Page 7 of Loving Her
“Are you a doctor?” he asks, his voice sounding strained by the time he finishes asking his question. Jeff nods at me and quietly leaves the room. It is a little crowded at the moment. I can’t say as I blame him. I’d like to escape with him instead of answering Breaker’s questions.
“No. I … uh … I found you,” I stutter, trying not to get him too upset.
“Found me?”
“Do you remember anything at all?” I ask, knowing that would make this simpler.
“No,” he says, his voice thick with emotion.
I sigh. “Someone shot you and threw your body into the lake. You must have been awake enough to drag yourself out though, because by the time it was semi-safe enough to get to you, you were lying unconscious on the ground, soaking wet, and bleeding.”
“I was shot?”
“I’m afraid so. The shot wasn’t as bad as it appeared, though. I think the ones that did it thought they killed you. Instead, the bullet went straight through. You bled a lot, but I was able tostitch you up. There will be a scar, and you will need to do some physical therapy to make sure you retain a full range of motion in your arm.”
“You found me after someone tried to kill me?”
“Yes. I was hiding on the hill that overlooked the road where they shot you and another man.”
“You have someone else here?”
I frown. I feel like I’m handling this all wrong. In my defense, there’s no handbook to tell you the correct way to tell someone that they were almost murdered and left for dead. I exhale, trying to tell him what has happened. I don’t know anything about this man. I have to be careful. “No. I’m afraid the other man was already dead.”
“Did you know him? Do you know who I am? Is my family here?”
I blink. “Your family?”
His brow furrows as if he’s trying to search for his answer. He ends up grunting, as if admitting he doesn’t find anything. “I have to have family, right? Everyone does …”
I don’t think right now is the time to point out that not everyone has a family at all. He’s dealing with enough and frankly, so am I. “I don’t know you. I’m sorry.”
“Why did you help me?”
“I couldn’t let you die. I had to help.”
“Did I have any ID or anything? You’re calling me Breaker. Is that my name?”
“I have no idea, I’m sorry. Your jeans had a faded outline on the pocket, so I think youhada wallet or something. Maybe they took it, or you could have lost it when they threw you in the lake. I’m really not sure. You had a motorcycle vest on and the patch on the front said Breaker.”
“Where’s it at? Can I see it?” he asks.
Shit.“I … uh …” I blow out a breath.Screw it.“I had my friend Coop take it back to where I found you.”
“Why—”
“Please don’t get upset. It’s not healthy for you,” I caution him, holding up my hand. “I was afraid if they didn’t find some sign of you in or near the lake, they would hunt for you. I couldn’t risk that they’d come back and search my place. They passed me on the road before they shot you. They knew I was in the area. I can’t risk bringing them to my doorstep and possibly harming my daughter.”
He swallows, watching me. “You should have left me to die.”
“Not going to happen,” I huff at him. “Now, are you having any pain?”
“A headache. I feel damn tired, but I’m okay.”
“Mommy, can I come in now? I don’t want to be alone,” Tinny says, coming into the room cautiously. “Is the man okay?”
“Where is Iva?” Cooper asks.
“She’s at Mommy’s office,” Tinny supplies. “You’re awake,” she adds, looking straight at Breaker.