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Hawk nodded. “I can’t wait to meet your girl.”

“I hope it’s sooner rather than later. But I’ve got to finish a job first.”

“I know. But at some point, you’ve got to put yourself first.” Hawk knew what he was talking about. He clamped his hand on Viper’s shoulder. “Go see her. You’ll feel better. Then get the fucker who did this, and you’ll know she’s safe and you can breathe again.”

Of course Hawk understood exactly how he felt.

Viper didn’t waste any more time and rushed out of the helicopter, ducking from the rotor wash as he ran for the door where someone from the hospital greeted him. He bet Hawk had to get clearance to land here and made sure they knew he was coming.

“She’s stable and resting comfortably in room 311.” The woman led him into the back of the ER and right to the elevator.

Entering it, he thanked the woman, then hit the third-floor button. Two floors felt like an eternity. As the elevator doors opened, he rushed down the hall, toward the nurses’ station.

A nurse stood up. “For Lyric Wilde?”

He nodded.

She pointed to the room across from her.

He rushed in and found Jax in a chair next to the bed, his arms folded over his chest, head bowed forward as he slept the wee hours away.

But it was Lyric who held his attention. She looked so fragile and still, a bandage on her cheek, the other side of her face swollen and beginning to bruise. The stitches on her wrist from the cut she’d gotten before weren’t covered anymore. Whatever other injuries she sustained were either covered by the gown and blanket or weren’t visible at all.

He ached for her and rushed to the side of the bed and took her hand. He wanted to wrap her in his arms but wasn’t sure where or how badly she was hurt, so he restrained the overwhelming desire to hold her, felt the loss of that opportunity, and blamed the person who put her there for taking that from both of them.

He leaned over her, so she’d feel him close, and whispered in her ear, “I’m here, Angel.”

She immediately turned her face and pressed it to his cheek.

It had to hurt, so he kissed her on the forehead, pressing his lips to her skin for a long moment and brushing his fingers through her hair. “I’m here, baby. You rest.”

Her fingers closed in his jacket and she held him close. “Stay. Please stay.” The plea in her eyes intensified his guilt.

“I’m right here.” He kissed her on the lips, softly and with everything he wanted her to know. She was precious to him. He didn’t want to leave her ever again, but he’d have to, far too soon.

She looked up at him. “You look tired.”

“You took ten years off my life, then the trip here seemed to take forever.”

“I think I heard a helicopter. Someone must be really hurt.”

He stared down at her. “You are.”

Confusion clouded her eyes. “You came by helicopter?”

“Yes. My cousin flew me, so I could get to you faster.”

Tears filled, then spilled over her lashes. “That’s really sweet.”

He brushed his thumb along her temple. “I should have been here.”

“You’re here now.” Lyric pushed herself up, making him move out of her way.

He sat on the edge of the bed, her hand in his. “Maybe you shouldn’t move so much.”

“Maybe you should shut up and hug me.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”