Looking over at Landon, I motioned very carefully for him to cover the girls when I moved off them. Then glancing at Gyth, I gave him a look and he returned one in understanding. Trying to call out to the man with the gun didn’t work because he was too caught up in yelling profanities at the couple as he carelessly waved the gun around.
I had no choice but to stand up.
Rising seemed to get his attention quickly. Once I was up, Landon moved to the girls and Gyth rolled a little closer to block them all. Hoping like hell this didn’t set the guy off even more, I raised my hands up in an unthreatening manner. The pistol-whipped back and forth before it was soon trained straight at my chest. I was about to use the conflict resolution I’d learned over the years to hopefully stop more bullets from flying, but then I heard someone scream, “nooooo” and my blood ran cold.
Instinct kicked in as the crazed gunman turned toward the sound and I simultaneously leaped for him. I hit him like a freight train. Taking him to the ground, the gun flew out of his hand, but not before he got off a shot or I could immobilize him.
The next thing I knew, Gyth was next to me, still in his chair, and had his foot pressed to the guy’s back. Chair or no chair, the man’s legs were strong, his body massive, and the man on the ground wouldn’t be getting up. My buddy may have been injured and working his way back the best he could, but he was still a force to be reckoned with. Some days he was in the chair and other days he would walk with a cane depending on the pain.
Gyth motioned for me to go. I didn’t hesitate, taking off toward sweet little Jurnee who hadn’t gotten up from where I saw her fall when I tackled the shooter. What was she thinking running right out into the middle of a dangerous situation like this?
The bar was in utter chaos. More people were running for the exit, so I was having to weave in and out of them like I was back on the field during my old football days.
I reached Jurnee and hit my knees hard. She was on her stomach and deathly still. Not wanting to hurt her, I slowly turned her to her back, and all the air left my lungs in an audible whoosh. Her blood-soaked shirt told me she had been hit. The fucker nailed her in the right shoulder, but it didn’t go through. I hoped to God it hadn’t damaged any muscles and she would be okay.
Ripping my jacket off and then pulling my t-shirt over my head, I pressed my shirt against her wound as I hollered for Landon to get someone over here to help her right the hell now. She needed medical attention and quickly. Just as I was about to lose my ever-loving mind, I heard the sweetest sound.
“Braxton?”
Looking down into the depths of the most beautiful, soulful eyes I had ever seen, my body relaxed at the notion she would be okay. Yet at the same time, I was so pissed at myself for not protecting her. She didn’t deserve this, and right then and there I vowed to myself I would never let anything happen to her again, she was the most captivating person I had ever met, and I could have lost her before I even got the chance to get to know the woman she had become. Lost in thought and having not responded, she spoke again.
“Are you okay? Are our friends going to be alright?”
She had just been shot and she was worried about everyone else. Just went to show the type of person she was, and whomever she let into her life was damn lucky. I hoped that from here on out I was one of those people. “We’re all okay, it’s you I need to take care of. Just hold on, help is on the way. You were really brave, that being said you shouldn’t have done what you did, but we will get into that later.”
“But I was…”
She started and didn’t get to finish as cops and paramedics filled the place, rushing over. Just then Alley and Summer swarmed in on us as well. Summer being a nurse wanted to take care of Jurnee, but the paramedics pushed us out of the way and before long had her on a stretcher and heading out the door.
“You two ride with her to the hospital and let us handle the cops. We will be right behind you,” I said looking into my sister’s tear-filled eyes. I knew she was scared and worried, but Jurnee would be okay. “She is going to be fine, they will take good care of her. I’ll be right behind you,” I said once again. As the girls took off after their beloved friend, I turned to mine and the cops who now had the drugged man in cuffs and were hauling him out the door.
