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When the Fraternitas issued their order, I followed the girl with the autumn hair. By the time Ariah arrived in Edgewood, my only goal was to make sure the guys fell. She’s it for us. Ariah is our missing puzzle piece—the five-sided oddly shaped one at the center.
I’m so deep in thought that I don’t realize we’re standing outside the Labor and Delivery door. Inhaling, I watch Owen pick up the phone and wait to connect with someone from the nurses’ station. “We’re here to see Ariah Bradford,” he says into the receiver. There’s no speakerphone, so only Owen can hear what’s said.
“What do you think the hold-up is?” Wes grumbles when we aren’t given immediate entry.
“We’re her fiancés, and she’s carrying our babies,” Owen explains, trying to remain calm, but with each clench of his jaw, I know his fuse is close to going off. “No! That’s not acceptable.” He pauses. “What the fuck do you mean we’re not allowed in?”
I snort. Of course, they won’t allow us in—we’re responsible for this. “We should’ve seen this coming,” I mutter.
“How do you figure,” Sebastian asks as Owen continues to argue our case.
“If the roles were reversed, and it was Ariah’s father who hurt her to the point of being hospitalized, would we let him within one hundred feet of her?” Peering at him, I continue,” I’m surprised they let us in the hospital—shit, that we were even allowed in the parking lot.”
Seconds later, the door opens. Owen slams down the receiver. “Stupid fuckers. I knew they only needed the right motivation to let us in.”
We don’t make it one step before a wall of guards blocking our path inside. Thomas is at the center—Reign is to his left, along with three more guards, while Elias and Fernando are to his right with two other guards. “You boys need to go home,” Thomas begins.
Reign cuts in. “No one wants or needs any of you heartless assholes here.”
“You’ve each done more than enough,” Elias adds.
“Move the fuck out of the way,” Lev snaps.
Fernando tilts his head, and his eyes light with excitement. “Or else what? You’ll sic Mommy and Daddy on me,” he mocks.
Lev’s nostrils flare. “No, I’ll wipe you from the board. Your continued existence in Ariah’s life is because I allow it. So, don’t tempt me to call your bluff. It only takes one alert, and your father will know where you are.”
“Enough,” Aaron hisses, stepping between Thomas and Reign. “Tonight, my daughter was hospitalized, and I won’t let the reasons for that anywhere near her until she’s one hundred percent recovered.” Aaron rubs the bridge of his nose before familiar gray eyes snap open. “I know why everything that transpired tonight had to happen, but give her the time she needs before you smother her with your pleas for forgiveness. She deserves it and so much more.”
I meet Aaron’s gaze, “At least let us know she’s okay. I’ll make sure we leave—just tell me Ariah’s okay.”
“What?”
“Fuck that, I’m not leaving!”
“Wy, have you lost it?”
“No!”
Wes, Owen, Lev, and Sebastian argue.
Raising my hand, I reply, “It’s more important for her to rest than for us to see her.” Then I face Aaron, waiting for him to answer my question.
“She’s sleeping and being closely monitored because her blood pressure keeps spiking,” Ariah’s father explains.
The guys let out collective sighs. They understand tonight isn’t the best time to push. “Tell her we’ll give her all the time she needs,” Wes states. Aaron nods, and the door to the floor slams shut in our faces.
A slight smirk grows on my face as we head down to our car. Wes promised you time, Love. I only promised you tonight.
49
ARIAH
“We need to get you to the hospital, Ry. You’re bleeding,” I faintly hear Reign’s pleas, but I’m still drowning in the scenes looping through my mind. Samantha on top of Owen, riding him. His shirt open as she lowers the blade to stamp out my existence. . . Owen’s hurtful commands to leave like I’m some pathetic stalker who doesn’t get it.
“Can’t you see we’re fucking busy? Get the fuck out of here!”
No, no, no, I don’t want to go back there. I can feel my heart turn to ash all over again. How could he be so cruel? Until that moment, I held out hope.
