"Chad, watch out," he heard Trenton yell. Everything slowed down as he turned toward Trenton, who was throwing his arms in the air. First he pointed to his gun, indicating he was out of bullets, then pointed to his left. Chad turned and realized one of the gunmen had gotten away from them. He had a gun pointed directly at Bree and him.
Chad reached forward to push Bree back to the ground, but she saw the gunman at the same time as he did. She dodged his hand, putting her in danger.
Chad whipped his gun back out and put a bullet through the man's head, but it was too late. He watched in horror as Bree moaned just before her eyes rolled back in her head and blood ran down the side of her face.
She started falling to the ground, but Chad grabbed her before she hit the solid surface. Trenton ran toward them, tears running down his cheeks as he saw the lifeless look on his sister's face. She'd been shot in the head.
Chapter Seven
Chad cringed at the sight of Bree hooked up to so many machines. Wires ran from her arms to the consistently beating monitors next to her hospital bed. She looked so fragile lying in the stark room.
He'd never felt more fear than in those moments when she'd crumbled in his arms, blood escaping from the side of her head. The bullet had thankfully only grazed her temple. Still, so much blood loss – too much. One more inch and she'd be dead instead of in a coma. She'd been in it for two months, now, and the doctors didn't know when she was going to wake up. He'd practically lived by her side, guilt consuming him.
Bree's pursuer hadn't been caught. The men, who'd been holding her captive, said they'd never met the man they were working for in person. Everything was done through the phone. Whoever it was, scared them badly enough, they'd rather sit in jail than give anything up on him, which made Chad think there were some upper level men involved.
Bree's family was wealthy beyond what most people could imagine. With great wealth came even greater power. There were people out there who coveted what the Anderson's had. They weren't afraid of using terror, force, or even murder to get what they wanted. Chad didn't know who was behind the pursuit of Bree, but he would find out – and they would pay.
Chad had argued with the doctors countless times already, insisting they weren't doing all they could for her. She should've woken by now. How could her body be working, yet her mind refuse to allow her to wake? He couldn't understand it.
Bree's family was at the hospital as much as Chad. Her brothers took every opportunity to shoot him dirty looks – though they knew he'd done his best to save her. They, like him, needed someone to blame – so he was the easiest target.
"Mr. Anderson, we have some test results we need to speak about," the doctor said as he walked in the room.
"Go ahead," George replied. He looked like hell, with dark circles taking permanent residence under his eyes, and the loss of about twenty pounds. He was making himself sick with worry. It was hard on him being back in the hospital again. It reopened the wounds of grief over the loss of his wife, and caused a whole new mourning period for him and the rest of the family. Even his voice sounded almost dead – defeated, something Chad had never expected from the powerful man he'd come to know.
"We should speak in private," the doctor said.
"Anything you have to say about my daughter, anyone in this room can hear," George replied wearily. The doctor nodded his head before he gave them the shock of their lives.
"Bree is two months pregnant."
The room went utterly silent as all the men slowly turned their gazes from the doctor to Chad's stunned face. It was obvious those weren't the words they were expecting to hear.
"You're sure?" George finally gasped. The doctor nodded.
Suddenly George's face broke out in a small grin, the first one he'd given since Bree had been abducted and then shot. Everyone was taken by surprise at his reaction.
"Well, I'll be … " he trailed off. He took Bree's hand in his own and looked at his daughter fondly. "I know you can hear us, Bree. You're going to be a momma, so you need to fight real hard and wake up," he whispered in a tear choked voice.
Chad realized he wasn't breathing and took in a huge gasp of air. He was going to be a father. Words failed to describe the extreme myriad of feelings coursing through him.
Fear.
Excitement.
Love.
Each emotion had an equal hold on his teetering emotions. He was going to be a dad. He looked at Bree's still flat stomach and had to fight the itch in his throat.
"Outside, Redington," Trenton snapped.
Chad stood instantly. He could use a good fight. It looked like it was show time. He followed Trenton into the hall, and the rest of the room cleared out behind them. No one wanted to miss the showdown.