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Nix scoops me up in his arms, careful not to jostle my leg too much, and carries me out of the van. We emerge, the morning sunlight overly bright and both of my brothers rush up.

“Nix, she’s bleeding,” Tucker says, pointing to my legs. Nix’s face loses all color as he shakes his head.

“No.”

“Hey, we need an ambulance over here!” Trey yells and I look up at Nix, his panic-stricken face the last thing I see before I pass out.

* * * *

My mouth is really dry and my entire body aches as I slowly crack open my eyes and look around. There’s a whiteboard on the wall in front of me with my name and a doctor’s name on it. Nix is on my left, fast asleep in the chair next to the bed. His lashes fan out against his cheeks and his eyes twitch as he dreams. He has his arms crossed over his large chest and his head is bent at an awkward angle.

I groan and his eyes shoot open. “Hey, baby,” I whisper, barely loud enough to be heard.

“Hey, honey.” His voice is still heavy with sleep. He moves the chair closer to my bed before grabbing my hand and bringing it to his lips. “Do you need anything?”

“Water, please.”

He jumps up and grabs a cup off of the tray by the bed. “Here you go, baby.” He places the straw next to my lips and I wrap my lips around it and take a drink. After I’m done, I sigh and relax back on the bed.

“What happened?”

“Well, the police arrested Ryan and Detective Nelson—”

“Evan,” I interrupt.

“Right, Evan. Then, you passed out on me and we rushed you here to the hospital. They took you into surgery and set your leg.”

“What about the babies? Are the babies okay?” I ask, suddenly remembering the kick Evan dealt to my stomach earlier.

“Both babies are perfectly fine, sweetheart.”

“Are you sure?” I still feel panicked, like they could’ve missed something on the ultrasound.

“Emma, I promise. They are both good.”

“Okay,” I sigh. “How long have I been out?”

“Only a couple hours. Babe, I gotta ask…did he…rape you?” he asks, an agonized look on his face.

“No, Nix. He didn’t.”

“Oh, thank God.” He lays his head down on the bed and I run my fingers through his hair. He hums in appreciation and then looks up at me.

“I thought I was never going to see you again.”

His lips curve up in a sweet smile and he runs his knuckles over my cheek. I soak it up, loving how perfectly right it feel when he does it.

“I think you seriously underestimate my love for you, Emma Harrington. I would have looked for you until my dying breath.”

“Phoenix West, you are too smooth for my own good.”

He grins and shakes his head. “Naw, baby. Just for you, it’s always you.” He stands and leans over me, pressing a soft kiss to my lips, and contentment washes over me.

“I love you,” I whisper against his lips.

“I love you, too, Em.” He kisses me again.

Someone clears their throat by the door and Nix pulls away as I glance in that direction. An older man in a police uniform stands in the doorway.

“Can we help you?” Nix asks, sounding annoyed, and I can’t say that I blame him. After everything we’ve been through with the police, I don’t trust a single one of them.

“Yes, I’m Captain Cole. I wanted to offer my apologies regarding the…situation yesterday.” He sounds very insincere and I question his motives immediately. Nix starts to speak but I put my hand on his arm to stop him.

“Thank you for stopping by, Captain.”

He nods his head and tells us to have a good day before leaving.

“That guy was full of shit,” Nix says, his tone laced with venom.

“Yeah, I know but what are we gonna do about it?”

He sighs and runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t know but we should do something.”