She shook her head. “I can’t. I have to save them.”
“You saved everyone you could. It’s time to let go.”
“No. I have to get it right.”
Beep.
“There’s nothing to get right. None of this was in your control.”
Beep.
“I should have been faster. I should have gotten to you sooner.”
Beep.
“If you had gotten to me sooner, you’d be dead too. It wasn’t your time then. It isn’t your time now, Bree.”
Beep…beep…beep…
The high-pitched, steady sound invaded her consciousness. She cracked her eyes open, struggling against the lethargy that fought to hold her under. She closed, then opened her eyes again. A narrow bed. White sheets. Her eyes closed again.
“Bree?” Her head was heavy, weighed down as she tried to find the familiar voice. “Stay with me, darlin’.”
Jase. His voice was rough. Strained. She struggled harder to wake up.
“Open your eyes, baby.” His warm lips pressed against her forehead. High on her cheek. Her lips. She cracked her eyes and he filled her narrow vision. His thumb brushed across her eyebrow. “There you are.”
Her eyelids drooped. She moved her thick, dry tongue around her mouth, unable to work up any moisture. “Water.” Her voice croaked. His touch left her. A sharp touch against her parched lips made her flinch.
“It’s a straw, baby. Open your mouth a little.”
Eyes still closed, she parted her lips. The cool water brought instant relief. The straw left her mouth all too soon.
She struggled to open her eyes again. To know for sure Jase was with her. She blinked several times, finally able to keep them open for more than a few seconds.
“Where am I?” She braced her arms on the bed to shift up and hissed in pain.
“Here, let me help you.” He grabbed the control beside the bed and raised the back so she was upright. “You’re in the hospital.”
She looked down at her arm, bandaged from her wrist to her elbow.Fuck. “Katherine?”
He sat in the chair pulled close to the bed and held her hand. “She’s in a room down the hall.”
She nodded and swallowed. “Cindy?”
He brushed her hair back. “She didn’t make it. The knife nicked an artery in her neck when you threw her.”
Her eyes welled up. She turned her head and covered her eyes with her good hand, the I.V. pulling at her hand.
“Oh darlin’, don’t.” His lips against her forehead. She heard rustling and then his long body wedged its way next to hers. She scooted toward the rail to give him some more space and turned her head into his shoulder as he slid his arm under her neck.
She soaked the material under her cheek. Sniffing, she tried not to rub her nose on his shirt. “Do they know why?”
“Detective Johnson has some ideas. He’s been by every afternoon. You can ask him later.” His fingers toyed with her hair. Her eyes drifted shut, tears leaking from the corners.
Her head rose and fell with Jase’s inhale and exhale. She should probably get off her side and arm, but she was comfortable.
“Jase,” Denise hissed. “The nurses are going to lose their shit if they see you in bed with her.”
