Why the fuck is he calling me?
Dorin’s tone was off the second I answered. Something was wrong. And it was her—had to be her. My gut tightened.
“What the hell is going on, Dorin?”
“Listen to me before you do anything stupid.”
“Dorin, what the fuck is happening?” I demanded, all my emotions intertwined within it.
“Lina’s been hurt—”
The world went red. My body moved without me. I wasn’t driving my car—I was in the passenger seat of my own mind. All I could think was, where would they take her when she was hurt?
That hospital, the one I ended up at. The details of driving there, entering the hospital doors—it was all a blur. Then there was Dorin, phone still in hand, knowing damn well I’d lose my mind.
I stormed down the hall toward Lina’s room, fueled by the primal need for her, ready to tear through the whole fucking building if I had to. Dorin grabbed me, trying to talk me down, his words lost in my rage.
Make it stop.
“Cezar, fuck man, listen to me. CEZAR!” The stinging slap jolted me back, snapping me out of the haze. If I hadn’t already been gone, that would’ve sent me over the edge.
I don’t take hits. Ever. Not willingly. Not from anyone.
Except her.
Dorin stepped back, cautious. I forced air into my lungs, regulating my breathing, and met his eyes.
“Dorin, please.”
“That’s why I told you to listen to everything I had to say before being stupid.” He rubbed his face, exhausted. “She’ll be fine. I wasn’t going to call because I assumed she wanted to tell you herself, but I knew if you couldn’t reach her, you’d burn the world down.”
My knees almost buckled.
“She’s sleeping. Probably will be for a while. She had minor surgery.”
As we entered her room, my composure wavered. Tears welled up, and I didn’t bother wiping them away. I went straight to her bed and collapsed beside it, taking her hand carefully, needing proof. Warm, soft—she was still here.
Hospitals. I fucking hated them. Every hallway stank of memories—my mother’s body, my brothers bleeding out, and now her.
What the fuck happened?
I lifted my head, my eyes watering. I didn’t need to ask. I knew exactly what she’d been after. And if I weren’t so goddamn obedient, I would’ve been there. She’d be fine. I could’ve protected her, given everything I have, even my life.
“This is all my fucking fault. Tell me everything, Dorin.”
He didn’t answer right away, then he finally sank into the chair and began.
“It wasn’t your fault. Shit went wrong. It doesn’t always go according to plan, and that’s what happened here. She wasn’t the only one hurt. No one died, and her injury wasn’t as severe as it could’ve been. Some of her guys took worse hits blocking her.” Dorin took a breath, turning his body in the chair.
The loyalty she commanded was unreal. The way I felt toward her… what she was to me… it wasn’t like that for them. They followed her out of loyalty and belief in her and what she believed in. It reminded me of how the Crimson Rose Syndicate used to be.
Lina has every capacity to rule in this world, but I wish she wouldn’t. I wish she would just…
Run with me.
Dorin continued, “We were taking down one of your father’s human trafficking rings. It had gotten too big. When Lina went for one of the kids, gunfire broke out. And you know her—she threw herself over the kid, and our men threw themselves over her. It turned into a shit show.
“Even with vests, they don’t cover everything. Bullet went clean through the soft tissue of her arm. Missed anything vital. They cleaned it and stitched the damage. They want to keep her overnight for monitoring. Looked worse than it was.”
