opened her mouth to talk, but it took a moment for something to come out. “Trav?”

  “Marc took him home for a shower. He’ll be back shortly.”

  “What day? Jilly?”

  “You’ve been under for three days. We kept you sedated to prevent reopening the wounds. Jillian finally went home last evening. She’ll be here shortly, I believe.”

  It was starting to come back to her.

  “Lanning?”

  “He’s dead.”

  “Not hurt anyone again.” Lacy closed her eyes as relief filled her. They were safe now. “Want...Trav.”

  “He’ll be back here soon. You just rest...I’ll stay right here until he gets here. I promise.” His hand closed around hers. She was too weak to squeeze back. But it mattered that she hadn’t woken alone.

  Lacy drifted back under the darkness.

  98

  Rafe was reading a file when Travis made it back. He had to admit, the shower had made him feel almost human again. Almost.

  Marcus had made him eat, too. "How is she?"

  "Same. Only she woke a while
ago. Asked where you were. Understood what happened. That’s a really good sign."

  Travis fought back the guilt. He shouldn't have left her. He should've stayed right there until she woke, until she knew he was there with her. "I —"

  "You needed a break. A shower. So I stepped in. It’s what brothers do, Travis." Rafe stood, put the magazine on the small cabinet next to the bed. He checked the monitors quietly.

  Travis approached the bed. He looked down at her. "She’s not as pale as she was."

  "No, she’s not. She’s got a ways to go still, but she will recover. It’s not like Carissa, Travis. Lacy’s going to be fine. You're not going to lose her. I won't let you."

  "He’s right, you know." Her voice startled both men. Travis jumped slightly. And then he moved closer. Looked down at her.

  "Honey?" He leaned closer still, half afraid to touch her.

  "Travis. I love you. Just wanted to say it." Drug hazed green eyes stared up at him. Just for a moment. And then she blinked. "So you know. Love you. We'll figure everything else out later. Just wanted you to know."

  He brushed a kiss over her forehead. "We sure will, honey. I'm not ever leaving you alone again. You'll always have me. I promise."

  "I'm going to hold you to that. I trust you to keep your word." The fingers of her free hand wrapped around his and she held him. Travis pulled the chair closer to the bed one-handed.

  And just held her. He’d just hold on to her forever. That sounded like exactly what he wanted to do.

  EPILOGUE

  Rafe fought the urge to smile. Lacy’s words had erased the fear right out of his brother’s eyes. At least most of it, anyway. Time would have to do the rest.

  The hospital had been inundated with press, speculation, and rumors over Lanning’s actions. No one understood it. He wondered if they ever would. Rafe left Lacy and Travis and headed back to his office.