“Pulse is good, but she’s not waking up,” Liam said, and that snapped me out of my rage.
I glanced over at Olivia and found her lying on the floor, limbs sprawled out. Liam had already cut the ties binding her wrists. And concern for her overtook anything else, even my desire to make George pay.
“Olivia.” I gasped for air, feeling as if my chest were collapsing.
An eerie silence followed.
I’d never known pain like this. Not when I’d been shot. Not even when I’d gone through SERE training as a SEAL. Absolutely nothing could’ve prepared me for this blazing agony.
I begged her to wake up, pleaded. And yet, she didn’t move. Her eyes were closed as if she were sleeping, but I knew better.
Would I ever learn from my mistakes? I’d been so intent on punishing him that I’d neglected her in the process.
I scooped her into my arms. “Goody. Please wake up.”
She was… Oh god. Why hadn’t I told her I loved her? Now, I might never… This was all my fault.
“Don’t even think about it,” Mark said to George, kicking the gun away from his hand.
Jackson crouched to pick it up and stepped forward to help Mark restrain George. All the while, my attention was focused on Olivia. Why wouldn’t she wake up?
I searched her for any sign of injury, but there was none. At least not apart from the red marks around her wrists and the bruise blossoming on her cheek.
“Likely a concussion. No other obvious signs of injury.” My voice sounded calm, clinical, even when I was anything but.
George moaned to my right. “What about me?”
I clenched my jaw. The bullet had barely grazed his shoulder, and he acted like he was dying. Considering the way he’d treated his wife and daughter, he was fucking lucky we hadn’t done more. And after what he’d done to Olivia… I shook my head, my vision clouding with rage once again.
I took a deep breath, attempting to calm myself down. Unless I wanted to be sent to prison like my father, I knew I had to get myself in check. If not for me, for Olivia.
But then her eyes fluttered open, those green orbs peering up at me. She could’ve been out for five seconds or five days, but it felt like the longest stretch of time in my life. I breathed a sigh of relief, peering down at her with a smile.
Thank fuck she was alive. She was awake. But that thought was quickly replaced by guilt. This asshole had tried to hurt her. Because of me. If I hadn’t been so impulsive, so reckless, she wouldn’t have been knocked over when I’d charged him.
“Connor?” she croaked. Her eyes searched my face as if looking for reassurance.
“Yeah, Goody.” I smoothed her hair away from her face, tamping down my emotions. “I’m here. You’re okay.”
“Let’s get her to the hospital,” Liam said. “You should probably get checked out too.”
“I’m fine.”
“Your hand is bleeding.”
I glanced down, only then realizing it was. But I didn’t care about that. I cared about Olivia. I would’ve rather been shot again than see her hurt.
“You drive them,” Jackson said to Liam. “We’ll get this cleaned up.”
I stood, cradling her in my arms as I carried her toward the door. Her arms were wrapped around my neck, her head against my chest. I inhaled her scent, wanting to kiss her so damn bad. But I didn’t deserve it. Not after the way I’d walked out on her this morning.
After helping her into a pair of my sweatpants, I placed her in the car, holding her in my lap all the way to the hospital. The entire time, I vowed I would do anything in my power to protect her. Even though I’d already failed her. I should’ve known the entitled prick wouldn’t be able to leave well enough alone. But I never could’ve anticipated he’d do something like this.
We didn’t talk as Liam raced across the city. Mostly because I didn’t know what to say. I’m sorry seemed inadequate. And I love you seemed inappropriate, even as I stroked her hair and peered into her eyes, hoping she’d see the love there. George was right about one thing—I was a coward.
When we finally arrived, I carried her in, despite her protests. We were escorted to a room where a doctor ran a series of tests. They left with the promise to return for a CT scan, and she patted the spot beside her. I took a seat, and she held my hand in hers, and my body relaxed at the connection.
“Connor.” Olivia squeezed my hand, bringing my attention to her. “Are you okay?”
