I nod toward Alana. “Your sister’s right here.”
Alana swallows and reaches for Effa’s other hand. “Yeah, Eff, I’m here. You don’t get out of sister duties that easily.” Her voice wobbles, then steadies. “You should’ve seen Mercs earlier—total bad boy protector mode. Jett showed up, and… well, let’s just say he’s not walking away pretty.”
A faint uptick sounds from the monitor.
Both of us freeze.
“Did you see that?” Alana whispers.
I glance at the screen. Effa’s heart rate has risen slightly.
“Maybe she’s reacting,” I say, not daring to let hope take over. “Either she’s happy about it, or she’s rolling her eyes at me.”
Alana huffs a soft laugh. “Probably both.”
The monitor steadies again, and silence stretches, heavy but not empty.
“She was so out of it,” I say quietly. “When I found her, she could barely stand. I don’t even know how much Jett gave her.” The memory tightens my chest. “If I’d been five minutes later…”
Alana shakes her head quickly. “Don’t!”
But the thoughts are already there.
“If I’d gone to the party with her, this never would’ve happened,” I continue, unable to stop. “He wouldn’t have had the chance—”
“You didn’t fail her,” Alana says firmly. “You saved her. If you hadn’t shown up when you d-did…” Her voice breaks for a second before she regains control. “I don’t know if he would’ve called for help when she overdosed. That’s what scares me.”
I look down at Effa, at the rise and fall of her chest under the machine’s control.
“If she hadn’t made it…” I swallow hard. “I wouldn’t have survived that. I wouldn’t have forgiven myself. Even now, I don’t know if I can.”
Alana steps closer to the bed. “She’s still here because you got to her in time. Don’t take that away from yourself.”
As if in response, the monitor beeps a little faster again, and we both glance at it.
I squeeze Effa’s hand gently. “When you wake up,” I murmur. “I’m going to tell you exactly what you mean to me.”
Alana smiles through wet eyes. “Good. About time.”
She pulls a chair closer to the bed. “Come on. Let’s sit with her.”
I nod, dragging another chair to the opposite side. “Best idea I’ve heard all day.”
And for the first time since this nightmare started, sitting there beside her, holding her hand, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Chapter Four
MERCS
Two Days Later
Effa is still in an induced coma, but the doctors say she’s responding well. Right now, she is stable and improving. Words that sound reassuring until you realize they don’t mean awake.
Her parents land today. They were on a flight from Australia within hours of Luke’s call, and Alana’s been on edge ever since. I don’t ask why, but I can guess.
Are they strict?
Did they hate the girls joining a band?
