Asher.
His face is pale, expression tight, like he barely made it down the hallway.
“Hey,” he whispers.
Everyone moves aside instinctively.
Asher makes his way to my bed, gripping the edge like he’s trying not to fall apart.“You stupid, stupid son of a bitch,” he mutters, voice cracking.
I smile faintly.“Missed you too, man.”
He swallows hard.“You scared the hell out of me.”
“Yeah. I got that feedback from the room.”
His eyes drop to my bandaged arm, and I see it, the fear, the relief, all mixing together.
“You’re my brother from another mother,” he says, voice low.“Don’t ever do that to me again.”
I nod once.“Deal.”
He pulls me gently into a half-hug and whispers,“Thank God you made it.”
My crew from the station pack into the doorway.
“Cap,” Calvin whispers.“You’re one tough bastard.”
Another pipes up, voice thick,“We thought we’d have to beat Death’s ass to get you back.”
Laughter breaks, shaky, relieved.
I blink against the sting in my eyes.
My family. My crew. My town.
The room is overflowing with love and fear and relief so strong it feels like it might crack something inside me.
And through it all, my eyes find her.
Summer.
Standing beside my bed, Mia on her hip, watching me like she’s memorizing the rise and fall of my chest.
And I know…
I know it down to my bones…
I’d take that bullet a thousand times
if it means getting back
to this.
CHAPTER 33
Summer
A month has passed since the custody trial, and the shock of everything that came out that day still sits in my bones.
