Page 121

“You’re going to feel some pressure. On the count of three, take a big breath and then a hard cough.”

I did, and when I coughed, the tube slid from my throat.

“Small breaths,” the nurse said. “Keep it shallow as your throat relaxes.”

I grunted against the harsh burn. The nurse took over for the doctor. “Don’t talk. Not yet.” She wiped my chin, then she ran an oxygen line to my nose. “But I want you to cough as much as you can. I know, with your ribs, it’s going to be painful, but we want to get the mucus out of your lungs and throat.”

“I’ll be back in a bit.” The doctor stepped out of the room.

“I sent a text to Bullet to tell everyone you’re awake. He’ll be here soon.” Clover stroked her thumb along the back of my hand. “They’ve all taken turns sitting with you. They wouldn’t let us stay in here overnight, but someone was in the waiting room. Hellers have taken over the ICU.” She smiled. “You haven’t been alone.”

“Jaymi,” I mouthed, but no sound came out.

“Lili?” she guessed at my word. “I don’t think she knows. Natalie was here the first day, but she didn’t stick around. She said she didn’t want Lili to see you like this. She was afraid it would scare her.”

Not Lili. Although, she was on my mind, too. “Jaymi.” My words were just forced air with no sound.

“Give it about an hour, and you’ll be able to hear him if you lean in close,” the nurse said to Clover.

“Can he have something to drink?”

“Not yet. When the doctor comes back, he’ll check his breathing. Then he can have ice chips. I promise,” she said to me. “You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven. The cold on your throat will feel that good.”

The nurse adjusted my bed and pillow to angle me more upright. “I’ll be in every few minutes to check on you. You’re going to cough a lot. Don’t swallow the mucus. If you can’t spit, I’ll use suction.” She glanced at Clover. “If I’m not here, help him to sit up and spit if he can. If he can’t, I’m right outside the door.”

She nodded. And then it was just me and Clover in the room.

I closed my eyes for a moment. Breathing felt like sucking in shards of glass. My lungs were thick and sticky. I had the urge to cough, but every fucking breath was fire. Pain flared through my ribs. I couldn’t stop the contraction. I coughed hard, and a surge of thick fluid coated my throat and landed in my mouth. I nearly gagged.

Clover grabbed the plastic bowl for vomit. I spat the tinged-with-blood mucus into the bowl.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

I nodded and settled back against the pillow.

She pulled a chair next to the bed. “Do you remember what happened?”

My memories were fuzzy. I had bits and pieces.

“I was so scared.” Tears filled her eyes. “We thought we’d lost you. Bullet was out of his mind. I’ve never seen him like that.”

The monitors continued to beep. Wires connected to my chest, and an IV line tapped into my arm. Bruises on my chest and arms created a macabre tapestry of blues, purples, and yellows. A white bandage covered my ribs on my right side. My skin rippled and puckered where Noose had stubbed out his cigarettes.

Flashes of memories filtered into my mind. Kodiak had pulled a gun. Skye screamed, and I thought I was dead. He’d pulled the trigger and kept Noose from slitting my throat.

“They found you on Sunday. No one knew you were missing, but when Skye didn’t come home, and she hadn’t heard from you, Scarlett got worried. She called me, and I went to Bullet. I told him you were looking for Kodiak. No one could find him either, and they couldn’t track Skye because you had Scarlett’s phone.”

I nodded. I remembered. I had to get to Kodiak before the mafia did. In the end, I’d fucked myself.

As she combed her fingers through my hair, the door swung open.

“Fuck.” Bullet rushed across the room.

Blade and Rogue came in behind him.

“It’s good to see you with your eyes open,” Bullet said. “Once you get your strength back, I’m going to kick your ass in the basement of the MC.”

Rogue crossed his arms over his chest. “We’re all going to take a turn.”