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“Is he going to make it?”
I reach out blindly, finding Jay’s hand. “He has to.”
There’s a squeeze and then nothing as he vanishes again. I go to Ina, offering my arm to help her out of the bed. “Can you quickly pack a few things for him? I’d like to clean him up and get him prepped.”
She doesn’t answer, scurrying to the cabinets at the far side of the wall and throwing me a new pair of pajama pants.
It’s excruciating, but I close my mind and go into nurse mode. Stripping his body delicately, cleaning him, continuously taking his temp, ripping the dirty sheets from under him, and redressing his pajamas. He moans, the medicine still working.
Jay reappears from the hallway we’ve been using for our walks, shoving apart walls that I didn’t realize were retractable. A team of medics rushes in, and I bark orders. No one questions my insistence of being with him. It isn’t until we get to the actual transport, me being outside for the first time in a week, that I think of Ina.
“Do you want to come?” I ask stupidly, knowing she does.
She doesn’t hesitate, jumping in.
The ride is hectic, the paramedics trying to take his vitals until they finally understand I’m the one in control. Ina sits stoic, her body trembling, hands in a praying position in her lap.
We ride and ride, the siren blaring, confirming we are outside of Miami, and our trek is long. After I’m sure Carlos is stable, I move to her side.
“He’s going to get the best treatment in the city.”
She nods, her eyes welling up.
“I’m going to help.”
She nods again.
“Ina, I need you to be strong here. Rocket needs you to be strong.”
At this, she jolts, her hand coming to grip mine. “I lost one son today. A son who made bad choices earlier in life and I didn’t agree with. Everything Stefano did was for Carlos. I’m coming to terms with that,” she explains.
There’s no time to dissect her statement because the EMTs shout our arrival.
I go back to Carlos, whisper in his ear, and prepare.
The van stops and chaos ensues. The doors open and I see him.
Carlos is transported out. I briefly notice Dr. Cross waiting at the entrance, Ina scuttling out, and the police vehicles skidding in.
My eyes are on his.
Unshaven, blue eyes boring into me, his body strung tight. I try to take a step down, and the adrenaline high I’ve been riding vanishes.
My knees give out, my vision goes dark, and the last thing I feel is Mathis’s arms catching me.
Chapter 22
Mathis
I storm through the emergency department, searching for an empty room with Claire in my arms. My mind swarms with emotions and possibilities. The instant I saw her, standing in the back of that truck, I felt like I could breathe again. Time stood still as I took her in. So beautiful, so controlled, and so fucking alive. When her eyes met mine, I knew she was crashing and my primal instinct kicked in.
She doesn’t stir when I lay her down and scan over her. My fingers locate her pulse, which is fast and strong, and her breathing is normal. I trace my lips over hers then kiss a trail to her ear. “I’ve got you, baby. You’re safe now.”
“She fainted, but I think she’s fine,” I tell our families that have crowded behind me.
Kelly and Mitch are at my side in less than a second. Kelly leans over Claire’s body and kisses her cheek, running her hand along her temple. “We love you. Please, wake up.”
Nothing visibly happens, but Claire’s pulse speeds a bit. “She hears you, but her body needs a little rest.”
