Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
“I don’t think he can fix this, Nyla.” Tears tracked down her face as she looked at me. There was a sad acceptance in her eyes that hurt so bad.
“This is my fault,” I whispered. “If I hadn’t stayed --”
“You’d have been killed,” Rose interrupted. “And I wouldn’t have found such a wonderful friend.”
Rose’s mother had a wet cloth she gently brushed over Rose’s face, clearing the sweat from her brow. “Baby…”
“I’m scared, Mom.” Rose’s whispered confession tore lose a sob from me.
“Baby, I’m sorry. If this is anyone’s fault it’s mine. I should have protected you better and I shouldn’t have upset you.”
“How about we put the blame where it belongs,” Atlas said as he entered the room with Rose’s doctor. “Milo and those mercs he hired.”
“Did your club find everyone?” Petrov asked the question even with the doctor in the room, which meant either he was careless or stupid. My eyes widened and I looked at Rose who smiled at me despite the pain she was going through.
“Don’t worry. Viggo is part of Shadow Demons.” She gasped in a breath at the end, her hand tightening around mine even more.
The doctor was followed by a tech who rolled in an ultrasound machine. He raised Rose’s top and squirted some jelly before putting the probe gently on her skin and moving it around until he saw what he wanted to see. The longer he worked, the deeper his frown. Atlas was on Rose’s other side, kneeling beside her, holding her hand to his lips. They looked at each other as if they were speaking. Atlas was calm but reassuring. Rose was terrified.
“I’m sorry, Rose,” was all the doctor said. He kept moving the probe, though, shaking his head and flipping switches and stuff on the machine. It was as if he were willing the device to show him something -- anything -- other than what he was seeing. “I’m sorry. We did all we could, honey.”
She gasped out a sob and dissolved into tears. Surprisingly, she kept her grip on my hand even if her attention was focused on her husband.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, raising her hand to my lips to kiss her fingers gently.
When I stood, she tightened her hand farther. “Don’t go yet, Nyla.” Though tears clogged her throat, the order was clear.
“If you want me here, Rose, I’ll stay.” I glanced up at Atlas who gave me a nod and a slight smile, letting me know I made the right choice.
It wasn’t long before a team of people came into the room, explaining to Rose what was about to happen. I couldn’t process any of it, only that my friend had lost her baby. And I had a part in that happening.
As if she could hear my thoughts, Rose turned her heat to me. “Don’t, Nyla.” She was fierce. “This is not your fault. Don’t you dare leave because of this. Eagle needs you. I need you. You’re my best friend!”
That shocked me. Sure, Rose and I had connected that first night, but did she really see beyond my past and what I was forced to do?
“I’m not sure that’s the best thing.”
“Promise me, Nyla. You’ll be here when I -- when this is over.”
I knew I needed to save these people. To get away. But I also knew I’d never abandon Rose. “All right,” I whispered. “I promise.” That seemed to make her feel better. She gave my hand one final squeeze before the nurses rolled her out of the room. Atlas followed, as did Alexi and her mother.
For a long while I sat in Rose’s room, replaying everything in my head since the moment I first stumbled into Eagle’s arms. These people had become my family. At least, that’s how I thought of them.
Standing, I made my way to Serelda’s room. She was demanding to know what was going on with Rose. The nurse at her bedside taking her blood pressure firmly but gently told her she couldn’t give out patient information. I stepped into the room and Serelda’s gaze landed on me. We didn’t speak, but Serelda’s face crumpled and she broke down into tears.
“Is Rose going to be OK?”
I shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know. I think so, but the doctor didn’t actually say. I don’t think they were able to save the baby, though again, he didn’t actually say. They’re taking her off now. I think to surgery.”
The nurse finished and I pulled a chair next to Serelda’s bed. She held out her hand and I took it. “Don’t even think about leaving us, Nyla. You’re one of us now. We protect our own.”
“I promised Rose I’d be here when she got back, but I really think it would be best if I didn’t stay after that. All I’ve done is bring trouble to your door.”