The Billionaire and His Driver

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

In the hospital waiting room, Brina sat on the curtainless window sill, Sully along with James Prado, whose arm was bandaged from a gunshot that only grazed the surface of his skin, leaned against the side wall, and Ronny paced the floor. They had been there for nearly three hours. It had been a long, long evening.

But their silence was quickly interrupted when the door of the waiting room flung open and Zackariah and Perry Bradshaw hurried in.

“Ronny, are you alright?” Perry asked as he and Zack rushed over to their brother.

Ronny nodded his head. “I wasn’t involved. Sully and I were on the links.”

“Sully scared the shit out of us,” said Zack. “A shooting at our brother’s house? We couldn’t believe it. How many were shot?”

Ronny rubbed the back of his neck. He could hardly think let alone count. “I don’t . . .”

“Six,” said Sully.

“ Six ?” Perry was floored.

“Four, thank God, only had superficial wounds like Mr. Prado. They all were treated and released. One other worker, a maid named Gail, was shot in the leg, but she’s been out of surgery an hour ago. The doctors say she should be released within a day or two. Her attorney has already notified Legal that she will be filing a lawsuit against Ronny’s estate.”

“Damn, that’s quick,” said Perry.

“Who was number six?” asked Zack.

Sully exhaled. “Mrs. Dash unfortunately.”

“Ah man!” Zack frowned. “Elvira?” They all knew and loved Elvira Dash. They were children and she was but a teenager when she first came to work for their father.

“Mr. Prado took a bullet for her by pushing her aside when the shots first rang out, but she was the gunman’s main target. He was a terrible shot, but he managed to shoot her three times.”

“Ah man,” Zack said again.

Brina noticed how concerned all of the brothers were for Mrs. Dash. Especially Ronny. He and Elvira had a special bond.

“How’s she doing?” asked Perry. “Does anybody know?”

“She’s still in surgery,” Sully responded. “We don’t know anything yet.”

“Who would shoot Elvira?” asked Zack, as he looked from Ronny to Sully. “She wouldn’t harm a flea. Who did this?”

“Ronny’s driver,” Sully said.

“His driver?” Zack was confused. He looked at Brina. “I thought she was his driver.”

“The guy she replaced. Fellow named Jockey.”

“Did Security take care of that?”

Sully nodded.“Yes.He’s dead.”

Zack exhaled and then looked at Ronny again. “You okay, brother?”

“I’m pissed. Bringing this shit to my home. To these innocent people.Elvira didn’t fire his ass, I did. But he chose to blame her, the only person in this whole world that thought he was worth a damn. And this is what she gets in return. No, I’m not alright.”

Then the door opened again, and the chief of surgery entered the room.

Ronny and Brina hurried over to him. Everybody else looked on intensely.

“How is she, Doc?” Ronny asked him.

“Her surgery went well.”

“Thank God!” Brina said.

“There were no issues or complications. She’s awake and in Recovery. She’s resting well.”

“Thank God!” said Mr. Prado.

“When may we see her?” Ronny asked.

“Just family for right now.” He began looking around. “Are any family members here?”

“She had no family,” said Ronny. “Other than us. She lives with me.”

“A live-in housekeeper?”

“She lives on my property, but yes.”

“Who’s James then?”

James stepped forward. “I am, sir.”

“Are you related to her in any capacity?”

“No, sir, but . . .” He seemed hesitant to admit it. “But I’m very close to her, sir.”

Zack and Perry glanced at each other, then at Sully. That was news to all of them.

“She’s asking for you,” the doctor said. “You may come back. I’ll show you the way. I suggest the rest of you go home and come back tomorrow. She’s in good hands.”

“And I’ll be staying here all night,” James said to the family. “Just to make sure.”

Ronny nodded and squeezed James’s shoulder. “Is there anything you need, you let me know.”

“I will, sir, thank you.”

Up close, Ronny could see the stress and strain all over his house manager’s face.

“Follow me,” the doctor said to James, and they left the waiting room.

Everybody seemed to have a collective sigh of relief. “I didn’t know Prado and Elvira were an item,” Perry said with a grin.

But nobody else had the energy. This was all too draining for them.

“I’ll say my goodnights,” said Ronny. “Sabrina and I are going home.”

“I thought the shooting took place there,” said Perry.

“In the servants’ quarters only. That’s been taken care of.”

“Who’s Sabrina?” asked Zack.

“His driver, remember?” said Perry.

But Ronny didn’t skip a beat. “My girlfriend,” he said.

Perry frowned. It sounded like a foreign language coming from No Commitments Ronny. “What girlfriend?”

“ His girlfriend,” said Sully, as if he was coming to terms with it too. “Goodnight guys,” he said to his brother and Brina.

And Ronny didn’t hesitate. He placed his arm on the small of Brina’s back and escorted her out of the waiting room.

Perry looked at Sully. “His girlfriend? I thought she was his driver.”

“That’s what you get for thinking. Let’s get out of here,” Sully added. “I hate hospitals.”

And the brothers left, with Perry and Zack as confused as they were when they first arrived.