Page 44 of Deliverance

Evelyn shrugged. “I’m sure he suspects. Detective Patel is my main contact, and he’s never gotten any pushback from Captain Graves when I call in an anonymous tip, so I’m sure he knows to a degree.”

I frowned but nodded. Maybe I could reach out to some of my contacts to vet Captain Graves. I was sure Liam had already done so, but it didn’t hurt to vet him again. We couldn’t be too careful right now.

“Come on,” Alexander said. “Let’s get you to the hospital before he changes his mind.”

Evelyn joined me in the back seat while Alexander and Sebastian took the front. Marcus and Adrian stayed behind to help with the scene and talk to Detective Patel and Captain Graves.

Evelyn’s fingers reached for mine tentatively, and I flipped my hand so I could intertwine our hands. I held her hand tightly the whole way to the hospital. I was sure it had to do with Alexander’s influence, but as soon as we arrived, I was whisked back for x-rays and to be stitched up. I’d never had a hospital visit go so quickly before, and soon I was being discharged with pain meds and orders to take it easy for a few days.

“Nothing broken?” Sebastian asked as we waited for the car in front of the hospital.

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m sure I’ll be sore tomorrow, though.”

Sebastian nodded. “Just take it easy, okay? And prepare to be smothered by Evelyn.”

I smiled. “I’m okay with some smothering.”

Sebastian laughed. “I bet you are. Maybe I’ll have to get hurt next so she can smother me.”

I shook my head at him as the SUV rolled to a stop in front of us. My body was dragging by the time we reached the penthouse. Sebastian and Evelyn helped me up the elevator, and when we stopped on Adrian and Evelyn’s floor, they helped me to Adrian and my apartment. At the door, though, Alexander and Sebastian kissed Evelyn good night and told me to rest up. Evelyn helped me to my room. I could walk, but I enjoyed the feeling of her pressed against me.

“Can you get changed, or do you need help?” Evelyn fussed over me as she led me to the bed.

“I’m okay,” I said, squeezing her hand.

She bit her lip and nodded. “Okay, you get changed. I’m going to get you water and food so you can take your meds.”

I nodded, and she left the room. Moving slowly, I showered quickly and changed into fresh clothes, feeling instantly better. Pants felt like too much, so I just pulled on a new pair of boxer briefs and a fresh T-shirt. Once I was done, I sat on the bed heavily, breathing hard. Okay, maybe I wasn’t feeling as okay as I thought.

Evelyn appeared in the doorway, a plate of cheese and crackers in one hand and a glass of water in the other. She helped me scoot back against the headboard, then handed me the plate. I ate quickly. The shot of painkillers the doctors had given me at the hospital was wearing off, and I wanted to get the meds in me as soon as possible. She fished the bottle of meds out of her pocket and shook a few out into her palm.

“Here you go,” she said, offering them with the glass of water.

I swallowed them down and handed the glass back to her. She fussed with the pillows, and I caught the tremble of her hands.

“Hey,” I said softly. “Come sit with me.”

She hesitated, and I patted the bed next to me. She crawled onto the bed slowly as if she didn’t want to jostle me. I appreciated the gesture, but I wanted her in my arms more than I cared about a little pain.

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her into my chest. She rested her head on my shoulder and gently placed a hand on my chest.

“I’m okay,” I murmured. “You got to me in time.”

“But what if I hadn’t?” she whispered, her voice hitching. “I almost didn’t?—”

“But you did,” I reassured her. “You can’t focus on the what-ifs. You made it. You saved me.”

“I was so scared,” she whispered, her eyes on her hand on my chest, watching it rise and fall with my breath.

“Me too,” I confessed, and her eyes flew up to mine. “You know what I was scared of the most, though?”

She shook her head, her hazel eyes peering into mine like she could see into my soul. “That I would never see you again,” I said softly, my voice loud in the silent room. “That I would never get to tell you how I feel about you.”

“How do you feel?” Her voice was barely more than a breath.

“I’m falling in love with you,” I confessed, the words raw like I had torn them directly from my chest. “I want to stay and build a life with you. With all of you,” I said, including the guys in my sentiment. “If you’ll have me?”

“Yes,” she breathed out. “I want you too. I…I was so scared I wouldn’t make it in time to tell you that.”