But he hadn’t been able to keep her mother alive.
Cassidy licked her dry lips. “I didn’t mean to love him.”
“I know.” His shoulder brushed hers. “We can’t control who we love. You will be able to tell him...soon.”
Cassidy nodded, and she prayed that he was right.
* * *
CALE HURT. The pain pulsed through him in waves that wouldn’t end.
“He’s coming around, Doctor. Should we—”
Cale’s hand flew out. He grabbed hold of the person talking, and the man’s voice broke off.
His throat burned as Cale rasped, “Cass...”
“Sir, we just removed the tube from your throat. You need to calm down.”
Forget calm. His hold tightened. His eyelids were heavy, and he struggled to lift them. Had the jerks taped them down? “Cass...”
“Sir, just calm—”
No tape. He finally managed to crack open his eyes. “Want...Cas...sidy...” His voice was stronger, more a snarl than anything else.
The guy he was holding tried to pull free.
“Get...her...”
“Mr. Lane!” Another voice. Snapping.
Was he supposed to be impressed by some doctor’s snap?
Need Cassidy. Was she all right? The last thing he remembered was the gunfire.
He’d tried to stop Genevieve before she could hurt Cassidy.
“We just spent hours stitching you back up. You’re damn lucky your spine wasn’t damaged. Now stop struggling before you undo all my work!”
If they’d get Cassidy, he’d stop. “Cass...”
“Yes, yes, I get it. You need Ms. Sherridan. We’ll get her, okay? But first, calm down or we’ll strap you down.”
They’d better not.
He eased his hold
on the man. Footsteps raced away.
The doctor’s face came into focus as he leaned over Cale. “Mercer told me you’d be like this.”
Cale couldn’t do more than bare his teeth in a grimace.
“He also told me that you’d pull through, no matter what.”
Sinking into that black oblivion of darkness hadn’t been an option. Not when he had Cassidy waiting for him in the light.
If she was waiting.