Tackling Tobias (Big Sky Universe)

“Good. Good. Sweetheart, say something to me,” I beg. She’s gone quiet on me which right now isn’t what I want. I have to hear her tell me she’s going to stay with me forever.

“I love you, Tobias,” she sighs.

“I love you so much, Ava.”

“She’s still alive,” John says from the girl on the ground.

“Who cares?” I snarl.

“You need her alive. She might have more insight into the bigger picture,” Landon says, trying to make me see reason, but they’re just going to have to deal with an unreasonable asshole right now.

“I overheard David tell Ava that her father is paying him well to kidnap her,” I explain, giving no fucks for that woman who tried to kill my wife.

“Still, she has more information. Besides, she has to pay for her crimes.” Seeing her rot in prison does have its merits.

I relent. “Call a second ambulance. My wife goes in first, though.” The men all nod in understanding because it’s just not up for debate.

“It’s already on the way,” Landon adds.

“Good. I need to get Ava to a hospital.” I cradle her as best as I can, wishing I could take her off this cold ground, but I don’t want to risk moving her.

Just as I say that, two ambulances arrive with the police. I stay with my wife, turning over my gun to the police without moving more than inches from Ava as they prep her for the stretcher. “I should have listened to her,” I grumble.

“Ready? One, two, three.” They lift Ava’s gurney and wheel her toward the back of the ambulance.

The police have questions, but I'm not in the mood to answer them. I wave them off as I stay inches from the medics. "Hold the fuck up. I'll answer them when my wife's stabilized."

We enter the ambulance, and I leave everything at the ranch for John to handle. “Don’t worry, Tobias. Everything will be under control.”

"I'm sorry. I should have listened to you," I apologize again, holding her hand tightly in mine. I'll forever be apologizing because I almost lost the love of my life because I didn't use common fucking sense or even that panic in her voice to tell me to have it checked out first.

"Danny says I'm going to be okay, so let's go with that. I shouldn't have gone outside, but I was worried about you. I saw David and he insisted on walking me to the barn. I had a bad feeling, but it was too late by the time I acted on it."

"It’s not your fault, Ava. You’re an amazing wife and I’m a lucky man to have someone care for me so much. They were looking for a way to separate us."

"This wouldn’t have happened if I never came here. My father’s involved.”

“I wouldn’t be the man I am if you never showed up in my life. Your father will be dealt with one way or another.” I’d love to string him up myself. Maybe one of my friends who owns a slaughterhouse would lend me a hand.

We arrive quickly and she’s ushered into the ER while they leave me out in the waiting area. I shout, “I love you,” before the doors close behind the nurses. I know I can’t go in with her, but that doesn’t stop me from hoping they’ll let me in.

While I’m sitting on my hands doing nothing, the police show up. “Mr. Reynolds, let’s have a word.”

I’m taken into one of the private waiting rooms so that I’m isolated from prying ears. “Please tell us what happened.”

“Someone shot my cow out in the far pasture, or so I was told. The cow hadn’t been shot, rather it had been mutilated. It got me away from the house. When I realized that, I called the house to find Ava. She wasn’t in the house, so I ran toward the barn when I heard the first shot. I arrived to see my woman on the ground and David pointing a gun at the woman I believe is my stalker if that’s what he was referring to. He told her they needed Ava alive for now because her father was paying them a lot of money, and then shot the woman. That bastard started to drag Ava off by her hair, so I shot him. He fell, and as I ran to reach them, he pointed his gun at me. My security guard came up and shot him, saving my life.” Thinking back, I should have shot David again before he got a chance to get up. It’s a foolish mistake that I’ll keep in mind should anyone dare come between my wife and I again.

The detectives nod, making notes on their little pad. “That’s pretty much the statement we received from Daniel Graham. We’ll need to speak to your wife as soon as she can.”