“You can pick any room you want,” I told him.“Got five empty ones to choose from.”
He wandered through each one, taking his time before settling on the one at the end of the hall.The one with the view of the eastern pasture.
“This one,” he said decisively.
He doesn’t know it yet, but that will be his room permanently soon enough.
When he was done with his shower and dressed for bed, we devoured Judy’s chocolate chip cookies.
All in all, it was a great night, but I’m whipped.Now I’m fighting sleep, my head bobbing as I try to stay awake for Amelia.The clock on the wall says she should be here within the hour.
My phone buzzes against my thigh, jarring me awake.Shadow’s name flashes on the screen.
“It’s late?—”
“I need you to go to Amelia’s apartment and grab Dylan.Take him back to the ranch with you.”
There is something about his tone that has the hair on the back of my neck standing up.“Dylan is already with me.He’s been with me all night.Amelia is coming here when she gets off work.What the fuck is going on?”
He releases a ragged breath.“Thank fuck.Man, there was an explosion at the bar.”
My blood turns to ice.I’m on my feet before I realize I’ve moved.“Where’s Amelia?Is she?—”
“She’s okay,” Shadow cuts in quickly.“I’m on my way there now.She’s shaken up, but she’s alive.”
“Fuck that.I’m coming to get her myself,” I growl, my keys already in my hand.
“Stand down, Maddox,” Shadow commands.“I’m already here.I can’t leave, though.Not until I got this shit sorted.I’m going to have one of my prospects bring her straight to you.I’d bring her to the clubhouse, but I don’t know what the fuck is actually going on..Safest place is the ranch.”
I can read between the lines.He’s not bringing her to the clubhouse because he isn’t sure if this was a threat against his club, which means my sister isn’t safe there either.
“Where’s Della?”
“Della is safe.But I’m gonna need you to send one of your guys to my place to get her.It’ll be faster since we’re all tied up here.”
Jesus fuck.
“I’ll call Wyatt,” I grind out, pacing the living room.“Give it to me straight, Shadow.How bad is it?”
“Bad, brother.Amelia was in the back, closing out the drawer.Jess was tending to the remaining customers at the bar.One of them is dead, and Jess is in bad shape.Don’t know if she’s gonna make it.If Amelia…” His voice trails.
He doesn’t have to finish his sentence.
I sink back onto the couch, my legs suddenly unable to hold me up.The image of Amelia caught in an explosion, her body broken and burned, flashes through my mind.My stomach lurches violently, and I have to swallow hard to keep from throwing up.
“How long?”I rasp.
“Twenty minutes, max.She’s with the paramedics now.They’re checking her over.”
I run a shaky hand through my hair.“Tell her Dylan’s fine.He’s asleep and safe.”
“Will do.I’ll check in later.”
I end the call and call Wyatt.He picks up on the third ring, his voice saddled with sleep.When I tell him what happened, he perks right up.I hang up, and text him Shadow’s address, then toss my phone onto the coffee table.
I drop my head into my hands, trying to steady my breathing.The thought of losing her—Christ, I can’t even fathom it.Isn’t that crazy?I went years without her in my life, and now, after a couple of weeks, I can’t live without her.
The minutes crawl by like hours.I check on Dylan twice, wondering how I would have told him if the worst had happened.The third time I’m about to head upstairs, headlights sweep across the driveway.
