Dark Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page A

of days, but Dallas’s hens had to be fed and watered, and the eggs had to be gathered, no matter what else was wrong with their world.
    They were still in the waiting room when Trey’s phone rang. He saw it was Dallas and answered quickly.
    â€œHey, honey. Everything all right?” he asked.
    â€œYes. I’m getting ready to drive back into town. Is Trina still in surgery?”
    â€œYes, but don’t drive back. I was watching the weather earlier, and there’s a heavy thunderstorm predicted for this area. I don’t want you out on the roads in that.”
    â€œBut, Trey, I don’t want you there by yourself.”
    â€œI’m not alone. Lee’s here. I’ll let you know the minute she’s out of surgery. Just stay home. At least I’ll know one of you is safe.”
    Dallas heard the weariness in his voice and knew if she pushed the issue and went to the hospital anyway, it would be at his expense, so she finally agreed.
    â€œI’ll stay home. Just know how much I love you,” she said.
    â€œI love you, too,” Trey said. “I’ll talk to you later.”
    He disconnected and then settled back in his chair. Lee was dozing sitting up. They didn’t have anything much to say to each other and even less to the people who stared at them as they passed the waiting room.
    Five hours after Trina went into surgery, the surgeon came into the waiting room looking for her family.
    Trey stood abruptly, while Lee eased up from the sofa where he’d been sitting. They were both afraid to hear the verdict.
    â€œAre you here for Trina Jakes?” the doctor asked.
    â€œYes,” they said in unison.
    â€œI’m Dr. Lowell. I operated on her. She came through the surgery and is in ICU.”
    Lee dropped back onto the sofa and started to cry. Just the news that she was still alive was what he’d been praying for.
    Trey wanted details and got them as the doctor continued.
    â€œHer condition is critical. The bullet missed her heart by centimeters, shattered a couple of ribs and punctured a lung. It took a while to remove all the bone fragments. I pulled a couple out of one kidney and one from her liver. The bullet also nicked part of her spine on exit, but the spinal cord is intact. She lost a lot of blood, and for the time being I’ve put her into a drug-induced coma.”
    â€œDear Lord,” Trey muttered, and then the cop part of him kicked in. “Did she regain consciousness at any time before she was moved to ICU?”
    â€œNo, and as serious as her injuries were, that was to be expected.”
    â€œWhen can I see her?” Lee asked.
    â€œCheck the visiting times in ICU, and discourage anyone but immediate family,” Dr. Lowell said.
    Trey had his own comment to make.
    â€œJust so you know, I need a no-visitor hold put on her chart, and there will be a guard stationed outside her room. She’s the only living witness to the latest of three murders, and the killer isn’t going to want her to wake up.”
    Dr. Lowell grimaced. “Yes, so I was told. I’ll make sure that’s taken care of.”
    â€œOn behalf of our family, we thank you,” Trey said.
    Lee pulled himself together to add his thanks. “Yes, Dr. Lowell. Thank you for saving her.”
    Lowell nodded. “It wasn’t all me. I had a good team with me in the OR. I’ll be checking on her on a regular basis, so I’m sure we’ll speak again,” he said, and left the waiting room.
    Now that Trey knew what he had to work with, he moved into action.
    â€œI need to make some calls and get a guard rotation set up here.”
    â€œI’m going to find ICU,” Lee said. “I’ll text you the visiting times.”
    Trey nodded. “I’m not leaving the area. I just need a little privacy to make those calls.”
    Lee went one way and Trey the other as they left the waiting room. Trey sent a text to Dallas