The other man who had been shot was already gone, along with his lady friend and my friends were speaking to the police, giving their statements on what went down. I headed over in their direction, anxious to get this done and get to the hospital to check on my girl. Wait what did I just say? My girl. Umm, I didn’t think that could be right and yet it felt as if it rang as true and loud as the church bell at midnight on Christmas Eve. I wasn’t going to deny the feelings currently stampeding through my mind. I needed to get this settled and get out of here. I had every intention of exploring the emotions swirling one by one through my mind and just hoped Jurnee would be on board.
Gyth, Landon, and I walked into the hospital to find Alley, Summer and an older couple I assumed must be Jurnee’s parents, sitting in the waiting room. I had met them before, but that was when the girls were young and I would drop Alley off at their house, so it had been awhile. They all wore concerned looks and the women had tear-streaked faces. I knew from being in the military and having experience with gunshot wounds, that Jurnee would be okay. Still, it was not easy to deal with, especially given how it all unfolded.
Approaching the group sitting on the hard, uncomfortable, plastic chairs, I gestured for the other guys to follow me. Looking at my sister’s crushed expression, I could tell that she was having a difficult time waiting to make sure her best friend was okay. “How’s she doing?” My gut was tight as I asked the question.
“She’s in surgery right now,” Alley replied as she took a deep breath before continuing. “We will just have to wait until she’s out to know the extent of her injuries. This is killing me, Braxton. She was there because I asked her to come. When she got there she almost left and if I would have let her, this wouldn’t be happening to her right now.” Huge sobs wracked my sister’s body as Summer and the older lady both hugged her from each side. I felt even worse for not stopping this from happening. Not only was Jurnee hurt, but my sister and the others were devastated.
“This is in no way your fault, don’t even go there, sis.”
Alley seemed to remember everyone standing around and swiped furiously at her eyes to get rid of the tears that had pooled in them. With a hiccup, she swallowed and took a deep breath, wrestling for control of her emotions. Then looking over at the older couple, she started some introductions. “Mr. and Mrs. Collins, this is my brother Braxton, and his friends Gyth and Landon.” She didn’t really meet Landon’s eyes when she said his name, but what I noticed is that he looked crushed at how upset Alley was. At that moment, I suspected I had been missing something major going on in my sister’s life for an exceptionally long time.
Reaching out, I took Mr. Collins’ outstretched hand and told him how sorry I was for what happened to Jurnee. His eyes were mixed with equal measures of anger and sadness, leaving me feeling awful once again, awful for not protecting his little girl and everyone else there tonight.
“Braxton, it’s been a long time, but I remember you from back in high school,” the older man said.
“Good to see you, Mr. Collins, I am just sorry it’s under these circumstances.”
“Please, please, call me Johnathan.”
“Okay, Johnathan it is. The guys and I would like to take a seat and wait with you until Jurnee comes out of surgery if that’s okay?”
“Yes, please sit,” her father said, motioning to the empty chairs. Mr. Collins shook the other guys’ hands and told Landon he remembered him as well.
As we all sat in silence, waiting for someone to tell us anything, I couldn’t help but think about everything that had transpired this evening. From finally being out of the war zone, knowing my sister and I would be spending time together again, to hanging out with my
friends and the start of the new business. But what I wasn’t expecting at all was Jurnee walking into the bar and pretty much shifting my entire world on its axis. She had me from that first moment and right or wrong, this was happening. Because I was a goner.
I must have been lost in my thoughts because the next thing I knew someone was talking.
“Who’s here for Jurnee Collins?”
We all stood and faced the doctor who just walked into the waiting room.
Chapter Four
Jurnee
My eyes slowly slid open and I registered the pain in my shoulder right away, along with a dry, gritty mouth. Feeling a bit foggy, I was having a hard time comprehending exactly what I was seeing. Sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, head back, eyelids closed and looking as gorgeous as I remembered, it looked just like Braxton. “I think I’m dreaming,” I mumbled.
Had to be a dream. I snapped my eyes closed.
“Jurnee, did you say something?” A deep voice rumbled.
