Page 41 of Stay Little Fighter

“Where am I?” I croak.

A cup of water appears in front of me from the other side, and I glance over to find Ryker and Kingston sitting on a couch that they’ve dragged to the edge of the bed.

I take a small sip, but it does little to ease the dryness in my throat. After a few more sips, Ryker pulls the straw away and places it on the table beside the bed.

“I’ll give you some more once we’re sure it’s not going to make you sick,” he tells me, tapping the button beside my hand to call the nurses.

“How do you feel?” Kingston asks.

“Everything hurts.”

He huffs out a small laugh. “I guess that was a stupid question, wasn’t it, Mama?”

I allow my eyes to fall closed, giving them and my head a break from the bright lights.

God, I hate hospitals.

The sound of someone crossing the room and a soft click has me peeking one eye open to see the lights have been dimmed.

Ronan moves back to the edge of the bed and reclaims his seat, which is when I realize someone is missing.

“Where’s Damon?”

They share a look, and my chest constricts.

Did something happen to him after I passed out?

Is he hurt?

Did Mikayla come back for him?

Has Salvatore found us?

“Shit,” Kingston mutters as my heart rate rises for us all to hear. “Damon’s okay, Mama. He’s just taking some time to himself.”

“He left?” I choke out.

“No,” Ronan replies immediately. “He’s in the car outside. He’s just dealing with some stuff right now.”

“Do you want me to let him know you’re asking for him?” Kingston asks, holding his phone up.

I shake my head. “I don’t want to force him to be anywhere he doesn’t want to be.” But even as I say it, my chest aches and tears push to the surface.

I should have known everything he said in the basement was bullshit.

I should have known he was just protecting himself the way he always does.

Ronan curses and takes my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “The guilt is eating him alive, Chloe. He’s not out there because he doesn’t want to be here. He’s out there because he doesn’t think he deserves to be here.”

I don’t get a chance to respond before a nurse dressed in light blue scrubs with daisies all over them appears in the doorway.

“You’re awake!” She beams, moving to the edge of the bed when Ronan moves back to give her space. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I was shot,” I reply blandly, earning me a laugh from the nurse. Her soft blonde hair is pulled into a high ponytail that moves side to side with each step she takes.

“The light was bothering her so I turned it off. I hope that’s okay,” Ronan says, ever the polite brother. He has so much of his mother in him that sometimes I forget he was also raised by a monster.

“Of course.” She nods as she jots something down on my chart. “How’s your pain, Chloe?”