The beep of the monitors attached to Nicki’s poor, battered body was only tolerable because it let me know that he was still alive, just unconscious. I sat by his bed in the hospital room in the surgical ward, my hand covering his, my head on his arm, just like it had for the last several hours. Mama K and Mama D were curled up in one recliner on the other side of the bed, and Alex and Marty had somehow folded their tall frames together into another one.
Nicki lay in the hospital bed, his face almost the same shade of white as the bedsheets, his normally flame-colored hair looking a subdued auburn in the dim fluorescent lighting of the hospital room.
Willis Terhune had known what he was doing when he stabbed his son. His first attack hadn’t been that deep, but his subsequent strikes had sliced into Nicki’s liver. The surgeon told us that if his aim hadn’t been knocked off by Micah’s shot, he probably would have severed an artery, and Nicki would have bled out in seconds. I owed that man my life, because he had saved the man who was my heart.
Micah was still at the police station where he was answering questions in the shooting of Nicki’s father. He was being ably represented, though, by the firm of Young & Zachary, attorneys at law. Alex said there was nothing to worry about and that they’d be releasing him soon, but one cop shooting another, even if they were from different states, was bound to raise eyebrows.
Alex had stormed into the hospital like an avenging angel, his silver and red hair blazing around his head. I think if Willis Terhune hadn’t already been dead, Alex would have killed him. Come to think of it, the way he’d looked, if necromancy was a thing, he would have resurrected Willis just so he could kill him again…
A detective I didn’t recognize had taken statements from Vivian and me in the emergency room, because we’d refused to leave Nicki’s side. What did it say about my family that we were beginning to know the members of the Akron Police Department by name?
Of course, being a Devereaux, my whole clan had shown up at the hospital within a matter of minutes. Weaver had just convinced Vivian to head back to the house to get some rest about an hour ago. Lee was hanging out with Sonny on the orthopedics floor, and Bishop was with Hicks.
The detective told us that Willis had gotten a neighbor to let him into the building pretending to be a new tenant. He had broken into Vivian and Nicki’s apartment and threatened Vivian with his gun. Once she was in the trunk of the car, all he’d had to do was wait for Nicki and me to arrive.
I shuddered again at the thought of how close I’d come to losing Nicki again, after having spent so many years apart... He’d been in surgery for a few hours after we’d arrived and had required a transfusion, but the doctors said he was going to make a full recovery.
I felt his fingers tighten on mine, and my eyes shot to his face. His gorgeous, beautiful, perfect face that was now awake and aware.
“Hey, sexy…” I whispered, getting to my feet and moving to the head of the bed so I could lean over and place a gentle kiss on Nicki’s forehead.
“H-he... Hey…” he managed to gasp, his voice dry and raspy.
“Here, wait…” I said. I reached for a pitcher of water that was on the tray table and poured him a glass, popping the straw into the water and tilting it so he could drink.
“Go slow,” I said, guiding the straw between his lips. The nurses had said he should drink as much water as possible to help replace some of the fluids he’d lost. He had an IV running and an oxygen cannula in his nose, and but they’d said he’d probably have a dry, sore throat when he woke up because they’d had to intubate him for the surgery to repair the damage his father had caused.
Nicki nodded slightly when he’d had enough, and I set the cup down on the tray table.
“Hey there…” He managed to whisper, a ghost of a smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
“Do you… do you remember what happened, Nicki?” I asked.
His eyebrows drew together and made an adorable divot above his nose, then I saw the memory return. He scrunched his eyes closed in pain, then opened them and managed to nod.
“My… dad…?” he got out.
“I’m sorry, Nicki,” I whispered, all the concern and love that Nicki had for his father—even after all he’d been put through—so apparent on his face. “He didn’t make it,” I whispered.
He closed his eyes and nodded again, this time tears leaked from the corners of his eyes. I put my hands on both sides of his face, his eyes opening. I swiped my thumbs sideways, brushing away his tears.
“S-stupid…” He managed as he brought the hand that didn’t have the IV in it up to rub his eyes.
“B-but… he was my dad…” he whispered. After a minute he continued, “Did anyone… b-blood…?”
“No, Micah had gloves on him,” I reassured him. “The cops and medics were prepared, too. There was some damage to your liver, but they were able to repair it. Doc said you’ll be good as new in a few days.”
He looked at me, then glanced upward, to a space right above my left ear.
“You… Okay? Vivian?” he rasped, his voice already getting stronger
I grinned and nodded.
“I’m going to have arakishlygood-looking scar, but nothing my hair won’t cover,” I teased. “As well as a hell of a story to tell about how my boyfriend saved my life. Viv is going to be sporting a fabulous new hair style in a day or two, but no lasting damage.”
He grinned weakly, a slight blush adding some color to his cheeks.
“…Good…” he managed, his eyes closing for a moment.