Oh shit, it’s not a dream. My mind raced and I felt a little like panicking.
Taking a second to try and clear my head, I then fluttered my eyes open once again. Nope, still there. “Braxton, what are you doing here?” I asked, trying to speak the words that were coming out rough as sandpaper.
“Watching over you until you woke up. Let me just grab the nurse and let her know you're awake.” Standing, Braxton headed out the door.
I just laid there trying to figure out what alternate universe I might be in because something was seriously off if this man was standing watch over me. As I pondered this, it all started coming back to me in waves. Remembering what happened and not knowing where my friends were or if I was okay, had me freaked out.
Braxton walked back into the room just as I was struggling to sit up.
“What do you think you're doing?” he practically shouted.
Braxton rushed over to my bedside with a frown on his face after seeing me jump a little at his angry voice. “I’m sorry Jurnee. I was just worried you were going to hurt yourself, but I shouldn’t have raised my voice.”
Grabbing my left hand, he stood there, searching my eyes. Waiting. “It’s okay, I just don’t understand why you’re here and where are Alley and Summer? Are they okay? I’m worried sick.” He didn’t say anything, just stood there in silence, watching me. “Why are you staring at me like that?” Looking into his gaze, I tried getting a read on his thoughts.
“It’s just you’re hurt, in the hospital and yet your first concern is about your friends, just as it was back at the bar. You're an amazing, beautiful woman inside and out, Jurnee.”
I was floored by Braxton’s response.
Sitting there with my mouth hanging open like I’d been waiting to catch flies or something, I was unsure how to respond. Is this for real? Maybe I really was in that dreamland I imagined a few moments ago. I’d have pinched myself to check, but my arm was killing me so I held off on that.
Gazing over at the hottest man I’d ever seen, it dawned on me I probably looked like an absolute disaster. So, of course, I said the only thing I could think of.
“I have to pee.”
“That again.” He chuckled.
“Just kill me now,” I whispered, mentally smacking myself.
Braxton didn’t seem to like my comment too much because he frowned again.
“Don’t say stuff like that. You already scared us all, getting shot. Your parents and friends are all waiting to see for themselves that you're okay.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just get nervous and say stupid stuff. But seriously, I do need to go to the bathroom.” The nurse magically appeared and started bustling around checking my vitals and then helped unhook me from the various wires I had attached to me so I could go do my business.
Damn, it sucks having this nervous habit.
I thought for sure after my dorky behavior that Braxton would be gone, but when I emerged from the bathroom, not only was he still there, but so were Alley, Summer, Landon, and Gyth. The room was packed between my besties and all the muscle filling the small space. Because of them, the room felt warm with love, instead of cold and sterile like hospitals usually did.
The guys said a few words and then all decided to head out and leave us girls to talk. As they were leaving, Braxton let me know that he’d be back. What, why? Once they were gone, I turned to Alley and asked her what was going on. I was so puzzled by Braxton's behavior.
“My brother refused to leave the hospital, your room to be exact and has been sitting by your bed since you came out of surgery. He feels like he should have stopped things before they went that far and blames himself for you getting shot.”
“That’s silly, it’s not anyone’s fault except for the man who had the gun. You need to tell him, Alley, make him see that he isn’t responsible for the events that took place, and he needs to go home. He just got back and has so much to do.”
“I’ve tried, but he’s stubborn,” Alley replied, rolling her eyes.
“Oh, now I remember where you get the stubborn streak from.” I laughed at my comment which jiggled my arm, and I sucked in a breath from the pain that radiates through it.
Over the next hour, the girls explained to me what happened last night while I’d been in the bathroom and after I’d been shot. They said my parents were here until after I came out of surgery, then had left to go get some rest for a while, since I’d seemed to have my own personal bodyguard. If all bodyguards looked like Braxton, everyone should have one. My parents would be back up soon, they also told me. As we winded down our talk, the nurse walked back in to check on me, so the girls got ready to go.
