Protecting The Billionaire

by Christina Tetreault

  Again, the waiting room door opened. A tall, lanky man perhaps in his early fifties with wire-rimmed glasses and dressed in hospital scrubs entered. His expression remained neutral.

  Please tell me good news, Allison prayed, wringing her hands together.

  Jake stood and shook the doctor’s hand. “Bradley,” he greeted. “Allison, this is Dr. Bradley Ford,” Jake explained before speaking to the doctor again. “How’s he doing?”

  Okay, Jake knew the doctor. Fabulous, now get on with it.

  “Jake, Miss Sherbrooke.” The doctor extended his hand in her direction before he sat. “Rocco’s out of surgery and in stable condition. He’s lucky. Neither bullet struck any vital organs. The bullet to his thigh passed straight through muscle and missed the femur. Both injuries could have been much worse.”

  Stable condition. She heard what she considered the most important part of the sentence and couldn’t control the sound that escaped. It wasn’t one of gut-wrenching sobs like earlier but more of a strangled gasp.

  “Is something wrong, Miss Sherbrooke?” Dr. Ford paused in his explanation of Rock’s injuries.

  “Allison.” Jake put his arm around her shoulder and gave them a squeeze. “It’s good news.”

  “He’s going to be okay?” She knew stable condition didn’t always equal a successful recovery. Complications could creep up and cause unexpected outcomes.

  The doctor’s neutral expression faded and a more compassionate one replaced it. “Some risk comes with any surgery. However, he’s healthy and young. I expect him to make a full recovery.”

  “Can I see him?”

  “Once he’s moved and settled into a room, you can visit. In the meantime, try to relax. Maybe go downstairs for a tea or a snack, it might be a while before you can go up.”

  Relax? The doctor’s surgical cap must be too tight or something, if he thought she could relax. Maybe after she saw Rock, she’d relax but not until then. “Thank you but I’ll wait here.”

  Doctor Ford looked at Jake who still held her hand. “Don’t worry, Bradley. I’ll stay with her and make sure she gets whatever she needs.”

  “Excellent. I’ll have someone inform you both when he’s settled and ready for visitors.”

  When the door closed behind the doctor, Allison sagged back against the sofa. Rock was alive. He’d be in pain when he woke up, but he would wake up.

  “Can I get you anything?”

  “No thanks, Jake. The only thing I need is to see him.”

  Jake leaned back next to her. “You heard Bradley. It could be awhile. You look exhausted. Some coffee might help you stay awake.”

  Starting at the moment her doorknob rattled, adrenaline and fear kept her body going. With both those things gone, exhaustion was settling in. “Maybe coffee’s a good idea. Make it the biggest they have. Put some sugar in it too. Maybe it’ll give me an extra little boost.”

  “You’ve got it. Be right back. Call me if you want anything else.”

  He started for the door. Allison’s ringing smartphone stopped him.

  She’d shoved the device and her keys in her jeans pocket when she’d rushed out the door. Now she pulled it out and checked the screen. Trent. Was he calling with an update on Addie? She hadn’t received any updates from him or her dad, but would he call this late. Trent would want to share the news, but considering the time, she suspected he’d wait until a more acceptable hour. If not about the baby, he had only one other reason to call now. The police had informed Marta and Sal of what happened and they’d passed the information on to him. She’d never get out of telling her family everything, but she’d prefer to do it much later. Perhaps after she saw Rock and got a little rest.

  “Are you going to answer the phone?” Jake asked.

  “It’s Trent.”

  “Do you want me to answer?”

  “No, I got it.” Letting Jake answer would only postpone the inevitable. At least now she could tell Trent they were both alive and safe. “Hello,” she said.

  “Where are you? What the hell is going on?” Trent didn’t pause so she could answer before he continued. “Are you okay? Marta called me hysterical. She said Rock was rushed to the hospital after being shot. I sent a car to drive her and Sal to the airport. Dad’s plane is waiting for them. The police didn’t have an update on his condition.”

