Page 24 of Perfidious Passion

Her puff of air on my throat sends chills down my spine, reminding me of all the horrible times tonight that I've worried I would never feel that again.

"C-Caleb?" she whimpers, her tears scalding my neck almost immediately.

My own tears fall. I bury my face in her hair to hide away in the warmth of my woman. "God, Lil. I'm here. I'm here now." She continues to sob into my shoulder as I try to soothe her.

Lilly's choked gasp not long later startles me, and I pull back to grip her wet cheeks in my hands. "What? What is it?"

But her gaze is trained over my shoulder, and her face fucking shatters. "I'm sorry! I-I'm SO SORRY!" she wails and collapses against me, almost throwing me off the side of her bed.

"Fuck," I grunt, and glance behind me. Aaron looks stricken while my brother sprints around the side of the bed and pins his wife between us.

"Shh, baby girl," he whispers, pain lacing his tone as he clutches onto her.

"Careful!" someone snaps.

A tap on my shoulder makes my hackles rise, but still I look behind me. "Careful," the female doctor scolds quietly. "She has bruising beneath her gown and doesn't need you aggravating them. Honestly," she huffs and crosses her arms, "you shouldn't even be in here."

"I'm her husband, Dean Walker," Dean rushes to say after lifting his weight off her dainty form. "These two are also her partners, Aaron and Caleb. Please ma'am. I was told she needed me tonight. I can assure you Lilly needs them, too."

"I'm so sorry," Lilly whimpers, shifting into my lap and curling into the fetal position.

"Lilly?" Aaron croaks, stepping closer to the bed and reaching for her. "My love?"

The doctor bends closer for a moment with a frown, then nods. "She's asleep. Let her rest; she needs it. The officers will be by at seven in the morning to discuss what happened and I'll give a full report then as long as she consents." With that, the woman leaves, not even giving us a moment to protest.

"We're staying," I say while running my hands through her tangled red hair, even though nobody is fighting to make us leave. The nurses shuffle out silently, one letting us know he'll be back in a few hours to check on us.

As much as I want to, I refrain from waking her up to ask her what happened. Instead, Dean and I help to get her comfortable by maneuvering her back onto a pillow and pulling the scratchy comforter back up.

"Rest, baby," Dean murmurs, kissing her tear-streaked temple.

"We aren't going anywhere," I add, not moving my ass from its spot on her bed.

Aaron finishes our final words of the worst night of our lives. "We love you." So true, but what he says next, I feel in my fucking soul. "And you are never leaving our sights again."

Lilly

FEB. 15TH - SATURDAY

Discharged.

Just like that.

As if this was only a horrible blip in time. Maybe, in a few years, it'll feel that way, but right now, it doesn't in any way.

The care in which Dean helps me dress brings tears to my eyes. It feels endless, the way his eyes caress and study every bump and bruise on my body.

Empowered is usually how I feel when my men see me naked, but I'm feeling the complete opposite. Dumb. Stupid. Naïve.Scared. And so damn guilty I'm convinced I'll never be able to look them in the eyes ever again.

I have no idea what this means for Aaron, but it can't be good. Because of me, his dream job is on the line. Because of me, his happiness is tarnished.

"Baby?"

"Hmm?" That's all I can give Dean right now.

"Lift your hips."

I do, masking my wince by keeping my chin tucked into my chest. The last time I looked at any of them was when Aaron andDean came running in behind Caleb. Never have I seen them look so horrified.

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