It could be too late by then, but I can’t bring myself to get out of New York until the girl that pulled me from the deepest depression of my life is safe with her men.
Maybe I can ask the Legion to smuggle me out of the state. If what Bishop said today is true, they’ll do anything to protect me, and getting me as far away from the Lombardi brothers as possible is of the utmost importance.
By now they’ve probably told Salvatore they know my location, and if they don’t bring me back to Miami themselves,more Lombardi men will descend on the estate, putting the people I care about at risk.
“Siren,” Ryker says softly, dragging me out of my thoughts.
He’s standing across the room with his phone in his hand, his eyes flicking from me to the device and then back again.
“Hmm?” I should ask about the nickname, especially now that he’s used it a few times, but I can’t find it in me. There’s something calming about his presence that I’m not ready to lose just yet.
“They found Camilla and Crew.”
“Are they okay?” I push myself to my feet too quickly, causing stars to burst into my vision. When was the last time I ate?
He hesitates for a beat, causing my stomach to roll uncomfortably. “They’ve just arrived at the hospital. Camilla is in a critical condition. She’s lost a lot of blood, and they’re not sure if she’s going to make it.”
A ragged sob tears from my throat, my knees giving way beneath me, but I don’t get a chance to hit the floor before tattooed arms are wrapped around me, holding me against his hard chest.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my hair before carefully placing me on the edge of the bed. Once he has me settled, he crouches in front of me until our eyes are level and I have no choice but to hold his gaze. “Camilla is strong, and she’s stubborn as hell. You think she’s going to let a little blood loss take her out?”
I shake my head slowly, because he’s right. My girl is the strongest woman I’ve ever met. If anyone can survive this, it’s her.
“Exactly. She’s a fighter, and she’s not about to let those men of hers live life without her.” His confidence washes over me, and I can’t help but lean into it.
“What about Crew? Is he okay?”
He nods. “Mostly just dehydration and some cuts and bruises, but nothing to be worried about. He’ll be fine after some fluids and a whole lot of sleep.”
They’re both alive.
I could leave now.
I could pack up my things and get out of here before the brothers have had a chance to track me down. But even as I think it I know I won’t be able to leave until I’ve seen Camilla for myself.
I won’t leave her without saying goodbye.
He drops a hand to my thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Change into something warm and comfortable. We’ll head out in ten.”
The waiting room has been quiet since I stepped through the door with Ryker on my heels. I took a seat across from Bishop, giving him a reassuring smile as I got myself settled.
The hard plastic only gets more uncomfortable the longer we sit here, but I can’t bring myself to stand and stretch my legs.
We could get an update at any moment, and I don’t want to miss it.
Every alarm that sounds down the hallway sends a fresh wave of panic through my chest, but Ryker’s steady presence gives me a sense of calm that feels unfamiliar.
It’s strange. We haven’t spent much, if any, time one-on-one, and yet today he’s my rock. He’s the only thing stopping me from spiraling into complete despair.
Kovu paces up and down the waiting room like a caged animal. Every move he makes is the definition of predatory, but whenever someone convinces him to sit down, it lasts barely a few minutes. He needs to be on the move so his mind won’t wander to the possibilities. I can relate because the stillness isbeginning to get to me, the way my skin crawls with each second that ticks by on the too-loud clock above the door.
I drop my elbows to my knees and sigh. These chairs are brutal, and no matter how much I move, I can’t seem to find a comfortable position to sit in.
“You okay, Siren?”
The nickname rolls off his tongue like it’s the most natural thing in the world, but how can that be? We barely know each other. Up until today, he’s been nothing more than a shadow in my life, keeping me safe from a distance and rarely engaging with me on a personal level.
I nod. “I think I just need to stretch my legs.” I push myself to my feet and stretch out my aching muscles.
