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“You may not want to stay for this part,” he warns.

“I’m not going anywhere until that thing is out of him.”

“Bash, will you assist me? I need you to make sure he remains still. I don’t have any drugs strong enough to knock him out.”

Bash gives me a concerned look but nods.

He hovers over Ryker, holding his shoulders down on the bed. The doctor uses a scalpel to cut into Ryker's skin. He thrashes violently. Even though I can’t leave the room, I turn away quickly; it’s too difficult to watch. I feel Ryker’s pain flood through me. I wish I were able to take his pain away through the bond. I feel the slow slice of the scalpel as if it’s cutting my own skin. I realize how much Ryker had been holding back his emotions before, but now he has lost his iron control over them. I grit my teeth at the agony he is going through.

The doctor got here in record time after Bash called. He treats the shifter community. Harmony’s mates are close to him. He introduced himself as Estes and has been involved with the West brothers since they were young. He seems competent, and Harmony vouches for him.

My mother shot Ryker.

It wasn’t until we were in the car that I told Bash I saw her, to which he told me she was aiming at me. I played the scene over and over again in my head, and he was right. Ryker was standing with the guys. He pushed me out of the way of a bullet.

She tried to kill her daughter, or at the very least weaken me, but instead hurt the man that brought me back to life.

“It’s done. The wound is already healing. I’m going to give him something to keep him from waking up, hopefully. He needs to stay in this bed for as long as possible.”

“Will that work?” Bash asks.

“For a while,” he sighs. “With his age, there's no guarantee. The shock from the wood should help keep him down for a while. I want to stay close if you don’t mind,” he asks, looking at me.

“That’s fine. When he wakes, he’ll need blood, right?” I ask, my hands gripping my arms, needing something to hold on to.

“Yes,” he answers.

“Take my blood.” I held out my arm.

“He can take it directly from you.” He frowns.

“I won’t be here. Take it now.” I shake my arm.

“Where are you going?” Bash stands.

“First, I’m going to check on the progress at the club,” I start.

“And then?” He scowls.

“I’m going to find my mother and kill her.” I grin evilly.

***

I clean the blood off my hands and change my clothes after giving the doctor my blood. I dress in all black. Ryker’s shirt gives me comfort, and his scent lingers on it. My leather jacket is sturdy and warm, as are my boots. I don’t know where my search would lead me.

Bash protested violently against my idea. He wanted to come with me, but I convinced him he was the only one I trusted to watch over Ryker. I assured him I could take care of myself when I shoved him against the wall with my black vines.

I fueled up on blood from the fridge. Although it tasted like shit, it did its job.

It would have been nice if someone had informed me that certain types of wood poisoned vampires. Ryker needs to put together a how-to be a vampire handbook—there's got to be a market for that.

I walk down the basement stairs at the club with determination.

My dad is hanging limply by his wrists with gashes all over his body. Kerian is covered in his blood. River is leaning against the wall, watching the show.

“Has he told you anything?” I ask coldly.

“No, he’s holding out better than I thought,” Kerian says. “How’s Ryker?”