Page 10 of Sweet Oblivion

Phones raised.

Cameras on.

Fuck.

I yank my shirt off and cover her with it as the lights from an ambulance appear.

I don’t even look at Dennings as the EMTs jump out.Everyone is talking at once, and I can’t keep up. Can’t hear them. Can’t read their lips.

I’m shoved away as they kneel next to Delaney.

“Ryker,”Kaleigh signs as she moves next to us, sobbing.“What happened?”

I shake my head and move back to Delaney as she’s placed on a stretcher. Squatting down by her side, I take her hand in mind. “Lane... Open your eyes. Please.”

The EMT tries to move me again, but I growl. “No.”

No clue what the hell he’s saying, and I don’t care.

They bring the stretcher up to full height, and I go with it, refusing to let go of her.

Hendrix grips my shoulder but I shrug him off as her eyes open and find mine.

“That’s it, beautiful. Keep those eyes open, Bambi. Keep looking at me.”

“Ryker...” she cries, her hand shaking in mine.

“I’m right here,” I tell her as the police show and the EMTs load her into the ambulance. “I’m right here, and I’m coming with you.”

The EMT says something again, but I don’t catch it.

“Don’t leave me, Ryker,” she cries harder, and the EMT shakes his head as the other one moves around the back of the ambulance, hooking Delaney up to oxygen.

“You can’t come with us,” I think the EMT says.

“Fucking watch me,” I warn him and point to my hearing aids, refusing to move.

“Sorry, sir,” I watch him say this time. “Immediate family only.”

Fuck that. I lean down over her, my hand curving over her head protectively.

I don’t need to hear her words to feel the fear as she cries, “Stay.”

“I’m here,” I promise and carefully wipe the tear from hercheek as another flash from a camera outside of the ambulance blinds me.

The EMT grabs my shoulder like Hendrix did, and I swear to every fucking thing I love, I’m hanging by a thread when I look at him again.

“Family only, sir.”

Fine.

“I’m her husband.”

RYKER

The hospital is a madhouse.

Press is everywhere.