Page 207 of Almost is Never Enough

“Oh, hey, Romeo,” he finally answers, laughing. “Need new ideas to woo your lady love?”

“Lennon,” I force out, completely ignoring his words. Each breath saws in and out of my lungs as I stare down at her. “Bakery apartment. I need you.”

His laughter dies immediately.

“What happened?”

I don’t fucking know.

“Get here.”

There is a commotion on the other end of the line. “We’re on our way, brother.”

After I hang up, I shove my phone away from me and grab Lennon’s hand. Her fingers are limp in mine and I never realized just how much I would miss the feeling of her holding me back.

“Stay with me, baby,” I whisper, reaching up and carefully brushing the hair back from her bruised face.

Her chest rises.

And then falls.

I watch every movement like my life depends on it because it fucking does.

“Who did this to you, sunshine?” I whisper, my voice hoarse and my hand shaking as I press my lips to her fingers again. “Please just answer me.”

She pulls in another ragged breath.

My stomach lurches violently.

“Come on, baby,” I hiss. Despite her injuries, I can’t stop myself from cradling her cheek in my hand as I try to will her to open her eyes. “Let me see those gorgeous eyes.”

My plea reminds me of our first date. The way I said that same thing to her when I was inside her in the trailer at the fight. The way I got lost in those hypnotizing eyes the very first time she looked at me.

Nothing.

Not even a fucking twitch comes from her.

“I need you,” I tell her.