“You need some rest, but we will be back up later today and we know you're in good hands and won’t be alone,” Summer said with that damn signature smirk of hers.
Before I could ask her what she meant, the nurse started talking to me and the girls hugged me good-bye, with another promise of seeing me shortly. Then out the door they’d gone. My nurse turned to me then and said, “You’re one lucky girl.” Again, before I could respond to ask her what she was talking about, the door opened and Braxton walked back in.
I think I just figured out why I’m so lucky.
Braxton took up residence in the chair he was in earlier, waiting for the nurse to leave. Once she’d gone, he said, “We need a do-over.”
Confusion hit my face and maybe it was the side effects from the anesthesia, but I needed him to spell it out for me “A what?”
Looking straight into my eyes he said, “Once you are feeling better, we are going out again, Jurnee. I never did get to dance with you.”
Heat sunk into my cheeks and I was sure they’d been a bright shade of red. Something fluttered in my stomach at the notion that this man wanted to dance with me. Me, Jurnee Collins. A smile bloomed on my face as my eyes started to close. Exhaustion was kicking in and I felt myself drifting off as I’d fought to stay awake, just to look at Braxton. But I’d been losing the battle. He must have realized that too.
“Sleep beautiful, I will be here when you wake up.”
That was the last thing I’d remembered being said before I’d fallen into a deep slumber and with my last thought having been… I hope this has all been real.
My eyes blinked open to the moon's fluorescent glow creeping through the blinds and a soft snore from the man with his hand in mine, head resting on my bedside. The feel of his rough palm clasped in my much smaller one, made my heart beat faster and the hospital machines started beeping furiously. Braxton’s head sprung up and a look of panic streaked his face. Before he could say anything, a nurse was running into my room.
It had been the same nurse from earlier. She busily fluttered around the bed and checked the monitors. “I see you're awake again, how are you feeling? You really got these old machines going to town girl, what’s got you so riled up?” Before I’d answered her, she’d glanced down at our joined hands and a mischievous smile lit
up her face. “Oh, I see. I will just let you two get back to it,” she said with a wink and was gone like a ghost in the night.
I looked down at our joined hands, then back up into Braxton’s eyes to find them sparkling with the knowledge that he had affected me in some way. I will not say I have to pee, I will not say I have to pee. Wait, maybe that’s my out before I die from embarrassment. Thankfully someone had come in to bring me dinner, saving me from my panic and making a fool out of myself again.
I’d been saved!
A woman approached setting my food on the rolling table next to my bed and told me to enjoy it, and off she went, leaving me alone with Braxton again. “So, I bet you’d like to go have some dinner then too?”
“I already ate while you were sleeping. Your parents came in but didn’t want to disturb you and they brought me some coffee and a sandwich. I’ll just hang here with you, if you don’t mind that is?”
“Umm, and watch me eat?” He made me nervous enough, but now he was going to see me fumbling around, shoveling food into my mouth. This wasn’t going to be graceful at all left-handed, since my other one was out of commission at the moment.
“I will just be here if you need anything, eat up.”
Here goes nothing, please don’t let me spill all over myself.
Pulling everything in front of me, I clumsily fiddled with the fork and attempted to dig into the mashed potatoes. Awkwardly moving it toward my mouth as if I were a one-year-old, the next thing I know, splat! Food was all over me. The ground could just open up now and swallow me whole. Setting the fork down, I grabbed a napkin and worked at wiping up the mess, while Braxton went into the bathroom to get a wet paper towel.
“Here, let me get that,” he said, returning to my side.
“Maybe they should have brought me a bib, you think?” I mean, I may as well have laughed about it, or else I might’ve cried.
“Cut yourself some slack, woman, you just had surgery and your dominant arm is a little on the sore side. It will get better, but in the meantime let me help you,” he said swiping the fork up into his hand.
Entwined Souls (Soul Sister Book 1) Page 3
