55
REECE
Faint, pained groans invade my oblivion.
Whispers slither in the darkness, and an icy dread seeps into my bones.
It’s pitch-black, and I try to move, but I’m paralyzed. A jarring alarm rips through the silence, and I fight to control my ragged breathing.
Panic hinders a successful rescue.
I inhale deeply, and the acrid sting of antiseptic fills my nostrils. A rumble vibrates in my chest, my dry throat prickles, and realization hits me—it’s me. I’m groaning. I urge my eyes to open and my limbs to cooperate, but my fingers only jerk.
A flood of adrenaline intensifies the voices, and my surroundings come into focus. With immense effort, I force my eyelids apart. Everything is blurry. The pull of unconsciousness is relentless, and they fall shut.
“Mr. Abercrombie, do you hear me?”
A presence hovers over me, and I grab it, cloth twisting in my fist.
“Let go, or we’ll have to restrain you.”
I drag the hissing suspect closer, and he grunts. They’re in for a world of hurt if they think they can subdue me.
“You’re only agitating him further.” That voice.
She’s here and upset, and my struggles come to a halt.
“A—” Her name lingers in the haze, surfacing only as a hoarse tickle in my throat.
I focus intensely, yearning to hear her. Metal latches on to my wrist, and I swing—or at least try. My muscles are lethargic, and a heavy weight traps my arm.
“You’re in the hospital, Reece, and coming out of anesthesia.” Mercer.
“Let me go,” she cries. “He won’t hurt me.”
The tickle becomes a raw growl, and I grapple to free myself, to reach for her. The alarm sounds again—not an alarm, an incessant beeping—and the cuffs bite into my skin.
“Return to the waiting room.”
“Please, Ethan.”
Her soft voice fades, engulfed by the fog, and I fight harder.
A hand lands on my chest, and I flinch. “Calm down if you want her.”
“Mer…” I swallow thickly. “Mercer.” It comes out as a raspy whisper.
“Ethan is a bull right now. He’s worried you’ll harm her or the baby.”
The name resonates in my mind, unable to find its place. “Baby.”
“Yes, pregnant, and he’s hanging on by a tight thread.”
Vague memories flutter behind my eyes like pages falling from a book.
My angel asleep on the couch with a tiny baby bump.
Modeling flowy, white dresses, black and red lace, pink satin.
In a bikini, slightly more rounded, with a brilliant smile on her beautiful face.
Aurora talking in the passenger seat next to me while I fret over the seat belt.
Her arms around my neck, her fingers in my hair, her lips pressed to mine—the taste of sugar on my tongue.
A soothing warmth washes over me, and my rigid muscles loosen. “I’m calm.”
I doubt he hears my mumbles. The commotion diminishes, the silence between the beeps lengthens, and sleep wins.
“ Te amo. ”
A gentle touch glides along my rough jawline, and I stir.
“Charlie, could you take the handcuffs off so I can sit on the bed? There’s plenty of room.”
“Not a good idea.”
The obscurity ebbs, and I recall that bossy tone. Ethan .
“But my feet hurt.”
I see that adorable pout in my mind’s eye, and my mouth twitches.
“You never listen,” he grumbles.
The metal unlocks from my wrist. “That’s what I said,” my partner comments.
“ You don’t get to say.”
Another voice, this one provoking, although I’m unsure why.
My hand covers hers, and I settle into her touch, breathing her in. Her sweet, enticing scent drowns out the sharp smell of the hospital, and I weave our fingers together.
I blink my eyes open.
“Hey,” she chokes out. Tears stream down her cheeks, and her body shakes with sobs.
“Shh.” I attempt to cradle her face, but my other arm is useless, covered in thick bandaging.
“It’s okay.” Her lips quiver. She struggles to continue. “Stay still. You were shot.”
I furrow my brows and peer at the crowd gathered behind her. Most are familiar, a few medical staff.
“The twins went home to rest, to Ethan’s place.” Aurora draws my attention back to her. “The beach house is now the headquarters for the raid you set up. Do you remember?”
“Our twins?” I wipe away her tears.
Her head tilts. “No…”
Memories emerge, my mind distinguishing reality from dreams. “Desi and Dante came from New York for Thanksgiving.”
She nods. “Right. That was yesterday—I think.”
“We went swimming.” I smirk. “You dragged me into the pool.”
Her red-rimmed eyes sparkle. “I was hoping you forgot that part.”
“I remember everything before then. After is foggy… There were gunshots at our house. You…” Fear consumes me, and that damn alarm sounds. “They were after you.”
I seek Charlie with a questioning stare, wincing at the sharp pain in my temples from the overhead lights.
He steps closer. “We handled it.”
A nurse or doctor comes to the other end of the bed to check the annoying beeping. I concentrate until my head is pounding, and I have to close my eyes.
I drift in and out of sleep. People move quietly about the room, chairs creak, doors open and shut, and the entire time, Aurora never leaves my side.
