by Sheila Kell
She wanted to thank Trent, but that could wait until they doctored him up. There certainly had been a lot of blood, though. The plan had been that he put himself between Amber and the bomber before he took to the pool to try to prevent any impact of the blast to her daughter. She hadn’t considered the fact that the back of his body would be exposed in the meantime.
She walked through the back door. Please let it not be serious. She couldn’t handle two sacrifices.
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed in a chair when ambulance sirens rent the air.
JAKE hadn’t known what to expect when he’d approached the pool, but he had prayed his daughter would be alive. He’d never expected some fallout from his undercover assignment. Arthur’s intel sucked. He should’ve known the man was giving him a hint that the deputy director didn’t want to say aloud. Fuck.
How had they found him? Surely Arthur’s trip hadn’t been secret, and they’d discussed the operation, which probably went into reports his old boss filed. Did the terrorists have more people in the FBI who believed in their cause or was it just Bryant getting information out?
At that moment, he couldn’t care less. Christ, his daughter had almost died, and it was his fault.
Thank God for Les and Trent. They’d made a sacrifice that stood for their love of this family.
He swallowed hard at the thought of Les, and the fact nothing could be done for him.
Jake should’ve been the one standing there protecting his daughter. Now someone had given his life to save Jake’s family. How did he ever repay that?
Watching the ambulance cart Trent off, Jake’s heart bled for him. He might not have wanted to have the family pull themselves around him, but he’d learn that this was his family.
Jake had hated walking away from his little family, tossing his wet and crying daughter at Em to take care of after everything had happened. The men had needed him, and he couldn’t turn his back on the man who’d saved Amber’s life.
“How is he?” Em asked as he caught up to her in her bedroom.
He pulled her tightly into his arms. Damn, she fit so perfect with her head resting on his chest and her arms wrapped around his middle. “It’s not good, but he’ll survive,” he said past the growing lump in his throat. Was he choked up about Trent’s injuries or about what happened to Amber? Either way, he found it difficult to breathe.
Even through his damp shirt, her tears touched him. He remembered the closeness she had to Trent. The closeness that had once almost driven him mad with jealousy.
He glanced at the bed. “How’s Amber?”
She sniffed and stopped her weeping. “I rocked her to sleep. She’s scared, but she doesn’t quite understand.” Em stepped back and looked longingly at their daughter. “She asked for you.”
Not realizing it, she’d deliver a significant punch to his gut. Trent told him to take care of his family, but he’d refused to part from his friend all the while telling Trent that he was family. Jake also knew that Em would understand and take care of their daughter. He knew that she’d be strong until he was with them. He’d just hoped that he’d be able to hold them both tight before Amber fell asleep. Another time. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She smiled brightly, and her eyes glistened with the tears she’d left unshed. “It’s where you needed to be. I’m not upset. You’ll be here when she wakes up, and that’s what will matter to her. She just needs to see you.”
What did he ever do to deserve this woman? Thank God, he’d come to his senses. Thank the Hamiltons he had his life to live with her. “Em, I’m sorry about it all. This is my fault.”
She placed her forefinger on his lips. “Shh. You couldn’t have known.”
Grasping her hand, he kissed each finger and then her palm. Most women would’ve gone berzerk on their man had something like this happen. But not his Em. She didn’t blame him for what caught up to him. Maybe she’d seen enough with her brothers and knew his being an FBI agent brought its own trouble. “I won’t let anything like this happen again. I’ll keep you safe. I love you.”
She whispered, “I love you, too.”
“Luh you, too, Daddy.”
JAKE and Emily arrived at the hospital hand in hand, joyous that Amber woke before they’d left to visit. Their daughter hadn’t understood exactly what had happened so they hoped she’d be able to keep her curiosity away from it. They didn’t want to answer questions about Trent and Les right away.
No matter their happiness from their home life, they wore a heavy heart for this visit. How did Emily repay a man for something as precious as saving her daughter’s life? Family, friend or team member, Trent had risked his life by walking into it knowing he could be the only chance to save Amber, if she could be saved.
Inside the ICU waiting room, a group of men stood restlessly or sat fidgeting, not huddled around joking as usual. Her brothers and the team members’ actions twisted a knot in her gut. How bad was he? Les had been one too many. Not Trent too. She couldn’t handle it.
Jake steadied her, and they walked into the room and approached the group. Her gaze automatically zoned in on Jesse. “How is he?”
The pained look on his face worried her. They’d said he’d live or else she would never have delayed their visit for Amber to be loved on by Jake. She’d expected him to be in emergency care, and there’d be nothing she could do. Please don’t let things have changed.
“He’s heavily medicated, but he’ll be okay.”
A pent-up breath whooshed from her lungs. When her brother’s expression changed, she leaned back against Jesse, knowing she’d need his strength. Had he lost limbs during the rescue?
“He’s lucky.”
AJ jerked up from a chair across the room. “How do you call having shrapnel pulled from you and being that extensively burned lucky?” The painful emotion in his voice tugged at Emily’s heart.
Jesse narrowed his eyes at his baby brother. “He’s lucky he’s fucking alive. Scars are nothing compared to dead.”
