Hidden Threat (33 page)

The operator tried to get him to stay on the phone, but he refused. He was watching Cali fall apart before his eyes. He couldn’t concentrate on anything but her.

As he hung up the phone, he heard the elevator ding followed by a half dozen running feet. Looking up, he saw Martinez take a quick look through the doorway, taking in the scene before giving the all clear sign and coming into the room.

Matthew was too busy tending to Cali to care too much about what was going on around them. With every bit of color Cali lost, that feeling in the pit of his stomach grew. With every shallow breath she took, his heart ached just a little more.

When he saw Martinez bend down to Lisa, he said, “She’s alive.” Martinez checked her pulse anyway and nodded.

Martinez fired off some instructions to one of his officers. After that, he disappeared into the connecting bathroom, returned with a towel, and placed it over the gash in Lisa’s head.

Then they waited.

Matthew kept his eyes on Cali. She didn’t look good. “I’m sorry.” He pressed harder, willing the bleeding in her leg to stop. “I’m sorry,” he whispered again.

It seemed to take forever for the medics to arrive. They took charge of the situation, loading each of the women onto stretchers before wheeling them to the elevator.

Matthew heard Lisa come around as they lifted her stretcher into the ambulance.

“Jason?” she mumbled.

Martinez took her hand. “He’ll meet you at the hospital, okay,” he heard Martinez answer.

Then his entire focus was back on Cali as the doors closed on the back of the ambulance, and they got her ready for transport. He knew enough to know that the bullet had hit an artery. She was losing a lot of blood. There was no exit wound that he could see, and that would most likely mean surgery.

Matthew felt lost, numb. The only woman he ever loved lay dying in front of him.

I can’t lose her. I just—can’t.

Jason arrived at the hospital moments after Lisa. He was frantic. Martinez told him she’d be fine, but he had to see for himself. The nurse wouldn’t let him in until he talked to the doctor. It was beyond frustrating, and he found himself pacing the hallway to release some of the tension.

Then the doors flung open and a rush of doctors and nurses came to meet them.

He flattened himself against the wall to get out of the way, and then he saw Matthew covered in blood. His brother’s face was drawn in more agony than he’d seen since their mother’s death. Following the stretcher with his eyes, he saw the familiar thick reddish- brown hair.

Cali.

Jason reached out for his brother, but Matthew wasn’t paying attention. He rushed to follow the stretcher until a nurse held up her hand with a stern look on her face. Matthew ignored her, trying to sidestep her, but a security guard placed a hand on Matthew’s should, reaffirming the nurse’s restriction. His brother could not go any farther. Once the nurse was sure he would stay in place, she turned around and walked through a set of double doors that clicked into place as they closed.

***

Matthew stood motionless as his physical and visual connection with Cali was severed. He wanted to be with her. He needed to know she was okay.

There was no doubt in his mind he’d screwed up. It was his responsibility to keep her safe. He’d promised her and he’d failed.

Normally a leg wound wouldn’t be a big deal, but she was bleeding out. They’d given her a transfusion on the way, but he knew it wasn’t enough. She was in shock, and her blood pressure was dropping rapidly. He’d heard the instructions over the radio. Emergency surgery.

He felt someone come up beside him; he knew it was his brother, but he didn’t move. Eventually, Matthew felt hands guide him to a waiting room and push him into a chair. Someone placed coffee into his hand, but he didn’t drink it. Every movement, every sound at the door and he’d look up in hopes it would be news she was okay.

The minutes ticked by endlessly. Jason said something to him and left the room for a while, but nothing connected with his brain. He registered the sounds around him, but didn’t react.

Two hours later, his coffee cold and disposed of by his brother, a doctor in scrubs walked into the room. “Is anyone here for Cali Stanton?” 

Matthew shot out of his seat and crossed the room in a heartbeat. “I am.” The doctor nodded and motioned for him to sit down. He took off his cap and sat across from Matthew, folding his hands.

***

Four hours later, Matthew sat in the ICU. Cali was still unconscious, but alive. Her femoral artery had been hit, which caused an alarming amount of blood loss.

