Nick ran a hand back through his hair. “How the fuck did this happen?” The nurse at the station looked up from her computer monitor and Nick lowered his voice. “My brother doesn’t live in a world where people get fucking shot.” His head snapped up, and Allie saw realization dawn. Guilt flashed in Nick’s eyes. He swallowed hard, and when he spoke his voice was barely a whisper. “Is this because of me?”

“No.” Allie shook her head emphatically. “It’s my fault. Your brother is lying in there because of me.” A commotion at the end of the hall stopped her from explaining any further. The door to the trauma room opened and a young doctor in blood-splattered hospital scrubs approached.

“I’m Doctor Weber,” he said, glancing between Allie and Nick. “Is one of you Mr. Chase’s next of kin?”

Allie took a step forward. “I’m his wife.” Behind her she heard an audible gasp escape Harper’s lips and a mumbled Fuck from under Nick’s breath.

“Your husband lost a lot of blood,” the doctor said. That much she knew already. What she didn’t know was if he was going to be all right. The man standing before her had the ability to give her hope or bring her world crashing down around her. Time ground to a halt as she waited for him to tell her if the man she loved was still alive. “The bullet missed the hilum of the lung, which is a good thing.”

Allie nodded as though she understood. But in reality all she clung to was the word “good.”

“However, a pulmonary injury of this nature can still be very serious. The chest tube we put in is filling with a lot of blood, but we won’t know the extent of the injuries until they get him into the OR.”

“He needs surgery?” she asked.

“Yes. They’re taking him up now.”

As if on cue the double doors swung open. Several people rushed alongside the gurney as they wheeled Hudson down the hall. He was so still, too still, and covered with tubes that at the moment were the only things keeping him alive. Allie’s hand flew to her mouth as they passed by, holding in the sob that silently racked her small frame. If she let it out, she didn’t think she would ever be able to stop.

“We’ll know more once they can see the damage.” The doctor continued talking, explaining how the lungs were extremely vascular and how they were essentially sponges filled with gas. Allie listened, trying to take in the complicated medical jargon he was translating into layman’s terms. But all she could think about was Hudson, in a room somewhere above them, being prepped for surgery by a team who quite literally held his life in their hands.

“But they can fix him, right?” Nick’s heartfelt words broke through the fog of fear that clogged her mind. His question was simple and straight to the point, and really the only one that mattered.

“Doctor Katz is doing the surgery. She’s one of the best in the world.”

Allie wondered briefly if it was a coincidence that a world-renowned surgeon just happened to be on hand. “How long before we’ll know anything?” she asked.

“Surgeries like these can take anywhere from four to six hours, depending on how extensive the repair. There’s a waiting room for families on the same floor as the OR. The surgeon will come out to update you as soon as Mr. Chase is taken to recovery.”

“Alessandra.”

Allie turned to find Ben Weiss standing behind her. The sight of him nearly took her breath away. He looked so much like her father, easily passing for a real uncle and not just the kind you called by that name because he was such a close family friend. It was too much. This time, when her eyes brimmed with tears, she could do nothing to hold them back.

“I had the Ingram helicopter pick up Elena Katz,” he said. “They landed on the hospital’s helipad a few minutes ago.”

“Thank you,” she said, hugging the man who had been a constant source of quiet strength the past few months. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’re welcome.” His eyes crinkled in a weak smile. “And did I hear congratulations are in order, Mrs. Chase?”

“We planned to tell everyone. But with everything that’s been going on, it was . . . complicated.”

“Obviously.” A deep crease formed between his brow. “Max bought you some time with the police, but they’re going to want to interview you as soon as possible. I won’t be able to hold them off for very long. And the press coverage is twice what it was after . . .” He stopped talking and drew a deep breath. “I’m going to need you to tell me everything, Alessandra.”

Nick pushed away from the wall where he’d stood slumped in a quiet conversation with Harper. “That goes for me too. Starting with who the hell shot my brother and ending with when you two got hitched.”

Her gaze shifted to Harper. Under any other circumstance she would have been all over Allie, pumping her for details after complaining about being denied the opportunity to meet hot groomsmen. But instead she stood quietly next to Nick, fear and worry written all over her face. Her uncharacteristic silence was an unnerving reminder of the gravity of the situation.

“It’s a long story,” Allie said.

Nick slung his arm around her shoulder. “Well, according to that doc, we’ve got a few hours to spend with our asses parked on plastic chairs. Let’s head on up and you can start from the beginning.”

*   *   *

Allie tried her best to answer Nick’s questions. She took him through the past few weeks step by step, carefully avoiding any mention of the footage Julian was using as leverage. The fact that Hudson had exposed himself to blackmail the night he helped Nick cover up his dealer’s accidental death was only one part of a very complicated story. But Allie knew it would be the only part Nick would cling to, and in doing so would blame himself for everything that had transpired since. There was no way Allie would let him live with that guilt. Protecting Nick would be the approach Hudson would take if he were there. Following what she knew would be his wishes was the least she could do for him.

“So did you get the bastard on tape?” Nick asked when she was done.

Allie pulled the recording device out of her pocket. It was splattered with blood, but whether it was Julian’s or Hudson’s, she couldn’t say. Either way, the sight of the dark red streaks caused her stomach to roll. “The device was on, but I don’t know if it picked up the conversation or not. I haven’t had a chance to play it.”

“Would you like me to listen to it?” Ben offered

She nodded. “Yes, please.” Hearing Julian gloat about murdering her parents in cold blood had been bad enough the first time. She certainly didn’t need to hear him taunt her again from beyond the grave.

Ben had no sooner left when Harper moved to take the seat he’d vacated next to her. “So my best friend got married and I didn’t even get a piece of cake?” she asked. She tried to keep her tone playful but Allie saw right through her attempt to lighten the mood.

Nick spun on his heel, shooting her a look from the spot where he’d begun pacing. “Yeah, what the fuck is that about?”

“Nick!” Harper said.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way,” he said, looking remorseful and suddenly shy. “You know I’m crazy about you, Allie, and goddamn, you’re the best thing that ever happened to my brother.” He sat in the chair on her other side. “But the mighty Hudson Chase with a ball and chain is not something I ever thought I’d see.”

In spite of everything, Allie smiled. She reached for each of their hands and held them tight. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. We both really wanted you to be there. And we plan on doing it again if . . .”

“When,” Harper corrected. “You’ll get married again when Hudson recovers. And I don’t care what he says, I’m throwing you a bachelorette party. There’s no way I’m missing out on Chippendale action just because you’re already married.”