Page 56 of Die for You (Diamond Devils #4)

Aurora

The crabby nurse is back to dabbing at my face in the hospital. This time, I don’t give her any attitude.

As soon as Monica was arrested, the paramedics brought me to the hospital, the Devils in tow. My ankle is fractured, but according to the doctor, the fracture is minor and stable. All I need is a walking boot to immobilize my ankle while it heals.

Even better, Monica is facing a slew of charges, and the odds of her spending any meaningful time behind bars are pretty good.

If I hadn’t managed to escape, if the Devils hadn’t found me, would they ever have found my body? Or would Monica have managed to dispose of my body and get away with the crime? The Devils would’ve spent the rest of their lives wondering what happened to me after I ran from them.

Even imagining it makes me nauseated. This shit could’ve gone so, so much worse. I’m lucky I made it out of there alive.

Knox has finally escaped his abuser. And so have I. We’re both finally getting some justice.

Barb called me on Jeremiah’s behalf to let me know that he won’t be pressing charges against the Devils. She’s not happy about it, and she’ll insist on pressing charges if an incident like that ever happens again. As long as Jeremiah keeps his distance, it won’t.

Even after the nurse finishes attending to me and leaves the room, the Devils’ brows are still furrowed.

“I’m so sorry,” I blurt. “For leaving. I thought you deserved better than dealing with all my problems and bullshit. I thought if I left...”

Finn catches my hand and shakes his head.

“You have nothing to apologize for, Rory.” Knox sits on the hospital bed with me and squeezes my knee. “Nothing.”

“And you better never leave us again,” Damien warns.

“I won’t.” The weight of the vow settles heavily on my shoulders. I’m never leaving them again. I’m theirs. Forever. “I love you all so much. I’m not going anywhere.”

I can’t believe I was lucky enough to meet the Devils. To be the one who saved them from the car accident that night. To be the one they vowed to guard and protect. To be the Devils’ angel.

“You again?” a low voice grumbles outside the room, exasperated.

“Us again,” a husky, feminine voice snaps. “And I don’t appreciate that tone. We’re a delight.”

Juliet stomps into the room in black boots first, followed closely by Sienna, Trey, and Luke.

A balloon fills in my chest as a smile breaks across my face. The last time we were all in the hospital, they were little more than strangers. Now, they’re my friends. The closest thing I’ve ever had to a family since my parents died.

Sienna rushes over and hugs me, exhaling a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Aurora. I was so worried.”

“Sorry for worrying you. I’m an ass.” My chest clenches. If I hadn’t left that night, I wouldn’t have put them all through days of stress.

“Don’t be sorry. We’re just glad you’re okay.”

“Good job taking that bitch down.” Trey’s voice is monotone as he leans back against the wall, but he seems genuinely impressed.

“I didn’t do anything. It was all them.” I nod at the Devils.

“You swung a violin at her head,” Luke reminds me. “Pretty sure it’s safe to say you put up a fight.”

“That’s badass,” Juliet agrees.

I grin at them, pride settling in my gut.

They’re right—I fought my way out of that basement.

I found the strength to keep going, even when I thought there was no way out.

Even when I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The Devils are proud, my friends are proud, my parents would’ve been proud.

But more importantly, I’m proud of myself. I’ve been through hell, and I made it out on the other side. I’m here, albeit with a fractured ankle, but I made it.

“I’m lucky to have you as friends,” I tell them.

Even with all the shit that’s gone down since we met, I’ve never been luckier or happier since I met the Devils.

“Speaking of the violin.” Knox chews his lip, glancing at Damien and Finn with a frown. “We do have some bad news.”

“It’s broken?” I guess.

They nod, Finn squeezing my hand. Everyone in the room waits for my reaction. A breakdown, more tears, an outraged scream.

But I came to terms with what would happen to my violin in the moments before I swung it at Monica’s head.

My parents' final gift to me was to save my life. And as long as I’m breathing, I’ll always have a connection to them.

I’ll carry my memories of them and how much they loved me for the rest of my life.

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I have three boyfriends who can buy me another.”