Page 187 of Stolen Voices

Hudson shrugs. “A little threat here, a little flirting there. You know how I roll.”

“I do.” Taking a cleansing breath, I wipe my cheeks. “Can I wash my face first?”

“Take all the time you need. I was just with the Miller clan, and there is still no word.”

“Wait. They’re here?” Why didn’t they text me? I’ve been holding Eli’s phone the whole time.

My heart sinks into my stomach. Of course they didn’t text me. I’m not family. I might have lied to the hospital staff about being Eli’s wife, but his family knows the truth.

“Yeah. They are freaking out in the waiting room. The stupid nurses won’t let them see you. The hospital is afraid to give out your details seeing as you’re, you know, you,” Hudson explains like it’s the most obvious reason.

“But I have his phone. They didn’t text.”

“Callie, there is no service up here. Have you actually checked the bars? Everyone has been trying to get ahold of you. It’s why they sent me to get you.”

My shoulders sag in relief, and a fresh wave of tears burns the backs of my eyes. I was so preoccupied with pacing and wondering what’s going on that I didn’t think to check if I had cell service.

Hudson smirks. “You didn’t check, did you?”

“No.”

With laughter, Hudson shakes his head at me as he shoves me toward the bathroom, and orders me to hurry and pull myself together.

Ten minutes later, Hudson at my side, we walk into the crowded ICU waiting room filled with Millers.

“Oh my gosh, thank goodness you’re okay.” Emery rushes over, pulling me into a hug, her baby bump poking me, and she turns me this way and that, checking every inch of me.

“Miss Callie, I’m so glad you’re okay. The nurse wouldn’t let me see you.” Rhys wraps his little arms around me, and my knees almost buckle at the love.

I hug him back, hard, soaking up his goodness. “Thank you for trying to check on me.” I kiss the top of his sweet little head.

Jace pulls Rhys away and gives me a warm big brother hug. “So glad you’re okay, Callie.”

“Thank you. Have you heard anything?”

Jace shakes his head and steps back.

“You did good,” Mason says with a quick, oddly stiff hug, before putting distance between us and returning to Emery’s side. If I wasn’t so worried about Eli, I’d laugh.

Eli warned me Mason wasn’t a touchy-feely guy, but he was really there for me today. I don’t know what I would’ve done if he hadn’t been on the phone, talking me down from my panic attack in the car. I’ll be forever grateful for his support.

“Thank you so much for staying on the line and talking me through. I…” My voice cracks as memories of the crash come flooding back.

“Don’t mention it. We’re family. I’ll always be here for you.”

Emotion catches in my throat as tears of appreciation cloud my vision.

“Holy shit, look at Mason properly emoting,” Eli’s youngest brother, Cameron, says with a chuckle. He steps forward, with a beautiful raven-haired woman with gray eyes, whom I presume is his girlfriend.

Mason frowns and flips Cameron off, who bowls over laughing.

I cover my smile with my hand at the two, but it turns to tears as I think about Eli in some sterile room having who knows what done to him. He should be here, joking around.

The raven-haired woman smacks Cameron in the chest. “Hey, big guy, you’re making Callie cry.” She rubs a small hand up and down my arm as she looks me in the eye. Her gray gaze swirls with compassion, and her soft touch calms my nerves. “I’m Talia. It’s nice to meet you, Callie. How are you feeling?” She inspects my forearms. “Do you need some ibuprofen or some ointment for these cuts?”

“I’m okay for now. I’m too… I don’t know what I am, but I can’t feel these right now.” I show Talia my arms.

Talia nods like she understands exactly what I mean. “That’s the adrenaline.”