Tilly nods. “When I checked in with him that night he said it was nothing. I didn’t push. He’s been dealing with this all alone for so long.”
Tears fall down my cheeks.
“They had to stabilize him before they could perform the surgery.” Sebastian smiles. “He’s going to need some time to recover, but he’ll get through this.”
Relief pulls me forward on the chair. “Does he want to see me?”
A chorus of laughter echoes off the walls.
“Does he ever.” Another man with black hair steps forward. “I’m Nick. Wolf’s other brother.”
“We figure he was out for a run the morning it happened.” Sebastian sighs. “He didn’t have his phone or ID on him. His wallet was in his apartment but the phone is gone. It looks like someone grabbed it when he collapsed. It took some time for us to connect with the doctors here. He came in as a John Doe.”
I bury my face in my hands.
All those voicemails I left and the text messages.
None of those were reaching Liam.
“He’s sleeping.” Nick moves to stand next to me. “He’d like if it you were there when he wakes up.”
“I’d like that too.” I push to stand.
“We’ll get you a gown and a mask.” Sebastian motions to a woman wearing green scrubs. “He may look a little different than the last time you saw him, Athena.”
I run a finger down the front of my sweater. “Is the scar from the surgery large?”
He nods. “It is, but that’s not what I’m talking about.”
I look around the room at the people listening to our conversation. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ll let you see for yourself.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Athena
Tubes and machinesare the first things I notice when a nurse takes Sebastian and me into Liam’s room.
It’s silent except for the loud beeps coming from the machines.
I take those sounds as a good sign.
Sebastian steps around me to approach the bed where Liam is. He’s on his back. Tubes are coming from his chest, and an IV is attached to his arm.
His beautiful blue eyes are closed, but I see it.
I see what Sebastian meant when he said that Liam looks different.
His brother bends down. With a swift pull of the mask over his mouth down, he kisses Liam’s forehead. “I found her, Wolf. I found Athena.”
Liam’s eyelids stay shut.
The machine beeps on as Sebastian turns to face me.
“He kept saying Athena,” he says through the green mask. “He was in and out of consciousness before the surgery, but he only said two things. Your name and lilac.”
My eyes fill with tears again.
