“Is that her blood?”
Hawk tried to stay positive and reminded himself they’d gotten to her in time by some fucking miracle. “Yes. Randy accidentally cut her when we were trying to free her from the tree root she was impaled on.”
“Fuck. Damn. That’s…”
“Not even the worst thing that could have happened to her.” He didn’t know if some asshole had violated her. “Did you look at the surveillance footage?”
“Not yet. I wanted to be here with you. I know how much you like her.”
“I more than like her. I told her we’re going to do this thing right, now.”
Lincoln turned and stared at him. “No shit. What did she say?”
“She wants me, too.”
Lincoln draped his arm over Hawk’s shoulders. “That’s great, man. I’m happy for you. Both of you. She’s going to make it. She’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
He wasn’t so sure about that second part.
She would definitely survive, but he didn’t know if she’d be okay anytime soon.
No matter what, he’d be there to help her through her trauma, the way she’d helped him through his.
Chapter Four
The dark place she’d been in started to recede, slowly lightening to shades of gray. A kind of mist surrounded her. Then memories flashed, disjointed and disturbing. She heard his voice saying something about wanting to see her. Before the other visions overwhelmed her, she gasped for a breath and tried to run. Something held her down. The freezing cold she remembered from those nights in the forest chilled her bones as she tried to fight off whatever, whoever tried to hurt her again.
Sharp pain lanced through her chest and shoulder as she grabbed someone’s wrist. That someone was saying something. It took her a second to really hear and comprehend it.
“You’re safe. It’s me. Hawk. You’re safe.”
Her eyes flew open and stared up into the most beautiful golden hazel eyes she’d ever seen, though they were filled with concern. “There you are. Welcome back,” he said with a smile.
Her fingers clutched his wrist, though he was so big and strong they didn’t make it all the way around. She immediately let go. “Sorry.” Her voice was barely a rasp.
“Here. Try to drink some of this.”
Her head snapped to the man on her other side. She glanced from one to the other, noting that the action made her stiff neck and shoulder hurt. “What are you two doing here?” She looked around the room. “What happened? Why am I in the hospital?” Her heart jackhammered in her chest. “What’s wrong?”
Hawk sat on the edge of her bed and took her hand. “Breathe, Lucky. Slow down. We’ll answer all your questions.”
Lincoln held the glass close to her face with the straw at her lips. “Take a sip of this, it will help you feel better.”
She obeyed, still eyeing both of them. “So this is heaven, right? Two gorgeous Gunn brothers. Here. With me.”Why did I say that out loud?
Lincoln smirked.
Hawk squeezed her hand to get her attention. “Not heaven. And we’re both more devils than angels.”
“Speak for yourself,” Lincoln teased his brother. “I can be wicked good.”
The door to her room opened and a nurse and doctor walked in—along with someone she’d hoped never to see again.
Corporal Jase Kent from the sheriff’s department. A guy she’d gone to more than a few times for help and gotten none. “Hello, Lucky. How are you feeling?”
“Confused,” she confessed. The last thing she remembered was talking to Lincoln at the bar.
Jase nodded. “Well, Doc Meyer wants to get a look at you, then we’ll talk and maybe together we can figure this out.”