  When Trent stopped for a breath, she jumped in. “I’m fine and in a waiting room at the hospital. Jake is with me. Have you told anyone else?” No matter what, her dad and the rest of her family would worry, but perhaps they’d worry less if they knew she was okay.

  “Thank God.” She heard him blow out a deep breath. “Only Dad and Abby. I needed to check on you before I called anyone else. And I didn’t want to tell Addie anything about Rock until I knew more.”

  “He’s out of surgery and in stable condition. The doctor said the bullets didn’t hit any vital organs. I’m waiting to go up and see him.”

  “That’s excellent news. But what the hell happened down there? Were you with him?”

  “I’ll tell you everything later. I promise. Right now, can we just leave it at I’m okay and Rock will recover.” Telling her brother would mean reliving the night. She didn’t have it in her right now.

  “You’re not hurt?”

  “Honest. I don’t have a scratch on me. Rock made sure I stayed safe.”

  Trent huffed. The protective big brother in him wanted all the answers tonight. “Okay, I’ll wait for the whole story. Call me when you get home and keep me updated on how Rock is doing. I need to call Marta before the plane leaves so they know Rock’s stable. She was wreck when I talked to her.”

  She pictured the puddles of blood on her bedroom floor. She wasn’t sure she could ever sleep in there again. “Wait.” She needed some happy news. The birth of a baby qualified. “How’s Addie. Did she have the baby yet?” She’d lost track of how many hours ago her dad announced Addie started labor, but it sure seemed like a long time.

  “Addie’s beat and the baby is asleep.”

  Finally, she had something positive to focus on while she waited. “Well, do I have a niece or a nephew?”

  “Nephew. Kendrick was born two and half hours ago. I’ll send you pictures later this morning. When you see Rock, tell him the news. I need to go.”

  She understood Trent’s urgency. Once she received word on Rock’s condition, she should have tried Marta again herself. Rock’s parents deserved to know what was happening. However, she was pleased she didn’t have to do it. At some point, she’d have to talk to them, but right now she didn’t want to admit to them their son had almost died because of her.

  “Did Addie have a boy or a girl?” Jake asked when she put the phone away. He’d moved closer while she spoke to her brother. Allison suspected Jake wanted Trent’s first born to be a boy too. Growing up, he and Trent had been like brothers. Less than a year apart in age, they’d been inseparable growing up until they’d gone to different universities. She could picture her cousin wanting his son, Garret, to have a similar relationship with his cousins.

  “Boy. I’m sure James, Garret, and Kendrick will get into all kinds of trouble together,” she said, referring to Jake’s nephew who’d been born in the fall.

  “Never,” Jake said and winked. “They’ll be well-behaved gentleman like Trent and me.”

  From somewhere deep inside, laughter rolled up and over her and it took her several seconds to get it under control. “I needed that. Thank you.”

  “Glad I could help. Do you still want coffee?”

  Allison wiped the tears from her eyes, glad they were now tears from laughing instead of crying. “Please. Marta and Sal are on their way. I’m going to try to stay until they get here.”

  ***

  Fog filled his head and cotton coated his mouth. Rock ignored both and opened his eyes. Sterile white walls and a small television mounted a few inches from the ceiling greeted him. A tidal wave of memories rushed back. Allison’s stalker had g
otten in the house. The bastard had been so close to harming her. When he’d seen the guy standing in her doorway, absolute fear had gripped him. Fear like nothing he’d every experienced before or wanted to again.

  Where was she now? What about her stalker? Hunter, he’d heard Allison call him. He’d gone for the SOB’s carotid artery. Often that kind of injury killed a man. He hoped it had tonight. Hunter deserved death for the hell he’d put Allison through.

  He tried moving in bed, but everything felt sluggish. Damn anesthesia. He hated the stuff. Took forever for it to wear off completely. Rock shifted his upper body again and winced at the pull in his side. He didn’t need to look. He remembered the shots Hunter got off. He wasn’t looking forward to when the pain meds wore off.

