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Mom runs her hands through my hair and touches the bump from the hit. I ignore the burst of pain, but she hisses like it hurt her. I arch an eyebrow, and she smiles, but there’s still worry in her eyes.

“This could have ended badly, Jacky.” Mom always slips when she’s worried. It’s why Lucy delights in calling me that nickname.

“I’m fine, Mom. We got through it. We’re safe now. The guys who did it are all in custody.”

“Nothing’s ever sure in this town.” She steps away and looks at her smart watch. “I have to check on a patient. But we’re having a discussion with your father at home. You will make time for us.”

I give her a nod. “So am I clear?”

She smiles and touches my chest like she doesn’t want to leave me. “Yes, go find your girl. Make sure she’s okay.”

I lean down and kiss my mom’s cheek. “Thanks, Doc.”

With a final glance at me, she hurries away to tend to her patient, and I head toward the emergency room. Mom was in contact with Jennifer to give me updates, since I started to refuse treatment, wanting to be with Harper wherever she is. The constant updates were the compromise.

I feel twisted up and empty without her near me. My heart stops and ice flows through my veins that if I leave her, something more will happen to her. I try to shake it off. I know the others are with her, but it was just us in that nightmare of a situation. It was up to me to keep her safe, and I couldn’t even do that.

Harper is still in the ER and asleep or maybe passed out, but they want to move her to a room for the night. Jennifer wants to take Harper home. I’m glad Jennifer’s here, because she’ll get it done.

That’s what we want, to have our girl with us. But if Harper’s staying here, so are we. None of us will want to be separated from her right now, and there’s no way my girl wakes up alone. Not when there are five of us.

Besides, this hospital isn’t safe, adding additional knots to my stomach.

I call the elevator and head down to the first floor. When I reach the emergency room, Luke and Caden walk in from the outside. Something settles inside me. Some part of me that felt adrift without them by my side.

I can hold my own in a fight and I did. But I’d rather have them with me any day of the week.

They wait for me to join them.

“Pass all your tests?” Caden pulls me in for a quick hug. Normally he’d slap my back, but he’s not quite as rough, knowing I’ve been through the ringer already.

“With flying colors.” Pulling away, I smile, but worry tugs at it.

I’m good, but I don’t know how Harper is. Yes, I’ve had updates from my mom, but it’s not the same as holding her through this. I need to be there for her. To make sure she’s good with my own eyes.

“Come on.” Luke takes my shoulder and leads me to her room.

Before we reach her door, I hesitate. The last time we saw each other, I was yelling at her to run.

“Have either of you...?” I turn to see their response. Have they already been with her? Have they seen her?

They both shake their heads.

“She was pretty out of it when we sent her to the hospital.” Caden runs his hand through his hair. They’re still in their suits, though Luke is missing his jacket. I didn’t really notice when I saw them at the house on my way to the ambulance. I look down at my loaner scrubs. Blue with rubber ducks on the bottoms and a solid yellow top.

The door to her room opens, and Eli holds it for us.

“The walls are pretty thin.” Eli nods for us to enter.

No more stalling. We walk in. There’s a couple chairs in the room. Nico sits in a wheelchair next to Harper’s head with her hand in his. Her eyes are closed, and she’s paler than normal. Her chest rises and falls steadily. At some point, she got the loaner scrub treatment as well. Probably her mother’s because they’re a little nicer than the ones I have on.

She looks just as beautiful as always, but also so fucking vulnerable. There are scratches on her arms and face. Her feet are under the blanket, but I know she has cuts from running barefoot outside. An IV goes into the side of her wrist and the bags leading to it are about half full. Her heart monitor is quiet, but the lines are steady.

She’s safe. My heart starts again.

“Do we know what Zach gave her?” Luke walks over and presses a kiss to her temple. His thumb traces a red scratch on her cheek. His fingers linger on her jaw like he doesn’t want to stop touching her.

“Zach had it prepared.” I still can’t believe she let him inject her with it. But there wasn’t an opportunity to get away until Penny made one. “He made it her only choice. It was her or the other girls, not drugged, while she would be forced to watch.”