Chapter 37
When the surgeon comes out of the OR, I’m pretty sure I’ve held my breath since they rolled Axel in there. I need to know what the news is so I know whether to start breathing again or just hold it in and let nature take its course.
The surgeon is tall and broad-shouldered, with neat blonde hair and the kinds of eyes that impress all the girls at the bar when he tells them what he does for a living. But right now, his expression is schooled. Serious. “Ms. Callahan?”
I nod quickly, clutching Priest’s hand on one side and Colt’s on the other. Sinner stands behind me with his hands on my shoulders. Alex is going to be fine, right? He can’t die now. Not when I finally got him back. That would be the universe’s cruelest joke of all time.
The flat line of the surgeon’s mouth curves at the edges. “It was touch and go for a bit, but your brother was a lucky man. The bullet missed any essential organs. He lost a lot of blood, but he’s coming back to us now. He should have a full recovery.”
“Oh my God.” I knew I was going to ugly sob no matter what the answer was, but that it’s the result we wanted is such an incredible relief.
“Oh my God,” I repeat. It comes out as a choked whimper, just before I bury my face in Colt’s T-shirt, grabbing it with both hands and pressing myself against him.
And then I cry. Hard. All the stress and tension that’s built up in me since Mom betrayed me to Romero releases in a tidal wave of tears.
“He should be waking up soon,” the surgeon says. “I’ll have a nurse come out to let you know when he’s ready. Don’t stay in there long, and he probably won’t be able to speak quite yet, but you can see him.”
Priest thanks him as he leaves. I’m nowhere near ready for real conversation yet.
By the time the nurse comes, I’m steadier. I’m excited to see Axel, preparing mentally for the state he’s in. The urge to throw myself on the hospital bed and just squeeze him is strong, but when I see him it’s a shock. He looks so still and pale, covered in wires and tubes.
But his head turns when we come in, and he smiles. His fingers twitch and I take his hand, careful not to push anything around that might hurt him. “You’re alive.” I kiss him on the forehead.
Axel’s eyes go to Priest and something passes between them.
“I got him,” Priest confirms.
Axel glances at me, then back to Priest.
“The cops have her. We found her packed up like luggage.”
“Am I the only one that thinks it’s creepy they can do that?” Sinner asks.
Colt shakes his head. “They can never play charades on the same team.”
Axel starts to laugh, and makes a pained noise.
“Shhh, stay still,” I order. “If you keep moving around they’re going to make us leave.”
Axel’s fingers squeeze mine, weak but there.
My brother’s back, and that’s probably the closest thing to a miracle I’m going to experience in my whole life.
It doesn’t take long before the nurse comes back in and shoos us out.
By that point Axel is asleep again anyway, but even just watching his chest rise and fall in time to the soft hiss of the machine is a comfort.
Back in the waiting room, Colt draws me into a hug. “I’m glad things worked out. Losing your brother would be a shitty start for life as our old lady.
I blink. “What did you just say?”
Sinner grins. “Too soon? If that’s not what you want, no one’s gonna force you.” He sobers suddenly. “You don’t need to decide right now, just wanted you to know we’re serious. I know your career is still—”
I cut him off before he can get too far. “I’ll find roles. I told you that it was never my dream to be Hollywood famous and I meant it. I’m not going anywhere. I’m in it to do what I love.”
Sinner’s spirits lift immediately. “I too like doing who I love.”
I blink. “Say that again?”
He knows exactly what he did. He comes closer, leaning in so he can place a brief kiss on my lips. “I said, I enjoy doing who I love. That means you.”
“I… I love you, too. And I want to see where this goes, for as long as it lasts.” My eyes flit to Priest and Colt, unsure where that puts all of us.
“What are you worrying about?” Colt asks. “Do you think we fall in love with every client? We’d be crazy to wanna let you go.”
“You had me from the moment I laid eyes on you at the bar,” Priest says. “And I don’t love you any less now. If Ax has a problem with that, he can fuck off.”
“I think he’ll get used to it,” I say, a warm, golden feeling in my chest.
“Yeah, I think you might be right.” Priest winks.
“Then it’s settled. Yeah?” Sinner asks.
I hold out my hands, taking Colt’s in one and Sinner’s in the other. Priest leans down and kisses me. “If my life was a TV show, I think this might be the best season yet.”