Page 97 of Forever Fake

Blake falls beside me, his eyes closed, crimson seeping into his white button-down shirt.

Someone screams, but the sound seems to be coming from inside my head. I hold his pale face between my palms, but he won’t look at me, he won’t wake up.

“Mama!” I call, and she appears at my side, immediately applying pressure to his wound. She checks his pulse and the hard lines of her face briefly soften.

“He’s alive,” she whispers quietly, so Oliver won’t hear us.

He’s alive.Her words ring in my mind. They flip a switch in my conscience and rage replaces my fear.

Suddenly I’m grabbing Blake’s knife and hurling myself at Oliver. His eyes round, he slowly blinks, apparently unable to process that I’m attacking him for a change. The blade sinks into his shoulder, right above his heart. The gun falls from his gripand clanks to the floor. Disarmed, he shields his face with his arms.

But I don’t stop. I can’t.

I slash and jab. Blood flies in every direction. I’m relentless, never giving him a chance to go on the offensive.

Muttering a string of curses, he turns and runs out of the office. I have half a mind to go after him, until I turn and see Blake lying unconscious on the carpet.

I kneel beside him, agony coursing through me. “What do we do?”

“I’ll call 911. Apply pressure, and wait until they get here. He needs a hospital.”

I nod, doing as Mama instructs. “What about Papa?” I’m afraid to hear the answer.

Her features twist before that unreadable mask slips back on her face. Mama’s so strong, I don’t think I’ve ever really noticed it before. Not like I do at this moment.

“He’s gone.” Her tone lacks emotion, but I know it’s because she’s feeling too much right now.

“I’m so sorry.” I mean it. I’ve hated him for so much of my life, but I never wanted him dead, especially since my mother loves him so much. She won’t show it, but I know she’s devastated by the loss of him. He was the love of her life.

“Who here is either Mr. Baron’s blood relative or spouse?” The nurse’s gaze slides over the sea of people in the waiting room. I hold one of my mother’s hands in my lap, the other is in Sophia’s. Arianna sits beside her with Ravenna.Roman, Dimitri, and Cian stand off to one side, while Liam and Lexa sit across from us.

I stand up. “I’m his wife.”

“We’re his siblings,” Liam announces.

The nurse eyes us. “He’s in recovery so he shouldn’t be overwhelmed with too many people at once. Who’d like to see him first?”

My shoulders slump in deference, and I glance at Liam. “He’s your brother, you should go first.”

“Are youserious?” He looks at me like I’ve sprouted horns. “If that was Maks in there, I’d go feral if anyone got to see him before I did, and we’re not even married. Go see him—if that’s what you want.”

“But you’re his family. Surely he wants to see you first.”

Liam scoffs. “Yeah, right. Trust me, the only person he wants to see when he opens his eyes is you.”

My heart beats a little faster and hope blossoms in my chest. Can he be right? There’s only one way to find out.

“Okay. Thank you.” I hurry and follow the nurse to Blake’s room.

He rests in a hospital bed, eyelids closed, looking so much more vulnerable than I’ve ever seen him. Quietly, I enter his room, and he stirs.

His bright blue eyes land on me and my heart stutters. “Magpie, how are you more beautiful every time I see you?”

“Shh. You’re heavily medicated.”

He slowly shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. Every time I open my eyes and you’re there, you’re more gorgeous than the last. So much so, that sometimes it hurts. Here.” He places his hand over his chest. “It feels like something’s growing in the barren soil of my heart. I didn’t think that was possible after all these years, but turns out it just needed a bit of sunshine. The kind of sun and warmth you bring into my life.”

I’m at a complete loss for words, so I reach out and entwine my fingers with his, giving them a gentle squeeze.

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