Page 18 of Trigger

“I’ll be releasing him here in a few minutes.” I sat up a little straighter at that. “I figured you might want the cover of darkness to safely move him out.” I nodded, relief flooding me that not only was the doctor being accommodating of oursituation and the danger Chase was in, but he was also getting us the fuck out of there as soon as possible. “We’re sending him home with some pain meds. It should be enough to let him heal without too much pain. Rest is going to be the best thing he can do for his body.”

“The staples in his chest?” I asked, glancing toward my man. His chest was covered, but that didn’t remove the image of that brand from my mind.

“I’d like him to come back to see me in two weeks to get them removed,” he told me. “Do you have any questions or concerns before we process his discharge paperwork?”

“None,” I told him. “Thanks, doc.”

He nodded once and left the room, letting the nurse out ahead of him. Chase grunted and shifted a little before moaning in pain. I was on my feet instantly, hovering over him, wishing I could do something to lessen his pain. And it made me twitchy to know I couldn’t.

I fucking hated this feeling. Thishelplessnesswhen it came to him.

When Chase peeled his eyes open, I was the first thing he saw. Roughly clearing his no-doubt sore throat, he asked, “What?”

I shook my head. “Wasn’t sure if you needed me.” His lips twitched with the tiniest hint of a smile. “The doctor’s about to spring you.”

“Thank fuck,” Chase breathed. “I’m ready to be home. I miss Sophia.” He opened his eyes, looking up at me. “I’m sure Sophia is a mess.”

I just hummed, not giving him a true answer. I’d texted her off and on throughout Chase’s stay here to check on her, but besides the one phone call I’d made to let her know I had Chase and he was in the hospital, I hadn’t actually spoken to her. Justlike him, I was sure she was a mess, but she was trying to hide it from me.

I was letting her. For now.

“I know she’ll be happy to have you back home,” I told him instead.

He grunted and shut his eyes again, his face screwing up in pain as he shifted to get more comfortable. “She wants both of us home, Trigger. Don’t downplay the bond you have with her.”

Leaning down, I slanted my lips across his in a soft kiss. He sighed, one hand coming up to grip my bicep. His grip was weak, but it was stronger than it’d been when he’d woken up the first time. We were making progress.

“I’m not,” I promised. “She just… she’s been lost without you, Chase. Terrified for you and just… spiraling.”

He swallowed thickly, closing his eyes. “I shouldn’t have left,” he said quietly, repeating what he’d said earlier. The guilt in his voice gutted me and flayed my chest open. “I should’ve stayed.” Blowing out a soft breath, he steeled himself and lightly shook his head. “Get us a ride so I can get home to her.”

I nodded once and slipped my phone from my pocket to call Scorpion and let him know he could send Mark and Reese to get us.

14

Sophia

Ijerked awake when the bed jostled. My eyes sprung open, and immediately, tears flooded my gaze as I stared at Chase in horror. Every part of me ached for him as I drank him in. He was dropping his shirt to the floor, and all I could see of his once unmarred skin was bruises, cuts, and…oh my, God, was that the Russian’s family crest cut into his skin?

I was going to be sick. They’dmarkedhim.

I sobbed, my tears streaking down my cheeks as I pushed myself into a sitting position, reaching for him but unsure where or even if I could touch him. Chase eased onto the bed with a grunt, his face twisting with pain. I wanted to touch him—needed to—but I didn’t know where I could touch without hurting him. He was clearly in so much pain, and I didn’t want to worsen that just to make myself feel better.

“Come here,” he growled, opening his arms once he was settled back against the headboard with pillows stacked behind him. Trigger adjusted the pillows until he was comfortable, but I still didn’t budge. What if I hurt him more?

“Sophia…” Chase sighed, looking at me with eyes full of pain and longing.

My lips trembled, and my hands fluttered toward him, but I quickly drew them back. Huffing, he reached out and grabbed me, tugging me toward him with a small sound of pain before crushing me against him. As soon as I was wrapped in his embrace, I fucking fell apart, sobbing into his shoulder as I gently wrapped my own arms around him.

DaysI’d been without him.DaysI’d been terrified when Trigger did finally find him, he’d be dead.

Daysthat felt like fuckingyears.

“I’m here, cupcake. I’m here, and I’m fucking alive,” he rasped. “I need you to focus on that. Please focus on that, Soph.”

I trembled in his hold, pained whimpers escaping my throat. “For so long, I sat here with the fear Trigger wouldn’t find you, or he would and both of you wouldn’t make it back to me,” I confessed.

The bed dipped behind me, and then, Trigger was against my back. My men easily sandwiched me between them, and something inside me that had beenburningsince Chase had gone missing settled into a dull, cooling ache.

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