Page 30 of Eternal Pieces (The Violet Delights Duet #2)

MAX

I ’m going to kill her.

That’s the only thought keeping me sane as I pace the hall outside the room where Violet’s currently having surgery.

I’m going to kill her mother for having any part in this.

The twisted bitch has been anonymously texting her own daughter for months, trying to get into her head and make her break up with us. She knew James was screwing with her in the same way last year and she thought she’d have a shot at it. All because she’s fucking jealous.

If Dad hadn’t gotten Charity out of there, I would have killed her on the spot. Seeing Violet on the floor like that… Hearing her cries of pain through the door.

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I’ve never felt so helpless before.

I should have done something. Should have known she needed me.

Now she’s fighting for her and our babies’ lives, having an emergency cesarean.

I’m going to be having nightmares of the moment I watched her slip away for the rest of my life. It was worse than the crash. Worse than every moment of pain I’ve endured since. Violet’s pale, unresponsive face. The red on her white dress.

“Fuck!” I punch the wall. Mad is on me within seconds. Pulling me away before I can hit it again.

“We have to go find the bitch and make her fucking pay!” I snarl.

He forces me into a chair, and when I try to get up, he pushes me back down. “I want that too, but we can’t. Do you think Violet would ever look at us the same way again if we hurt her mom?”

“That’s if she ever looks at us again!” I snap. “She could be dying in there right now! All four of them could be!”

“They’ll be fine.” Mad sits down next to me. “They have to be fine.” His voice grows softer, less sure.

“What sort of parent even does that?” I drop my head into my hands. “Those texts were vile. She wished this exact moment on her, Mad. We can’t let her get away with it.”

Charity will be at her motel now. Not the Quartz that she lied about staying at.

She only came back to see Violet because she blew through all of Dad’s money.

He’d told her that she’d never see another cent from him, but Violet would always be looked after.

I can’t believe someone could be so jealous of that and want to strip it all away.

“Let’s get through this first.” Mad squeezes my knee, and I let out a breath.

I don’t know how to get through this.

I don’t want to get through anything without her. But I realize I need to be here for my brother.

He’s hurting as well. I didn’t even stop to think about how he’s coping. No matter what, we’re in this together.

Footsteps echo down the hall, and I jump out of my seat, my jacket falling off my lap.

A nurse is coming straight toward us. I tap Mad on the chest to wake him up.

I’m not sure what time it is, but we’ve been here for hours and I haven’t been able to rest at all.

Sarah’s been texting, and Dad dropped by, hoping to hear good news, but there was nothing to tell them.

I sent him home with the promise that I’d update him as soon as we heard anything.

I’d hoped that would have been sooner than now.

“Mister Ostair?” The nurse looks between us.

Mad shoots up next to me.

“Yes,” we say at the same time.

“Violet is out of surgery. The C-section was successful, but she’s going to be out for a little while longer. You’ll be able to see her as soon as she’s awake and wanting visitors.”

Is it normal for a person’s heart to break and then heal itself this many times in one day?

I’m filled with more relief than I know what to do with. Do I cry? Jump for joy? Punch the wall again?

“Are the triplets okay?” Mad asks, his voice rough.

“All three of them are up in the NICU,” she says through a gentle smile. “You’re welcome to come see them. Which one of you is the dad?”

“We both are,” I say.

Her smile turns awkward. “Usually we only allow one—” She sighs and eyes our suits. “Were you both getting married today?”

“Sort of,” Mad mumbles, looking at me.

“Yes, we were both marrying Violet,” I tell her with more confidence.

She chews on her lip then I swear she mumbles, “ Screw it ,” before saying, “We don’t usually do this, but both of you come with me.”

She leads the way up to the NICU. The room is bigger than I expected, and with way more babies in it. Some are quietly asleep, others are fussing. A few nurses and doctors are busy looking after them all.

I scan each incubator, looking for ours.

How am I supposed to know which ones are— It’s them .

Three of the incubators are closer together than the others.

A little pinkish-gray newborn in each. Instinctively, I know those are mine.

There’s a sharp stabbing pain in my chest that only gets worse the closer I walk to them.

Violet should be here for this. She’s the one who made them. The one who suffered sleepless nights, daily back pain, and nausea. It should be her looking at them for the first time. Not us.

I hover a few paces back and watch as Mad meets them.

“They’re tiny.” He keeps his voice to a soft hush.

