“You get Father Wallace here. Now.” Keith pulled Ian down. “I don’t want to die without being married to her, bro.” Ian didn’t hesitate and ran out of the room. There was no way he said the word die, Keith wasn’t going to leave her.
“Keith, stop being a stubborn ass.” Emily sobbed and grabbed his hand. “The doctors are going to fix you. You’re not going to die.”
“Princess, please I need to be married to you. Even if it’s just saying the words.” Tears ran down the side of his face. “I’ll die a happy man.
“You’re not going to die. Keith, please don’t say that.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as he gasped. “I love you so much. I can’t lose you. Not when I finally found you.”
“I love you more than life itself, but I need to marry you now.” The emergency team was moving the gurney out of the room, and he clung to her hand. “Where are you taking me?” Keith gasped.
“Surgery.” The nurse said as they pushed him down the hallway. It broke her heart the way his expression turned to complete panic.
“No!” He roared. “Father Wallace.”
Ian stood in the hallway with the parish priest. Keith reached out and grabbed the priest. Emily had no idea how Ian got him there so fast.
“Now. Father, please.”
“My son we can do this after you’re well.” The priest said.
“Father, please now,” Keith whispered.
It was the strangest sight to anyone walking by. A priest at the foot of a gurney of a bleeding man and a woman covered in his blood. Nurses were surrounding them with tears in their eyes.
“It won’t be legal, Keith.” Father Wallace warned.
“I just want to say the words,” Keith’s voice sounded weaker.
“He’s losing a lot of blood.” The doctor snapped.
“Quick Father.” Keith grabbed Emily’s hand. She was accustomed to his hand being warm and comforting, but when he covered her hand with his, it was cold and clammy.
“I’ll make this quick.” Father Wallace said. “Do you Keith Gregory O’Connor take Emily Mary Bradshaw to be your wife?”
“I… I.. I .. do.” Keith gasped.
“Do you Emily Mary Bradshaw take Keith Gregory O’Connor to be your husband?”
“I do.” Emily sobbed.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Father Wallace finished. Emily leaned down and pressed her lips to Keith’s.
“I love you,” Keith whispered and with those words his eyes rolled up into his head.
Someone grabbed her by the arms and pulled her back from the bed, and Keith’s hand dropped to his side. Lifeless and cold.
Dear god, was he gone?
“He’s crashing.” The doctor yelled, and a nurse climbed up on top of the gurney as the rest of the team pushed Keith through the doors of the operating room. Emily’s legs lost all their strength, and she fell to her knees as sobs racked her body. She couldn’t catch her breath, and her chest hurt. Her hands were pressed against her chest, and she gasped for air.
“She’s hyperventilating.” Ian’s voice seemed so far off, but strong arms picked her up off the floor.
“I can’t lose him.” She screeched into the shoulder of whoever had picked her up. She did not care who it was. Nothing mattered if she lost Keith.
“My brother’s one of the strongest men I know, Emily.” Was that James?
“I love him so much and if he dies….” She stopped. James placed her on a bed in one of the hospital rooms.
“Now you listen here, Emily.” It was John. “You’re not going to lose him, and I’m not going to lose a brother. Do you hear me?” John grabbed her arms and gave her a little shake.
“Calm the fuck down, John.” Ian pulled John back from her.
“No. I’m not letting her give up on him. He loves her.” Emily saw the tears in John’s eyes. Not just John’s, but Ian and James as well. They were all so close.
God, I don’t pray often, but please watch over him.
Emily had her knees curled up to her chest on the bed. The room was completely silent except for the usual sounds of the emergency department. Well, until she heard a booming voice echo in from the hall.
“Where is my daughter?” Her father.
“Dad,” Emily whispered as her father charged into the room with her mom behind him. He wrapped his arms around her, and she clung to him. They didn’t always get along, but he was always there when she needed him most.
“Dad, Keith … he... was ... shot…” Her body shuttered as she forced out the words. It still seemed like she was speaking something foreign. Nobody ever got shot in Newfoundland.
