Jaris leapt in front of her.
The gun went off.
Nicole watched in horror as Jaris was hit in the head and fell to the ground. Her friend had saved her.
Nicole’s fingers touched the butt of her gun but more shots fired.
Patti’s lifeless body dropped.
“Chicago, are you all right?” Reed ran up behind her, his gun out.
Beside him was Sawyer, who held his smoking pistol in his hand.
Nicole knelt down over Jaris, feeling Reed’s arm around her shoulder. “We need to get the on-call doctor here. He’s been shot in the head, but he’s still breathing.”
She looked down at her true friend and then to Reed and Sawyer, the men who had hold of her heart. “Hurry. He saved my life. We’ve got to help him.”
Sawyer nodded and ran back to the courthouse where the temporary clinic had been set up.
Chapter Twenty-One
Nicole hated seeing Jaris in this condition. His head was wrapped in bandages. Only his nose and mouth could be seen. The doctor had just left after delivering the horrific news that his sight might never return. The Denver hospital was sending a helicopter to retrieve Jaris.
“Don’t listen to that man, Jaris. He’s not even the real doctor here in Destiny. He’s just a fill-in. When you get to Denver, you’re going to be seen by the best neurologists in this part of the country. They’re going to get you back to normal in no time.”
Jaris had saved her life, and though he’d not died from Patti’s bullet, the price had been high.
“Nicole, I’m glad you’re alive.”
“Thanks to you,” she squeezed his hand.
Jaris was tough. A man’s man. He had every right to feel sorry for himself, but he sure wasn’t showing it to her.
What kind of life could he have now? Without his eyes, he couldn’t be a cop.
“Promise me one thing.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. As much as she wanted to hide her sadness from him, she wished Jaris could see her tears right now. “Anything.”
He squeezed her hand back. “Don’t throw your life away on regrets. Go after your dreams, Nicky. You deserve happiness.”
“So do you.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Reed put his arms around Nicole as she walked out of the judge’s chambers, which were currently being used as Jaris Simmons’s hospital room. She leaned her head into his chest and sobbed. Sawyer stroked her hair from behind. He and Sawyer owed Simmons a great debt for saving her. He wasn’t sure how or when, but he would do his best to repay that debt if it took his entire life.
“He’s blind because of me,” she cried.
“No, Chicago. He’s blind because of Patti. You’re alive because Jaris is a hero.”
“I can’t stand this, guys. It’s so hard. He’s my friend. He’s stuck with me in some of the worst days of my life.” Nicole stared at him, her eyes red from crying. “I can’t live with this.”
“We’ll help you, baby,” Sawyer said.
“Trust me,” Reed kissed her forehead. “I won’t leave you to handle this alone, little one. I’m here for you. We both are.”
“Jaris just told me to go for my dreams and to stop living a life of regrets. I can’t do this if you won’t let me in to all of your life, Reed.”