Emily gulped, trying to pass a tennis-ball-sized lump down her throat. “How bad?”
“It’s significant.” Kate, sitting next to her husband, leaned into Jesse. “But, like Jesse said, he’ll survive. It’ll be tough and painful for him for a while.”
Jake’s arms wrapped around her, anchoring her body to him, and warmth seeped into her veins. On one hand, she agreed with Jesse—be thankful he has his life. On the other hand, she agreed with AJ—this was nothing to be happy about if it was to be as extensive as they believed.
The quick, tight squeeze with his hand told her how hard this was for Jake. He blamed himself. She’d tried to convince him otherwise on the drive to the hospital with no success. It didn’t matter that it could’ve been anyone that threatened their daughter. Hell, they’d recently had their share of trouble. But, Les and Trent had known the risks. They’d taken them. Without them, she and Jake wouldn’t have their daughter at home, playing with her cousin.
A doctor entered and scanned the room. “McKenzie family.”
The entire group moved forward. “Hamilton,” Jesse growled.
Bewildered, the man shook his head. “No, I’m looking for the McKenzie family.”
“You’ve got us. But, he’s a Hamilton.” Jesse crossed his arms over his chest in his don’t-mess-with-me stance. She wanted to roll her eyes, but she was too curious about what the man had to say.
Reaching a hand out, the man spoke, “I’m Doctor Walker.” He shook Jesse’s hand and must’ve decided that was all that was necessary because he didn’t offer it to anyone else. “I understand Nurse Fulton updated you on his condition. It hasn’t changed except for he’s awake. He’s asking for Emily and Jake.”
They stepped forward in unison, her desire to thank Trent and see how he truly was raced through her body.
“I’d rather he went back to sleep to deal
with the pain, but he refuses until he speaks with the two of you.”
Emily nodded. “We’ll be quick.” She reached for Jake’s hand before anyone noticed the slight tremble that had overtaken her. Would he blame them for his injuries? He had every right.
A nurse provided them protective clothing and waited while they donned it. The woman spoke non-stop on the trip to the ICU, but Emily didn’t hear the words. Her thoughts were on Trent. She feared what she’d see. How he might look. Walking in and witnessing all the machines hooked to him and people caring for his burn wounds buckled her knees. Jake caught her midslide to the ground.
Trent lay on his stomach, his back and legs partially covered in cloth instead of the hospital gown and sheets. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she choked back a sob.
“Em, don’t cry.” Trent’s weak voice jolted her gaze from the injuries to his face. “Come here.”
Safe in Jake’s arms, they moved to the head of the bed and a sleepy man. “Trent…” she started but couldn’t finish. No matter what he said, tears began a slow slide down her face.
“How is she?” Her brother closed his eyes for a moment, and she noticed a shudder rack his body.
Emily almost broke down. Despite his significant pain, he wanted to know about their daughter. “She’s fine.”
He nodded as best as he could against the pillow. “Good. I’m sorry if I frightened her.”
A small smile made its way to her face. “She did say something about not going swimming with you again.”
His light chuckle did wonders for her heart even though she caught him still himself rather quickly.
“Trent, we can’t thank you enough.” Thank goodness Jake had the ability to put words together and say what they’d come here to say to begin with.
“Think nothing of it.” A yawn escaped the patient.
Jake cleared his throat nervously. “I’m sorry. I never expected… I never meant for anything like this to happen—”
“Don’t worry about it. You didn’t do this. I’d do it all over again to save her.”
Clasping Trent’s hand, a small part of his body not covered with bandages, she avoided the IV and squeezed it a moment before just holding it in hers.
“I wanted to tell you two something.” His lucidity visibly began to waver as his speech became somewhat slurred. “Don’t hold off the wedding for me.”
Emily glanced at Jake then back at Trent. “Of course we’ll wait for you. You’re family, and we want you there.”
He closed his eyes, and she thought he’d dropped off to sleep. “Blake is right—life is too short. You’ve waited too long. Marry him now while you have everyone who loves you around you. They’ll be leaving again soon. Don’t waste this chance. Just remember me in spirit.” A smidgeon of a smile fixed on his lips.
“Trent McKenzie, you’re crazy if you think I’d have my wedding without you there.”
“Don’t wait for me, Em. After I get out of here… I’m leaving, and I’m not coming back.” He dropped off to sleep.
Twenty-Six
“EMILY, STAY STILL so I can finish these last few pins in your hair.” Megan poked Emily’s head again in her attempt to control the elaborate hairstyle she’d created for the occasion.
Stuffed in a small hospital bathroom preparing for her wedding ceremony, Emily obeyed fearing she might mess up her hair, and they’d have to start all over again. She appreciated what her sister-in-law was doing for her, but she didn’t see the need for it since her hair would be completely covered anyway.
She and Jake had finally given in to Trent and decided not to wait to marry, but they’d made a couple of private concessions. The big one was that they would not leave the man who’d saved their daughter’s life out of the family affair. Because he was family whether he liked it or not.
Sure, squeezing the entire family in the tiny burn ward waiting room hadn’t been her plan, but she wouldn’t have this day go any other way. Thank goodness her father knew the administrator and had convinced him to allow them to put on this production. Even if he had nixed the chapel with concern on moving Trent that far.
