“Fucking better be. Do it again and I’ll lock you up in Tennant’s torture chamber.”
A laugh wheezes out of me, and I instantly regret all of my life choices as the pain shoots through my entire body.
“Fucking dumbass,” I hear Roman mutter distantly.
When I’m able to catch my breath, it’s to see him staring worriedly at me. “Do I need to get Dr. Ranlen?”
“N—no. I’m fine.”
“You’ve got a magic button,” he says, showing me the IV meds dispenser. “I pushed it, so hopefully they kick in soon.”
“Thank you.” Closing my eyes, I try to weakly squeeze his hand in mine. “You gonna stay?”
“Yeah, Dad, I’ll stay.”
His words, and the comfort of knowing he’s here with me, follow me back into the sweet abyss of darkness.
The next time I open my eyes, Roman is gone, but in his place are the two people who make my heart trip over itself, even when it shouldn’t.
“Hi…” I whisper.
Marcus immediately reaches for my water cup and helps me take a few sips. Keegan brushes my hair back from my forehead and watches me intently with those foggy gray eyes of his. Theintensity of his gaze makes my stomach flutter, and if I were in a position to get hard, I have a feeling he could make me with just a look.
When Marcus puts the cup down, he takes my hand, much like Roman did. But his gaze, while full of tears and pain, like my son’s, differs with the type of love he has for me. At least…I hope so. Maybe. The pain of being shot, and my broken heart from ending my marriage could be clouding my judgment on this.
“You scared me,” Marcus says softly, his words like a knife to the heart.
“I’m sorry. I…you.” I swallow, trying to get this right, because I need to be clear on this. “I needed you safe. Keegan and Cole needed you safe.”
A tug at my hair has me turning my head to look at Keegan. “We need you safe too, Carter. You’re ours, and you’re not allowed to put yourself in danger again. Understand?”
As I stare at him, the hardness in his eyes, and the firm grip he still has on my hair somehow turns me on, even though my entire being aches. He tugs on my hair again when he doesn’t get an answer.
Swallowing, I nod the best I can. “Yes. I—I’m sorry.”
His features soften after a long, assessing moment, and he lets my hair go, before running his gentle fingers through the messy locks. “You can’t do that again, Carter. I don’t think we’ll survive it.”
Licking my lips, I look at both of them before saying, “I promise, I’ll be as careful as possible. I can’t promise to not get hurt again, that’s not the world we live in, but I’m sorry for scaring you. Sorry I made you worry. I’ll be more careful.”
“And you’ll let me guard you. Stop the self-sacrificing bullshit,” Marcus tells me firmly.
I can’t promise that. I willneveragree to something like that, so I don’t say anything at all. Which has Marcus sighing, and Keegan glares a little.
“I love you,” I say simply. “I couldn’t bear to see you hurt. I needed you to be okay.”
Keegan shakes his head. “We’re not going to go around in circles. You will not be an idiot and throw yourself in front of bullets for us. We will not lose you. End of story.”
Jesus fuck.Hot and commanding Dom voice is… I’ve never wanted to be on my knees for someone before, but if Keegan talks to me likethat, maybe it’s not so bad.
“Okay,” I whisper.
Keegan takes my other hand, and the firm grip should probably be punishing for how weak and tired I am, but it’s grounding…loving, and I hold on as tightly as I can, praying he never lets go.
My eyes blink a few times, as all the talking and emotions running through me are tiring me out fast, but for once, I’m not looking forward to the darkness. I don't want to leave these men behind.
I don’t get a choice, though. Once my eyes close and don’t reopen, sleep threatens to quickly engulf me. Fingers brush through my hair again, and right before I slip under, I swear I hear, “We love you, too.”
“How is he?” I ask Doc as I hover outside the medical suites where Il Padrone is staying.
