Page 85 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

“Lily. Stay with me.” Her muscles grew lax, and her eyes closed. “Lily!”

I dimly became aware of the silence that hung heavily in the room. At some point the barrage of gunfire had stopped, though I’d been too focused on Lily to notice.

A large form appeared next to me, and I was startled to find Fox staring down at me. “Help her,” I begged. “Please. I know I don’t deserve it, but she’s…”

My voice cracked as the fear of losing her engulfed me. “I’m so sorry about Eva. I should have known... I never should have let her go, and now... I’ll understand if you can’t forgive me, but God... Please. Please don’t let her die.”

Fox stared at me, a question in his eyes as he knelt next to me and studied Lily. “Where’s the closest hospital?”

My mind blanked. I had no idea.

“Kalispell.” We turned toward Callum, who’d spoken. “It’s an hour away.”

“Find a doctor. Quickly.” Fox jerked his chin, and the man disappeared to do his bidding.

Around me, Fox’s men began to clean up the gory scene. They’d shown up seemingly out of nowhere. Why they were here? The thought was forgotten almost immediately as my attention riveted on the woman in my arms. “Lily. Wake up.”

My vision blurred and pain like I’d never known sliced through my heart. Her breathing was shallow, her chest barely moving as she fought to drag in oxygen. “Please,” I begged. “Don’t you dare leave me. I need you.”

I buried my face in her hair and held her close as blood spilled over my fingers and the life slowly drained from her body.

Twenty-Five

RODRIGO

One day bled into the next, the passage of time marked only by the changing of light to dark. I felt empty, a deep ache settling in my bones as I kept vigil by Lily’s bedside.

She hadn’t woken up. Hadn’t even opened her eyes. The doctor checked on her every hour, offering cautious optimism each time. Though the bullet had missed all major organs, it had lodged deep inside her, requiring surgery to remove it. Nearly forty-eight hours had passed, and I was beginning to lose hope.

Why the hell hadn’t she woken up? Despite the doctor’s insistence that her body needed rest in order to recover, it had been too long. I could feel it. She was slowly slipping away from me.

“How is she?”

Tearing my gaze away from Lily, I glanced up at Fox. He stood outlined in the doorway, his face an expressionless mask.

“Same as before.” Bitterness crept into my tone before I could stop it, and I immediately wanted to call the words back. The stress of watching Lily suffer was slowly breaking me down.

I wasn’t sure how he’d found a doctor on such short notice, or managed to locate the equipment that beeped quietly in the corner of the small room, but I’d learned never to underestimate Fox. In truth, I was incredibly grateful for everything Fox had done. But my gratitude was overshadowed by anger.

I was furious that Araña’s men had somehow managed to track me here. Furious with myself for staying the extra night with Lily. And I was even more furious at her for throwing herself in front of the bullet that had been meant for me.

I was so damn angry with her for that. Which only made me feel more guilty. It rose up in my throat, threatening to choke me.

She had to be okay—she just had to. I refused to accept the alternative.

I met Fox’s gaze. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for her.”

“Think nothing of it,” he said with a small wave of his hand.

“I don’t deserve your help or kindness after everything that’s happened.” I shook my head. “Sir, I want you to know…”

Memories of that last day with Eva flashed before my eyes, and I forced the words out. “I tried to stop them. I didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late, and I... I never suspected them. I should have, and I’m sorry.”

For the past day and a half I’d sat by Lily’s side, waiting for her to wake up, preparing myself for the worst if she didn’t. It felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest. I was certain this was how Fox had felt when Eva disappeared.

“I should have done more to protect her, and I’ll carry the weight of knowing I failed until the day I die.”

He stared at me for a long moment, those dark eyes boring into mine. “You mentioned that before.”

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