Ryan's POV

I spent over two hours giving my statement to Detective Bowman and Detective Wallace (who I must say was a cocky mother fucker). I wanted to make sure I gave them every little bit of information I could think of. I didn't want to leave any stone unturned. Gerald Boudreaux needed to pay. He should get the maximum sentence and never see the light of day again. I was ready to get out of this city for Madison's sake.

I figured once they got my statement, we would be able to leave and go elsewhere, until Detective Wallace informed me that we needed to stick around for a few more days to make sure they had all of the information they needed. Except his words were "don't leave town." I started to argue that we were not the criminals, but rather the victims, and my girlfriend was traumatized by being here.

Detective Bowman, who I guess was good cop to Wallace's bad cop calmly informed me that it was important that everything be done by the book to ensure that Boudreaux didn't end up getting released on some bogus technicality. I reluctantly had to agree, not that they gave me much choice. Madi was not going to be happy about this.

As soon as the detectives left, I made a long overdue phone call to my mother. I'll be the first to admit that I've been a shitty son. I don't call her or see her nearly enough. It has nothing at all to do with her, because she's an amazing lady. It's me. I'm the problem (oh hello Taylor Swift). At least I was the problem. Hopefully anyway. I don't want to be that guy anymore. The dick who was always more concerned with himself than anyone or anything around him. I apologized over and over to her. I assured her that I was going to be fine and that I couldn't wait for her to meet Madi. It was a really good conversation. I actually felt like I was back to getting my life on track.

But then I got to thinking more and more about the statement I gave to the police. Did I leave anything out? What if I forgot something pertinent and he ended up not getting the maximum sentence? This was stressing me the fuck out. I was tired, I was irritable and sore as hell, and wondering what Madi was doing all this time. I know she said she was going to take Sturgill for a walk and she needed to get some items from the store, but that was hours ago. Before I got a chance to ponder everything that was going on in my head, Chase and Madi entered with Austin and Joey who had flown into town to see about me.

"Jimmie sends along his best wishes for a speedy recovery." Joey said.

"And Denny?" I asked, not really expecting much.

"He's loving the publicity. He begrudgingly said 'guess we can't drop him now.'" Joey replied, trying to do his best impression of Denny.

Figures. Typical Denny.

"We need to talk about the remaining shows. I think we should reschedule the rest of the tour. Obviously since it was an emergency situation, I've put out a press release that refunds will be offered for New Orleans and Houston. Probably for Dallas too." Chase said, tapping on his phone.

"Depending on how long we have to stay here, we should definitely offer refunds for Dallas, but once we get out of..."

"What do you mean depending on how long we have to stay here? I thought once the police got your statement we could leave." Madi asked alarmed.

"I thought so too baby, but they need us to stick around in case they have any more questions." I told her.

"Why can't they just call us in that case? I don't know what more they need. I've told them the same thing twice. They talked to Kevin and Chase who both told them the same thing and they talked to you. I don't want to be here." She groaned.

"I don't want to be here either babe, but we have to make sure that there's no loose ends left. The last thing we want is for him to walk because something got missed."

Yeah, you're right." She sighed. I held out my good arm so she could curl into it. Joey and Austin looked at us kinda funny. I guess they didn't realize we were the real deal now.

"All the more reason to postpone the rest of the tour." Chase now had the schedule pulled up. "I'll get on that first thing in the morning."

"Why should we postpone? As soon as we get out of here, we can just go to the next stop." I said.

"Why should we postpone? Uh because you got fucking shot Ryan. You can't perform." Chase looked at me as if I had grown another head.

"I can't play guitar, but I can still sing. I haven't lost my voice." I argued.

"But it won't be the same show." Chase argued back.

"Then I'll just get with the band and change my set list. It's my show. I'm allowed to make changes."

"Do you think that's what the fans want to see? They paid good money to see you perform. Don't you think they deserve to see you at one hundred percent?" Chase pointed out.

"It'll just be for the first week or so. I'm going crazy just sitting here." I may have whined just a little.

"I think Chase is right. You need to focus on your recovery. I get that you don't want to let anyone down, but If the fans can't understand then the hell with them." Madi said.

"Why don't we let the fans decide? Do they want to wait however long before we can get new dates? Do they want refunds? Or do they want a show with more vocals and a little less performing?" I suggested.

"That's actually not a bad idea." Austin said, I had almost forgotten for a minute that he and Joey were even here to be honest. "I actually think the fans will enjoy being involved. Makes you look good too. The new and improved Ryan Blaney."

I really didn't give a damn whether it made me look good or not. I just felt like it was the right thing to do.

"Alright fine. I'll put up a press release saying that scheduling is up in the air for now but to stay tuned for an announcement. Tomorrow morning I'll set you up to go live on social media and we'll just see how it plays out." Chase said. I was a bit relieved he said tomorrow. I really didn't have the energy for it today.

"You looked tired babe. You should probably get some rest." Madi suggested. God Bless her.

"We're gonna take off then. Check out Bourbon Street. Chase you in?" Joey asked.

"Yeah I'm in. Y'all gonna be alright? Chase asked Madi and me.

"We're good. Go out and have some fun. You've earned it." I said, actually glad to have some quiet time with Madi since Kevin and Delana had gone out for a date night and opted to take a hotel for the night before Delana flew back home tomorrow afternoon.