“I know, baby girl,” Nelson kissed the top of her head.
“Dad, Keith’s in surgery.” She sobbed into his chest.
“I’ll make sure he has the best care,” Nelson squeezed her tightly against him, and her mother wrapped her arms around her from behind.
“He’s my life, dad.” Emily sobbed.
Edward and Elaine showed up a little while later and brought her a change of clothes. Her dress was soaked in blood. Keith’s blood. She couldn’t even look at the dress when she took it off. She told her sister to throw it away. She didn’t want the reminder of what had happened.
She joined Keith’s family in the waiting room once she’d cleaned up. It was almost three hours later, and Keith was still in surgery. Nobody seemed to know how it was going and even Ian or his father couldn’t find out. The only response they could get was Keith was still in surgery, and they’d send the doctor out as soon as he was done.
She looked around the waiting room. Keith’s family filled almost every chair, and the ones that weren’t occupied by his family had his friends. Keith’s parents sat across from her. Kathleen was wrapped in Sean’s arms with her hands folded in front of her. Tom and Nick sat on both sides of Nanny Betty holding her hands. It was the first time she’d seen Nanny Betty so quiet.
John was on the other end of the room with his elbows resting on his knees and his head in his hands. Stephanie was making small circles on his back as she stared off into space. James and Marina were wrapped in each other’s arms in the corner of the waiting room with the same somber expression as everyone else. Ian sat with Sandy holding hands and her head on his shoulder.
Kurt and Alice sat next to Keith’s parents, and Cora and Brian were next to them. His cousins and friends were scattered around the rest of the room. All of these people waiting to hear that Keith was okay. All of them here because of her family’s drama.
“Ian, are all the kids okay?” It was the only thing Emily could think to say.
Keith’s nieces and nephews loved him. They’d always been so excited to see him, and he lit up when they were around. They’d be devastated if something happened to him. God, she had to stop thinking that way.
“Doug and Janet have Olivia and the boys. Dad and his girlfriend have our girls and Alex.” Sandy answered for Ian. Doug and Janet were Marina and Stephanie’s, parents. Emily had never met them, but she knew they spent a lot of time with the O’Connors.
“Why is this taking so bloody long?” Her father grumbled.
“Nel, please don’t start.” Her mother pleaded.
“No, da man is right,” Nanny Betty snapped. “Why aren’t dey tellin us anything?”
“I wish I knew, Nan.” Ian leaned back in the chair and plowed his hands through his hair.
“You know considering there are two doctors in your family, you think you would be able to get some information,” Her father was being an ass. “And how was this bastard able to get on my property without anyone noticing?”
“Now just one minute you self-centered, son of a bitch.” Cora stood up with her fists at her sides. “We’re allowing you to be here because of Emily. She loves Keith, and we want her here too, but you need to shut your mouth. The only thing you’re doing is upsetting your daughter and our family. If you want to stay with us and support your daughter than stay, but for once in
your life keep that big mouth of yours closed. This is not the time or the place for this.”
“That’s my girl!” Nanny Betty nodded with pride.
The shocked expression on her father’s face would have been comical if Emily wasn’t so terrified. She couldn’t remember ever being so scared in her life. She closed her eyes, and for the second time that day, she prayed. God had to be listening. Keith was a good man, and he shouldn’t have to be fighting for his life. He spent his entire life watching out for other people. He was selfless, kind and the most wonderful person she’d ever known.
Watch over him.
Emily ran through the events of the night in her head. The lights had gone out before the popping started. She knew now that it was gunshots but how could someone just shoot blindly.
“How did he shoot when it was completely dark?” Emily whispered mostly to herself.
“What do you mean?” Ian hadn’t missed her question.
“Remember, the lights went out, and it was pitch black, I thought the popping was fireworks.” Emily glanced at Ian.
“He could have had night vision goggles, or he could’ve just been shooting randomly. Bastard probably didn’t care who he shot.” Kurt’s voice was gruff but cracked at the end of his statement.