  “You’re awake.” Allison walked in the room. She appeared pale and her hair looked like it hadn’t seen a brush in days, but she was walking and talking.

  “If ya can call it awake. My head’s in the clouds.” He rubbed his forehead and watched her come closer. “How long have you been here?”

  “Since the ambulance brought you in. But they just let me come up to your room.” She dropped a featherlight kiss on his lips before she pulled a chair over. “Your mom and dad are one their way.”

  “Mannaggia.”

  “I don’t know what that means, but I’m guessing you’re not happy they’re coming.”

  “There’s no need for them to waste the money. I’m fine. You really didn’t need to call them.”

  “When I called, they didn’t answer. The Providence police actually told them. And then Trent sent them down on dad’s jet. They should be here soon.” Allison took his hand. “But they needed to know, Rock. If the police hadn’t told them, I would have kept trying until I got them.”

  “Mom doesn’t handle this kind of news well. She’s a tough woman, you’d think she would, but it’s just the opposite.” Any other crisis and his mom took control, but when it came to sick or injured family members, she fell apart.

  “At least she knows you’re okay. Trent called and I filled him in on your condition. He passed the info on to your parents.”

  It would help, but he’d still face some serious fussing over him. And he’d suck it up and deal with it like he’d done in the past. After all, it was his mom. “A doctor hasn’t been in yet. What did they tell ya?”

  “Dr. Ford said the bullets didn’t hit any organs and that the one through your thigh missed the femur and the artery.”

  Considering the fact he was awake and they were talking, he’d assumed the bullets hadn’t caused any life threatening injuries. Now on to more important matters. “Are you okay?” He recalled asking her the same question after his fight with Hunter and she answered yes. Honestly, he didn’t know if he’d actually asked or just dreamed he did.

  She rolled her lips together and looked away for a moment. “He didn’t hurt me.” Her voice quivered a little. “I’m still shaken up though. And in shock. Hunter is Charles’s younger brother. He’s a junior at Georgetown University. He plays football and was talking about summer internships in my office. I just don’t understand.”

  She kept referring to him in the present tense. He hoped the creep hadn’t made it. “Did he make it?”

  “No, he was gone when the paramedics got there.”

  What a shame.

  “Maybe if I’d done something, he would’ve lived. I didn’t even try.” She sounded guilty, which angered him. Nothing had been her fault. “This sounds horrible, but I didn’t care. You needed me; that was all that mattered.”

  “It’s not horrible, Ally.” Man, he wanted to wrap his arms around her and make the entire hellish night disappear. “I would’ve done the same. The scumbag got what he deserved.”

  “I know.” Tears pooled in her eyes and he knew she’d lose the battle of holding them back soon.

  “Everything’s over. You’re safe.”

  She chocked back a sob and nodded, causing her hair to fall forward. “I was so scared you weren’t going to make it. Blood was everywhere and you got so pale.” She pushed her hair back behind her ears, revealing the tears, which fell down her face. “I love you and the idea of losing you—”

  “Ya didn’t. I’m here. You’re here. Everything’s fine.” He tried to sit up more but the pain slowly inching its way through his body stopped him.

  “You’re in pain, aren’t you?”

  So much for not wincing. “Not too bad. Pain meds are just starting to wear off. Must be almost time for more.” This wasn’t the first time he’d suffered a gunshot wound. He knew the drill. Rather than focus on his condition or what she’d experienced, he changed the subject. “Did Addie have the baby?”

  “Yep, earlier this morning. A little boy. They named him Kendrick. Trent promised to send pictures later today.” A little sadness remained in her voice, but she sounded much more like herself.

  “Sweet, I won the bet.”

  “What bet?”

  “With Jon and Frank. They insisted she was having a girl,” he answered, referring to his older brothers. “We couldn’t get in touch with Tom to include him.”

  “Trent must be on cloud nine. I can’t wait to see the baby.”

