“Fuck,” Spade growled and sprang up to help Merrick. Sweat beaded at Merrick’s brow, and he clutched his chest, every step seeming to cause him pain.
“Little devil.” The pained expression dropped the instant his hazel orbs met mine, his shoulders slumping as though the weight of the world had been bearing down on him and I was the only cure.
“Mer—” That was all I got out before I tipped another ice chip into my mouth, attempting to hide my wince.
Judging by the thunderous expression on Merrick’s face, it didn’t work.
“Shh.” Kellan rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. “Save your voice, little devil.”
Merrick barged the rest of the way into the room, wheeling an IV bag alongside him. I squeezed closer to Kellan, giving him enough space to slip into the bed with me. He didn’t miss a beat as he settled an arm around me, barely covering up his own pained grimace.
I pinned him with a glare, and thankfully Spade voiced my words before I strained my throat again. “Shouldn’t you be in bed, instead of making those poor nurses’ jobs even more difficult?”
“Tell me you wouldn’t be right here if you were in my shoes.” Merrick pulled me against his chest and rested a palm over my heart as though he needed the reassurance of my heartbeat to pacify himself.
I tucked my face into him, letting the steady rhythm of his pulse ease the tightness in my chest that had held my heart in avise-like grip since the moment Tommaso aimed his gun at my demon.
“You can’t do that again, Giana. You can’t make that choice for us, just like we’d never ask you to do the same.” Merrick curved a finger under my chin, tilting my gaze up to meet his. His chest deflated as his eyes clouded over. “I trust you with my life, but believe me when I tell you none of us would’ve been able to survive without you, little devil. We’d end up barging in to kill every one of those fuckers without a plan and gladly join you in the afterlife.”
He held my gaze, letting me see the truth in his words. I expected anger from my gruff love, who lived with rage simmering beneath the surface, ready to explode at any moment. But I was the only one who got to see this side of him, the emotion that fury was covertly hiding.
The others didn’t speak, but I could see the grim agreement in their stiff body language.
“We already told her, and she actually apologized.” Kellan loosed a chuckle, but there was no amusement there.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Spade slipped a hand under the blankets and held my calf, clutching me tightly as if I might disappear at any moment. With each of their hands on me, I could finally relax and take stock of my injuries. Pain radiated from my thigh.
The stab wound.
“They said the knife missed your artery, and that since it wasn’t very deep, it should heal up quickly.” Kellan gripped my hand tighter, like he too needed the reminder that I was here, safe in their arms.
I sighed and nodded before frowning at Merrick’s chest, not wanting to cause him any more pain.
“The bullet missed the vital organs, but they still want me to be on bed rest for a few days.” Merrick scowled at the door beforemeeting my gaze again. “Which means I’m going to need your help with the Demons and our next steps because Angelo will be out for blood now.”
I nodded and squeezed his thigh before sinking back into his comforting embrace. We needed to take this time to rest and heal because we might have won the battle, but there was a war heading our way, and this was one fight the Barones wouldn’t win.
Before any of them could get out another word, the door burst open and Sophia came barreling into the room with two flustered men on her heels. Spade voiced a protest I couldn’t make out, but she didn’t listen, determination lighting her sapphire-blue gaze.
“Giana.” She collapsed onto the bottom of the bed, gingerly cradling my feet since that was the most of me she could get to with the guys on either side of me.
Spade grumbled something under his breath, but Sophia ignored him, her nails practically digging into my leg. She looked as haggard as I felt, her hair in disarray, her mascara smeared on her cheeks as she gazed up at me with watery eyes. “Never do that again.”
I grimaced but said nothing—both because it hurt and I couldn’t promise her that. Sure, I could let my guys join me next time, but I’d never not come for her if she was in danger.
“You should’ve—”
“No,” I croaked out, and grabbed a few more ice chips. “I’ll never leave you.”
“Stop making her talk,” Merrick said in a threatening growl, which had Sebastian and Zane stepping forward. She didn’t even see it, but she had both of these men wrapped around her little finger.
“Sorry.” Sophia winced. “I hope you’ll get better soon because these men have been so frustrating to deal with on my own.”
“Look who’s talking,” Zane grumbled, crossing his wide arms over his muscular chest. The man was built, just like my Merrick, and I idly wondered if he used to fight and that was how he got mixed up with Sebastian.
“Well, you won’t need to worry about me for much longer because I’m going back with them after they get out of the hospital.”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Sebastian tapped his finger to his chin. Merrick and Zane both shot him incredulous looks for different reasons, but the fight club owner ignored them. “With two of you recuperating, we should all stay with you so you aren’t alone if anyone attacks.”
