I snort. Of course, they won’t allow us in-we’re responsible for this. “We should’ve seen this coming,” I mutter.
“How do you figure,” Sebastian asks as Karl continues to argue our case.
“If the roles were reversed, and it was Emma’s father who hurt her to the point of being hospitalized, would we let him within one hundred feet of her?” Peering at him, I continue,” I’m surprised they let us in the hospital-shit, that we were even allowed in the parking lot.”
Seconds later, the door opens. Karl slams down the receiver. “Stupid fuckers. I knew they only needed the right motivation to let us in.”
We don’t make it one step before a wall of guards blocking our path inside. Thomas is at the center-Reign is to his left, along with three more guards, while Elias and Fernando are to his right with two other guards. “You boys need to go home,” Thomas begins.
Reign cuts in. “No one wants or needs any of you heartless assholes here.”
“You’ve each done more than enough,” Elias adds.
“Move the fuck out of the way,” Liam snaps.
Fernando tilts his head, and his eyes light with excitement. “Or else what? You’ll sic Mommy and Daddy on me,” he mocks.
Liam’s nostrils flare. “No, I’ll wipe you from the board. Your continued existence in Emma’s life is because I allow it. So, don’t tempt me to call your bluff. It only takes one alert, and your father will know where you are.”
“Enough,” Aaron hisses, stepping between Thomas and Reign. “Tonight, my daughter was hospitalized, and I won’t let the reasons for that anywhere near her until she’s one hundred percent recovered.” Aaron rubs the bridge of his nose before familiar gray eyes snap open. “I know why everything that transpired tonight had to happen, but give her the time she needs before you smother her with your pleas for forgiveness. She deserves it and so much more.”
I meet Aaron’s gaze, “At least let us know she’s okay. I’ll make sure we leave-just tell me Emma’s okay.”
“What?”
“Fuck that, I’m not leaving!”
“Wy, have you lost it?”
“No!”
Rowan, Karl, Liam, and Sebastian argue.
Raising my hand, I reply, “It’s more important for her to rest than for us to see her.” Then I face Aaron, waiting for him to answer my question.
“She’s sleeping and being closely monitored because her blood pressure keeps spiking,” Emma’s father explains.
The guys let out collective sighs. They understand tonight isn’t the best time to push. “Tell her we’ll give her all the time she needs,” Rowan states. Aaron nods, and the door to the floor slams shut in our faces.
A slight smirk grows on my face as we head down to our car.
Rowan promised you time, Love. I only promised you tonight.
EMMA
“We need to get you to the hospital, Ry. You’re bleeding,” I faintly hear Reign’s pleas, but I’m still drowning in the scenes looping through my mind. Samantha on top of Karl, riding him. His shirt open as she lowers the blade to stamp out my existence. . . Karl’s hurtful commands to leave like I’m some pathetic stalker who doesn’t get it.
“Can’t you see we’re fucking busy? Get the fuck out of here!”
No, no, no, I don’t want to go back there. I can feel my heart turn to ash all over again. How could he be so cruel? Until that moment, I held out hope.
“No, stay and watch as I carve the last of you from them, and then maybe you’ll finally recognize your place, you gutter troll,” she sneers. Victory etches across her usually stiff face.
Samantha has been right all along. They used me until they were ready to discard me. My love for them has only been a game. A sharp jolt across my stomach throws me back into the darkness.
The blood in my veins boils to a fever pitch. Eviscerating my existence as I’ve known it, replacing it with one that rivals
Wanda Maximoff’s rage for all her sacrifices and Catalaya Restrepo’s thirst for revenge.
Clutching my stomach, streams of tears fall down my face, but someone’s calloused fingers keep wiping them. “Cuidado mariposita, tus alas apenas Han comenzaron a volar,” Fernando whispers, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Thomas, we need Aaron. Emma needs to go to the hospital.”
Hospital? What for?
“When will we have more answers?” I can make out the worry in my father’s voice.
Why can’t I wake up? I want to shout, but I’m once again losing the battle with consciousness.
“Let’s get you out of here, Ry,” Dad whispers, carrying me in his arms. He must’ve used the rear exit because the brisk November air brushes across my skin, doing very little to cool my rage. I hear the doors slam shut and feel the seatbelt as someone fastens me in before the car drives off.
“How far away are we? Shouldn’t we call an ambulance?” Reign questions.
I don’t need a hospital, I’m fine.
“
No,” I protest, ready to tell them I want to go home. “I don’t need-” I begin, but Shay’s crying cuts off my words.
Why is she crying? Is Brendan here? Did he do something to her?
The distinct smell of hospital fills my nose as questions swirl between clips.
“Ry, we need to get you to the hospital before something happens to you or the babies,” Shay pleads through hiccups and tears.
My best friend needs me, and I’m unable to help her. Why she doesn’t tell me she can’t take this anymore is beyond me.
“Nineteen-year-old white female, in and out of consciousness, experiencing bleeding and high blood pressure.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.