hesitate to begin breathing for her.
I repeated the rescue breaths as I heard voices yelling from above. Someone shouted that help was coming. I barely heard it. But I stayed focused. The only thing that mattered was getting oxygen into her system.
Just as I was about to breathe into Shay’s mouth for the fifth time, she started to cough. I turned her on her side just in case more water needed to come out. Only the smallest bit fell from her lips.
I kept a firm grip on her shoulders as she heaved. “You’re okay. You’re safe.” I said it more for myself than her. The sight of her chest rising and falling on its own had tears burning my eyes.
“Brody?” she croaked, blinking against the sun.
“I’ve got you.” I hauled her into my arms. She weakly nuzzled into me. “I’ve got you.” I couldn’t help repeating the words.
And I was never letting go.
Shay shivered, and I pulled the blankets tighter around her. I’d sent the nurse off for another one, but he hadn’t returned yet. “Are you okay?”
She gave me a gentle smile. “I’m fine. Like the last ten times you asked. I just wish we had an update on Hunter.”
I slipped my hand in Shay’s and held tight. Hunter had been airlifted from Anchor to Seattle Memorial, and then the sheriff’s helicopter had come to pick up Shay. We weren’t taking any chances with either of them. Hunter had gone directly into surgery, while Shay had been sent for a battery of tests. Ford was in the surgical waiting room and had promised to update us as soon as he got any word from the doctors.
I pressed my lips to Shay’s temple. “He’s going to be fine. Hunter’s one of the strongest people I know.” I hoped I wasn’t lying.
“He looked so bad, Brody.” Shay’s voice shook as she spoke.
I slid onto the side of the bed, careful to avoid her IV line, and wrapped my arms around her. “None of this is your fault.”
She leaned into me. “I know that in my head, but my heart’s a different story.”
A knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” I called.
Parker poked his head in with Caelyn and Griffin in tow. He gave Shay a kind smile. “Glad to see you looking better.”
Caelyn rushed to the other side of Shay’s bed, tears filling her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re okay. You are, right? I was so scared—”
Griffin cut off her words by pulling Caelyn against him. “She’s going to be just fine.”
“I am,” Shay promised. “Any word on Hunter?”
Caelyn nodded. “The surgeon was briefing Ford when we got here. It was touch and go for a little bit, but they say he’ll make a full recovery.”
Tears spilled down Shay’s cheeks. “Oh, thank God. I don’t think I could’ve handled it if he wasn’t okay.” I pulled her closer against me and kissed the top of her head. Shay turned her gaze to Parker. “My brother?”
“He’s in county lockup, awaiting transport to prison.”
Shay swallowed hard. “That’s good. He won’t be able to hurt anyone else.”
The pain in her voice was raw and deep. I rubbed a hand up and down her arm. “You’re allowed to be sad, too.” I knew that Shay’s feelings for her brother would never be simple, and she needed to be free to express whatever complicated emotions swept through her.
“He’s so sick,” she whispered, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye. “And he’ll never be better. My heart breaks for him. But I’m also relieved that there’s no chance of him getting out now.”
Caelyn stepped forward, taking Shay’s hand. “It’s understandable. Your relief comes from being safe. And knowing he can’t hurt anyone or himself.”
Shay nodded slowly. “Thank you for everything. All of you.”
Caelyn gave Shay’s hand a squeeze and then released it. “Griffin and I are going to go get everyone food. How does a burger and milkshake sound?”
Shay’s stomach grumbled audibly. “Cheeseburger? Vanilla shake?”
“You got it.”
Caelyn, Griffin, and Parker said their goodbyes, Parker promising that the official statements could wait. Suddenly, we were alone again. I brushed the hair back from Shay’s face. “Feel a little better?”
She let out a long breath. “I do.”
I gazed into her eyes. “You’re free now. You can go anywhere you want.” I hadn’t realized until this very moment how terrified I was of that. Shay could decide she wanted to play in an orchestra on the other side of the world. Or that these islands held too many