Once everyone had left, Madison had walked out, then returned with a few Wal-Mart bags. "I need to change your bandage and clean the wound." She explained, then pulled out a package of gauze, sterile water, soap and Vaseline from the bags.

"You've been busy. I didn't even realize you left earlier." I said.

"I didn't. I placed the order online and D went and picked it up. I also got another sling so we can wash that one. We're gonna have to take this one off. Try not to move your arm too much." She sounded so nervous as she fiddled with the straps and clips. I wanted to tell her I wasn't going to break.

I winced once the sling was off and I no longer had it to hold up the weight of my arm. It was enough to have me seeing stars. I tried breathing through the pain.

"I'm sorry." She gasped. "When is the last time you took your pain medicine."

"It's not time yet. It's fine baby. I was just surprised. I wasn't expecting it. You're good."

After she washed and sanitized her hands, she donned a pair of latex gloves. She had obviously followed the wound care instructions to a tee. She then gently peeled off the old bandage and began cleaning the area with the sterile water and gauze.

"How's it look?" I asked.

"Pretty gross." She replied.

"Gross like just a fresh wound gross or infected gross."

"Just wound gross. There's a little dried blood on the bandage and around the stitches, but no active bleeding. I just don't do well with stuff like this. It's really too early for infection to set in. Just need to keep an eye on it and make sure it stays that way." She finished cleaning the area, then after applying a thin layer of Vaseline, she covered the wound with a fresh bandage. "All good. How would you like a bath?"

"I'd love one. I feel pretty nasty. I just didn't think I could shower yet." I replied.

"You can't just yet, but we can do a sponge bath." She offered.

Hmmm. I liked the sound of that.

"I think we could probably wash your hair in the kitchen sink. That might be the easiest." She said, blushing as she helped me undress, yet kept her own clothes on. We both stepped into the tub while she filled a large bowl with warm water, figuring a sponge bath would make much less of a mess in here.

Her hands were pretty steady until they reached my groin and she hesitated. It was honestly cute that she was still so shy.

I reached to take the sponge from her just as she was washing the area. I couldn't contain the moan that escaped from my lips the moment she touched me.

She let the sponge fall from her hand and stroked me slowly. My gaze was glued to her face as she licked her lips and her eyes burned with desire. The chemistry between us was off the charts. It crackled between us like electricity. I have never felt this kind of heat with another woman. I've never loved another woman. The emotional connection I had with her was every bit as strong as the physical connection.

Using my good arm, I snaked it around her waist. "You're so damn beautiful." I said, pulling her against me, then crashed my lips onto hers. A deep, frenzied kiss fueled with passion, tongues twisting together heatedly.

We broke the kiss, both of us a little breathless. I rested my forehead against hers. "You don't know how often I fantasized about this moment, well, minus the gunshot wound of course."

"What did you fantasize about?" She asked, her voice sounding a little breathy.

"You, down on your knees." I replied.

To my surprise, she lowered herself down on her knees, seemingly not even caring about the water standing in the tub, effectively soaking the bottom of her shorts. Well, she shouldn't even be wearing clothes anyway. She placed her palms on my thighs and looked up at me through hooded eyes. "Like this?" She suddenly wasn't so shy anymore.

"Yes." I murmured.

"Or more like this?" She asked, wrapping her hand around the base of my shaft.

"Definitely."

"And this?" She dragged her tongue along my length, stopping when she reached the tip. Now she was just being a tease.

"Oh yes." I moaned when she took the crown of my dick between her lips. Then she took more and more of me into her mouth, right up to where her hand was still wrapped. She slowly withdrew while twisting her wrist. My toes curled from the pleasure. She then alternated between licking and sucking. One hand still working my shaft, the other playing with my balls.

This was pure heaven. I had the woman of my dreams down on her knees sucking and licking my dick as enthusiastically as if it were her favorite ice cream cone.

She took me even deeper, maybe deeper than she intended because she gagged and that caused shockwaves to ripple up and down my spine. Her hand and mouth working together in perfect sync. I felt my balls tighten up. Damn I was close.

Using her other hand, she caressed my balls and that was all it took. "Ugh fuck." I groaned, unloading ropes of sticky cum down her throat. "That was better than all of my fantasies combined." I told her after she had got back on her feet and we were now face to face.

"Then what happened in your fantasy?" She asked.

"I pick you up, slam you against the wall and fuck the hell out of you." I grinned, although a spittle sadly. Obviously that wasn't going to happen just now.

"I'll gladly take a rain check though." She grinned as if she had read my mind.

"I'll hold you to that." I pressed my lips to hers, allowing me to taste myself.

She picked up a towel and dried me off, then grabbed the new sling and helped me put it on. As much as I hated this thing, it was a bit of a relief not having my arm hanging like dead weight or having to force myself to hold it up against me.

I watched as she shimmied out of her wet shorts. She then peeled off her underwear and tossed them into the hamper. She caught me looking as she tugged the tank top over her head. "I was wet." She placed a light kiss on my lips and stroked the side of my face. "And I'm not talking about my clothes either."

Hearing those words, my cock sprang back to life. She walked back to the bedroom leaving my eyes filled with the view of her perfect ass.

By the time I made my way to her, she was pulling clothes out of the dresser. I grabbed the pair of white panties in her hand and put them back in the drawer. "We're not done yet darlin'." I smirked at her. "I still need to get you off."

"Are you up for up?" She asked.

"What do you think?" I asked, pointing down to my fully hard cock. "Besides, sex releases endorphins. You know...natural painkillers."