Kate grinned at her shifting in the seat. “I think it’s a great thing you’re doing by having your ceremony in the hospital so Trent can be there.”
A light mist filled her eyes at all that he’d been enduring. “We want him to be part of it, and we didn’t want to wait.” Her heart broke for her brother. With the public revelation by her father and then the bombing, he had a lot to deal with emotionally and physically. He had a long road to recovery ahead of him with possible skin grafts and such. After that, he planned to leave and never come home, but she wished she could convince him to stay, or at least return to them one day. She’d help him through anything she could. He’d been there for her so many times when she’d allowed Jake’s absence to affect her. She wanted to repay the favor.
But Trent had been right. If she wanted her entire family present, they needed to do it now as her father had an overseas trip planned, HIS had a scheduled job, and she knew in her heart that Trent would leave before everyone returned. Emily would have him at her wedding. Hence their not waiting.
Sadly, she thought that someone else was missing. Someone she couldn’t pin down like she was doing with Trent. Les. They’d laid his remains to rest, but the loss still had a profound impact on everyone. Emily held onto the guilt knowing he’d sacrificed himself for Amber. All the men assured her that they would’ve done the same thing. It didn’t help her feel any better about it. Though every time she held her daughter, she sent up a silent prayer of thanks to him.
Megan dropped her hands and nodded. “Finished.”
Relieved to be brought back to a happier topic, and to have her head stop feeling like a pincushion, Emily turned to look in the mirror. “Wow,” she said in awe. “It’s beautiful, Megan.” Small pearls dotted her blonde hair. It was a shame she’d have to cover the hairstyle with a hospital cap, but if they wanted Trent to be part of the ceremony, they had to don full hospital scrub outfits. There was still a chance of infection in his back, backside and thighs so there was no other way to ensure he participated.
With her hair styled as it was, she felt like a princess.
And she was ready to marry her prince.
Finally, after all these years.
Her brothers laughed at her when she’d been six years old and claimed Jake for her husband when she grew up. They’d picked on her mercilessly. But she hadn’t cared because she’d known what she wanted. No, who she wanted. Throughout the years that yearning never changed.
All the waiting and heartache faded away. They were now together and nothing would change that.
A knock sounded on the door. “He’s here,” her father’s voice boomed. “Are you ready?”
Trent must’ve been wheeled into the room. They’d refused to begin until he showed. Heck, they were here for him anyway. He had tried to back out since Blake would be in attendance, but she’d convinced him how important it was to her.
Emily hugged Kate and Megan, her heart bursting with love for the two women. They’d again tried to make the day extra special for her. Thankfully, there hadn’t been a full day shopping excursion. “Thank you.”
Kate reached for the doorknob to exit, but Megan touched her eyes with a tissue and sniffed. “I’m so happy for you.”
Weddings were a time for joy and sometimes tears, but her sister-in-law’s emotions were all over the place lately. Emily remembered pregnancy hormones. “Don’t cry or you’ll make me cry.” She had to escape before she walked down the aisle with tears streaming down her face.
“I’m sorry. I can’t help it.” Megan blew her nose, took a deep breath and straightened her spine. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Emily wiped imaginary wrinkles from the white scrubs she wore, and then followed Kate out the door to stand in fro
nt of her father, who was had chosen a charcoal gray set of scrubs.
He’d also introduced a woman named Nancy to everyone earlier. Emily wondered how serious their relationship was. Her father had introduced them to women before, but only at events they attended together. Never had he brought someone into the family setting.
“You look breathtaking, angel.” Pride, love and tears glistened in Blake’s eyes.
Fighting to hold back her own tears of joy, she hugged her father. “I love you, Dad.” His embrace filled her body with warmth. Forgiving him had been easier than she’d expected. Jake had helped her realize she had no right to hold those actions against him. Especially since it all happened before she’d been born.
He pulled back. “I love you, too. I wish your mother could see you now. She’d be so proud.” He offered a weak smile. “She’d also be bawling her eyes out.”
Emily chuckled at that. Heck, she was close to bawling herself. Just like she’d known her mother had been there to look over Amber when she’d been kidnapped, she knew her mother was beside her today. She just believed in it.
With a wide smile, her father pulled up his mask; then he offered his arm. “Let’s get you hitched.”
Megan helped her with the hospital cap, and then she slipped into the room.
Emily tied on her mask and placed her hand on her father’s arm. They entered the waiting room, which had been opened to them for the ceremony, to music playing from AJ’s cell phone. The small room was filled with her family.
At the back of the room, she spied Trent lying there, face down in a hospital bed. She wanted to cry because she knew he must still be in pain. He winked and nodded her forward.
Emily turned and gazed ahead at the love of her life. He waited for her at the front of the room wearing black scrubs and an expression of undying love. Definitely the Greek god she’d dreamed about when she’d been so young. He may have at one time broken her heart, but he had also fixed it.
The family, all dressed in hospital garb, stood around the room. Everything blurred as she breezed past them to reach Jake. She wanted to do a happy dance since her happily ever after was occurring.