A terrible, broken laugh with that raspy voice of hers.
But it’s still the best sound I’ve heard all night.
“I’ll tell you the rest later when you’re feeling better,” Patch says. “Alright, kids. I’m heading to a newbie doctor’s office to steal a nap. Once the second bag is done and the scans come back clear, you’re free to go.”
Kids?
The bastard’s barely older than me.
I watch the blood slowly drip down the line into Abby’s arm and silently thank the person who donated it.
And for the first time since this whole clusterfuck of a day started… I finally let myself relax.
***
Abigail finally drifts off once the first bag of blood is half gone.
Her breathing evens out.
The tightness in her face relaxes.
For the first time since I walked into that room, she looks peaceful.
Riley pulls a chair close to the bed, gently brushing Abigail’s hair back from her face. Sunny sits on the other side, her hand wrapped around Abigail’s like she’s afraid to let go.
Lila leans against the wall, holding Bree while Eli quietly pulls another blanket over my woman’s feet.
“She won’t be alone,” Riley tells me softly, tucking Asher into the bed beside Abigail.
I nod.
“I know.”
Sunny looks up at me.
“You should go,” she says. “The men aren’t doing okay.”
“We’ll stay,” Eli offers.
“You sure?” I ask.
He nods.
“None of us could get any sleep, and Maverick has about six people in the hall on guard duty.”
I look back at Abby one last time.
Her chest rises slowly.
“I’ll be back before she wakes up,” I whisper.
Then I turn and leave the room.
***
The compound looks different when I get back.
Not destroyed…not burning…but wrong.
