Mission: Impossible to Protect (The Impossible Mission Romantic Suspense Series Book 6), стр. 49
Guilt and shame washed through him, fueled by his grateful feelings that he was not the one wounded. He would find Danni, and then he’d kill Miro if the twisted son of bitch had touched her.
The crazy part of the twins’ communication was that Lars had no doubt that Sten would want Lars to use his skills to hunt for Danni, just as Lars would want Sten to fight for Izzy. Lars needed to check on Izzy and arrange to get her to the hospital once she was cleared by both the MDs and the FBI.
Sten would want to see Izzy when he awoke. And Lars had to believe Sten would wake…
Lars heard the door open and looked up to see a middle-aged woman with round, black glasses in scrubs and cap speak to the receptionist. When the receptionist pointed at him and handed the doctor a clipboard, Lars widened his stance and braced himself. The military posture helped him slip into a well-defined and familiar role where he felt in control. Despite that, his heart thundered like a Harrier aircraft on takeoff.
“Mr. Jenkins?” Her voice was brisk, and her dark hair with streaks of gray peeked out of her cap. “I’m Doctor Childers. I’m Head of Thoracic Surgery.”
Her compassionate look sent Lars’s gut dropping into a free fall as his mind careened out of control, afraid her next words held the power to devastate him.
“Your brother needs immediate surgery. He is in critical condition and will not survive without the intervention. I need you to sign this paper giving me permission to perform the surgery to remove a bullet from the left lower lobe of his lung and repair the lung damage.”
Lars heard “will not survive,” and his brain shut down.
“He’s stable now but cannot remain so if we don’t intervene. The damage from the bullet has caused extensive bleeding into his lungs and into the lung compartment, which surrounds the heart. It doesn’t allow the lungs to deliver oxygen at an effective pressure to the heart. We’ve placed a chest tube to remove the blood that isn’t allowing adequate space for the lungs to expand effectively. We’re replacing the blood he’s lost, but he continues to bleed. He’s in shock and unable to maintain his blood pressure. The risks associated with his condition and the required surgery are high. There is a chance he will not survive the surgery.”
Why did she keep repeating that Sten might not survive? Rage and hopelessness formed a molten mess in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. He braced his hand on the wall. He was a Jenkins, so he’d be expected to handle anything. His brain scrambled to process the onslaught of information. Could he place his twin’s life in this woman’s hands?
“I’m very good at what I do. And I’ll do my damned best to save your brother. But time is of the essence. Laronda will have you finish the paperwork. I want to make sure you understand the situation and the risks.” She handed him the clipboard.
Lars’s hand shook as he signed the form without a glance.
“Thank you. He’s my twin, and I don’t know…” He stuttered because he couldn’t voice imagining a world without Sten.
“He’s a marine, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then, Semper Fi.”
And for the first time, Lars felt a glimmer of hope.
“Prepare yourself for a long wait. It will be several hours. Do you have anyone to keep you company?”
“I’m fine. Please take care of Sten.”
She briskly nodded, then turned and left the waiting area.
Lars watched as she disappeared behind the doors. Fear lodged in a massive lump in his throat and his eyes burned. Sten would know exactly how to make this awful moment pass. When shit got too heavy, Sten would make an irreverent joke that would have Lars cracking up. Or as an alternative, Sten would goad Lars into getting pissed off, giving both brothers a reason to let off steam. The physical contact provided the release to get past the worry and pain.
“Lars.”
Dylan’s voice jarred Lars. Lars needed some action right now—time to kick some ass and redeem himself from turning into a sniveling fool.
“Any word, man?” Dylan searched Lars’s face.
At this moment, Lars hated the ability of operators to read people and gauge their emotions and intentions. He had zero interest in examining or sharing his feelings. Sten was the only person Lars commiserated with—not with words; they just understood. His twin was in danger, and there wasn’t a fucking thing Lars could do.
“He’s in surgery to remove the bullet. It’s going to be a while before we know anything…” He swallowed hard. He needed to get away from the ER that smelled of fear.
Lars gave Dylan credit for refraining from commenting, just jerking his head.
“I’ve got updates. I’ve been on the phone the entire time.”
“Let me get outside. I can’t breathe in this place.” Lars nodded toward the doors.
The men walked away from the ER entrance as an ambulance pulled in. Both men followed a path that passed through a carefully landscaped area designed to give a sense of order to the entrance to the chaotic world of life and death.
Lars stopped once they were out of sight of the ambulance and glimpses of other people’s suffering.
“Ryder is on his way with Izzy. Once she arrives, if you’re okay to leave the hospital, we’ll meet up with the FBI SWAT team. They have a lead on Danni’s possible whereabouts—”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Lars clenched his fists at his side to stop himself from taking a swing. “Why didn’t you tell me about the lead on Danni immediately?”
Dylan didn’t flinch at the threat, which made