Declan only left her side when the nurse came back into the room to help her change out of her gown and into something she could wear home. He reassured her he would be right outside the door as he left.
Once alone in the hall, he braced himself against the wall, inhaling deeply. Anger, helplessness, and guilt fully took over his muddle of emotions. There was nothing he could do or say to change what she was dealing with. The best he could do was listen and follow her cues.
Alec, Mercedes, Noah, and Mason came down the hall when they saw him. Noah looked as rough as he felt and he wondered how much the big American was struggling, too.
“How’s Shake? Any word?” Declan asked.
Noah sucked in a deep breath and shook his head. “He is out of surgery and hanging on. Their mom should be here any minute.”
Mason put his arm on Declan’s shoulder. “Cressida?”
“She’s having a rough go of it. And she’s worried about Shake,” Declan said.
Alec leaned toward him. “Did Cress tell you about the computer and flash drive?”
Declan frowned. “No, she mentioned to the officer that the man was demanding one but didn’t say why.”
“Aye, I have them both.” He motioned to the computer bag strapped across his chest. “She was panicking and not making a lot of sense. She gave them to me and made me promise I would keep them safe.”
“What’s on it?”
Alec shrugged. “No clue. But she mentioned Barlow’s warning and said this is what they were after.”
Declan’s gut dropped. Had Jack Weston been the one to attack her? She’d describe a build similar to his and his voice was disguised.
“I don’t want to ask her about it tonight,” Alec said. “But whatever’s on it, it was important enough for her to think about it when all that chaos was going on.”
“Until we figure out this shit, I want security on all the Bennetts,” Declan said. “Including their mum.”
“I’m with Shake,” Noah said. The three of them looked at him. “I’m staying with Shake.”
No one was going to argue with that. Mason opted to stick with Gemma, and Alec would relieve anyone that needed it in the morning.
The door to the exam room opened and Cressida stepped out. They’d given her thin, paper-like scrubs and a small ice pack for her face. She walked straight to Declan, and he pulled her into his arms.
“Shake’s out of surgery. Hopefully, we’ll know more soon. Noah’s going to stay with him tonight.”
Cressida’s shoulders shook with a little chuckle. “Shake’ll be mad he slept through that.”
Declan smiled, pressing his lips against the crown of her head. God, it was good to see a little of her humor return.
They walked with her to another waiting room where Gemma paced. When she caught sight of her daughter, she burst into tears. Cressida crossed to her and threw herself into her mother’s embrace.
The two of them huddled together until a nurse informed them that Shake had been moved to a room but was heavily sedated. She and Gemma followed the nurse to his room, while Declan and the others waited in the hall.
It was quite some time before they came out. Cressida was clearly still in a state of shock, and her mother’s arm was wrapped around her shoulder.
“Gentlemen, it’s good to see you all again.” Gemma’s gaze cast around at each of them. “My daughter’s wrung out and needs to get the hell out of here. I figured a team of security people would already have a plan cooked up. So, which one of you is keeping her safe tonight?”
Alec raised his brow at her directness and shot a look at Declan.
“That would be me, Gemma.”
Her gaze flickered on Declan’s, and she held it. “Excellent.” Her brown eyes scanned the others. “And my son?”
Declan put his hand on Noah’s shoulder and introduced them.
“You’re Noah?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Noah said quietly.
Gemma’s dark eyes appraised him. “Good to meet you, then.”
Cressida kissed her mother goodbye and walked to Declan. He pulled her into him, holding her as tight as he could without hurting her. He closed his eyes and let himself savor her warmth.
When he opened his eyes, Gemma was regarding them thoughtfully.
She smiled gently at him, as if she’d seen what he’d been hiding for too long.