Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
“I’ve got her, buddy.” I stand, situating her to my chest, grateful for the little whimper that escapes.
When we get to my truck, Wolf is at my heels as I buckle her in. He looks at me anxiously.
“Up you go.” He lets me help him into the backseat.
I grab my phone and find the contact, peeling out of her driveway.
“Chase Richards,” he answers on the second ring.
“This is Talon. I have Willow in my truck unconscious and burning up with fever. Found her collapsed on the floor, non-responsive.”
“What the hell?” he interjects. “She said she had a bug.”
“It’s something a fuck of a lot more. Taking her to the emergency room.”
“Go to Vanderbilt. We have privileges. Dad and I will meet you there.”
“Wolf’s with me. He’s stepped on a piece of broken glass. Not sure of the damage but he’s cut.”
“Shit, I’ll try to get—”
“I’ll take care of him. You have someone go over to your sister’s house to shut it down and clean up the mess.”
“I’ll call Bex now.”
“Appreciate it.”
I hang up and grab Willow’s hand, my thumb tracing over her wrist until it finds her pulse.
Slow but steady… each beat a little reassurance.
What the fuck happened to her?
9
WILLOW
Fire scalds when I try to swallow. The sensation sears my esophagus. I twist, gasping from the rippling pain in my abdomen, and burrowing deeper into the mattress.
God, I’m exhausted.
Unfortunately, my body and mind have other ideas. Sweat slowly trickles down my back. The sheets are soft, but the blanket is sweltering. I kick to free myself and the stab in my stomach intensifies.
“Owwwww.” What happened to me?
A wispy softness brushes over my forehead as I clutch onto the mattress to push the hurt away.
“Try not to move, I got you.” Talon’s gruff voice breaks into my thoughts.
“Maybe this will help.” Cool air blasts over me and the blanket is gone. I sigh in relief until recognition hits. Was that Grandma?
A loud beeping screeches, jolting me fully awake.
My vision is blurred and vertigo washes over me, my stomach convulsing. I cry out, causing a new ache as my lip throbs.
“Jesus, baby, stay still.”
My head pops up, my vision clearing as Talon’s worried face comes into view.
“Talon?” I croak.
“Here, sweetheart.” A straw is thrust in front of me and I suck eagerly until it’s whipped away. “Not too much, just sips for now.” Grandma places her hand on my forehead and breathes out. “I think the fever has broken.”
My eyes dart to Talon, and I realize I’m half-sprawled across him. It wasn’t the mattress I was clutching, it is his chest. My gaze lands on the tube attached to my inner elbow, an IV leading to a bag of clear liquid. Dad, Grandpa, and Chase crowd the end of a hospital bed.
“What—”
“Shhh, talking will irritate your throat.” Grandma pats my cheek. “You gave this old lady a scare. I lost ten years of my life when I got the call.”
I rack my brain for any explanation.
I woke up at four a.m. feeling off. Stomach turning, head pounding, chills, hot flashes, shaky and weak. Called into work and went back to bed. Got up to let Wolf out and get a drink. My glass slipped out of my hand.
That’s the last thing in my recollection.
“Why am—” I rasp and Chase hands me my phone.
“Don’t talk. Text me what you remember.”
I type it out quickly and send. He scans it over, then reads aloud for everyone.
“Talon found you unconscious on the living room floor. When you didn’t respond, he brought you here to Vanderbilt. I was waiting in the ER. Upon arriving, your fever had spiked to one-oh-five and your pulse was dangerously low. You were convulsing, still unresponsive. They performed a gastric lavage—”
I throw my hand in the air, bulging my eyes to my brother and his damn medical lingo.
“You had your stomach pumped,” he illuminates. “Which is why you have stomach and throat discomfort. Your tongue may be swollen, too.”
Discomfort my ass! This shit sucks.
I shoot off a text to him.
Talon’s arm circles my shoulders. He takes my hand, lacing our fingers, and kisses my knuckles. All my irritation evaporates. It’s all I can do not to melt into him.
Stomach pumping is a bit extreme, isn’t it?
Talon grumbles, reading the message I send.
“Having absolutely no fucking clue what was wrong, it was my suggestion,” Chase endorses. “Scared the shit out of me.”
“Scared the shit out of all of us,” Dad rumbles.
For the first time, I notice how tattered my grandpa looks. His dark eyes are trained on me, the lines on his forehead deeply furrowed, his lips pursed.
“I’m okay,” I mouth to him.
His expression fills with warmth as he squeezes my foot. Then he aims his gaze to Talon.
The reality of this situation hits me full force and a squeak escapes.
My grandma, my grandpa, and my DAD are all here.