She stumbled back a step, and Sadie’s throat closed—because that pistol was still pointed at her.
“Jamie,” Eastern growled. “Put down the gun.” The words were said slowly, as if Jamie wouldn’t understand otherwise.
“I think—” Another stumble. “I think I’m done.”
Her eyes rolled, and as she fell, the gun went off.
Sadie dropped to the ground, barely hearing Eastern shout her name.
CHAPTER 26
“It’s a graze, Eastern.”
Eastern’s hands fisted as he stood beside Sadie. She sat on the hospital bed, shirt off and bandage wrapped around her middle. The doctor had just left, andfinallyit was just the two of them. “You wereshot.”
“It could have been worse.”
Oh, he knew it could have been worse. So much fucking worse that he wouldn’t sleep for the next month. Hell, year. “You shouldn’t have been hurt at all.”
She grabbed his arm and tugged him in front of her so he stood between her thighs. “Hey. Look at me.”
He did. His gaze seared into her black eyes as he tried to force down the fear that simmered in his chest. She was here. Alive.That’swhat he needed to focus on.
“I’m okay,” she whispered, cupping his cheek. “And so is Avery.”
“I came too close to losing you both today.”
“But you didn’t. We’re both okay.”
He lowered his temple to hers, letting the warmth of her skin slip inside him and thaw some of the ice that had builtfrom the moment he’d discovered them missing. “Thank you for protecting her.”
“You don’t need to thank me for that. I love her, and I willalwaysprotect her.”
Hearing those words did something to him that nothing and no one else did. He opened his mouth, wanting—noneeding—to tell her that he loved her. That she’d taken up a part of his heart that had forever been empty.
But before a single word could come out, the door opened and Avery burst inside.
“Sadie! You’re okay!” His daughter ground to a halt in front of the bed, her bottom lip disappearing between her teeth as fresh tears glistened in her eyes. “You’re hurt?”
“It’s just a scratch.” When Avery didn’t move, Sadie held out her arms. “Can I have a hug? I think that’s just what I need to help me feel better.”
Avery nodded quickly, and Eastern lifted her onto the bed. Immediately, the two fell into each other’s arms.
A soft knock sounded at the door. He moved over to it, expecting to find Kayden. Elle had taken Avery to his place to be with Kayden and Tilly, so he knew they had to be in the building, now that his daughter was here.
Kayden and Tillywerein the hall, but they stood on the far side. It was Paxley who’d knocked.
He dipped his head toward his brother before looking at his deputy. “Everything okay?”
Instead of answering his question, she nodded toward the hall, indicating she wanted to speak to him in private.
He turned to look at Sadie and Avery one more time, seeing that they were still in an embrace, before stepping out. “What is it?”
“Jamie’s not doing too good. They’re having trouble keeping her conscious and think she might have actually lost her eyesight.”
His brows slashed together. “What are you talking about? She passed out because she was drunk, right?”
“Tests showed the presence of methanol in her blood.”
