after the medics had seen to his injuries, the police had shown up and needed a statement. While two detectives grilled Trey in a private hospital room, another one was interviewing each of the guys. Ethan had shown up, and being as he was a cop, I asked him if he thought Trey needed a lawyer. My cousin just pulled me into a hug and told me not to worry.
He’d been right, I didn’t need to worry. One of Jake’s teammates had come forward and the story he told chilled me to the bone. Jake’s hatred for my dad was known far and wide. Jake had known for years that my dad had blocked some sort of career advancement. However, when Jake told them one day he was going to kill the great Jasper Walker, no one in his platoon had taken him seriously. They’d laughed it off, not wanting to believe Jake had it in him to commit murder. They’d been wrong. Jake had it in him.
It was two in the morning, my dad was out of surgery and being moved into a room, and my mom was impatiently waiting. Apparently, part of her impatience included needing confirmation that Jake was dead.
“Yes, Emily. He’s dead,” Trey repeated.
“Thank you.”
I didn’t know if my mom was thanking Trey for killing a man or rescuing my dad, being as they were one and the same I didn’t think about it too hard. But I did search my feelings. There had been a time when I thought I loved Jake. Now I knew better. I didn’t love him but I couldn’t deny I had cared and I did give him my virginity. But I wasn’t sad he was dead—or I was but only because he had parents and a sister, so I was sad they’d lost him. I also didn’t have any feelings other than gratitude that Trey killed him.
It was true—I loved my father. But I loved Trey beyond reason, and in a situation where Trey had been shot three times, one leaving a hole in his body, I was grateful Trey had the wherewithal to save his life and come home to me.
“Walker family?” a handsome nurse called out.
“Yes.” My mom stood and grabbed my hand to follow.
“Mr. Walker has been transferred and is ready to see you,” he said.
“May my daughter and her fiancé come back with me before they leave?”
Fiancé?
Mom was laying it on thick. All day, I’d heard Trey this, Trey that. He’s just like Dad. I knew she needed to talk about something to get her mind off her husband being held at gunpoint, but fiancé—that was a little crazy.
“Sure. Rules on the floor are three visitors at a time. Normal hours are over, so five minutes at a time. If you’ll follow me.”
We followed the nurse down the hall. He stopped, pointed to the door, then continued.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” I whispered to Trey.
“You can.”
And without another word, he pulled me into the room. My mom was already at my dad’s bedside, brushing his hair off his forehead.
“Em.”
My dad’s throat sounded dry, and instantly my mom grabbed a pitcher of water from the roller table, poured some in a cup, and held it to my dad’s lips.
After he took a drink, Mom put the cup back on the table and my dad’s battered face turned in my direction.
I stiffened and Trey wrapped his good arm around my shoulders and tucked me close. My dad’s lips twitched and he nodded his approval.
“They get you sewn up?” Dad asked, his voice a lot stronger.
“Yep. Through and through. Didn’t hit anything important.”
“Good. Cops come by?”
“Taken care of and that’s all good, too.”
“Did—”
“Q and A later, yeah?” Trey asked.
My dad smiled then snarled, “Fucking hell, what’d they do, sew my lips together?”
“No,” my mom answered. “Though I have a feeling in a few days after I’ve heard you complaining about being laid up, I’m gonna wish they did.”
“Mom!” I giggled.
“Don’t Mom me. You know I’m right. And since we’re on the topic of complaining, I might as well get this out of the way right now. You’ll be in a wheelchair—”
“Nope,” Dad cut her off.
“Jasper—”
“Nope,” Dad repeated. “There is zero chance I’m walking my girl down the aisle in a wheelchair.”
“You’re right. You’ll be wheeling—”
“Nope.”
“Damn stubborn,” my mom announced right before she burst into tears.
“Em, darlin’, come ’ere.”
My dad didn’t have to ask twice. Mom sat on the bed and got as close as the wires,