“There you are.” I’d recognize Priest’s voice anywhere.
“Here I am,” I said. “But where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital.” Priest tightened his grip on my hand. “You took a pretty big fall and hit your head on the edge of the table. Doc says you’ve got a concussion, but you’re going to be just fine, Sunshine.”
It all came back to me. The apartment. The guns. Priest getting stabbed.
Oh my god, Priest was stabbed. My eyes flew open, and I searched for a sign that I hadn’t dreamed the whole thing.
“You were hurt. I saw the knife, and…” My fingers went to his face and rubbed along the scruff on his cheeks. “Are you okay?”
“A little nick.” His hand caressed my cheek. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. Half an inch left, and you would have bled out before we could have gotten you to a hospital,” Stone piped up from a chair in the corner. “I’m going to go tell the guys she’s awake.”
“Half an inch?” Tears welled in my lower lids. “You almost died because of me.”
Priest shook his head. “It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than a little stab wound to keep me away from you, Rae. You’re the one I’m worried about. How do you feel?”
I quickly scanned my body. Except for a splitting headache and being completely exhausted, I felt okay. “I’ve been better.”
“And it’s only going to get better from here. Eight Ball’s gone and Razor is going to be put away for a long time.”
“What about Ashley?” She was tough, but she’d been through a lot in the past couple of weeks.
“She’s in the waiting room with the guys. Thunder’s been looking out for her, and I think she’ll be just fine once she’s had a chance to catch her breath.” Priest leaned forward. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you, Sunshine.”
“No, it’s my fault. Ashley called and said the guys had you at the apartment. That they were going to kill you unless I showed up alone. They threatened to go after her grandma if she didn’t make the call. Someone needs to run those assholes out of town.” Preferably someone I wasn’t in love with. I wasn’t sure I could take much more action and adventure in my life.
“We’re working on it. The officers of the MC are meeting with the sheriff right now. Six told me he’d reach out as soon as they’re done.” He ran his thumb over my knuckles and lifted my hand to his lips. The rubber band he’d proposed with still wrapped around my finger. “A lot’s happened since I gave you this. If you want to change your mind…”
“Are you unproposing to me?” My jaw dropped.
“I’m just saying things might get worse around here before they get better. With the way the Savage Bones have been moving in, we’re going to have to step it up?—”
“You asked me to marry you. I said yes.” I pushed myself off the pillow and did my best to lean forward. “There are no go-backsies when it comes to proposals. Am I making myself clear?”
His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Crystal. Now why don’t you sit back before your blood pressure spikes and we end up with half the nursing staff up my ass?” He fluffed my pillow and helped me lean back. “I still want to marry you, Rae. I’m so head over heels in love with you, I can’t even see straight. I just wanted to give you an out if you’ve had second thoughts.”
“The only thing I’m second thinking about is why you haven’t kissed me yet.” I tilted my head up, ready for his mouth on mine.
“Let me rectify that stat.” He leaned forward, his gaze locked on my mouth. The second our lips touched, everything in my world felt right again.
I pulled back first. “So, when we get married, are people going to call me Mrs. Paul or will they call me Mrs. Priest?”
“These are the kinds of questions rattling around in that gorgeous, brilliant mind of yours?” He moved in for another kiss, but I stopped him.
“Really. I need to know.”
He cocked his head and let his gaze roam over my face. “I don’t care what you want to call yourself, Sunshine. All I care about is that I get to call you mine.”
Then he leaned forward and kissed me again.
EPILOGUE
Stone
I handRuby my credit card to pay for my groceries, which I’m picking up, and I listen to her catch up on the local gossip.
