“You’re gonna take some personal time when she pulls through,” he says, leaving no room for argument. “Help our girl get back on her feet. Understood?”
Hayes snorts on my other side. “Fat chance. She’ll tell him to leave her with her books and an endless supply of tacos and blankets so she can comfortably watch Pretty Boy goof off on the ice.”
I force my lips into a fleeting curve, but it’s nothing more than an empty motion.
The nurse from earlier approaches, and an involuntary tension grips every muscle in my body.
“We’ve located a compatible donor,” she says, her voice calm but urgent. “She’s receiving a transfusion now, and we’ll prep her for surgery as soon as that’s complete.”
Air rushes out of me. I thank her before she disappears again.
Almost three and a half agonizing hours later, a doctor in navy scrubs steps into the waiting room. Everyone is on their feet.
“She did incredibly well,” he says, and the reassurance in his voice slams into me. “The bullet came close but didn’t touch any major arteries. We removed it without trouble. She’s stable and out of danger. She’ll be sore and groggy when she wakes up, but a full recovery is expected.” He gestures around us. “You can breathe now.”
And we do—for the first time since we got here.
My legs nearly give out from how fast the relief hits.
“You can see her, but not all at once,” the doctor says, his eyes scanning the group.
Rudy doesn’t hesitate. He looks directly at the doctor, then gestures to Bella, me, and himself. “This is her sister, that’s her boyfriend, and I’m her brother. The rest of these guys, they’re her family, too.” He takes a step closer to the doctor, voice unwavering. “So, either step aside and let us through, or I’ll move you.”
Oliver snorts, the tension breaking for a moment, and I find my own lips twitching, too.
“Down, boy,” Hayes says, his tone amused. “He’s just doing his job.”
Rudy’s expression hardens. “And I’m doing mine. She’d want us all in there. Herentirefamily.”
“I’d let us through, Doc,” Austin adds with a playful smirk. “Before the kid throws a hissy fit.”
“And terrorizes the nurses,” Oliver chimes in. “He already broke the vending machine.”
The doctor shakes his head. “Fucking hockey players.” He steps aside then, giving us the room number as he sends a glare in Rudy’s direction.
A minute later, we walk in and find Erin sleeping peacefully, but when my eyes lock on the angry marks against her skin, anger flares hot and fast. Not at her, but at the world that keeps hurting the girl I love.
The cuts on her face are cleaned up, covered and stitched now, but even bruised, she’s still the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.
Bella sits in the chair on Erin’s left, and Rudy takes the one on her right. He empties his pockets and carefully places the Jelly Tots he bought under her pillow.
“We’re here, Goose,” Rudy whispers. “You gotta wake up soon or your boyfriend is gonna blow a gasket.”
All eyes in the room shift to him. We all know it’s Rudy who lost it a minute ago with the doctor. The man just came out totell us our girl’s doing well, and Rudy went a little nuclear. But I can’t blame him. He’s hurting and afraid, doing his best to lighten the mood.
“You gotta wake up before they restrain Pretty Boy, okay?”
“You’re kidding, right?” I say to him as the others shake their heads and let out a chuckle at Rudy’s antics.
“When are you gonna learn to not throw yourself in front of people, huh?” Rudy croaks, ignoring me.
My mind volleys back and forth to Erin’s stupidly heroic act.
Because this time, it was for me.
Hayes rests a hand on Rudy’s back, and that’s all it takes for him to break. He crumbles into our captain’s arms, an emotional mess.
“She got hurt because of me.Again.”
