Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
And in the bed…
Raven.
Falcon’s sister.
Even with her head that’s beginning to grow a fuzz, she’s beautiful. Fine porcelain features and full lips.
Her skin is flushed. Is that a good sign?
Mr. Bellamy said she was running a fever. That would make her hot and flushed.
Mrs. Bellamy looks over her shoulder. “You can come in, dear.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Come in, Vannah,” Falcon says.
I walk in hesitantly. “Hello.”
“I’m Star Bellamy,” Mrs. Bellamy says, not rising, “and this is Raven.”
Raven gives a weak smile.
“Hi. It’s nice to meet both of you.” I glance out the door. “But I should go.”
“It’s okay,” Falcon says.
“Let me see you,” Raven says, her voice soft. “I want to lay eyes on the woman—”
“Ray…” Falcon interrupts. “You need to rest.”
I move into Raven’s line of vision. “Hi there.”
“Hello,” Raven says. “I’m glad to meet you, though I wish I weren’t lying in this damned hospital bed to do it.”
“I’m sure you’ll be out of it in no time,” I say.
Then I wonder if I should have said that. What if she’s sick again? What if Falcon’s bone marrow didn’t cure her?
“The doctor thinks Raven probably has a virus,” Mrs. Bellamy says, “but with her history, we can’t take chances. So we’re having some blood work done just to make sure.”
“I feel fine, Mom,” Raven says. “Other than feeling like shit.”
I furrow my brow.
“I see that doesn’t make sense to you,” Raven laughs a little. “I felt so bad for so long, that feeling like normal shit feels fine to me. Which I know makes no sense at all, which is why it doesn’t make sense to you.”
I smile weakly, admiring Raven’s spirit. “No, I get it.”
“You don’t,” she says, “and I’m glad you don’t.”
“You’re going to be fine,” Falcon says. “My bone marrow is magical.”
I smile at his words. He says them with such conviction that he makes me believe he believes it himself.
Raven turns to him and smiles. “You’re such a dickhead.”
Falcon returns her smile. “A dickhead with magic bone marrow.”
“It was nice meeting you,” I say. “I’ll give you some time.”
I turn and bump right into a hard male chest.
I look up…and oh my god. It’s Falcon…only slightly taller and with blue eyes.
“I’m so sorry!” I say.
“No problem.”
“Hawk,” Falcon says. “Meet Savannah.”
“Hey, Savannah,” Hawk says.
“Hi. I was just leaving so you guys can all have some family time.”
I can’t get out of this room quickly enough.
How can every member of a family be so good-looking? Even lying in a sick bed with only fuzz for hair, Raven is more beautiful than I am on my best day.
Mr. Bellamy stands outside the room, his back to the wall, tapping on his phone.
He has a grave look about him, as if he can’t bear to look at his daughter.
I can’t blame him. What if this is starting again? And what if…
I can’t let myself go there.
If Raven doesn’t make it, Falcon may not make it either.
So Raven must make it.
It’s probably just a virus, like her doctor said. It’s probably just…
I head to the end of the hallway where the vending machines are and sit down on a chair in the small waiting area.
I’m thankful no one else is there.
I’ve been here before, on this floor and on the seventh, when Ashley was here.
Ashley…
It’s only been weeks, yet it feels like…
It feels like a lifetime ago.
Then…footfalls.
“There you are, Vannah.” Falcon’s eyes flash with sexy anger. “Come with me.”
29
FALCON
I spent the morning being interrogated by a clearly biased detective and then by a clearly non-biased but unbelieving one.
I come home to find a strange bodyguard outside my house while Savannah is there alone.
And I end up here.
Back at this damned hospital, looking at my sweet sister in a hospital bed.
No.
No.
No.
This cannot be happening again.
Raven is not sick. My bone marrow may not be magic, but damn it! It has to work.
“What’s wrong?” Savannah asks, her brown eyes wide.
“What isn’t wrong?” I retort, yanking her along beside me.
The room…
The room is still vacant.
I shove her inside and close the door, and then grab both of her hands and plaster her to the wall, her hands above her head, and I crush our lips together.
Hers are already parted, and I push my tongue inside.
Sweet, sweet Savannah.
I can lose myself in her.
Lose myself in her softness, her femininity.
Lose myself in my sweet sin.
But she yanks her arms down, breaking my grasp on her and the kiss as well.
“No, Falcon.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I said no. Not like this. Not again.”
“I need you,” I grit out.
“And I need you,” she says. “But not in the hospital again. I can’t do it. Not with Raven in the other room. And Ashley.”
“Ashley? Ashley’s gone, Vannah.”
“I know that.” She curls her hands into fists. “I know that, damn it. But these days. They’ve all blurred together, and I… I…” Tears well in her eyes.