Knight, Kayla - Her Long Hot Surrender [Raw Texas Heat 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (18 page)

His brother sat on the bed and held his head in his bloodied hands. “I honestly don’t know, Ty.” He looked straight at him. “Did you find the bastard? If you did, I hope you killed him.”

“No. The cunt had already gone.”

“Carson Delaware is gonna pay for this.”

“Damn right. I for one w—”

“We’re losing her!” The paramedic’s urgent words cut across what Tyler had been about to say. They both rushed to the balcony. The dark haired paramedic was undoing Madi’s blouse. The other placed two metal pads on her exposed flesh.

Tyler didn’t want to look, but he couldn’t turn away, either. Like a doomed man approaching the gallows, he watched the scene unfurl in horrific detail before his eyes. Madi just lay there, her life hanging by a thread. The paramedics had passed a tube into her mouth, which was attached to a large plastic balloon. Every so often one of them would squeeze it, forcing air into her lungs. Keeping her alive.

The man with the pads spoke. “Stand clear.”

A loud zap whipped through the bedroom as an electric current was passed through Madi’s beautiful body, making her spasm involuntarily from the shock.

The other guy shook his head. “Raise it.”

“Clear.” Again the sound of the current being passed through her body made him feel sick to his stomach.

“Gabe. This can’t be happening. I can’t bear it. I love her.” A tear squeezed from Tyler’s eye, but he wiped it away. The Hayes men never cried.

“Me, too. Did you hear that, Madi? We love you. Come back to us. Please come back to us. We both need you.”

“Again.” Tyler could hear the urgency in the medic’s voice.

“Clear.” Her body spasmed once more.

This time, the paramedic nodded. “We gotta pulse, Wayne. Let’s put a line in and get this lady to hospital.”

“Is she gonna be all right? Tell me she’s gonna be all right.” Gabe asked, clearly distressed by the whole event. Tyler saw his brother visibly sag, as the dark-haired guy answered.

“Only time will tell.”

Chapter Eighteen

Three days later

Madison woke, her eyes adjusting to the harsh light. Wherever she was, it didn’t sound peaceful. A rumble of jumbled voices echoed off the walls and ceiling, and warning sounds bleeped all around her. Her head hurt. When she raised her hand to soothe the aching flesh, she discovered a large bandage covering half her skull.

Sensing someone nearby, she asked, “Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital, Madison. You’ve been shot,” answered a female voice.

The pain inside her skull grew worse. “Shot?” It was hard to take everything in. “I’ve been shot? Why?”

The nurse gently squeezed her hand. “I’m sure the police are on the case, honey. Things are looking up, though. There’s two gorgeous cowboys, calling themselves Gabe and Tyler Hayes, waiting outside. Would you like to see them? I know they’re desperate to see you. They haven’t left the hospital for three days.”

“Please, I need to tell them something. It’s very important. I should have told them weeks ago.”

The nurse left her bedside, returning a few seconds later with two worried-looking cowboys. She spoke. “Just a few minutes mind. She needs complete rest. We thought we’d lost her several times, but she’s stable now.”

Madison forced a smile as they sat on the edge of her bed, holding a hand each. They both looked pale and drained. She guessed they hadn’t slept.

“Madi, thank God you’re okay. Don’t you ever scare us like that again.” Tyler kissed her cheek. “You must know how very much I love you. I can’t live without you. We can’t live without you.”

Gabe squeezed her hand. “Madi, I love you so very much, too.” She could see the concern in his eyes, and knew it to be real.

First Tyler and now Gabe had told her they loved her. A warm feeling spread deep inside, comforting her through the pain.

“When I thought, I’d—” Gabe breathed deeply, searching for the right words. If she didn’t know any better she could swear he had moisture clinging to his lashes. “Goddamn it, Madi, you are a sight for sore eyes.” He wiped his nose on his shirtsleeve, and then leaned over and kissed her forehead.

“I feel sore.” Madison touched her head. “I guess I won’t be wearing my cowgirl hat for awhile.”

“That’s the least of your worries, baby. You just need to rest and get better. Then we can take you home where you belong.” Gabe rubbed his fingers over her hand and smiled into her eyes.

“Home—that sounds good. The nurse said I’ve been shot. I don’t remember a thing.”

“Don’t you worry about what happened, Madi,” Tyler’s words soothed her. “We’re gonna stay right here at the hospital with you. Nobody will ever hurt you again. They wouldn’t dare when the Hayes brothers are around.”

“I had the strangest dream.” Her thoughts drifted to her mother. Had she really had a conversation with her? The words made sense now.
Follow your dreams. Live life to the full.
She had to grasp her future with both hands.

Madison found it difficult to keep her eyes open, and Gabe said, “That’s right, Madi, you get some shut-eye. We’ll be right here.” He squeezed her hand for reassurance.

“I’ve something to tell you, boys,” she whispered, beginning to drift into a deep peaceful sleep. “I love you. I came back to tell you both that I love you.”

* * * *

Madi tentatively placed her feet on the floor, holding on to Gabe and Tyler as they helped her from the bed and into the waiting wheelchair. They’d rarely left her side this past week. She was lucky to be alive. The bullet had pierced her skull, but luckily had not entered her brain. Stunned into unconscious, her wound had produced copious amounts of blood. Looking like one of the walking wounded from a battlefield, she had a bare patch of scalp on the side of her head, decorated with about twenty stitches.

