Page 82 of Blind Trust
Lyla nodded, not lifting her eyes from the photo in her hand. “Yeah, I know.”
He frowned. How’d she know? And then he realized she was referring to the man she was pointing to in the photo. One of the men standing near the scene where a CIA officer was killed was their boss, Tom Walsh.
“Lyla.” Nic swallowed and placed a gentle hand on Lyla’s shoulder, causing her to look up. “It’s Walsh. He’s been shot.”
28
“This is my fault.” Lyla’s voice was near frantic. “I did this.”
Nicolás took her hand, his strong grip holding her shaking fingers steady as he sped toward the hospital where Tom was. What happened? Shot? By who? Why?
“This is why we shouldn’t have stopped our investigation. This is why we needed to keep digging. There’s no way he’s going to convince me to back down now. He’s—” Lyla sucked in a sob.
“He’s in good hands, Lyla. Jack said the doctors here are some of the best.”
Lyla nodded, wishing Nicolás’s assurance would relieve the twisting pain inside her chest. She wiped beneath her eyes with the edge of her sweatshirt. “Tell me what they said again.”
“Your mom or Jack?”
“Either.” The shock of the news had overwhelmed her senses, and she couldn’t remember what they’d said. Only the heartbreak in her mother’s voice when she said to hurry. “Tell me what they said.”
“Walsh was on his way home. The police think someone pulled up next to him and fired a single shot that entered his chest.”
Lyla cringed at the image. The shock and confusion on Walsh’s face. How long did he sit there before help arrived? Dying.Lord, please don’t let him die. “This is my fault.”
“Stop saying that, Lyla. It’s not your fault. The police have no idea who did this or why. It could be completely random.”
“Do you really believe that?” Nic’s jaw muscle popped, and she had her answer. “Me either.”
Nic pulled up to the front of the emergency room. “Do you want me to drop you off here or find a parking spot and walk in with you?”
Lyla squeezed his hand and didn’t want to let go. “My parents are already in there with Sam.” Her throat ached. “I’ll meet you inside.”
He nodded, and she opened the door to get out.
“Wait.” Nicolás threw his truck into park and jumped out and came around the front. Before she knew what was happening, his arms were wrapped around her waist, drawing her to his chest. Her body heaved with emotion, causing tears to spill down her cheeks again. He massaged her back, then leaned down to whisper in her ear. “It’s going to be okay, Lyla.”
She hugged him tightly back, feeling like everything would be okay so long as she was here in his arms. The world was right. Tom was okay and Nicolás wasn’t leaving. Sniffling, she backed out of his touch. She ran her hand down the side of his cheek.
“I’ll see you inside.”
Lyla entered through the emergency room and focused on the bank of elevator doors ahead of her. The sounds of machines beeping, children crying, and too-loud television sets made her skin crawl. She checked the map on the wall and located the ICU.
Inside the elevator she caught a glimpse of her reflection and the teary mess. She wiped at her eyes, wanting to be as strong as she could for her parents and Sam. Lyla’s heart twisted at the agony Tom’s wife must be going through.
The doors opened on the second floor, and two nurses stepped in.Hurry up. Lyla looked up at the digital numbers. When the doors finally slid open on the ICU floor, she nearly shoved past them to get to the nurses’ station.
“I’m here for—”
“Lyla.”
She turned to find her mom walking toward her, eyes rimmed red, arms open, and Lyla fell into them. For several minutes she let her mom comfort her the way only a mom could—by allowing her to cry and offering soothing tones that slowly calmed the storm raging in Lyla’s chest.
“Where’s Sam?” Lyla looked around her mom’s shoulder to the small waiting room that was filled with other distraught family members. “Dad? How’s he doing? What have the doctors said?”
“Shh, shh, honey.” Her mother led her to a couch, where a pair of coats were hung on the back. “Sam and Dad are back with the doctor right now. Tom’s in surgery to stop the internal bleeding.”
Lyla took a shuddering breath and focused on the television, hoping to stay the tears at the edge of her lashes. After several deep breaths, she swallowed and looked at her mom. “How could this happen?”
