Page 186 of Stolen Voices

“Eli!” I try to sit up.

The man in black holds me back. “Ma’am, please calm down,” the man says in his soothing, deep voice.

It helps. I stop moving and lie back.

“They are doing everything they can to help him. We need to check you out, and we will take you to the same hospital as your husband, okay?”

I nod. The rational part of my brain knows this, but all I want is to get to Eli. “Wait, I need his phone. I have to call our family.”

“Do you know where it was? In his pocket? On a stand?” the EMT asks.

Think, Callie. Where the fuck was Eli’s phone?

“Uh, the cup holder. It was in the cup holder.”

EMTs push Eli into the back of an ambulance and slam the doors. The vehicle containing my whole life drives away, sirens blaring.

“Got it!” someone shouts.

A second later, someone places Eli’s phone in my hands. Gripping the phone like a lifeline, I’m lifted into the back of another ambulance. The doors slam, making me flinch, but when the vehicle lurches forward, following Eli to the hospital, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, praying to every being in the universe to save the man I love.

forty-one

Callie

Ipacethelengthof the hospital room again, waiting for someone to come in and tell me what the hell is going on. As soon as I arrived, I sent a message to Eli’s family from his phone, letting them know where he was and what I knew—Eli got a CAT scan before being whisked away for surgery to repair a collapsed lung.

No one has written back, and in my lonely panic, I texted Hudson, Dez, and Boone as well. That was hours ago, and since then, the doctor has come and gone from doing his examination on the minor scrapes and burns on my arms, caused by the airbag, and I’m still alone, freaking out about Eli in surgery.

Twisting my thumb ring, I continue to pace, replaying the accident and how beaten up Eli looked as he passed out. If I didn’t love him more than anything in the world, I’d kick his ass for trying to be a hero and pulling that stunt with the car. I’m so angry at him for being reckless, and terrified to death that I’m going to lose him.

The door swings open, and Hudson walks into my hospital room.

“Hey, Popstar,” he quips with a smile and his arms spread wide.

Every emotion I’ve been holding on to spills out of me at the sight of my friend and agent. Sobbing, I rush into his arms for a hug.

“Shh. Don’t cry, Cal. Eli is going to be fine.”

“I’m so scared, Hud. He put his life at risk, again, to save me.”

My friend pats my back as I cry into his dress shirt, ruining it with my mascara-stained tears.

“Why does he keep doing this?”

Hudson grips my shoulders, pushing me back to look up at him. His usual playfulness is gone, and his earnest blue eyes crinkle at the side with his sad smile. “He keeps doing it because he loves you, Callie. That man would do anything for you. Why do you think it took him so long to face his feelings?”

“Because he’s stubborn.” I sniff.

Hudson barks a laugh. “Oh, he’s definitely stubborn. But the real reason is because when Eli wants something, he goes after it with everything he’s got. It’s all or nothing with him. He couldn’t give his all before, and now? That guy is going to give you everything he can and more.”

I grip the bluebird at my throat between my fingers as the memory of Eli’s promise comes to mind.“I’m going to take care of you at all costs.”

Hearing Hudson—one of Eli’s best friends—confirm Eli’s feeling for me helps staunch the tears leaking from my eyes. I already knew Eli would do anything to protect me, but I needed the reminder. “You’re right. He’s told me as much.”

“See? Now, buck up, Popstar. We need to get you cleaned up and out of this room. Love ya, Cal, but you look like shit.”

A chuckle bubbles up in my chest at Hudson’s honesty. I rub my nose with the back of my hand to wipe away my snot. “Thanks. How did you get in here, by the way?”