Hayley nodded. “Of course. Should I leave you to talk in private?”
His hold on her hands tightened and suddenly she found herself pressed against his chest as he reached for his phone with his free hand, his other arm wrapped firmly around her.
Well, she guessed that answered that question.
“Yeah,” Silas said into the phone.
There was a brief hesitation and then, “What? Wait—isn’t it too soon?” Once more Silas was silent a moment. “Okay, Hayley and I will be there as soon as possible.”
Silas tossed his phone aside and then turned his worried gaze on Hayley. Dread splintered up her spine and she tried to swallow the large knot forming in her throat. Silas’s gaze immediately softened and became remorseful.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s Evangeline. She’s in labor andDrake’s about to go out of his mind. She’s not due for a bit yet but the doctors have assured him that the baby has an excellent chance of survival at her current gestational age, but they’re attempting to stop her contractions to give the baby as much time as possible in the womb before delivery.”
Hayley fidgeted uncomfortably and sat up, prying herself away from Silas.
“Um, shouldn’t I stay here?”
Silas looked at her like she’d lost her mind.
“Princess, where I go, you go. Period. I’m not leaving you alone until the fucking Vanuccis have been dealt with for good. Hell, even after that I’m not ever going to want you where I can’t see and touch you at all times.”
Hayley’s face burned with embarrassment and shame. “But I thought and said some terrible things about her,” she said in a low voice. She glanced down at her hands, no longer able to look at Silas. “I don’t imagine she or Drake would want me there right now. Only family.”
Silas’s firm hand closed around her chin. “Look at me, baby.”
His voice was soft and sweet, and when she finally found the courage to meet his gaze, his eyes were full of understanding. And love.
“First of all, no one but me knows anything of what you thought or said. I’d never betray you by repeating anything you said. Secondly, had I explained fully about Evangeline in the first place and not put her higher in my priorities than you, then you would have never had cause to think or say the things you did. And thirdly, youarefamily. My family. My brothers’ family and most definitely Drake and Evangeline’s family. Evangeline will love you. She’s a very sweet woman and about your same age. She’s led an isolated existence since becoming involved with and marrying Drake, and I have no doubt she would welcome having you as a friend. Who couldn’t possibly love you, my darling girl?”
Hayley’s smile was tremulous. “You think so?”
He cupped his hand behind her head and pulled her to him so hecould press his lips to her forehead. “I know so. Now we need to get to the hospital before Drake does something really stupid like tear the damn place down or hurt one of the doctors.”
Hayley’s eyes widened but she quickly got out of bed and rummaged in the closet for a pair of jeans and a nice shirt. She did a quick hair and makeup job because she didn’t want to look like she and Silas had spent the entire two weeks in bed. Even if that was precisely what they’d done. If Silas hadn’t routinely gotten up to cook, they would have starved.
Thirty minutes later, she and Silas strode hurriedly into Evangeline’s hospital room, and despite Silas’s assurances, nervousness overcame Hayley, and she hung back, standing behind Silas’s large frame.
She swallowed when she saw that all of Silas’s brothers were there filling the unusually large hospital suite. But then Drake could certainly afford the best, and she couldn’t imagine him allowing his wife to be in anything but the best.
To her bemusement, when she entered behind Silas, his brothers all surged in her direction, ignoring Silas’s warning growl, and they each in turn hugged her affectionately, asking how she was doing, ruffling her hair or dropping kisses onto her cheeks.
Maddox enfolded her in his arms and pressed a kiss to her temple. “How you feeling, sweetheart?”
She blushed, warm pleasure suffusing her veins. “I’m good,” she said shyly.
“Silas taking good care of you, kiddo?” Thane asked as he pulled her away from Maddox and gave her another fierce hug.
She ducked her head bashfully. “Yes,” she said huskily. “I’m fine, you guys. Promise.”
“Get your hands off my woman,” Silas grumbled.
His brothers chuckled.
Drake left his wife’s bedside and folded his hands over her shoulders, his gaze tender as he stared down at her.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, honey, and I’m sorry you were dragged into our fight. I’ll regret what happened to you for the rest of my life. It should have never happened, and if we’d done our job better, you would have never been nearly killed.”
Silas’s expression became pained, and guilt surged on his features, a bleak look entering his eyes.