  He was close to that himself and he wasn’t even the father. He could only imagine how his brother-in-law and sister felt. “Go tomorrow. Spend a few days up there. You deserve a few days away after last night.” With her stalker dead, she had her freedom back. She could visit Providence or anywhere else before getting back into her normal routine again.

  “Not with you in here. When you get out and can travel, we’ll go together like we planned.”

  He didn’t consider himself a super emotional guy, but damn if he didn’t like her answer. “I love you. And when I get outta here, I plan on taking my time and showing you just how much.”

  “I’m holding you to that.” She smiled for the first time since coming in. “And looking forward to it,” she added, standing up and giving him a peck on the lips.

  “Not so fast,” he said when she tried to move away. With her so close, he planned on kissing her right. Rock brought her mouth toward his. “That wasn’t a kiss,” he whispered before he devoured her lips and showed her what a real kiss was.

  The throat clearing got his attention. Damn it. Someone had come in the room. Rock let his lips linger a moment longer before he pulled away. His parents stood inside the room, the door again closed behind them. His mom looked like death warmed over, as she’d say. Her clothes were rumpled, her eyes red, and she had on two different shoes. His dad, who’d done the throat clearing, looked the same as always. No matter the situation, he appeared calm and in charge.

  “He looks fine to me,” his dad said as they approached the bed.

  Color climbed Allison’s face, but she faced his parents. “Hi, Marta, Sal. Maybe I should give you some time alone.”

  He’d prefer if she stayed, but she looked ready to fall asleep on the spot. She needed sleep, not a visit with him and his parents.

  “Jake invited me to stay with him. I’ll get some rest and come back in a few hours.”

  Considering the state of her house, bunking with her cousin made sense. “No rush. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You might want to wait. Mark and Abby will be up in a minute. He got a phone call as we walked in the hospital,” his mom said.

  “They’re here too?”

  His mom appeared surprised by the question. “We all flew down together. I thought you knew we were all coming down together.”

  Mark Sherbrooke entered the room, his wife a step or two behind him. With the exception of the missing tie, he wore the same clothes as when they’d met for dinner the night before. Like Allison and his mom, Mark had the walking dead look going on. His wife only looked slightly better.

  “Dad, Abby, you didn’t need to come.” Her words came out muffled as Mark enveloped her in a hug. “I’m fine.”

  Tears glistened in his eyes when he pulled away. “O
f course I did.” The guy sounded like he’d drank a glass of sand on the trip down.

  Rock could only imagine the wide range of emotions the guy had experienced tonight. Actually, the same went for his parents.

  “How are you, Rock?” Mark turned his attention on him, which apparently was a cue for everyone to look in his direction.

  “Fine, sir.” His leg and side throbbed and he knew it’d only get worse as the pain meds continued to wear off. He’d never admit it.

  “Mark, remember?” He put his arm around Allison’s shoulders. Judging by his expression, he didn’t intend to let her go anytime soon. “If you need anything, let me know.”

  The man had his arm around the only thing he needed. “Thank you.”

  “Marta, Sal, we’ll wait down the hall so you can visit with Rock alone. Just come and get us when you’re ready to leave.”

  He appreciated that they’d come down, but at the moment, he’d prefer if everyone but Allison left. Telling his mom he didn’t want her there was not an option. Dropping a hint or two was something else. “Come back later, Mom. You and Dad spent all night at the hospital with Addie. Get some sleep. It’s my plan.”

  “Mine too,” Allison chimed in, either because she wanted to leave or she understood his intention.

  His mom frowned, torn between staying and getting sleep.

  “When you get back, I’ll be right here.”

  “I imagine everyone here could use some rest. When I come back, I want to know exactly what happened,” his mom said with some reluctance.

  “Get some rest. We’ll see you in a few,” his dad said, clapping him on the shoulder.

  His parents and Abby headed for the door, leaving Allison and Mark behind. “Why don’t you stay with us tonight,” Mark said his arm still firmly around her shoulders.