Just a little further. We're almost there.
He stirred again, mumbling something I couldn't make out. I tried to coax him into saying more just to keep him awake, but his words came out in broken syllables that slurred together. His hand clutched weakly at my shirt again.
"Rowan," I said softly. "You're safe with me. Just hang on a bit longer, okay?"
He made a small noise, then his grip went slack and his head dropped against my shoulder. When I glanced down, his eyes were closed, his body limp in my hold. I had to fight down the flare of panic until I could adjust him again to make sure he was breathing.
At long fucking last, I rounded the corner and A&E came into view. I pushed forward, my legs burning and my arms trembling from the strain. I barely made it through the automatic doors before I shouted louder than I meant to. "Hey! I need help here!"
The nurse at the front desk immediately looked up with wide eyes. A doctor appeared almost out of nowhere and rushedover as I staggered toward the nearest trolley. He gestured to two more nurses to join him. One of them helped ease Rowan out of my hold, and my arms finally gave out. They hung limply at my sides as I stumbled out of the way, fighting to stay upright as I watched them surround him.
I caught a glimpse of one nurse checking his pulse, then the doctor leaning in to listen to his breathing. "Get oxygen on himnow," he barked. My stomach twisted into knots.
Another nurse gently guided me away from the cluster of medical staff as they wheeled Rowan further back. I tried to answer her questions, but I didn't have much to give her. When she asked what happened, I had to say I didn't know.
Technically, I didn't. I had my suspicions, but I couldn't just throw around accusations. I couldn't tell her anything more than what they surely figured out just by looking at him. That Rowan had been beaten to within an inch of his life and wasn't breathing right.
Eventually, she left me in the waiting area, and I dropped into the nearest plastic chair. For a while, I had trouble remembering how to breathe properly myself. The muscles in my arms were on fire, and I rubbed at them to try to get some feeling back. I couldn't stop shaking as my thoughts looped in a frantic spiral.
What if I didn't get him here in time? What if Rowan didn't wake up? If I'd waited just a little longer to check on him...
My jaw clenched so tightly that it hurt. I couldn't get the image of Rowan lying on the floor out of my head. I couldn't stop seeing the blood on his face or the way his chest barely moved with each shallow breath.
Then, all at once, a surge of fury nearly stole my own breath.
My hands curled into fists. I'd been angry at Marcus before, enough to want to confront him. But this was different.This was the kind of rage that made my vision go red at the edges and made it impossible to think straight.
If he showed up here, if he eventriedto act like nothing happened and he hadn't just left Rowan half-dead on the floor...
I'd punch him. I wouldn't even think about it. I'd break him if that's what it took to make him feel what he did to Rowan. Hell, I might just kill him. I didn't care if it put me in a cell by the end of the night. If that's what had to happen to guarantee he couldn't hurt Rowan again, I was fine with it.
I let out a shaky breath and forced my hands to relax, even though every muscle in my body felt tight, coiled, and ready to snap. I had to calm down. Rowan needed me to be calm. But if that bastard showed his face anywhere near here, he'd regret it.
* * *
I startled awake at the light touch on my shoulder. My eyes snapped open to find a man in scrubs standing over me, and for a second, I didn't remember where I was. My neck ached from sleeping in an awkward position, and my limbs felt heavy and stiff. Especially my arms.
The doctor gave me a gentle smile. "Sorry to wake you. You're here for Rowan, right?"
I blinked a few times until my brain finally caught up. "Yeah," I managed, sitting up straighter as the reality of where I was came rushing back. I rubbed a hand over my face as I tried to shake off the sleepy haze. "Is he okay?"
His expression softened. "He looks worse than he is. He'll feel it when he wakes up, though. He's got some cracked ribs and probably a nasty concussion. It'll take time for him to bounce back, but he's stable."
My head spun with the sudden rush of relief.
He continued, "Given how beaten up he is, we wereworried about internal bleeding, but the scans came back clean. His breathing's a bit compromised, so we've got him on oxygen to help. We moved him to a side room for observation to make sure nothing gets worse. He'll need to stay here for a few days, but overall, he's lucky."
The knot in my chest loosened just a little. "Can I see him?"
He gave a small nod. "Down the hall and take a left. Room 2."
"Thank you."
My legs protested when I stood up, stiff from the exertion and from sitting too long. Every step away from the waiting room sent a fresh pulse pounding in my ears. As I passed the nurses' station, I noticed a uniformed officer speaking quietly with one of the ladies there.
I barely glanced his way. I was desperate to see Rowan for myself, to know he was really alright.
When I finally found the room, I hesitated with my hand hovering at the door handle. I took a breath, forcing my hands to stop shaking, then made my way inside.
