CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
NATHAN
MY JAW LOCKED so hard it ached as I pushed the car faster than I should have, every second away from her stretching too long.
I shouldn’t have left in the first place.
I was trying to focus on the road, but my mind kept dragging me back to Elise.
Her voice, her touch, the way she curled into me last night like I was the only thing keeping her safe.
I forced the thought aside as I slid my phone onto the passenger seat, the last text from her still glowing on the screen. Someone has to, she’d replied after I told her she was always taking care of me. Smartass.
But she had taken care of me again. The document she’d dug out from her old files shut Sutter down in ten minutes flat. One clause, one neat little amendment, and suddenly he had nothing left to throw in my face. I’d never admit it out loud, but Elise saved me an entire day of wasted arguments.
I was just about to slip my phone back into my pocket when it lit up, vibrating against the leather seat.
Kelsey.
A sharp, cold dread sank into my bones.
I knew. Before I even answered, I knew.
And the second I heard Kelsey’s voice, tight with urgency, my world tilted on its axis.
“Nathan, you need to get to the hospital. It’s Elise.”
My blood ran cold. My grip on the wheel tightened, and my stomach sank like I’d just fallen from a great height. “What happened? Where is she?”
“She’s okay, Nathan,” Kelsey quickly added, cutting me off. “But she’s hurt. Pretty badly. I don’t know the details, but she’s in the ER. You need to get here. Now.”
My hands went numb, the phone slipping slightly in my grip as I tried to process her words. The rest of the world seemed to blur around me. Elise hurt? My thoughts were a tangled mess as I fumbled to get the hospital’s name before I ended the call.
The drive felt like it took an eternity. The red lights, the endless cars in front of me, the world around me moving like it had all the time in the world while I was stuck, immobilized by the terror that had just gripped my chest.
This wasn’t just some random incident. This was Jax’s doing. I was sure of it.
My heart pounded in my ears, the anger rising in me like a tidal wave, but underneath it was the overwhelming panic that if I didn’t get to her fast enough, I could lose her.
I finally made it to the hospital parking lot. My hands trembled as I pulled the car into a space, slamming the door shut as I bolted out of the car, my legs carrying me toward the entrance.
Inside, the sterile scent of antiseptic hit me immediately, making my stomach twist. I was already half-rushing toward the reception desk before I realized the nurse was talking to me. Her face was neutral, cold even, as she looked at me over the counter.
“I’m here for Elise Alexandre,” I rasped, struggling to stay calm. “She was just brought in. I need to see her.”
The nurse’s eyes flicked over me, unimpressed by my urgency. “Are you family?”
My jaw clenched. No, but I will be.
“I’m her fiancé,” I lied, the words leaving my mouth without hesitation. I didn’t have time for red tape. Elise needed me, and I was going to see her whether they liked it or not.
The nurse sighed, typing something into her computer before glancing back up. “She’s in the ER. Room seven. Down the hall, to the left.”
I was already moving before she finished speaking.
The hallway stretched out in front of me, each step feeling slower than the last. My heart was hammering, my breath short. The closer I got, the more that sick feeling in my gut twisted.
Then I saw Ryan.
He was standing outside the room, his face grim, arms crossed over his chest like he was physically holding himself back. The moment he spotted me, he straightened.
“She’s inside,” he said, voice low.
“What the hell happened?” I demanded.
Ryan hesitated, and that hesitation was answer enough.
“It was Jax.”
The words landed like a punch to the gut. My vision went red and my hands curled into fists. I knew it. I knew that bastard was a threat, and I still left her alone.
“I told you not to leave her side. Where the fuck were you?” My voice was rough, barely controlled.
Ryan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “She insisted on going up to the office alone. There was no reason for me to believe she was in danger. I don’t know how Jax was able to slip through security at Edge Records, but I promise you boss, I’ll figure it out.”
I didn’t wait to hear more. I trusted him with the most important person in my life and he failed to protect her. “You’re fired.”
I shoved past him, pushing the door open so hard it hit the wall. And there she was.
Elise.
Lying on the hospital bed, her skin pale against the white sheets. Her hair was a mess, her lip split, a dark bruise forming along her cheekbone. A bandage wrapped around her head.
She turned toward the sound of the door, and the moment our eyes met, something in me broke.
“Hi.” she whispered, voice hoarse. A weak smile tugged at her lips.
I crossed the room in two strides, sinking onto the chair beside her. My hands trembled as I reached for hers. “Baby,” I breathed, my thumb brushing over her knuckles. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve—”
“You’re here,” she interrupted softly, squeezing my fingers. “That’s all that matters.”
Not to me.
To me, what mattered was making sure Jax never got near her again.
I looked down at Elise, my heart breaking all over again. She was so fragile despite the strength she’d shown in the face of everything that had happened. She squeezed my hand again, her touch surprisingly firm despite everything she’d been through. “Don’t fire Ryan. It’s not his fault, Nathan.”
I shook my head, disbelief making my chest tighten. “He was supposed to protect you. He let that bastard get to you.”
“I made the choice to go up there alone,” She argued, her eyes meeting mine with a depth that made me feel guilty about the last few minutes. “He had no reason to think anything was wrong. I don’t blame him.”
I stared at her, dumbfounded. Her focus was still on everyone but herself. Even now, when she was the one lying in a hospital bed. It was beautiful and maddening.
“You’re incredible, you know that?” I whispered, my voice rough as I squeezed her hand back, my eyes softening.
She let out a small breath, something close to a smile curling on her lips, though it was tinged with pain. I stared down at her, my heart torn between my overwhelming need to protect her and the overwhelming respect I had for how she was handling this.
I moved to her side, sitting down carefully on the edge of the bed, my hand reaching for hers. “We’ll talk about this later. Right now, you need to rest.”
“Stay with me?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, my voice low but steady. “I’m not leaving your side, no matter what. You’re safe now.”
Her eyes searched mine for a moment, a quiet sense of relief filling the space between us. “Promise?” she asked softly, her voice vulnerable in a way that almost broke me.
“I swear,” I replied, my thumb brushing the back of her hand.
She finally relaxed, the tension leaving her body as she leaned back into the pillows. “Good,” she whispered, her eyelids fluttering closed for a moment before she opened them again, just enough to meet my gaze. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I won’t let you find out.” I leaned down, pressing my forehead to hers, taking in her warmth, her scent and the way she made me feel like the luckiest man alive just by existing.
Her hand tightened around mine, and I felt her body relax completely into the bed, as if my promise was enough to finally allow her to rest.
I stayed by her side, my promise to never leave her unwavering. With her hand in mine, I finally let out a breath, knowing that no matter what came next, I wouldn’t let anything take her away from me.