James shifted his cloudy gaze to Sophie’s worried brown eyes.
“You have to let them help her,” Sophie said, tears running down her face. “Please.”
James loosened his grip, remaining on the ground and watching helplessly as she was loaded onto a gurney and rushed toward a waiting ambulance. “Where are they taking her?”
His voice was dull, flat. His eyes weren’t much different. Sophie was worried he was nursing a few injuries of his own.
“Will you let them look you over?”
James finally focused on Sophie. “I need to go with her. She needs me.”
“You’ll go with her,” Sophie said. “You’ll be in the ambulance right behind her.”
“She can’t be alone,” James argued, trying to get to his feet and toppling over again. “She can’t be alone.”
“They’ve already taken her, James,” Sophie said. “She’s on her way to the hospital. They’ll take care of her there.”
“I need to be with her.”
“You’re going to be with her,” Sophie said. “I promise.” She glanced over at the paramedic who was inching closer to James. “Be careful. He’s in shock or something. His eyes are unclear and he seems confused.”
“If he was close to that explosion, it’s a miracle he’s even alive,” the paramedic replied. “I’m sure his bell is rung.”
A glance at the still burning shell of the car told Sophie the paramedic was right. “Just be careful with him.”
“You know him?”
“We’re family.”
GRADY and Finn pushed their way into Mercy East hospital at a run. Sophie’s call had been hard to understand at first, sirens drowning out her first attempt to relate the evening’s events.
When he finally grasped what she was saying, Grady snapped into action. It had only taken the brothers eight minutes to make a twenty-minute drive across town. Now they were on a hunt to find their brother. It didn’t take long.
“I want to see her now!”
Grady bypassed the scared-looking receptionist at the front desk and moved toward the voice. He found his brother standing in the middle of the lobby, hands on hips, arguing with two men in scrubs as they tried to restrain him.
“Sir, Ms. Avery’s injuries are severe,” one of the men said. “She’s being treated in the ER right now. We can’t have you in there.”
“I don’t care what you want,” James seethed. “She needs me, and I need to be with her.”
“Sir … .”
Grady put a tentative hand on James’ shoulder, causing his brother to swivel to see who would dare touch him. He let out a sigh when he saw Grady. “Tell these assholes that I need to be with her.”
Grady glanced at the two men. He wasn’t sure if they were nurses or doctors, but he understood the worried glances they were exchanging. James was coming across as deranged.
“James, have you been checked out?”
“I’m fine.”
Given the ashen color of his features, and the three layers of grime hiding potential injuries, Grady had his doubts. “You need to be checked out … and cleaned up.”
“Mandy was right there when the car exploded,” James said. “She was closer. I’m fine.”
“We need to make sure of that,” Finn interjected. “We need you to be at your best. She’s going to need you at your best.”
James shook his head. “I need to see her now.” His voice broke as tears spilled from his eyes. “I can’t … I can’t do this. I can’t lose her.”
“I know,” Finn said. “We can’t lose you either. So, you’re going to let these nice men check you out, and then we’re all going to sit here and wait. You can’t save her from this. We have to let them do their jobs.”
“What if it was Emma?” James pressed.
“If it was Emma, I would like to think I would know my limitations,” Finn said. “I’m not a doctor, and neither are you. What Mandy needs right now is a doctor. What she’s going to need when they’re done is you.”
James pushed the heel of his hand against his forehead, still fighting the logic behind Finn’s words. “But … .”
“But nothing,” Grady said firmly. “You’re going to be checked out, and Finn is going to go with you. I’m going to stay right here. The minute they update me on Mandy’s condition, I’ll find you.”
James’ eyes were red, the mixture of smoke and tears making them burn. “You’re going to wait right here?”