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I nodded. “I’ll check on her.”
“I’ll get our things from the car,” Caleb offered before heading for the door.
I left him and turned for that room as Lucas and his sister headed for a hallway on the other side of the cabin, urging myself to mind my own business. I cracked open the door to the surgical room, listening to the samebeep…beep…beepthat haunted me. But the moment I stepped inside, I stopped.
Ryth had her head on Tobias's arm, the plate of food untouched beside her. She was asleep, her breaths slow and deep. Fuck, she looked peaceful. I didn’t want to wake her.
The heavy thud of Caleb’s steps carried down the hall, heading to the master suite. He returned, stopping behind me and looking over my shoulder. “Damn,” he said, staring at our sister.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Damn.”
I moved to her side.
“Nick, let me.”
I gave a nod. The last thing I needed was to tear myself up further carrying my stepsister. But as Caleb picked her up and cradled her against his chest, I fought a pang of jealousy.
He carried her to the room at the end of the hall and I followed. The massive king-sized bed sat in the middle of the room. There was a bathroom off to the side.
We worked in silence, taking off her shoes and jeans before tucking her head on the pillow in the middle of the bed. I kicked off my boots and pushed down my own jeans before slipping in beside her. Caleb moved to the door and flipped off the light.
A second was all it took for the bed to sink on the other side. Warm fingers brushed my hand, finding my grasp. Ryth was the only person who could bring us together, even in our hate.
I closed my eyes as darkness pulled me down, but before I slipped completely under, I heard the faint thud of Doc’s steps as he checked on my brother. Then I was falling, and with her hand clasping mine, I slept.
FOURTEEN
Ryth
A grunt woke me.The sound was a low growl in my ear, pulling me from the darkness.
“Princess…” Nick groaned in his sleep, his tone desperate.
I’m right here…I answered. But the words never reached my lips. Instead, it took me a heartbeat to remember.
Nick.
Nick was beside me.
I reached out, my cold fingers touching his warmth. I exhaled as the bed shifted behind me, drawing me to the heat. Caleb was here as well, huddled on the other side of the massive bed. I searched for him, brushing his chest, my touch lingering for just a moment, my thoughts dreamy and slow. We were together. We were safe…until the memory of Tobias hit me.
His screams followed, tearing me from the comfort. I shoved upwards, scanning the gloom. My heart hammered as everything hit me.Tobias…Tobias in the bathroom of the diner. Tobias as he crumbled and fell…How could I have forgotten? How could I sleep without him?
I shoved against the pillow, moving to the foot of the bed before leaving the two sleeping forms behind. The moment my feet hit the icy wooden floor, I caught my breath. A shudder tore free as I wrapped my arms around my middle and searched the room.
I didn’t think. I justmoved,stumbling forward until I hit a wall and searched for a handle. My fingers hit steel. One twist and I was out. The hinges squealed, making me wince. I held my breath and gently closed the door behind me.
All I cared about was finding him…
Come on…I searched along the wall in the dark until I found another handle, then turned. The faint beep of a monitor made me still for a second. I breathed in the sharp tang of antiseptic, then slowly stepped in.
But there was only silence.
He was still alive.
I knew that.
But still, I didn’t like the quiet. It made me feel…alone.
