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Luke didn’t get to live out his life as he should have and I missed him so much. I wouldn’t have been able to fully catch my breath again if I’d lost Rowan too.
“I love you so much,” I whispered, resting my head on his stomach.
“Ma'am, I’m sorry, but you can’t lay on him like that,” the paramedic said.
A low growl vibrated against my head and erupted in the small, closed space. I’d heard Rowan growl before but it was usually a sexy one. This time it said, ‘back off’ and the man bit his tongue and didn’t say another word. And that was damn sexy. My man was a beast.
He brushed his hand softly through my hair. “Where were we? Oh, yeah, hearing you say I love you is always music to my ears.”
I promised right then to tell him from that day forward how much I loved him.
And the second I could, I was going to make him my husband.
* * *
There was standingroom only in the hospital emergency waiting room and very little of it.
That worked for me because I couldn’t sit if I wanted to. I’d been pacing the floor like a caged tiger going out of my mind waiting until the moment I could lay eyes on Rowan again. I just needed a glimpse to be a hundred percent sure that he was going to be completely fine.
I glanced over at Zander and was thankful he’d finally fallen asleep. Summer gave me a soft smile as she held my son in her arms. He looked peaceful. Something he wasn’t when he’d come into the hospital looking for his daddy. Gyth had already explained that Rowan was hurt in a gentle, easy way, assuring him that he was going to be okay, but Zander was beside himself.
The feeling was mutual.
I could only imagine how frightened he was after what had happened to us and me having just been in the hospital recently, then having his father wind up there too.
Alley came up beside me and laid her hand on my arm. “Hey, sweets, can I go grab you some coffee, water, or anything else?”
Shaking my head, I took a deep breath. I couldn’t drink or eat anything, my stomach was twisted in knots. “No thank you.”
It seemed as if we’d been waiting forever. “Why is it taking so long?”
Deep down I knew he was going to be okay. Everyone from the paramedics on the way, to the nurses we’d talked to so far had said he was, but the more time that went by, the more I started to panic again that they were wrong. Summer, being not only a nurse herself, but also my friend, had also reassured me that he was going to be just fine. And it was her that seemed to settle my nerves more than anyone else. She was bright, maternal, and had a way about her that set people at ease.
Hand still on my arm she rubbed it up and down soothingly. “It shouldn’t be too much longer.”
All of our friends were waiting too. Hence why there was no room. We were a big group. Everyone was there but Lyric and Kace who’d had a hunch they wanted to check out, along with checking on Stella, crazy Michael’s wife.
Rowan had been a big part of helping to make her feel safe, which is why this stuff was happening, but we didn’t blame her at all. Rowan would be glad to know she was alright and I would too.
The poor woman had felt horrible when she’d heard about her husband—who she was divorcing—hurting Zander and me. But she’d been through hell and she deserved to be free of it.
Of the monster.
My breath caught in my chest when I turned and saw Braxton walking toward us with purpose. I hadn’t even seen him get up.
“I was in the hall and ran into the doctor. Poor guy, I practically pounced on him asking for information. But it's good news. Rowan is all stitched up and heading to his own room. Both the bullets, the one that hit his arm and the other that hit his leg, went straight through and missed everything vital.”
All the air swooshed out of my lungs.
“The doctor said he was demanding to see you and Zander. He is as ornery as ever from the sounds of it. Once they get him settled, a nurse will come get you,” Braxton said, walking up and pulling me into a big hug. “He’s okay, Brin. You can rest easy now.”
Letting him take my weight, I leaned in soaking up the hug and the relief of the news. But then I pulled back, wide-eyed. “What if it happens again?”
Just as my pulse started to race, Lyric and Kace walked through the automatic doors that led to the emergency waiting room and saved me from the panic attack about to take place. Lyric gave Braxton a nod and then looked at me.
“We got him, the shooter is in custody. Michael won’t be hurting any of you or Stella again.”
I almost sunk to the floor in relief. Braxton grabbed on tighter, holding me up. Needing to show them my thanks, I pulled myself from his arms and rushed over to hug Kace, then wrapped my arms around Lyric. Pulling back, I looked up at him. “Thank you.”
