Scorch (The MacKenzie Family Book 17) by Liliana Hart

façade he showed his family. There was bravery, valor, pride, sacrifice, and the demons that only a soldier who’d experienced unspeakable horrors had to combat. He piqued her curiosity like no one ever had, and she admired the quiet inner strength that often went unnoticed by others.
    The private waiting room was full, and she recognized many of the faces she saw there as being immediate family members. Faces that were filled with worry and grief. Mary and James MacKenzie, Shane’s parents, sat at the center, their children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews gathered around them for support. There were no tears or hysterics. Just stoic, grief-stricken people who were counting on each other for the support they needed.
    “I’m sorry for making you wait so long,” she told them, stepping into the room. A dozen or more anxious faces stared at her with hands clasped as they waited for the news. Lacey looked straight at Mary MacKenzie. “He’s just out of surgery and has been moved to the intensive care unit.”
    Mary let out a shuddering breath and hope filled her eyes that hadn’t been there before. She’d prepared herself for the worst. And the worst might still be yet to come.
    “We lost him twice on the operating table,” she said, “but he’s strong and he’s a fighter. The blast caused some internal bleeding and there was shrapnel embedded around the heart that made things very touch and go. Once we stabilized all the internal injuries and stopped the bleeding we were able to assess the external damage to his body.”
    Declan took a step away from his mother and stuck his hands in his pockets. She knew soldiers. She’d been one. And she knew what the loss of limbs could mean. Declan knew it too.
    She turned her attention to Declan and said, “We had to take the leg. There wasn’t anything we could do to save it.”
    He nodded curtly and his lips formed a thin line.
    “We’ve only taken the one leg for now. The other is in bad shape as well, and he might never have full use of it. We’ll keep an eye on it for infection and let you know if we think it’s best to take that one as well.”
    Lacey looked back at Mary and saw the tears streaming silently down her cheeks. “He’s not breathing on his own, but there is brain activity.”
    “When will he wake up?” she asked.
    “That’s what we need to discuss,” Lacey said.
    It was best to get this part out of the way as quickly as possible. Delaying or softening it wouldn’t ease their pain. And it wouldn’t ease hers. Whether she’d wanted to be brought in to the fold or not, she was here in the thick of things. She cared about this family.
    “He’s not out of the woods yet. His chances for survival are still at the fifty-fifty mark. In seventy-two hours we’ll be able to upgrade his condition if there have been no changes. He’s going to need you when he wakes up. He’s going to comprehend and accept the damage done to his body, but he’s going to have a difficult time accepting the loss of his leg. To a soldier like Shane, the loss of that limb is going to signify the loss of everything most important to him. He’s going to be resistant. He’s going to be angry.”
    “We’ll do whatever we need to do to get him through this,” Mary said. “All of us will.”
    “Once he’s healed enough, physical therapy is going to be essential. It’s going to be painful and he’s going to hate every minute of it. But unless he wants to be confined to a wheelchair forever he’s got to get the leg he does have in working order. I just want you all to know that he’s not the only one who’s going to have a rough road ahead of them. I’d also recommend counseling.”
    “Thank you, Doctor Shaw,” Mary said, coming to her feet and taking both of Lacey’s hands in hers. “We owe you our son, and we’ll always be grateful. I know you were there every step of the way, even though you didn’t have to be.”
    Mary enfolded her in a hug, and Lacey