Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Harlow slumps, and I have to rush forward to catch her before she hits the ground. I guide her to a chair and sink down into a crouch before her. “That was stunning, sweetheart.”
“I feel like I’m going to puke.” She rubs her hands over her face. “He must have weighed the odds and decided not to kill Eli before we got here.”
I agree. “Even so, it drew a very clear line in the sand. I suspect the Phan family will think twice before they fuck with us.”
“Hopefully.” Her lower lip trembles. “I’m really worried about Eli.”
“Me, too.”
“I’m terrible at waiting.”
I rise and sink into the chair next to her. “So am I. But we’re together. That counts for something.” I take her hand, letting her presence anchor me, and settle in to wait for as long as it takes.
33
Harlow
We wait in that room for two hours and thirty-six minutes. Abel manages to sit still for about ten minutes, and then he’s up and pacing for the rest of the time. I might be doing the same, but I’m not sure my legs will hold me. Sheer determination got me from the compound to Old Town and through the conversation with Chinh, but I have nothing left right now except fear.
Eli can’t die.
Not when we have so much left to figure out. Not when I finally, finally have settled into the idea of a real future where the three of us are together and happy. It seems cruel that just last night he and Abel were reassuring me that this was real, that I had nothing to worry about, and now I’m sitting here, waiting for news on if Eli will survive.
“Abel.”
He turns on his heel, in the middle of another circuit around the room with his phone in his hand. It’s been buzzing regularly, no doubt with updates from his brothers. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
His expression goes soft and then hardens. “Save it.”
I blink. “What?”
“That sounds a whole lot of goodbye or some kind of final words before everything goes to shit. Tell me again after Cam shows up to let us know that Eli’s fine and awake and already making himself a pain in the ass.” He crosses to me and takes my hands, pulling me to my feet and into his arms. “I love you, too, Harlow. And I’m not just saying that because I’m scared shitless right now.”
“I know.” Abel’s never lied to me. It seems too soon to feel this way, but despite the rocky start, we’ve eased into each other’s lives with barely a ripple. We just fit.
We fit better with Eli in the mix.
The door opens, and Cam steps in. She looks exhausted, sweat dampening the hair at her temples and lines imprinted on her cheeks from some kind of mask. She gives us a tired smile. “He’s pulled through. He’s a lucky son of a bitch, because if that bullet was a few inches lower, it would have fucked up his internal organs instead of just lodging in muscle and bone. He’s not awake, but you can see him now.”
Abel and I cling to each other’s hands as we walk through the door and down yet another series of halls into a room that would be at home in any hospital in the city. I give Cam a long look, and she shrugs. “Sometimes the family business gets complicated.”
“I understand.” Honestly, this is something we should have in the compound, too. I add it to my mental list, but most of my focus is on the man in the hospital bed.
Eli is several shades paler than normal and has a series of tubes hooked up to one arm. Bandages wrap around his torso, seeming to wash him out even more.
Cam stops next to the bed. “Once he wakes up, we can arrange to have him transported to the compound, but after that, his health is on you. He’ll need to see another doctor to be monitored, and if he tries to do something noble and bullheaded, he’s going to rip open his wound and probably bleed out all over again. I highly suggest you prevent him from doing that.”
“We will.” Even if I have to tie Eli to a bed to make it happen. I can’t stop myself from reaching out and pressing my hand lightly to his back, measuring his slow breathing for several long moments. He’s alive.
He’s alive.
Cam leaves at some point, and Abel drags two chairs over to the side of the bed. And then we wait, and wait, and wait.
I’m not sure how long it’s been when Eli stirs and opens his eyes, but it’s the happiest sight I’ve ever laid eyes on. I squeeze Abel’s arm, and he jumps to his feet. “You fucking fool!” He plants his hands on either side of Eli’s hips and leans over him. “What the fuck were you thinking, jumping in front of that bullet?”