“You know everyone is saying he. With everything that has gone on over the last few years, we are aware women can be crazy too.” Marina said. “Is it possible this could be a woman?”
“Anything is possible.” James sighed.
The only woman Emily could think of was Judy, but there was no way snooty Judy would hold a gun let alone shoot it. Besides, Emily had seen her just before the lights went out.
Thirty minutes later the doctor walked into the room. The look on his face made Emily’s body go cold. He didn’t look like he was about to give them good news.
“No,” Emily whispered, and everything went black.
Chapter 24
Emily opened her eyes and scanned the room. She was in a hospital bed with her mother asleep in the chair next to her. What the hell happened to her? The last thing she remembered was the doctor coming into the room.
Keith.
“Keith. Oh, my God. Keith.” Emily screamed and bolted up. The room started to spin, and she grabbed the rails that were on either side of the bed.
“Princess, I’m right here.” Emily snapped her head towards the window.
Keith was sat in a chair, and he looked so incredible. The sun must have been shining in through the window because he had the most beautiful light glowing around him. He was dressed differently from his normal jeans and T-shirt, but the white suit looked amazing on him. He looked so happy and peaceful.
“Keith, you’re here, and you’re okay.” Emily choked through the tears flowing down her cheeks.
“I’m perfectly fine, Princess.” He stood and seemed to glide to her side, and his voice almost echoed.
“I thought the doctor was going to say you didn’t make it.” Emily reached out to him, but he didn’t touch her.
“Emily, what’s wrong. Who are you talking to?” Her mother grabbed her hand and was glancing around the room. It was as if she didn’t see Keith.
What the fuck?
“I’m talking to Keith, Mom.” Emily glanced at her mother.
“I’m sure he hears you, sweetheart.” Her mother wiped a tear from her eye.
“Of course, he does, he’s right next to me.” Emily snapped. What was wrong with her mother?
“She can’t see me, Princess.” Keith smiled at her.
“What are you talking about? You’re right in front of her.” Emily shouted. They were pissing her off with all this foolishness. She had a massive headache, and the room started to spin again.
“I’m only here to say I love you and I’ll always be watching over you.” Keith touched her cheek. “I’ll always be with you.” The last of his words faded, and Keith turned so bright she had to shield her eyes. “Until we meet again, Princess.” Then he was gone.
“What just happened?” Emily screamed. “Where did he go?” She was frantic.
“Emily, you need to calm down.” Her mother’s arms wrapped around her.
“Calm down? Are you crazy? He just disappeared.” Emily pointed to the now empty spot where Keith had vanished. How was he just gone?
“Honey, he didn’t disappear. He died. He’s with God now.” Her mother cupped Emily’s face in her hands.
“Died?” Emily said the word, but she wasn’t sure if she understood what was coming out of her mouth.
“He didn’t make it through the surgery. Remember the doctor came in to tell everyone and you fainted. You hit your head pretty hard, and you’ve been out for a few hours.” Was she really hearing this? “I’m so sorry, baby. You finally meet the love of your life, and now he’s gone.”
“No…. no…. no…. he can’t be gone.” Emily didn’t recognize her own voice as she shrieked his name. “Keith…. No…. Keith.”
“Emily,” Her mother shook her. “Honey, please open your eyes.”
She didn’t want to open her eyes ever again. Keith was dead, and her life was over. She couldn’t live without him, and she didn’t want to. She wanted to die with him.
“Emily, for the love of God wake up. You’re dreaming.” Her mother shouted, and Emily’s eyes popped open.
She stared up at her mother and sister. They were bent over her with concern written all over their faces. She glanced around and even though she was in a hospital bed the room looked different. Instead of it being bright white she was surrounded by a curtain. There was no window and no chairs.
“Mom, what happened?” Emily gasped as she tried to calm her racing heart.
“When the doctor came in to tell us about Keith, you fainted and hit your head on one of the chairs.” Her mother let out a huge breath. “I’m just relieved you are finally awake.”
