Against the Edge (The Raines of Wind Can - By Kat Martin Page 0,52
surgery extremely well. There was no artery or nerve involvement, and the damage to his spleen was minor. The path the bullet traveled missed any vital organs and bones.”
Her legs went weak. She sat back down in the chair. “Thank God.”
“Your husband is a very lucky man.”
The doctor had assumed Ben was her husband. It was easier than trying to explain their complicated situation. And being his wife allowed her visitation. It bothered her that the sound of it felt somehow right.
“Ben’s lost a lot of blood,” the doctor said, “but aside from that, he’s doing fine. Assuming there’s no infection, he’ll be out of here in a couple of days.”
A second shot of relief slid through her. He was going to be all right, and he would be getting out very soon. Still, it was a gunshot wound, which by law had to be reported to the authorities. She had told the doctor the truth of what had occurred, but she would have to go over the details again when the police arrived. She was hoping Detective Owens’s phone call would help smooth the way.
Feeling somewhat better, she rose on legs a little less shaky. “May I see him?”
“At the moment, he’s in recovery. You can see him in a couple of hours. I’d suggest you go back to your motel room and get some sleep.”
Of course she didn’t have a motel room. And she wanted to see Ben, make sure he was all right and let him know she was there. “I’ll wait here, if you don’t mind.”
Garcia nodded. “The cafeteria’s down the hall. Why don’t you at least get something to eat?”
She wasn’t hungry. But it had been hours since she’d put anything in her stomach and she was beginning to feel light-headed. “All right. I have a call to make first. Thank you, Doctor. For everything.”
“I’ll let you know when you can go in.” The doctor left the waiting room.
As soon as the door closed, Claire dug Ben’s phone back out and phoned Sol with the news that Ben had come through surgery very well. That, if all went well, he would be released in a couple of days.
“That’s great news. I’ll call the others. Let me know if either of you needs anything.”
“I will. Thank you, Sol.” Ending the call, she dropped the phone back into her purse.
Ignoring the way her stomach rebelled at the thought of food, Claire left the waiting room and made her way down to the cafeteria. The smell of fish and fried chicken made the bile rise in her throat, but she had to eat something. She forced down a bowl of soup and drank a glass of milk, then purchased a cup of coffee to go and went back upstairs to the waiting room.
She had just stepped inside when a towering man in a T-shirt and jeans pushed through the door. He was at least six-five, with an even more muscular build than Ben, and a beautiful dark-haired woman on his arm.
“Are you Claire?” the man asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m Jake Cantrell, and this is my wife, Sage. We thought you might need some company.”
Her eyes welled. Sol had said Ben had friends. Apparently very good ones. “Thank you so much for coming.”
Sage stepped forward and gave her a hug, and Claire gratefully returned it.
Jake led her over to the sofa, gently urged her to sit down. “Sol just called. He said it looks like Ben’s going to be okay.”
Claire nodded, a lump lodged in her throat. “Yes...”
“How about you?” Sage asked gently, her eyes on Claire’s bruised cheek and swollen lip. “Are you all right?”
Claire swallowed. “I’m okay. It’s just... It’s been a really hard night.”
Sage sat down next to her, and Jake took a seat in the chair across from them. “Why don’t you tell me what happened,” he said.
“It’s a long story.”
Sage reached over and took hold of her cold hand. “I gather you’re waiting to see Ben.”
“That’s right.”
“Then we have plenty of time,” Jake said.
Claire looked up at him. He was amazingly handsome, the perfect match to his lovely, sophisticated wife. “You came all the way from Houston. How did... How did you get here so fast?”
“Company jet,” Sage answered with a smile. “It’s one of the perks of being the granddaughter of the CEO.”
“Don’t let her kid you,” Jake said with a hint of pride. “Sage just got promoted to president of the company. She’s Marine Drilling’s top dog. She earned the right to use that jet.”