Gabe knew that prick of an ex-husband of hers was responsible for it. That was the main reason why he and Tyler wouldn’t leave her on her own. They figured that he’d tried to kill Madi once, and he’d certainly try again. Carson Delaware was a very dangerous man, but he felt confident they had the upper hand now.

Gabe squeezed Madi’s shoulder as she slid onto the chair, breathless and exhausted.

“Thank you. I’ll soon be back to my old self, boys.”

Both he and Tyler knew they were lucky she hadn’t died that day. That dreadful moment when the paramedics fought to save her life still haunted him. He would treasure each and every hour they shared together from now on.

“We’ll soon have you home with us, baby.”

Madi patted his hand. “Can’t wait. You’ve both been wonderful.”

Tyler held the door open, and Gabe wheeled her through, following his brother down the long clinical corridors until they came to an elevator. He pressed the button.

“Going down, ma’am.” He chuckled.

His brother chuckled, too. “Just imagine, Madi. All those years you hated cowboys, and now you’re gonna end up living on a cattle ranch.”

Madi smiled. “Sounds wonderful.” She seemed at peace with herself. Maybe it had come from the near-death experience she’d told them about. By all accounts her mother had been cross with her because she’d turned up too soon. It had lightened a tense situation for Gabe and Tyler, and they’d both roared with laughter. He shook his head. Imagine meeting that formidable woman at the gates of heaven. Apparently she’d informed her that Carson would be attending the other place. The one where they all carry pitchforks.

Tyler touched her head. “Are you sure that bullet isn’t lodged in here, because you’ve sure changed your opinion on cowboys.”

“I’m a woman, I’m allowed to.”

“True.” Tyler grinned. “So what changed your mind?”

The doors parted with a loud swish as the elevator arrived. Gabe wheeled Madi in and Tyler followed. Gabe could see exactly where this conversation was going.

“Why, Tyler Hayes. I do believe you’re fishing for compliments.” Madi laughed as the elevator jerked to a stop on the ground floor.

Gabe pushed her out of the hospital and into the parking lot. “Just a few more yards, baby.”

Tyler popped the trunk, and tossed her bag in the back.

“I think I can get in the car unaided,” Madi assured them. “I’m not an invalid.”

“No way,” Tyler insisted. “This is where I get to act the hero.” Without waiting for an answer he scooped Madi into his arms and lifted her into the rear seat of the SUV before sitting next to her.

“No wonder I can’t resist cowboys anymore. There’s nothing like a big, strong man to make a girl feel all warm inside. And I’ve got two hunky cowboys who’ve done nothing but pamper me this past week.”

Gabe smiled, enjoying the easy banter that flowed between them. Everything was so different just a week ago, when they’d both thought they’d lost her forever. “Just wait until we get you back home. Boy, have we got some pampering lined up for you.” Gabe stowed the wheelchair in the trunk.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Gabe glanced in the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of Ty and Madi hugging each other on the backseat. She still looked pale and a little drained, but he knew she was on the mend. He gunned the car into life. “Are you ready to go home?”

“Oh, yes, boys. Take me home,” she sighed.

Chapter Nineteen

“Are you sure you feel up to it, baby?” Gabe asked, concern showing in his eyes as he handed her a coffee.

“I need to do this.” Madi assured them as she sat at the kitchen table. “I’ll put it on speakerphone so you can hear everything.”

They hadn’t been idle while she was hospitalized. Gabe had kept a twenty-four-hour watch on her, and Tyler had organized their fight back against Carson. He’d made six copies of the information that she’d downloaded from her ex-husband’s computer. He’d given them to trusted friends, a sort of insurance policy, just in case anything unpleasant and unexpected should happen to herself, Gabe, or Tyler. She just hoped it would be enough to get her ex-husband off their backs.

Madison smiled at them both as she dialed Carson’s number. His secretary answered, “Senator Delaware’s office. How may I help you?” She felt her smile vanish, and her skin prickled at the sound of the woman’s voice. Karen, his secretary, was one of the many women she knew Carson had slept with during their ten-year marriage. She certainly didn’t feel like being friendly.

“I’d like to speak with the Senator, please.”

“I’m afraid Senator Delaware is not in the office right now, ma’am. Would you care to leave a message?”

“Yes, just tell him Madison Allen wants to speak with him.”

“Oh, Madison, it didn’t sound like you. We all heard about the shooting. Needless to say we were all rooting for you. I’m so, so sorry, honey. The Senator insisted I send you the biggest bunch of flowers money could buy.”

“I know. I received them.” Madison had immediately demanded that Tyler remove them from her hospital room the moment she realized they were from him. She didn’t want anything from Carson, especially if his floozy of a secretary had chosen them.

Probably sensing her coldness, Karen abruptly said, “Just one moment, Madison. The Senator has just returned from an important business meeting. I’ll put you straight through.”

Carson’s baritone voice burst down the line. “Madison, how are you? I’ve been so worried about you. By all accounts you’re lucky to be alive, sweetie.”
His voice oozed insincerity and menace.

“Don’t call me sweetie, Carson. I hated it when we were married, and I hate even more now.”