“I wasalwaysgoing to come with you. Always. Do you understand? There was never any other option. And that wasmychoice. I would do it again and again. Because I love you, and it is myjobto protect you.”
Her frown deepened. “So you’re okay?”
“No. I’m so much better than okay, because you’re safe. And that is everything.”
Avery threw her arms around Sadie again. “I love you so much!”
“I love you too, baby girl.”
This time, they didn’t let go of each other. It almost felt like they couldn’t. Not until the door opened and Eastern stepped back in. She frowned at the expression on his face. He’d looked angry all night, but right now there was something else in his eyes. Something more…dangerous.
Before she could say anything, his expression changed as he took them in. Softened. “Can I get in on that hug?”
Avery pulled away and grinned before throwing her arms around Eastern. He seemed to breathe her in just like Sadie had.
“You have no idea how good it is to hold you,” he said quietly, before slipping an arm around Sadie too. “Both of you.”
She leaned into them. Her family. Not by blood but in every other way. When the doctor stepped back into the room, she almost wanted to groan at the thought of letting them go.
Over the next fifteen minutes, the doctor took them through how to care for her wound before discharging Sadie. Avery fell asleep the second Eastern got them in the car.
Sadie looked over at Eastern, finally asking the question that had been on her mind since he’d stepped back into her room from the hall. “How’s Jamie?”
Because this had to be about her, right? The worst-case scenario Sadie could think of was that the woman had snuck out of the hospital and now they were on a manhunt to find her. Her skin tingled in fear. God, Avery wouldn’t be safe until she was found.
His brows flickered, his gaze shifting to the rearview mirror, no doubt to Avery, before returning to the road. He set a hand on her thigh. “I think it’s a conversation for another time. You’ve been through enough for one day. You and Ave are safe. I’ll tell you tomorrow. Right now, I need you to focus on healing.”
“Eastern, I told you, it’s just a—”
“Graze. I know. Humor me. Rest. Let me take care of everything else.”
She set her hand over his and leaned her head back. Shewassafe. And so was Avery. And they were together. That was everything.
CHAPTER 27
Sadie rolled from her back to her side, a small ache from her wound making her eyes scrunch. She reached out to the other side of the bed, searching for Eastern, but all she found was cold sheets.
Her eyes popped open to see morning light slipping through the crack in the curtains, and just as she suspected, the bed beside her was empty.
Frowning, she glanced around the room.
Also empty. He wasn’t there.
She was just pushing up into a sitting position when the door opened and Eastern stepped in. His gaze immediately ran over her face, then her body, even the parts of her that were covered by the sheets, obviously seeking confirmation that she was okay.
He didn’t quite close the door all the way before joining her and sitting on the edge of the bed. “Hey. How are you feeling?”
“A little achy, but not too bad.”
He growled low in his throat before handing her the glass of water and two small pills that were in his hands. “Pain meds.”
She slipped the glass from his fingers and swallowed the pills with water, her eyes barely leaving him. “Have you been up for long?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep. I stayed with you for a bit, then went to watch Avery.”
Her heart contracted at the pain in his voice. “She’s okay?”
“Slept straight through.”