When I wake, I draw her to me. “Lie with me.”
She scoots closer. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t, and even if you do, it’ll be worth it.” I lower my voice. “I need to feel you next to me.”
Our lips meet in a languid kiss before she rests her head on my shoulder, her body pressed to mine.
“That’s disgusting.” Jackson , his tone sarcastic.
I recall why he aggravates me. He never shuts up. A derisive grin spreads across my face. “You couldn’t hold it in, could you?”
“You had to get shot, didn’t you?” he snaps back. “I’ve never met anyone who worked so hard to get laid.”
I scoff. “Believe me, I didn’t need to get shot to bed your wife.”
He turns to his boyfriend and whines, “Ethan, make him stop,” like the brat he is.
“You deserve it. Now, find them a blanket. She needs to sleep.”
He hops out of the chair. “For that, I’m getting two and making you cuddle with me.”
Ethan shakes his head, but the affection in his eyes is unmistakable.
Charlie raises his chin toward me. “I’ve got your dog tags.”
“Hold on to them,” I say, my voice leaden with drowsiness. “I won’t be returning anytime soon.”
“Can we get some? The four of us?” Jax drapes a starched white blanket over Aurora. “They’d be convenient for our family.”
I squint my half-lidded eyes. “Of course you want a communicator and tracker on everyone. Stalker.”
Wrapped in a blanket, he stretches out on the couch and places his head on Ethan’s lap. “I’m just concerned with everyone’s safety,” he says mockingly.
Ethan’s fingers thread through Jackson’s sandy-blond hair and tug to get his attention. “Speaking of which, you wanna explain how you followed a certain someone here without them having their phone?”
I glance down at the massive, smoky diamond on Aurora’s finger. I fucking knew it.
Jax sits up. “You wouldn’t be growling and pulling my hair if someone had disappeared…” He pauses then settles back onto Ethan’s lap. “You know what? Forget it. Carry on.”
Charlie eyes me strangely, and I raise my brows as a shrug.
We’re one big, happy, fucked-up family, and I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.
“I met him first.” Aurora’s playful tone whispers through the never-ending fog of sleep.
“And I met you first. So?” Jax asks, equally lighthearted.
“So now you get him?”
They must be discussing Ethan.
“And you get Reece,” he says matter-of-factly.
“I thought you didn’t want me with Reece?”
“Look, we all have to make sacrifices, Aurora.”
She bursts into giggles, the sound easing my aching soul. “You really love him.”
“Yes, and I love you.”
Their conversation lulls, and I nearly drift off again, the heavy medication dragging me under.
Then, she asks, “Are you okay?” with concern.
“I need…” he falters.
“To get out of this room.” She finishes his sentence. “You can. I’ll be fine.”
“I have to hit the gym or ice, you know? Go for a run, anything.”
He’s getting restless, and the more restless he gets, the more agitated and annoying he becomes. I intend to ask Charlie about the status of the case and when they’re permitted to leave. Aurora can’t sleep here another night. The hospital bed, no matter how big, can’t be comfortable when pregnant.
“Go. Take the twins with you.”
“I’m not leaving you, and this is the safest place for you.”
“You’ll get stir-crazy. See if there’s a gym close by.” Her tone is gentle, and when he doesn’t respond, she asks, “Are we okay?”
“We’ll always be okay. It’s you and me to the end, remember?”
“With Ethan.” Once more, she playfully teases, her words woven with a smile.
“With Ethan,” he agrees.
“And Reece,” adds my girl.
“I guess, since he took a bullet for you.”
Memories of the night have resurfaced. I didn’t hesitate. I recognized the weapon, knew its target, and acted. I’d do it for any one of them.
It would’ve sucked if the shot had been a few inches lower, though. I mean, it sucks now, but I’ll survive.
“Jackson,” she chides. “Not funny.”
“I could’ve taken a bullet, babe—if Reece hadn’t stolen the spotlight,” he says, loud enough for me to know he intended for me to overhear.
I groan and open my eyelids. “Would you rather trade places?”
He sits beside Aurora on the couch, his knee bouncing, dark circles under his eyes. His hair is a mess and his clothes are rumpled. “God, no. I wouldn’t survive Aurora’s crying. She’d be distraught.”
I straighten in bed and adjust the covers. Nothing more awkward than being practically naked with them and coworkers coming in and out. “Where’s your boyfriend?”
He squints, but there’s no irritation. “He went to shower and check on the twins.”
“Letting him go must have been tough. What if he falls in love with someone else while he’s gone?” I give a one-shoulder shrug—at least, I try. “You’ve yet to get a ring on his finger.”
He goes perfectly still. Perhaps if I piss him off enough, he’ll burn some energy or take a break.
Aurora, seeming to catch on, bites her bottom lip to hide her smirk. “Do you think he might be meeting with Patty?” She loses the battle and grins.
Jax’s sharp gaze darts between us. “You two are horrible. I’m only letting this slide because you’re both injured.” He removes his phone from his pocket.