Page 70 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

Tears collect at her bottom lashes, threatening to spill over. “I don’t know, Liam,” she says, bowing her head. “I need time. This is all too much. So much has happened in such a short period of time. I don’t know what I want anymore.”

She sidesteps me and walks back to the bedroom to deliver Diego his coffee. I should have done it for her and spilled the damn thing all over him. Conor steps in my path as I am about to go after my woman and give Diego a piece of my mind.

“Don’t, mate. Give her time.” His eyes are understanding.

This fucking sucks.

We are abouttwenty minutes from landing. Madison has remained in the bedroom with Diego the entire flight. Her food and refreshments were sent back there. This is the first time I’m seeing her. She looks frantic as she stands in the doorway with the doctor. He’s talking slowly and her eyes are darting back and forth as she takes in the information being discussed. Her hand fidgets with her necklace—her little nervous habit.

Lainey is passed out with her headphones in, her head lying gently on the table. Conor makes eye contact with me, concern written across his features as I stand and start walking toward Madison.

“Everything alright back here?” I ask, placing my hand at the small of her back. Instead of moving out of my embrace, she leans into it. A small victory smile spreads across my face before it falls away at what the doctor is saying.

“Mr. De La Cruz will need immediate medevac when we land in New York. His artery has done what we feared it would and has reopened. I’ve made several attempts to stop the bleeding but it’s been unsuccessful due to the pressure. The tourniquet will only give us enough time to reach the hospital. He needs a blood transfusion immediately and surgery to fix the artery. Another issue arising is that Mr. De La Cruz hasn’t been able to shake his fever.”

“Will the operating room at Killian’s be sufficient enough?” Madison’s voice quivers, realizing the severity of the situation at hand.

“I believe so, Ms. Marrone.”

“It’sMrs. De La Cruz, Doc,” Diego cough-laughs. Madison twitches beneath my palm, clearly affected by his words.

I roll my eyes and bite my tongue, giving a dying man some version of peace.

“This isn’t a time for formalities,Ocean Eyes. This is serious!” Madison turns towards him.

“So am I,” he growls.

The doctor interrupts their little spat. “Is anyone here B+?”

“Shit. No. I’m A+,” Madison brings her hands to her lips, her rings sparkling, and her anxiety increasing by the second.

“I am,” I say confidently. I may hate the situation we are in with Madison, but I refuse to have her watch him die on this goddamn plane. “Take what you need from me, Doc.” I extend my arm and nod towards the older gentleman.

Maddy swivels her head back to me. Her eyes soften with appreciation. “Can you find a way to set up a medical transport back to our house?”

“Yeah, sweetheart. I can.” I place a kiss on top of her head and walk back to my chair to make some calls and donate some blood. The doctor follows me with his equipment, wasting no time hooking me up to the IV.

Seb is my first contact in mind.

By now, I owe this man a vacation home.

Christ.I am so fucking nauseous and cold. Whole body chills violently rock through me with each breath more labored than the last. My clothes cling to me like I've been in the sauna for an hour. Madison has a damp washcloth pressed to my forehead. Her other hand grips mine tightly, the cool metal of her wedding rings digging into my palm. Her delicious curves press up against me on the bed, completely unaware that she’s transferring all her calming energy and heat to me.

I know she’s worried. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t too.

I don’t want to die.Especiallynot in the arms of my girl. And definitely not 35,000 feet above the ground. We are starting to make our descent. Liam was able to arrange a medevac for when we arrive on the tarmac. No one, not even Madison, is allowed to come along. There is only room for my doctor and the rest of the medical crew. Of course, my stubborn girl tried to find a way to come along, but there physically is not enough room for her.

Liam promised to get her back to the penthouse as quickly as possible. As much as I can’t stand him, I’m thankful for him. Not only is he making sure Madison remains calm during all of this, but he also saved my life last night. Even just now, he donated blood to keep me alive—again.

I’m sure he’s hoping he and Madison will work it out. Can’t say I blame the guy for trying. The problem will be when I recover from all of this. I’m not giving up on her.

She’s my wife.

If she so much as whispers the possibility of staying that way, I will do everything in my power for it to remain so.

I love her.

I am in love with my wife, Madison De La Cruz, and I am willing to fight for her love in return.

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