Page 18 of Shattered Wings

“Her name is Ellie…Illiana McBride. She’s twenty-four years old.”

“Good…good. Can you hear sirens? The ambulance should be approaching.”

“I hear them coming now.”

After that, everything is a blur. The paramedics come in with bags and a stretcher. They administer a spray up her nose to counteract opioids, but it does nothing. It’s a rush to get her loaded up onto the stretcher. Once that’s done, we all hurry out of the house and climb into the back of the ambulance. They could have told me to drive my car to Sacred Heart, but there was no way in hell I was leaving her.

Once we get to the hospital, they rush her into the back and I’m forced to sit in the waiting room. It’s the worst few hours of my life. No one can tell me anything because I’m not family. What a bunch of fucking bullshit. I called Ellie’s mom and Lena. Both of them were hysterical. They have Blakely, so I know she’s safe. Both of them were insisting they come back to Florida, but I don’t think this is a place for Blake. There would be no one else to watch her while they were at the hospital, either. Once I got them calmed down and they finally agreed to wait for my call, I called Remi. If there’s anyone who can get me information, it’s him.

Remi shows up at the hospital about fifteen minutes after hanging up with me. He didn’t have to come up here, but that’s what we do. We show up for each other.

“Have they told you anything?” He rushes out.

“They haven’t told me shit and I’m beyond impatient at this point.”

“I’ve got you, man. Just give me a few minutes.” Remi walks up to the counter. He’s got the nurse blushing in two point five seconds. I don’t care what he’s got to do as long as he gets information on Ellie or gets me back there with her. A few minutes later, he comes sauntering back over to me.

“Illiana is in room 202. Go down the hall, take your first left and her door will be on the right. Things aren’t good right now, man. From what the nurse could tell me, it’s going to be touch and go. They almost lost her. Actually, for a few minutes there, they did. She had to be revived. Now she’s in a medically induced coma until they can figure out what the painkillers did to her.”

“Did you just say pain killers? You mean to tell me she tried to kill herself?” I must not be hearing him correctly. My Ellie would never purposefully try to hurt herself. She’s the only parent that Blakely has left. Please God, tell me she didn’t mean to do this to herself.

“I’m sorry, man. I know this isn’t what you want to hear right now. I’m only telling you what the nurse said. Maybe if you head back to her room, you’ll be able to catch the doctor to find out what’s going on.”

“That’s what I’ll do now. Thank you for coming up here, Remi. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“Go check on your girl. I’ll be here if you need me.” Did he just call her my girl? I stare wide eyed at Remi and he just looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind.

“Yeah, I said your girl. I know you love her. Now go see how she’s doing before I go do it for you.” Growling, I stomp off down the hall towards her room. I can hear him laughing as I walk away. Asshole!

Walking into her room, she’s covered up with a thick white blanket. There are tubes and wires covering her face and attached to her arms. She’s not blue anymore, but she’s so damn pale. Her sunken cheeks catch my attention. My girl was sitting on death’s door. I can’t even begin to think about what would have happened to her if I wouldn’t have gotten to her house in time.

Grabbing the chair closest to the bed, I pull it as close as possible. Sitting down, I take her icy hand in my warm one. The contrast between the two is staggering. My large palm dwarfs hers. “Why did you do this, Ellie? You must not understand how much I need you in my life. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.” My hand trembles as I hold back tears. Right now, I need to be strong for my girl. But when she’s better, and she will get better, I’m going to spank her fucking ass.

“Hello, my name is Doctor Meyers. Are you related to the patient?” Fuck! I should have known that he was going to ask me that.

“I’m her husband. The name’s Lachlan. Can you tell me how she’s doing?”

“Lachlan, you’re a lucky man. We almost lost Illiana multiple times. She went into cardiac arrest. She had a seizure as well. When she came in, she was in respiratory distress. We have her in a medically induced coma until her body has time to heal from the trauma. She did a number on herself. From what we know now, she more than likely took half a bottle of painkillers. We had to administer multiple doses of nasal spray and that didn’t work. Her stomach had to be pumped. Like I said, she really did a number on herself. Hopefully, we’ll be able to wean her from the sedation starting tomorrow, but that’s something that we will play by ear.”

“Thank you, Doctor. Is there anything I can do?” I feel helpless right now.

“Talk to her. She won’t respond, but I’m betting that she will hear everything you’re saying to her. When the time comes for her to leave, someone will need to closely monitor her. I don’t know what caused her to do this to herself, but she’ll need all the support she can get. I would recommend her being admitted to a psychiatric facility. If she’s unwilling to do that, then she should have regular appointments with a psychologist.” Ellie will be moving in with me. She’ll probably hate me for a while, but this is what’s for the best. I just want to love and protect her and Blake.

“Thank you so much for everything.” Dr. Meyers just nods and shakes my hand before heading out.

I feel so guilty, like somehow this is my fault. I should have been around more. Maybe I could have prevented this. This woman is going to be pissed at me, but I don’t care. Until I know she’s doing better, I will be stuck to her like freaking glue.

“What am I going to do with you, baby doll? You scared the shit out of me. No one on earth is worth you hurting yourself over. I’ll help you get through this, Ellie. Whatever I have to do, I will. I love you more than you could ever know. You’re going to push me away, but just know that I won’t let you. You’ll never get rid of me. Please, just remember. Remember me, Ellie. Think about me and remember what could have been. Those memories have to be there somewhere.”

Exhaustion creeps up on me. Just a little nap might help. Laying my head down next to our hands, listening to the sweet rhythm of her breathing, I succumb to sleep. Sleep that’s filled with death and blood, Ellie’s blood. God, please don’t let that be a sign for what’s coming.

Remember me…remember me…remember me… Please let her remember me.

Illiana

“Jax, I’ll be fine. It’s just a party. Lexa will be with me the whole time. You don’t have to worry. Besides, you’ve been to parties, so it’s my turn. I need a little more fun in my life.”

“I can’t help but to worry, Lia. You don’t know how guys our age can be. If I could go with you, I would. Mom needs my help tonight.

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