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“She’s going into cardiac arrest.”
They pushed the gurney onto the elevator, tapping the buttons. Link moved to get on as one of them opened a bag and took out paddles.
“Clear!”
Emma’s body jolted on the gurney as a paramedic pushed his chest. “Sir, you can’t come with us.”
“She’s my life.”
“We have to go if you want her to live.”
He staggered back. The doors closed as Emma’s body jolted for a second time. No. No, no, no, no, no. Not her. He couldn’t survive without her. He hadn’t even told her he loved her yet.
After a few moments, Nicky tapped the button, calling the elevator back. He handed Link a shirt. Link took it numbly before pulling it over his head. He stared at his hands, covered in Emma’s blood. Why didn’t I see she needed help?
Flashes of their conversations assaulted him. Moments when Emma had mentioned this life wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Asking him to come with her. Hinting at something and then pulling back. He should have pushed. He should have gone with her. He should have . . . it didn’t matter. It was too late.
A hard slap met his back, returning him to the present.
“Let’s go,” Nicky said, heading onto the waiting elevator. Had Emma died in here?
The rest of the bandmates climbed on. Callie was the last one, hugging her arms into herself.
“You stay here,” Asher snapped.
Her tear-filled eyes widened. “What? Why? As the manager, I need to be there. It’s my job to make sure you guys are taken care of.”
What?
“And you failed!” Asher screamed.
Nicky put a hand on his chest as if holding him back. “Calm down.”
“You didn’t know either! It’s not my fault!” Her shrill voice grated on his ears. The woman he loved’s life hung in the balance, and these idiots were still fighting. “Get the fuck in here and let’s go!” he boomed.
Callie darted inside as Leo hit the button for the doors to close.
They rode down in silence except for Callie’s sniffling.
His hands fisted at his side, his skin tight from the dried blood. Their last conversation played on repeat in his head. A sinking feeling told him it was already too late.
I’ve lost her.
38
Emma
Cold, sterile air burned Emma’s nose as she blinked her eyes open. A white ceiling. Lights and machines hung above her. Hospital. Why am I in a hospital? She tried to sit, immediately regretting the action. Why does my chest feel like I was crushed by a water buffalo? She lifted her throbbing arms, covered in gauze. Memories flooded over her. The broken bottle. The blood. Link’s voice. She closed her eyes as tears welled up and poured out of her. She didn’t even try to hide them this time. She looked around the empty room, finding a call button for the nurse.
A few moments later, a young RN walked in with a careful smile and kind eyes. “How are you feeling, Miss Sterling?” She grabbed a cup with a straw before bringing it to Emma’s lips.
Emma sipped the cool water, blinking through tears. “I’m sorry.”
The nurse’s eyebrows drew together as she nodded. “I’m your nurse, Melanie. I’m just going to take your vitals, and then I’ll go get the doctor. Okay?”
Emma nodded.
Melanie pulled open a laptop and recorded whatever she needed to as Emma allowed herself to be prodded.
