AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After what feels like an eternity, my phone finally rings.
“Baby, are you—”
An explosion-like sound echoes in my ear and then abruptly cuts off.
The call ends.
ChapterEighteen
Laney
As I peel my eyes open, my head throbs in pain. The sound of a machine clicking isn’t helping, and just as I look around the white room, a blood pressure cuff squeezes my arm.
I hate these damn things.
“Ms. Bennett, you’re awake.” A soothing voice echoes as a nurse enters the room with a rolling computer cart and stands next to me.
“Am I? Or is this the afterlife?” I squint at the sunlight coming in through the window.
She smirks, shaking her head. “You’re gonna be alright, don’t worry. That boyfriend of yours, however...I finally kicked him out to get some fresh air.”
“Ayden’s here?” I wince as I try to move. “Where’s Serena?”
“Broken rib,” she tells me, fluffing a pillow near my side. “That little sweetie pie is just fine. She’s with your mom in the waitin’ room. Most likely talkin’ the staff’s ears off about how she’s goin’ to go live on a ranch and have a bunch of horses. She’s already named six.”
I try to laugh, but it hurts.
“What happened?”
“Airbag went off in your car when the bomb exploded and knocked your head right into the metal doorframe. You had your seat belt on, so when the airbag hit you, it smacked right into your chest. Hell, it did its job, but the car wasn’t moving, so the impact crashed into your body. Thank the Lord above you didn’t break your collarbone or jaw. Those usually require surgery. Could’ve been much worse, Ms. Bennett. A broken rib and a concussion are minor injuries compared to what could’ve happened. The explosion made the roof of your garage collapse. A rib could’ve punctured your lung. The whiplash could’ve fractured your skull. A guardian angel was lookin’ over ya.”
“Wait, what? The garage? What about Zane?”
“The security guy?” she inquires, and I nod. “I’m so sorry, miss. He didn’t make it.”
My eyes widen just as the door flies open, and Ayden bursts in. The nurse tells me she’ll be back in a little while.
“Oh thank fuck. You’re awake, baby.” He grabs my hand and then cups my face. “How are you feelin’?”
Confused. Heartbroken. Scared.
I swallow hard, my throat dry and sore. “Serena’s okay?”
“Fine, sweetheart. Little warrior barely got a bruise.” Ayden brushes his thumb over my cheek and tucks loose strands of hair behind my ear. “She was buckled in the back seat, safe and sound.”
I rolled my window down to talk to Zane and then...I heard it.Boom.
“The nurse says Zane didn’t make it?” I suck in my bottom lip.
Ayden shakes his head, lowering his eyes. “A piece from the ceiling fell and landed on top of his chest. His lungs collapsed, and the impact of the explosion made him lose consciousness. He wasn’t breathing by the time the paramedics arrived. They worked on him for a half hour, but it was too late.”
Tears surface and fall down my cheeks. I can’t believe he’s dead.
“How long ago?” I ask, unsure of how long I’ve been here.
Ayden carefully sits next to me on the bed. “Two days ago. You’ve been in and out because of the pain meds, and they’ve been monitoring your concussion. Swelling went down this mornin’ and they decreased your meds so you’d wake up.”
“Do you know what happened? There was a bomb?”
