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"Gideon?"
"Zayne," he says, his expression softening as he looks me over. "You're Kenzie?"
I nod, tears still spilling down my cheeks. I can't stop them. "Is…is he…?"
"Alive," Zayne says. "Though, fair warnin', I may kill him later."
The receptionist recoils.
"He's my little brother. I'm allowed," Zayne growls at her. "Let Kenzie back before he rips your entire ER apart."
"He's awake?"
Zayne nods. "Awake and mad as hell." His jaw tightens. "Taggert's right across the hall from him. Some genius thought bringing him here was a good idea."
The icicles growing in my veins begin to thaw, allowing me to draw a breath. Zion's alive. He's safe.
I won't believe it until I see him for myself.
"Go on back then," the receptionist mutters, clearly annoyed that we're not following her rules. The door to the back buzzes before slowly opening.
I glance at Olive.
"Go!" she cries.
I don't stop to ask directions. I run. I don't need the directions anyway. Between the police officers stationed outside his door and his booming voice, I have a roadmap leading right to him.
"I swear to Christ, if you don't get back in this bed right this instant, Zion Alaric Carmichael, I'm telling your father you growled at me."
"I don't need to be in the fucking bed, Ma. I want out of here."
"Don't curse at me."
I follow their voices, stumbling to a stop at the door to a trauma room. Zion's standing beside the bed without a shirt, weaving on his feet. Bandages cover his left shoulder, streaking with blood. His mom's across from him, her hands planted on her hips as she glares at him. His other brother—Gideon—is sitting in a chair off to the side, watching the show.
I don't know if I make a sound or if Zion simply feels me there, but he looks up, those piercing green eyes locking on my face.
"Angel baby," he breathes.
I sink to my knees, sobbing.
"Ah, baby." Within moments, he's in front of me, pulling me onto his lap. His right arm comes around me, anchoring me to his body as he buries his face in my hair, holding me right there on the floor. "I'm here. I'm right here."
"I'm s-s-so mad at you!" I cry. "I thought you were dead, Zion. You c-can't ask me to m-marry you and then die!"
"I didn't ask, Makenzie. It wasn't a question. You're marrying me."
"Oh, dear," his mom whispers.
"Jesus Christ," his brother laughs.
"I thought I lost you." I press my face to his skin, breathing him in. Allowing him to absorb my tears and the weight of my emotions.
"Never," he growls. "Not for Lyle Taggert. Not for any goddamn reason. You're mine, angel baby. I love you."
"I love you too. So much, Zion. So much."
"Well, it's time for me to get the fuck out before this gets awkward," Gideon mutters.
