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Chapter Twenty-Seven

Tatum

“Where are you at, baby?” a familiar voice says, pulling me toward the light as darkness clings to me, trying to pull me back under its warm embrace. My entire body aches and I try to remember why. An image of Devlin slicing me open with the scalpel fills my mind and I cry out. Or, at least, I think I do but no one seems to notice. “I’m missing you something crazy and I need you to come back to me, Darlin’.”

I try to reach for him but my arm doesn’t budge. More memories flood my mind – I was fading in and out of consciousness as the door to the room burst open and then I was in someone’s arms. There were people calling my name and pain, so much pain that I couldn’t stand it anymore. I whimper. Someone grabs my hand and a sense of peace settles over me.

Oh, I’d know that touch anywhere.

“Tate? Can you hear me, baby?” he whispers, one hand cradling the side of my head as he brushes his thumb over my forehead. I try to squeeze his hand but my fingers won’t work and I let out another whimper. “Eyes on me, gorgeous.”

Fighting against the darkness, my eyes flutter open and I wince at the bright fluorescent light filling the room. Where am I?

“Hey,” the voice whispers and I turn my head to the side, my heart pounding when Lincoln comes into view.

“Lincoln.” My voice is weak and it cracks as I force the word through my lips but his face lights up as he brings my hand to his lips and kisses it.

“There she is.”

I try to sit up but pain floods my body and I squeeze my eyes shut again as I realize just how dry and uncomfortable my throat is. “Ow.”

“What do you need?” he asks, gently setting my arm back on the bed as he stands and I glance at the cup on my bedside table.

“Water.”

He nods, grabbing a pitcher and filling the cup with water before setting it back down and helping me sit up a little bit. I hiss as pain swamps me again and he murmurs apologies as he raises the head of the bed. When I’m finally comfortable, he grabs the cup again and helps me take a sip of water.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my throat still feeling dry but it’s better than before. He nods, setting the cup down and sitting in the chair again as he grabs my hand and presses it to his forehead.

“Thought I almost lost you.”

I shake my head, smiling through the constant pain now throbbing through my arm. “Lincoln Paul Archer, I’m never leaving you.”

“Damn right you’re not,” he forces out as he looks up and brushes away a tear. My heart breaks for him as he stands and presses a kiss to my lips. When he pulls away, he flashes me a smile that melts my insides and I let the peace I feel with him radiate over me before memories start rushing back to me.

“Oh, Lincoln,” I gasp, fighting back tears. I know I have to tell him what happened to me and I have no idea how he’ll react.

“Hey,” he whispers, running his hand over my hair. “What is it, sweetheart?”

“I have to tell you… He did things…”

He shakes his head, giving my hand a squeeze. “You don’t have to tell me anything, Tate. I already know.”

“How?”

Gritting his teeth, he looks away from me for a second before his gaze drifts back to mine and he sighs. “Your father showed up at the clubhouse and showed us the video Devlin made.”

“You saw?” I ask in horror as tears burn my eyes. He nods.

“Yeah, baby, I saw and I don’t care, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

I shake my head. “I don’t really know what I’m thinking yet.”

“That’s okay, too,” he says with a nod and I stare at the wall for a moment, trying to play catch up. Turning to look at him, I suck in a breath.

“Do you know where he is now?”

He arches a brow. “Devlin? Or your father?”