“It’s true... Keith…. He’s…” She wasn’t dreaming, he actually was gone.
“Yes, it’s true.” Her mother smiled down at her. Why was the woman smiling? “Keith’s in recovery, and he’s going to be okay. He was a very lucky man.”
“He’s not…. dead.” Emily hiccupped.
“No. Honey, is that what you were dreaming about?” Her mom took her hand and squeezed it.
Emily tried to catch her breath because she was still trembling from the nightmare. The dream had seemed so real, she could have sworn she felt him touch her cheek. His hand had been warm against her cheek right before he vanished.
“He’s fine. He’s going to have to be in the hospital for a few days, and he’ll have to take it easy for a while, but the doctor said he’d make a full recovery.” Elaine handed Emily a tissue.
“I need to see him.” Emily sat up, but it was as if the room became a huge merry-go-round and she felt like she was going to be sick. “Why is the room spinning?”
“Because you thought it would be a good idea to crack your head on one of those hard hospital chairs.” Sandy laughed. “Not a good idea.”
Emily managed to focus her eyes at the foot of her bed. Sandy, Stephanie, and Marina were standing together. They were smiling which meant her dream really was just that. Not that she didn’t believe her mother and sister, but these three women knew what it was like to love an O’Connor man.
“I think she broke the chair.” Stephanie squeezed Emily’s foot.
“At least her head will heal. The chair won’t.” Marina joked.
“You’re all so sympathetic.” Emily shook her head and then wished she hadn't when things started to spin again.
“I really should’ve been a nurse.” Sandy laughed.
“Jesus, I’d pity the patient that got you as a nurse.” Nick walked behind Marina and Stephanie and draped his arms over their shoulders. “That was a great swan dive you did, Emily. I need you to show me how to do that sometime.”
“Thanks a lot, Nick.” Emily rolled her eyes, and the motion actually hurt her head. Now that she n
oticed, it hurt like hell. She reached up and winced when her hand touched the huge goose egg on her forehead.
“That looks painful.” Marina cringed.
“Yeah, just a little bit.” Emily sighed.
“Keith’s awake and not really happy we let you hit the deck.” Nick chuckled. “He wants to see you. No, let me rephrase that. He wants to see you right fucking now, but that, of course, is in between him coming in and out of consciousness. It’s pretty amusing to watch. He wakes up and starts flipping out and before he gets too riled up he passes out again.” Nick laughed. “A.J.’s recording his rants.”
“You know if A.J. puts that on Facebook, Keith will kill him, right?” Stephanie giggled.
“Hey, that’s on A.J.” Nick held up his hands.
“Yeah, more women for you if Keith kills A.J. right?” Emily couldn’t help it. She had to get a dig in.
“Hey, I never thought about that, but that’s a good plan.” Nick winked. “I’m glad you’re okay, Emily. I’ll let Keith know.” With that, he rushed out of the room.
“I really want to see him.” Emily sighed, but she didn’t want the room spinning again.
“Hang on,” Stephanie hurried out of the room and returned a few minutes later. “The hospital will probably have a fit but who cares. Here you go.”
Stephanie handed Emily a phone, and when she looked at the screen, A.J. was grinning. He put his finger to his lips and moved around the room.
“He’s waking up again,” A.J. whispered.
“A.J. what the fuck are you doing?” Keith’s voice was hoarse but her eyes filled with tears just hearing it. It was heaven to hear him.
“Looking at a gorgeous lady.” A.J. winked and turned the phone so she could see Keith.
The sight of him made her gasp, and she covered her mouth with her hand. He was shirtless and covered to the chest with a sheet, but her eyes immediately focused on the bandage covering his chest. She tried to stop them, but the tears started.
“Princess, don’t cry. I'm all right.” He reached out to the phone.
“I’ll hold it, bro,” A.J. said.
“I was so scared.” Emily sobbed.
“I’m sorry. Are you okay? They said you hit your head.” Keith’s eyes started to flutter. He really was out of it.
Dangerous Beauty (O'Connor Brothers Book 4) Page 21