Page 102 of Captivating Anika

I didn’t go far though. I’m leaning against the wall at the end of the hallway from where Anika is being treated, with a clear view of the emergency entrance.

That’s how I catch Bodhi walking in, his eyes immediately locking in on me. He doesn’t slow down, and for a moment I wonder if he’s going to whale on me so I push away from the wall and brace. Instead of a fist to my face, I find myself wrapped up in a bear hug, Bodhi’s hand pounding on my back.

“Fuck, man. Fuck.”

One more good slap and he lets me go.

“How is she?”

“She’s sleeping right now. She has hypothermia and was shot in the shoulder—a through-and-through—but she should recover.”

“Evans said it was Monique? What the fuck?”

Bodhi, who doesn’t swear often, is letting the F-bombs fly.

“Don’t ask me. I’m clueless.”

Behind Bodhi I see Trin rushing toward us. She wraps me in a hug as well.

“How is she?”

I let Bodhi answer. I’m sure we’ll hear that same question a couple more times.

My knees are getting a little shaky with the adrenaline letdown, and I have to lean my back against the wall again before I hit the floor. I wish there was a chair close by I could sink into.

“Are you okay?” Trin asks, putting her hand on my arm.

I’m saved from answering when the nurse, who sent me out of the room earlier, walks up.

“She’s asking for you.”

“She’s awake?” Bodhi interjects.

The nurse glances at him.

“This is her family, her brother and sister-in-law,” I clarify. “Can they come in?”

“You’ll have to take turns. Only two at a time, I’m afraid.”

“You guys go,” Trin offers when the nurse disappears down the hall. “I talked to your parents when I was parking the truck, they’re on their way, I’ll wait here for them.”

When I push away from the wall and start moving toward Anika’s room, Bodhi is right behind me.

“Jesus, you’re about to hit the fucking floor,” he comments, grabbing on to my arm.

I guess I’m still swaying on my legs.

Her amber eyes are open and fixed on the door when we walk in, and I’m overwhelmed by a wave of feelings that almost takes my legs out.

“Sit the fuck down,” Bodhi growls.

He shoves me onto a chair next to the bed, as he leans over the bed to kiss his sister on the cheek.

“You scared the fuck out of me,” he grumbles.

“He’s not kidding, he’s cursed more in the past five minutes than he normally does in a year,” I point out.

Her beautiful eyes come back to me and I reach out to take her hand in mine.

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