Page 138 of Watched

“Clear!” the doctor shouts, and Rain’s body jolts.

I hold my breath, my body moving toward him when they charge the paddles again.

“Clear!”

Tears blur his beautiful face as I begin to run. Arms come around me, and I fight the two bodies trying to pull me back as Rain’s body jolts again, and a scream tears my throat, “RAIN!”

Beep. Beep. Beep.

That bloody noise has been haunting me for two days now. I heard that gun shot and watched Rain’s body fall down that roof as I ran through the woods towards him, and everything has been moving in slow motion since. He’s laying here, his pulse beating beneath my fingers, yet all I can see is his pale face, his blood-soaked clothes in the back of the ambulance, the paramedics performing CPR.

The events are playing on repeat.

Apparently, Rain surviving surgery was a miracle, and he’s been moved to a private room in the ICU. I slept on the couch the first night, and then Aaron had them bring in another bed so I could lie beside him.

I whispered profanities at him for over an hour, telling him he was stupid to go through with his plan. I then apologised and told him I want at least two children and a dog.

His breath deepens, and I sit up, squeezing his hand. His brows pull together, and he groans, slowly peeling his eyes open. “Baby?”

I lean across and cup his pale cheek. “I’m here.”

A delicate smile curls his mouth and tears burn my eyes as I softly press my lips to his.

“I told you to stay home,” he murmurs. “You made a deal, Rome.”

My chin trembles and I nod. “I had to.”

He sighs and looks disgustingly at the IV in his hand and the heart monitors stuck on his chest. “Can they get this shit off me?”

“You need it.” I clear the burning lump in my throat and stroke his hand. “They needed to remove your kidney.”

“Mmm,” he hums, closing his eyes. “Doesn’t matter…Wait.” They pop back open, and he pulls his hand from mine to slide it under the blanket. “Does that mean I have a—”

“Yes,” I groan. “I’ll admit I stared down the nurse who inserted your catheter. He came in this morning saying he needed to give you a sponge bath after changing the dressing on your bullet wound. I snatched the items and did it myself.”

Rain’s cheeks flush a beautiful pink. “You gave me sponge bath?”

“You needed one, and I didn’t want anyone else to touch—”

“You’re fucking useless,” Blade’s voice booms from somewhere in the hallway. “If he isn’t awake by tonight, I suggest you go pick out a plot in the nearest cemetery.”

“Sir,” a light but stern voice chastises. “You cannot threaten our staff.”

“Oh, boo-hoo, cry me a fucking river.” With his back to the room, Blade steps in and throws the door shut. “I don’t think any of these people have medical…”

“You’re going to get me thrown out of here,” Rain muses with a weak grin.

“You’re an ass.” Blade folds his arms over his chest, cocking his head. “The only person who can kill you is me. It was rude to make me believe I wouldn’t get that pleasure.”

Rain takes my hand again, the contact squeezing my heart. He narrows his eyes on Blade. “You were scared.”

“Annoyed, maybe.”

“Guess I’m glad you were still here.”

“I have a few things I need to set up before I go back for her.”

“Like?”