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The screen went blank for a moment before it returned to its normal view of the empty lobby. The box sat there ominously, a chilling reminder of the threat just beyond our front door.
I rushed over to Sebastian, making sure he was safe and undisturbed. He lay still, peacefully oblivious to the horror unfolding outside.
I wanted nothing more than to keep it that way.
So I had to come get this guy before things got worse.
Before he tried to get in here, I had to be the one to get him.
Chapter Twenty-One: Zane
Iwoke up to blinding white light.
My head pounded and my body ached. I blinked, trying to adjust my vision but finding it difficult. A machine beeped rhythmically beside me and IVs were taped to the back of my hand.
I tried to sit up, but my body refused to cooperate. Pain shot through my abdomen as I groaned low in my throat, falling back against the pillows. It felt like someone had stabbed a knife into my stomach and twisted it around for good measure.
I squeezed my eyes shut, blocking out the harsh hospital lights and trying to remember what had happened. The memories came rushing back like a series of stormy waves crashing onto a beach–Bash leaving the room, the gunshots, the way Justice’s eyes widened in fear...
I searched for any sign of life in the room; the only other presence was Bash sitting slumped in a chair across from me. His eyes were closed, skin looking worn and tired under the harsh hospital lights. The mere sight of him made my heart hurt.
"Bash?" I called out, my voice raspy and dry. I was so thirsty.
Bash picked his head up, his eyes widening. "Zane?"
"Yeah," I gasped, pain flaring up as I tried to shift. Bash was at my side in an instant, pressing me gently back into the bed.
"Don't move, Zane," he warned, his tone soft but commanding. "You're going to hurt yourself."
My eyes were drawn to the bandages peeking out from beneath the hospital gown. The stark white fabric was a stark contrast against my bronze skin, a reminder of how close I'd come to death.
"What happened?" I asked, even though I vaguely remembered; I needed Bash to confirm it wasn't a nightmare.
"You were shot."
I closed my eyes tightly. "Water?"
"Sure," Bash said, reaching for a glass on the bedside table. He helped me sit up slightly to sip, the cool water soothing my parched throat.
"...Skylar and Justice?" I rasped out after a moment. My mind was racing, piecing together fragments of memories - the piercing sound of gunfire, Justice's terrified eyes...
"They're safe," Bash assured me quickly, his strong hand on my shoulder giving me a sense of comfort. "They're here. We've been here for hours. They just went to get a coffee."
"Sebastian? Hassan?"
"Hassan grabbed him and they got away," he said.
I could still feel the phantom touch of Bash's hand on my shoulder, a reassuring presence in this sterile environment where needles pierced my skin and monitors beeped in an infuriatingly steady rhythm.
"Hassan...he's okay?" I asked, trying to hide the worry in my voice. Hassan had seen more than his fair share of violence and trauma. The last thing he needed was to see one of us, one of his family, lying in a pool of our own blood.
"He was shaken up," Bash admitted with an apologetic grimace. It didn't take much imagination to picture the fear etched on Hassan's face. "But he did exactly what he needed to do. Kept Sebastian safe."
"He's a good one," I said, more to myself than to him.
Bash nodded. "Always has been," he agreed, his gaze distant. I vaguely noticed he was on his phone, probably telling Justice and Skylar that I had woken up. There was a pause before he added, "We're going to get whoever did this to you, Zane. De Luca won't get away with this."
The hollow fury in his voice echoed the one pulsating within me, a savage thirst for vengeance that wouldn't be quenched until the guilty paid their dues.
