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“Baby,” I rush out, trying to catch her.
The woman runs off, and I look up to see the black SUV speeding away.
When I glance down at Everleigh, she’s holding her stomach, and that’s when I notice the pool of blood around her fingers.
“What…what happened?” My eyes scan over her quickly as I peel back the fabric of her robe. “Baby, what’d she…” And then I see it. “She fucking stabbed you!”
Everleigh’s eyes close, and I shake her shoulders. “No, stay awake. I gotta get my phone. Stay with me.”
She’s losing too much blood too fast.
I rush toward my cell, then dial 911.
“Everleigh, look at me.” Her eyes flutter open, then shut. “Everleigh.” I put my hands over the wound and apply pressure, but the bleeding continues.
“911, what’s your emergency?” the dispatcher answers, but my attention is glued to Everleigh.
“I-I love you,” she mutters.
“Don’t you dare,” I grind out. “You stay with me.”
“Hello, what’s the location of your emergency?” The dispatcher speaks louder, but my heart is ripping to shreds, and I can’t focus.
“I love you, Archer.”
And then she loses consciousness.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
EVERLEIGH
I hearsomething I can’t quite place. My eyelids are heavy, and I somehow force them open. When I turn my head slightly, Archer comes into view, and a smile touches my lips. Before I can open my mouth to say his name, my brother stands.
“Everleigh.” Tyler walks toward me, and Archer joins him. They look like they haven’t slept in days, but relief covers their faces.
“Hey. Where am I?” My voice is almost unrecognizable to me. I try to swallow, but my throat is dry.
“You’re in the hospital,” Archer states, his voice low. “You got hurt.”
I don’t remember what happened, but there’s a dull ache in my lower abdomen. I’m hooked to an IV with a blood pressure cuff. The constant beeping drives me crazy. “How long have I been here?”
“Two days. You got stabbed, and the doctors did surgery to stop the bleeding,” Tyler says.
My eyes widen in surprise because I don’t recall any of that. By the expression on Archer’s face, there’s more to it.
“Wow…” I blink, searching my memory. “Who did it?”
Tyler looks at Archer. “We were hoping you’d know,” Archer says.
I shake my head.
The last thing I remember is partying at the bar for Archer’s birthday, then going home afterward. Archer and I made love and exchanged I love yous. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. As I meet Archer’s intense gaze, I swallow down my emotions because I know I can’t say those words to him right now.
Another sharp pain shoots through my body, and I blink hard. I try to reposition myself to get more comfortable.
“How do you feel?” Tyler adjusts my pillow, helping me sit up straighter.
“Like I’ve been stabbed,” I deadpan.
