Page 48 of Lost King

"Yeah, baby it's me," I choke out. "I want you to hold on for me, okay. I'm going to take care of you."

"I didn't want you to see me like this."

"Well, tough shit, because nothing and no one can keep me from you." I place my hand on Quinn's chest over his beating heart, "It beats for us right?" I whisper into his ear. "Now you be good and don't give your momma any trouble. I'll be back soon."

Rolling his head to the right, Quinn regards his mom. "I know better than to sass my mom. She'll whoop my ass."

I can't help but shake my head at his remark. Only Quinn would be laid up after going through hell, suffering from withdrawals and severe infection and still give us lip.

On the ride to the hospital, I lean my head back on the headrest, close my eyes and let my mind wander. When I was looking over Quinn, I didn't miss the other numerous injuries to his body. Not only was he drugged repeatedly, and stabbed in the thigh, but I also saw a large burn mark to his neck. One that is too big to be a cigarette, so I'm going to guess it was a cigar. His nose was apparently broken but looked as though it had already been reset. His entire torso is covered in bruises as is his face. The tips of all ten of his fingers are swollen and bloody too.

"You okay over there, doll?" Kiwi asks bringing me out of my thoughts.

I'm just about to answer him when nausea hits and bile rises in my throat. "Stop the car!" I shout covering my mouth with my hand. Suddenly jerking the car to the side of the road, Kiwi barley comes to a full stop before I throw the passenger door open and I stumble out. With my palms braced over my knees, I vomit onto the grass on the side of the road.

Kiwi comes up beside me and offers a bottle of water. "Here ya go, doll."

After chugging half the contents, I wipe my mouth with the sleeve of my shirt. "Thanks." Tilting his chin, Kiwi leans against the side of the car and patiently waits as I compose myself. A couple of minutes later we're back on the road.

"Quinn's a lucky man to have an old lady like you. I don't know ya, but I know enough, and I can see you're tough as hell. I admire the way you and his mum came into his room and decided nobody was going to keep ya from him. That's the makings of one hell of an old lady."

"Thanks, Kiwi," I say giving him a weak smile. After his brief compliment, we ride the rest of the way to the hospital in silence.

After we make it to the hospital, it only takes about forty-five minutes for a friend of mine that works in the lab to run the toxicology for me. I go about gathering a few supplies and some IV antibiotics and place them in my bag. On my way out, I pause when I hear someone calling my name. Turning, I see my boss and Attending Physician Dr. Brewer.

"Dr. Evans, I have been trying to get in touch with you for a week. My phone calls and messages have gone unanswered."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that Dr. Brewer. I've been dealing with a family emergency."

"I can understand that, Dr. Evans, but you have a responsibility to this hospital. The least you could do is notify me in such an event."

Blowing out a breath, I try to compose myself before I go off on the woman in front of me. "I understand, Dr. Brewer, but work was the last thing on my mind this week. Sometimes there are more important things."

"If that is the way you feel Dr. Evans than perhaps we need to rethink your position at this hospital."

"You go on and do that," I say through gritted teeth. "I have someplace more important to be than standing here with you." Without a second thought, I turn and walk out of the hospital.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Quinn

It's been a little over forty eight hours since my brothers found my ass and brought me home. I'd like to say my recovery process has been easy for me but that would be a lie. The physical injuries I can handle. My fingertips hurt like hell. Each nail bed has formed a blood blister underneath them from the trauma caused by the needles. Thanks to Doc I can breathe out both sides of my nose again. My ribs feel a hell of a lot better with the compression wraps giving them much needed support. Taking a deep breath still hurts like hell, but it's much more manageable. My knees let's just say they have swollen to the size of a grapefruit with the amount of fluid build up in them.

Currently, I'm sitting on the edge of the bed. Prez still has me in one of the rooms located downstairs. At least until I've improved a little more.

With a shaky hand, I reach for the bottle of water sitting on the bedside table. This—the shaking and overall feeling like roadkill is the worst part of my recovery. My body continually shivers, accompanied by waves of nausea and lightheadedness. Both Emerson and Doc say they are a mild side effects from the drugs that were injected into me. Heroin to be exact. Emerson had a toxicology report done the same night the men rescued me. Let's just say by the high levels found in my system everyone was surprised I didn't suffer a fatal overdose.

I fully believe it was my woman's voice that helped pull me through. Knowing my future was back home waiting for me gave me the extra strength I needed to hold on. Emerson and my unborn child were my guiding light when I felt like I couldn't possibly handle anymore.

The Satans Reapers put my body through hell. They tried to break my spirit. They almost succeeded, but every time I closed my eyes there she was. Every time my heart kept beating it was for her and my child.

Clenching my fists in frustration, I try to stop my muscles from twitching after spilling water on my lap. "Fuck. All I want is to have a drink without sloshing it all over myself."

Emerson comes to sit beside me. "Your symptoms should subside in another twenty-four hours. You're already doing much better than you were twelve hours ago."

"I'm sorry, Sunshine. I know I'm a massive pain in the ass right now. I'm not one to bitch as much as I have lately, but I'm not feeling like myself, and it's pissing me off." Placing my trembling palm against her cheek, I lean in and press my lips to her mouth, then rest my forehead against hers. "I love you so fuckin' much, Sunshine."

Her hand threads through my messy hair. "I love you too." After we have our moment, she leans back. "Would you like to shower today?"