Page 59 of Boss Daddy

We stay tangled together, the world outside forgotten. For now, there’s only us, and that’s all that matters.

Chapter 22

Erin

My heart sinks when I walk into the hospital room.

Tiffany looks so small and fragile in the bed. Her face is swollen and bruised, her lip split. Tears form in my eyes at the sight of her.

Her chest moves up and down, her breaths slightly uneven, likely from the punctured lung. I notice the bruises covering her arms and any other skin peeking out from the blanket. My knees feel weak, and I grip the edge of the chair to steady myself.

“Tiff?” I whisper.

“She’s going to be okay,” says Dr. Patel, the attending physician. She’s a petite woman with sharp, thoughtful eyes. “We’ve stabilized her. It’ll take time, but she’s young and strong. She’ll recover.”

“Are you sure?” I manage to ask.

“Yes,” she replies. “She’s on the mend.”

Tiffany’s parents, Linda and Frank, are sitting by her bed. Linda grips Tiffany’s hand like she can protect her just by holding on.Frank’s broad shoulders are slumped with worry, but he stands as I enter.

“Has she said anything?” I ask Dr. Patel.

“Just a few words. The punctured lung isn’t making it easy.”

“Can I talk to her?”

She nods. “Just don’t push her too hard.”

I nod and approach Tiffany’s parents. I’ve only met them once before now, but the looks on their faces make it clear they’re both glad to see me.

“Thank you, Erin,” Linda says quietly. “We’re so thankful you were there for her and able to get her to the hospital quickly.”

I shake my head. “It’s not enough,” I whisper, looking at Tiffany’s battered face. “This is my fault. I should’ve—”

“Erin,” Frank interrupts gently but firmly. “This isn’t your fault. Don’t carry that.”

I wish I could believe him, but I feel so goddamn guilty.After all, she’s here because of me. Because Misha wanted to send me a message.

Thoughts of Misha flash through my mind, and a fresh wave of regret crashes over me. How am I supposed to explain everything to them?

I sit next to Tiffany, carefully taking the spot Linda offers me. Tiffany stirs, her eyes fluttering open for a moment. They’re hazy, her smile faint and dreamy from the pain meds.

“Sorry I was such a mess out in the lobby,” Linda says with a smile.

“You’ve got nothing to apologize for,” I say.

She takes my hand and gives it a squeeze as I turn my attention back to Tiffany. “Hey, Tiff,” I say softly. I reach forward and brush a few strands of stray hair from her face.

“Erin?” she whispers. Just speaking my name is hard on her. “How are you doing?”

A bitter laugh slips out. “I should be asking you that.” I pause, blinking back tears. “How are you?”

Her head tilts slightly, her eyelids already closing again. “I’m fine,” she murmurs, though her voice is barely there. “Just… hard to talk. Hard to… hard to breathe.”

“Take it easy, okay?”

She nods. “I’m so sleepy. Can barely keep my eyes open.”

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