Cowboys & Navy SEALs

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

A curious numbness came over Delaney as she stood in front of Tuck’s hospital bed. He was in a coma, tubes hooked to his motionless body. She should feel grief, shouldn’t she? She’d loved him once. But that love had been snuffed out, a bitter hatred filling the empty space.

No charges were being filed against her. It was a clear-cut case of self-defense. Tuck drugged her bodyguard, who thankfully was okay, and broke into her condo with the intent to rape and possibly murder her. While Delaney didn’t have to worry about the legal repercussions, the media was having a heyday with the story. Milo was trying his best to do damage control for Delaney and the record label.

Milo was surprised and apprehensive when Delaney announced that she wanted to visit the hospital. He tried to talk her out of it, saying the press would be all over her. “The press will hound me regardless,” she’d answered and could tell from the expression on Milo’s face that he knew she was right.

Just as they suspected, Delaney had to fight her way through a throng of reporters camped near the entrance of the hospital. They shoved their microphones in her face and demanded answers, but she kept her eyes fixed forward and pressed through them. She needed to come here … needed to put closure on the situation. According to the kind nurse who’d pulled Delaney aside and quietly relayed the information, Tuck’s prognosis wasn’t good. He’d lost a tremendous amount of blood, putting him into a coma. The doctors weren’t sure if he’d ever regain consciousness.

How did Delaney feel about the news? Relief that Tuck could no longer hurt her? Sorrow for taking the life of someone she once loved? Maybe it was a combination of both.

She hugged her arms. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” she said softly. “Sorry that it had to end this way.” She paused, tears stinging her eyes. “But you hurt me. Took away my dignity.” Her voice shook. “And I hate you for that.”

“I always told Tuck you’d end up destroying him.”

She whirled around. “H—Hugh?” She let out a shaky laugh, her hand going to her chest. “I didn’t realize you were in town.”

“Just got in this morning.”

The icy look in Hugh’s eyes caused a pit to form in her stomach. Unlike Tuck, Hugh didn’t have a hot temper, but he was calculating and dangerous. The familial resemblance between the brothers was strong, except Hugh’s face was blocky, his features craggy.

“Did you come to witness your handiwork?”

The accusation in Hugh’s voice was a punch in the stomach. She rushed to explain. “Tuck broke into my condo with a gun. He tried to rape?—”

“Save it,” he snarled, holding up a hand. “That which happens between a man and his woman behind closed doors is none of my business.”

She shook her head, disgust prickling over her. “And therein lies the problem. You’ve always turned a blind eye to Tuck, given him carte blanche to do whatever the heck he pleased. He was trying to rape me!”

A ruthless expression twisted Hugh’s face, making him look inhuman. “Watch your mouth,” he hissed.

She rocked back, alarm trickling over her. Hugh was a dangerous man, not one to tangle with.

He flashed a contemptuous smile. “I’m glad you’re here so I can say this in person.”

Her heart dropped. This couldn’t be good.

He leaned forward, his voice barely over a whisper. “Whether you like it or not, you and Tuck are intertwined.”

This was sounding like an eerie repeat of what Tuck had said.

“If he lives, you live. If he dies, you die.”

She gasped, a roar starting in her ears. “It was an accident.”

He just looked at her with a placid expression more terrifying than anger could’ve ever been.

A hysterical chortle rose in her throat. “You can’t be serious. You’re talking about murder.”

“An eye for an eye,” he said firmly.

This whole scenario was insane. Hugh was insane. She had to get out of here. She turned to flee the room. But before she could get out the door, she heard the leering amusement in Hugh’s voice.

“Run little chickadee, run all you want. But know this. No matter where you go, I’ll find you if the situation warrants. You have my word on that.”