Page 40 of Stay Little Fighter

“A nurse will be in shortly to take you to see her.” His eyes sweep over the group. “I think it would be better if only a few of you visit at a time. We want to keep her calm for at least the first twenty-four hours if possible.”

“Of course.” He nods.

The doctor disappears, and we sit in silence for a handful of moments before Damon pushes himself to his feet.

“I’m going to head out. I’d appreciate if one of you would keep me updated.”

“Where are you going?” Ronan cuts him off before he can reach the door.

“I don’t deserve to see her. I don’t deserve to breathe the same air as her after everything I’ve done.”

He pushes past his brother, not giving any of us a second glance before he limps from the room.

And here I was thinking we were finally making some progress.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHLOE

NOW

Warmth surrounds me, dragging me from a blissfully dreamless sleep.

Every morning I wake up sandwiched between two of my guys, and it never gets old, even if I’m almost always overheating.

Not that I’m complaining. I’ll never get sick of waking up like this.

Thick fingers brush down my side from behind, and I realize Ryker’s awake. He seems to have a sixth sense that wakes him up the second my dreams end and reality falls back around me.

“Good morning, Siren,” he rumbles.

“Good morning,” I murmur against Kingston’s chest.

“Why don’t you open your eyes for us, Mama?”

I frown, an ache pressing against my temple that I didn’t notice before.

“Come on, Chloe,” Ronan whispers. “Show me those pretty green eyes.”

Did he sleep in here last night as well?

A thumb brushes over the space between my brows.

“Wake up for us, Sparrow.”

The dream falls away, and it takes me long seconds to realize I’m not in bed with my guys, nor am I warm or comfortable.

The combination of white ceiling tiles and an incessant beeping behind me are all I need to know I’m in the hospital, and that’s when everything comes rushing back to me.

Running from the motel with Damon.

Being shot and taken.

The basement.

The hand wrapped around mine squeezes, and I force my aching eyes to where Ronan sits beside me, the dark marks beneath his eyes telling me exactly how exhausted he is.

“Hey, Sparrow,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion.