Page 3

Henry

T he image of Nina splayed out on the ground in a puddle of her own blood will forever be cemented in my mind. The sweatshirt she’s wearing makes her pale, thin frame look so damn small.

I won't ever forget the sound of Trevor's knees crashing to the concrete beside her. Bone must crunch and fracture, but he pays no mind. Not when our Neen is unconscious and surrounded by paramedics.

My eyes burn with the harsh flashing lights around us, but I can't blink. All I see is Nina.

The man who was on the phone looks relieved to see us. He eyes us warily still, but I have no mental space for him. His dark skin, bald head, and scrutinizing brown eyes stay in my periphery while I keep my attention on Nina.

Nina...

A shoulder blocks my vision for all of two seconds and the next thing I know, Nina's being loaded onto a stretcher. "Fuck. Fuck, is it bad?" I can’t tell if I'm saying anything out loud. All I know is my girl is being strapped onto the portable bed and rushed to the ambulance.

Somebody yells, maybe it's me, but I'm quickly snapped out of my fear induced haze by hands shaking me. I blink. One blink and the tears rush down my face as if I gave them freedom. My complete and utter terror runs free as well.

"Henry!" Kai's face swims in front of me, and I try to listen. "Baby, fuck. I know you're scared. But Nina needs you."

I shake my head, unable to process what he's saying to me. My feet attempt to back pedal but he keeps me firmly in his grip.

"Henry. Listen to me right now!"

Gulping, I blink a few more times and try to shake everything off. "Wh-what?"

His eyes are frantic, darting everywhere and back to my face. "Go with Nina, and before you say anything, look at Ridge. Then look at Trev. I need to stay with them."

I do as he asks and see Trevor trying to push past a few police officers, yelling in their faces. It takes me a second to find Ridge since I thought he would be near his cousin, but I find him and suck in a breath. On his knees, Ridge is hunched, staring at Nina's blood.

"See baby?" Kai sounds seconds away from breaking down, but we can't all give in to our emotions. Not when one of us looks ready to commit murder, and the other is practically catatonic. "They need me. And Nina needs you. Okay?"

More tears fall and my damn lip wobbles. I need you. "Okay."

The hand that was reaching for my cheek, grips the back of my neck instead. Kai slants his mouth over mine, then breaks away with a choked sob that matches my own. "I love you, Henry. See you soon."

"I love you, Kai," I croak out right before we both turn on our heels to run in opposite directions. Me to hold the hand of the woman we love on the rushed drive to the hospital and Kai to keep the rest of our family intact.

"Whoever's coming, LET'S GO!"

Cursing, I sprint and jump into the back of the ambulance, only to find utter chaos that makes me want to bolt with Nina right back out the door.

All the medical lingo sounds like a bunch of horrifying gibberish.

I cling to Neen's hand even harder. Careful not to hurt her as the cab jostles and takes us on a ride, I hold her knuckles to my chest.

I'm back to little to no blinking as I monitor her closed eyelids. Come on, pretty girl, let me see those eyes.

"Likely a grade two or three concussion," someone murmurs, breaking through my one track mind. "Bleeding has slowed."

"Nina..." I whisper. God, what do I say? What would Trevor say?! "Why is she still sleeping?" Just as I force out the question, her eyelids flutter and the obvious pain in her grey eyes has me lurching forward until I'm all she can see. "Nina?!"

Oh, fuck . She flinches, her eyebrows pulling together. "Shh," she huffs and clenches her eyes closed again.

"I'm so sorry. Shit. Just keep watching me, pretty girl. Nina," I plead, "look at me."

"Sir, I'm going to need you to back up."

Fuck that noise. Nina's awake. She needs to stay awake. She needs me . Kai said so. Damn it, where's my fiancé when I need him?! "Please open your eyes."

"Sir! We need to unload. Move out of the way and you can join us outside."

Oh! Unaware of my surroundings since Nina showed signs of life, I didn't realize we stopped. We're here. Why does it feel like the sickening sense of dread is heightening? I don't think I'm ready for the answers we're going to get about Nina's condition.

On numb legs, I give them enough space to get my girl out of the vehicle. Every jolt of her body makes me flinch and take an involuntary step forward. As soon as all the wheels are on the ground, I jump down, then run to keep pace with her and the doctors.

The slam of the emergency doors opening barely penetrates my frantic brain. Nina blinks up at me again and I swear my heart stutters in my chest. I breathe her name only for her bottom lip to tremble.

I must have missed something because just as I'm about to tell Nina I love her, a hand slams into the center of my chest. "Sir, you can't go back with her."

"What?!" Kai asked me to take care of her. Oh my god, I can't leave her . "NINA!"

"Sir, I will call security. I've done it three times already today. Do not test me." The steel in the woman's voice settles some of the panic. "Go sit. Take a breath. The doctor will be with you when they know more."

Absentmindedly, I nod, hating myself a bit more with each moment I don't have eyes on Nina.

"Now," the nurse says once my posture relaxes, "can you help me with some of her details, please?"

I grab the clipboard in her hand. I'll do anything.