But she hadn’t screamed. With amazing self-control, she had asked a few questions, promised to come as soon as she could get a flight, and then phoned Liam, who’d picked her up and driven to a nearby park where they could talk. Only now that she was in his arms did she give full vent to her emotions.

“I can’t lose him, Liam,” she said between sobs. “I already lost my mom. I can’t even imagine losing my dad, too.”

His arms tightened around her, cradling her close. “From what you’ve told me, it sounds like he’s going to be all right.”

“All right?” She gulped back a sob. “He has two shattered vertebrae in his back. They’re operating on him this morning. What if he doesn’t wake up? You’ve seen those TV shows where the lines on the monitor go flat. Anything can go wrong during surgery.” She pushed away, far enough to look up at him. “I need to go. I need to be there.”

“I know,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said, loving him, needing him.

“What about school?”

“I’ll take my laptop and try to keep up. But if my dad is in a bad way, or if he’s going to need me for a long time, I may have to drop out of the program.”

His azure eyes searched the depths of hers. She knew what he must be thinking. If she stayed in Branson, they would be forced apart, maybe for good. If things went badly, they could be seeing each other for the last time.

“I love you, Brianna,” he said. “And I want you to know that whatever happens, I’ll be here for you.”

Fresh tears sprang to Brianna’s eyes. Liam had never said those words to her before. She knew he meant them from the bottom of his heart. But right now they couldn’t be allowed to matter.

* * *

Drifting on a pain-edged opioid cloud, Burke groaned and opened his eyes. A jumble of cords, tubes, and blinking monitors swam in his vision. The hospital—at least he knew where he was. That was a start. Closing his eyes again, he struggled to remember more. Slowly, like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, the fragments of his memory began coming together.

He remembered driving the Porsche down the rain-slicked highway, hitting a curve too fast, and sliding toward the edge. Then there’d been nothing until he woke up with Allison’s worried face hovering over him. He’d told her to get a lawyer and file for divorce while she could still claim some of his assets. He hoped to hell she’d taken his advice. By the time he was on his feet again—if ever—there’d be nothing left.