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“Where is Maverick?”
The nurse won’t look at me. Darrell moves to the window and opens the blinds, allowing sunshine to flood the room.
“How long have I been out? Where are the kids?” Maybe they’ll answer those questions.
“You’ve been out for twelve hours. You had surgery to repair your arm and the bullet wound in your shoulder,” the nurse answers.
“Krystal is with the kids. They are safe. I’ll have her bring them up after they move you out of the ICU later.” Darrell still won’t look at me.
“Where is Maverick?” I ask again, and this time the nurse looks at Darrell before she looks down at me.
“Security said a man has been down in the lobby since you came in yesterday,” she says.
“Thank you. Why isn’t he up here?” She slowly raises her head up and looks over at my brother again. “Darrell, what did you do?”
“Nothing. Only family can be here.” He swings his hand toward the nurse.
“We can let him up if you want, but they want to move you in a bit.”
“I want him with me. Please have him come up.”
“I’ll let them know.” The nurse leaves the room, and I look at Darrell.
“What did you do?”
“I’m protecting you. That’s my job.” He huffs as he sits in the chair next to me, his hands going to his hair. That’s where Maverick should have been all night.
“You didn’t let him come up here, did you?” I want to be angry, but I can’t. I know my brother acted out of love.
He nods.
“Munchie, I almost lost you yesterday. He was supposed to protect you.”
“Stop.” I hold up my good hand. “Your security was killed trying to protect me. Maverick went into those woods looking for me. He didn’t fail me, and neither did you. I love him and I want him with me.”
“Lydia, really?” he growls. “He’s just a rebound. I have transportation set up to take you and the kids back to Chattanooga with me. I’m not leaving you here to get hurt worse. And I’m definitely not letting you make the mistake of being in a relationship that isn’t going to go anywhere.” He gets up and stomps around the room.
“Not going anywhere? I just told you I love him. I want a life with him. He wants a life with me and the kids.” My voice is raised, and my nurse bursts through the door with my love right behind her.
“I doubt that,” Darrell says without looking to the door.
“Doubt all you want. She’s mine. Those kids are mine. I love them all and will do everything I can to protect them.”
Darrell whirls around at Maverick’s words.
“Like you protected her yesterday?”
“Your security couldn’t stop him. Now that Colton is dead, and Deedee is in jail, I’ll do everything I can. I can’t afford to hire personal security for them, but I can at least make sure she’s safe with my own body.” Maverick moves to me. I feel his eyes as they move over my body, taking everything in.
“I love you, beautiful,” he tells me as soon as he’s beside me. His clothes are rumpled and dirty, proving he never left the hospital.
“I love you,” I cry, and he takes me in his arms and holds me tight.
“I’m never letting you go. Stay here with me.”
“Yes. Yes to everything.”
His arms flex around me, and I realize we are alone when he pulls away.