According to her doctor, they’d given her several pints to replace what she’d lost between the ambulance ride and surgery.

When the doctor asked if her family had been contacted, Matthew immediately felt another wave of guilt. Alvin. The thought to call him hadn’t even crossed his mind. His brother surprised him, saying he’d talked to her father, and he’d be here as soon as he could.

Jason. Matthew didn’t know what he would have done over the past six hours if it hadn’t been for him. The waiting for word from the surgery had been hard enough, but knowing she was still fighting for her life and not being able to see her was worse.

They’d kept her in recovery for two hours before transferring her to the ICU. Then they’d told him he couldn’t see her because he wasn’t family. Family! Thankfully, Alvin and Jessie arrived.

Even though it just about killed him, Matthew stood back and let her father go first. Alvin and Jessie stayed in her room for almost an hour while Matthew paced the floor waiting. Shortly after Alvin and Jessie arrived, Jason left to visit Lisa.

She’d been moved to a room for overnight observation but was going to be fine.

When Alvin and Jessie came around the corner, Matthew could see that their eyes were bloodshot from tears. They came straight to Matthew, and he tried to listen to them, he really did; but the only thing driving his actions was his need to see her. Jessie noticed his mental state and suggested to Alvin that he add Matthew, Jason, and Lisa to the visitor list. To Alvin’s credit, he didn’t think this was an unusual request.

After everything was settled, Jessie offered to take Alvin home for the night. It was almost midnight, and he was still recovering. He protested a bit at first, but when Matthew offered to stay with Cali, he finally agreed.

Matthew looked down at her limp hand in his, so small, so delicate. He would give anything to trade places with her if he could. “I’m so sorry, Cali.” She didn’t stir, but he hadn’t expected her to. The doctor said she could wake up at anytime, but it probably wouldn’t be until sometime tomorrow.

So, he waited.

At some point, he must have dozed off, because he awoke with a blanket draped over him. The sun was coming through the single window in the room. And Cali’s eyes were still closed.

Looking up at the clock, he knew her father would return soon, and he’d have to leave. Jessie had said they’d be back around eight. It was now seven thirty.

So taking the little bit of privacy he had left, he stood, grasping her hand once again. Leaning down, Matthew placed a soft kiss to her forehead. “I love you, Cali Stanton,” he whispered. “You make me feel things I never imagined were possible. I’m sorry I failed you and…” His voice caught in this throat. “And I hope you can forgive me.” His fingers traced down the planes of her face, memorizing them.

“How’s she doing?”

Matthew jumped, pulling his hand back. It was Alvin and Jessie.

“She’s…she’s the same.” Then looking back at her one last time, he turned toward the door. “I’ll leave you alone.”

The drive back to the Stanton estate was long. Every mile he traveled, he could feel the distance between them. All he could do for her now was clean up the mess left behind.

When he’d walked out of the hospital and turned his phone back on, there’d been several messages—all left within the last half hour. The first was from the COO, Brian, wanting to know what he was supposed to do now. Technically, he was now in charge until Cali or her father could take over again. The police had everything blocked off, preventing him from gaining access to what he needed.

There were also a few hang-ups in there, but he ignored them. If it was important, they’d call back or leave a message. There was the call from Jason letting him know Lisa was being released this morning and he’d be at her place if Matthew needed him. And the last one was Martinez. He needed Matthew to come down to the station and give a statement.

Prioritizing, Matthew called Jason first. He and Lisa were still in the hospital waiting for the discharge paperwork to be completed. Jason was glad to hear Cali was stable, and Matthew told him he’d call later tonight. 

Next was Martinez. The last thing he wanted to do was spend his day at the police station, but he also knew it had to be done. Matthew let him know he’d be there in a few hours. And finally, he called Brian, letting him know he’d check with Martinez, and they’d deal with everything Monday.

Pulling up to Cali’s childhood home felt different this time. It didn’t make sense at first; this was the place he’d been calling home for the last month and a half. But that was just it. He’d been calling it home, but it wasn’t.

