Page 130 of Romancing His Heart

Crap, did I say that out loud?

Wait. W-What the hell is going on?His hands are all over my body, and I’m not sure what he’s doing.Where’s Loki?Have they killed him already? The man asks me a question, but I can’t hear him. His face is the last thing I see before my world goes black.

* * *

Beep.Beep. Beep.

Fluorescent lights blind me when I open my eyes. Why the hell do people still use those lights? They flatter no one, ever. Holy shit, everything hurts. Groaning, I attempt to lift my head, but excruciating pain ripples from my neck to my toes.

“Hey, hold still. Don’t try to move,” a gentle voice I recognize instructs from my right. My gaze follows the sound, and I find Sylvie sitting there. It’s then that I realize she’s holding my hand.

Wait. Why is she here and not with Loki?

“Loki?” My voice cracks. It feels like I’ve been eating sand for a year.

“He’s in surgery, but he is going to be just fine. They need to remove the bullet you put in his chest.” She smiles.

“What? I shot him?”

“Not intentionally, but yes. When you were hit, your gun misfired. Emory is with him now, and she promised he would be okay. They also need to do a CAT scan because he was hit in the head again, but Emory is confident he’ll make a full recovery.”

I remember Ash lying on the floor, and I wish anyone else were with me because I’m scared to ask her.

She seems to sense my hesitation and continues speaking. “Seth has some broken bones but is otherwise okay. The girls are sitting with him now. Luca, h-he was in pretty rough shape. He came out of surgery almost an hour ago. The boys are with him.”

What about Ash?I want to scream as she takes a moment to compose herself.

“Ashton will heal,” she says evasively.

“But?”

“His face will carry a scar, but I fear the internal wounds will take longer to overcome. He’s in his second surgery now. We have a plastic surgeon flying in from California to start the cosmetic restructuring tomorrow.”

“Oh my God.”

“He will be okay, dear. He has us, and that’s what families do. We will continue to pick him up until he can do it on his own again.”

“I think I have a lot to learn about family,” I mumble.

“We’re very good teachers, dear. The good news is, this is all over now. I never realized how exhausting it was carrying around the weight of what-ifs. Because of you, all of my boys are safe. We don’t have to live in fear, and we can all live our best lives because of you, Sloane. You’ve given me a gift I never thought I would see in my lifetime. You gave us all freedom.”

I choke on the tears that try to suffocate me. “I-I didn’t do that, though.”

“We need to work on your ability to take a compliment, Sloane. You did do that. I’m telling you that you did. Don’t argue with me.”

It’s the first time a mom has ever scolded me, and oddly, I find it comforting.

“Yes, ma’am. When can I see Loki?”

“Emory said she would take you to see him as soon as he’s out of surgery.”

Exhaustion takes over. “Okay, I-I’m just going to rest my eyes for a little while.”

Sylvie leans over and kisses my forehead. “Sleep, sweet girl, rest. You’ll need your strength to deal with Loki. He’s a terrible patient, you know.”

I smile but drift off to sleep before I can respond.

* * *