Page 61 of Shattered

“Thirty to forty-five minutes, but she’ll be in recovery for an additional hour or two. One of the nurses will show you to the surgical waiting room. When we’re done, I’ll come there to update you all.”

Things moved very quickly after the doctor’s explanation. Teresa was transferred to a stretcher, where each of her children gave her a kiss, hug, and said I love you. Thenshe was wheeled out of the room with the five of us trailing closely behind.

Please bring her back to us.

Praying wasn’t something I did often, but my lack of practice didn’t stop me from sending out the silent request to the universe.

13HUG IT OUT

Koen

“You’re an asshole.”

I knew it was coming, though I’d hoped his ire would hold off until I could at least get Jade and Jett out of the room. That wasn’t the case. Riley started in on me the moment the door to the tiny waiting room slammed shut. My poor Angel looked like she wanted to wade into the rough waters flowing between us, but Willow steered the both of them out of harm’s way.

Thankfully, my big brother’s pissed-the-fuck-off attitude was only aimed at me. I could take whatever he had to give as long as none of it spilled over onto my girl.

“So being married to the love of my life makes me an asshole?”

“No, Koen.”

“Then why the hell are you raging like a bull who saw red?”

“Should we stop them?” Jade’s anxious voice sounded from closer than it should have been.

“Nah. They’re good,” Willow assured her.

I glanced over my shoulder to make certain they were far enough away, in case fists started flying. My sister was about three feet back, pretending to be bored, even though I knew watching the two of us go at it had always been her favorite sport. As the eldest, she thought it was her job to be the peacekeeper. She also liked to stir shit up because if there weren’t any fights, there was no peace for her to keep.

“Because we should’ve been there,” he boomed when I returned my attention to him, pointing between himself and Willow. “Or did you forget about our pact the minute you hauled ass outta California.”

“We were grieving kids then, Riley.”

“No life-altering decisions without each other to back our play. That’s what we promised.”

“If you’d stop busting my balls for two seconds and let me explain, you might understand.”

Without waiting for his response, I launched in, laying it all on the line. I told them briefly about Jade and Jett’s childhood, skimming over the abuse they dealt with on the daily, then moved on to their parents' threats. By the time I finished giving them every unsavory detail, Willow had tears in her eyes and Riley looked physically ill.

“Fuck.” He ran a hand through his hair roughly.

“Pretty much sums it up.”

“You married her to protect them?”

“He married her to protect themandbecause he loves them, you doofus.” Willow took the opportunity to smack Riley upside the back of his head.

“What she said.”

“Fuck,” he repeated. “You love them?”

“Shit’s sake. Did you not hear me earlier?”

“We love him too, if that makes a difference,” Jetthurried out.

“It seems I was mistaken, little brother.”

“How’d those words taste coming out of your mouth,big brother.”

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