“Only six pounds between them,” the nurse says.

“What happened?” I ask. We were told to expect them early, but there were no warning signs. Or if there were, I failed and missed them. A part of me worries it was my fault. We went too hard on her in the night. I knew the risks of expressing her milk like that, yet I did it anyway.

“Violet’s blood pressure dropped, which could have been the cause. But before you start worrying, there’s nothing you could have done. Once babies decide they’re coming, there’s no stopping them. This was the best outcome you could hope for, and these three were determined to meet you today.”

“Can we hold them?” Mad asks, his face pressed to the side of the incubator.

“Not yet, I’m afraid. They need a bit more alone time to make sure they’re strong enough to be near our adult germs. Sit with them and talk to them. Let them know their daddies are here.” She leaves him to it and smiles sympathetically at me as she passes by.

Mad presses his hand to the glass, and my fingers twitch. I can feel his intense need to touch them. To keep them safe. That’s all I want as well.

“Hey, babies. You’ve caused your mama quite a bit of trouble. It’s a good thing you’ve got two daddies to keep an eye on you now that you’re out in the big world. Your mama will be here to see you soon as well. I promise.”

He looks up at me and motions for me to come over. I want to. God, do I want to meet my kids, but my feet are frozen. It doesn’t feel right without Violet.

Sensing my struggles, he straightens up, his brow furrowed with worry. “Max. There’s nothing we can do for Vi right now. But these little ones need us. Come say hello.”

I miss being the level-headed one. This would be so much easier if I could stop every worst-case scenario from playing on a loop in my head.

“Max. Do it for her.”

For her…

“You stay with them. I’m going to wait with Violet.”

“Are you sure?”

I nod. “I’m not having her waking up alone.”

“I’ll come with you then.”

“No. One of us should be here.”

He lets out a shaky breath and blinks away the tears burning both of our eyes. “Text me as soon as she’s awake.”

I turn to leave, but don’t make it a single step before he gives me the biggest bear hug.

“She’ll be okay,” he tells us both.

I should be getting some rest so I can function once Violet wakes up, but I can’t take my eyes off of her.

The doctor told me that the anesthesia should have worn off by now, and she’ll wake up in her own time. A selfish part of me wants to wake her early. Just so I know she’s okay. But my rational side has finally returned, and I’m letting her rest for as long as she needs.

Mad is still in the NICU. We’ve been texting each other updates, and he’s sent photos of the triplets. I can’t bring myself to look at them.

My eyelids are heavy, they have been for god knows how long, and it’s hard to tell if I’m hallucinating or not, but I swear I hear Violet’s soft laugh. When I look at her, I find her still unconscious.

Hospitals fucking suck.

It’s been over twenty-four hours since she was supposed to marry Mad. We should have been at home celebrating our union in every sinfully sweet way possible. Instead, we’re stuck in a limbo I know far too well.

The sun’s starting to set, and rather than close the blinds, I open them wider so that when Violet wakes up, she can see the sky. “You’d love this sunset, sweetheart. It’s so pink. Reminds me of?—”

“The lake.”

“Violet?” I spin on my heel. “Are you really awake?”

“I hope so, otherwise this is the afterlife. It’s quite nice if it is.” She’s smiling at me. God, that smile. I felt like I was losing the most precious piece of myself this last day, and that smile has pushed it back into place. Right where it belongs.

I take my seat next to the bed and slide my fingers through hers. “This is real. You’re awake.”

“Something feels different…” She blinks a few times as she looks around the room, eventually settling her gaze on me. “Where’s…” trailing off, her eyes wander down her body. She lifts the sheet and tentatively touches her stomach over her gown. “ I feel different.”

“Careful.” I gently grab her wrist, being extra cautious not to knock the IV in the back of her hand.

She looks around the room again. “Where are they? Where’s Maddox?”

“They’re all in the NICU.” I see the sudden frantic questioning in her watery eyes, and I answer everything before she wastes her strength asking. “They’re all healthy. Just very small and needing some extra help. Mad’s been keeping watch over them while I’ve been here with you.”

“How long has it been?”

“Only a few hours since your surgery.”

“I want them back,” she cries, rolling her head into the pillow.

“I know, sweetheart. As soon as you’re able to move, I’ll get you to them. You’re going to need to take it slow. They said you lost a lot of blood.”

Content with my promise, or maybe too tired to ask any more questions, she closes her eyes.