Each step he took toward what had become their bedroom felt heavier than the last. He could already see evidence of Alvin’s return as he walked through the foyer, up the stairs, and down the hall. Alvin was back. The danger was gone. And Matthew was no longer needed.

Matthew walked into the room and lay in the middle of the bed he shared with the one and only woman he’d ever loved. Just yesterday, they’d been together here in this bed. Her scent still lingered on her pillow.

The buzzing sound of his phone roused him from his memories, and he stood up.

It was a text from Jason, letting him know they were on their way home.

An ache deep in Matthew’s chest nearly pulled him back down on the bed. He’d almost lost her. He’d made a stupid mistake and almost lost her.

Taking a deep breath, he strengthened his resolve. She would get better. Cali was strong. She could do it; he had no doubt. And he would do what he needed to as well. He would give her back her life, the life she wanted.

With that thought, Matthew turned to the dresser and began pulling out his clothes. An hour later, he was in his car on his way back to his place.

It didn’t take long to bring in his stuff and put it away before he was on his way to meet Martinez.

***

That evening, Alvin was at his daughter’s side when her eyes finally opened. “Hey, kiddo.”

“Dad?”

“It’s me, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”

Cali tried to move but quickly gave up when her body protested with more aches and pains than she’d ever experienced. “Don’t move, dear,” Jessie said from the other side of her bed.

“Jessie?”

“You gave your father quite a scare, you know?” she said, smiling down at Cali.

But Cali’s eyes didn’t stay on Jessie or her father. They were searching the room, franticly looking for Matthew. But he wasn’t there. Why wasn’t he there?

“Where’s Matthew?” she managed to get out in a voice that sounded weak even to her.

It was Jessie who spoke up. “He was here this morning. I’m sure he’ll be back later.” Then she glanced over at Alvin. “I’ll go tell the nurse she’s awake.” 

***

The next morning, Matthew drove straight to the hospital. Jessie had left a message last night on his cell letting him know Cali had been moved to a regular room. He’d thought about going then, but by the time he’d received the message, it was already after ten.

It was Sunday so he hoped to have a little time alone with her. Luck, however, was not on his side. When he turned the corner, he found not only Alvin and Jessie there, but also Jason, Lisa, Jen, and Becky. He was just one of many keeping Cali company.

Cali was awake, although not that big a participant in the conversation. Finally, around noon when her eyes fell closed, everyone said a round of goodbyes and left. Alvin and Jessie were just going to grab a quick bite and come back, but the rest were going back home to their normal lives as if nothing had happened. He was expected to the do same thing tomorrow, but it wouldn’t be normal.

As he sat down at Cali’s bedside, a nurse came in to check her vitals. She roused slightly as he took her blood pressure but was almost instantly asleep again.

This was Matthew’s the first opportunity to really look her over with the eyes of someone who’d intimately seen every inch of her. There were subtle changes in her face; the coloring was a little off from its normal hue. And of course, there was the sling holding her left arm tight against her body.

Reaching out, he lightly skimmed his fingers along the line of her good arm, remembering the feel of her holding him tightly against her. It was a feeling he wouldn’t experience again for a while, if ever. Lifting her right palm to his lips, he kissed the back of it before placing it back down on the mattress and pressing his palm to the back of her hand.

This was in that position Alvin found him. “Is she alright?” 

His head came up, “Yeah, she’s the same. Still sleeping.”

“Good,” Alvin said, wheeling himself to his daughter’s good side. Alvin’s hand came to rest on Matthew’s shoulder. “You saved her life. I owe you much more than just my thanks for that.”

Matthew shook his head. “You don’t owe me anything. If I’d been a few minutes later…”

“You weren’t though.”

There was silence then. The only sound in the room was the quiet beeping of machines.

“Well, I should probably go,” Matthew said, standing.

Alvin didn’t say anything while he watched Matthew. The man looked overwhelmingly guilty, which didn’t make sense to him.

“I’ll—” Matthew started. “Call me if you need anything.” 

Nodding, Cali’s father watched Matthew walk out the door and disappear down the hallway. Then his gaze fell on his daughter. Was there something he was missing?