Page 44 of Ruthless Redemption

“Houston,” I repeated, finally forcing my eyes open.

“He’s on his way. Just be still. Rock’s already called the paramedics and they should be here soon.”

I didn’t know who Rock was, but I didn’t care at the moment. Not if I was dying. I needed to get a message to Houston.

“You’ve got to tell Houston this wasn’t his fault.”

I barely got the words out of my mouth before the room erupted into a series of shouts and commotion as several men ran into the room and surrounded me.

“Oh my God.” Houston dropped down to my side and if I could have I would have wrapped my arms around him. Instead the tears flipped on and I couldn’t stop them.

“We don’t think it’s her blood.”

“Izzy, baby. Fucking talk to me. Tell me you’re okay.”

Fortunately Axel responded for me. “She’s having trouble breathing. We think some of her ribs got broken in the scuffle.”

Houston’s head turned to someone out of my line of sight. “A scuffle. Seriously? You’ve got a woman bleeding in the hallway, Izzy is covered with blood and can’t breathe. This is chaos, you asshole.”

“Focus, brother. We’ll worry about the details later. You can trust me to have your back. Just focus on your woman. She needs you.”

I didn’t know who the hell was talking anymore, but he was right. “No one’s fault, Houston,” I pushed the words past my lips with great effort.

“Shhh, baby. Don’t try to talk. Save your energy for breathing. I can’t lose you.”

I tried to stay focused on his words, but the pain in my chest was too strong. I was also losing the fight to keep my eyes open any longer. I turned my head and met his gaze. His worry and anger filled blue eyes that caught my attention that very first night on the dock. He didn’t know it then, but I’d been mesmerized at first sight.

My vision narrowed and it was hard to keep focus as the edges of what I saw began to turn black with darkness. I had no idea if I’d ever see him again after this, but I couldn’t leave without telling him the truth.

“You’re a good man, Houston. The best.” The words fractured as I said them, but I got them out.

“I appreciate you think so, babe. But you’re talking too much.” He bent over and pressed his lips to my mouth and I swear my skin sizzled from that touch. Just like the crazy night I met my badass on that dock.

I tried not to cry just thinking about it, but a tear slipped through nonetheless.

He brushed it away with his thumb as I closed my eyes and gave in to the darkness.

“I love you, Houston Reed.”

I don’t know if he heard me because I wasn’t sure I’d even said the words. I prayed he did, because he deserved them. More than any man I’d ever met. I wasn’t sure how much that meant to the world considering my limited but warped experience, but to me it meant everything.

Chapter Seventeen

Houston

“I had a feeling I would find you here.”

Houston scrubbed his face before he turned to see his brother closing the door to Izzy’s hospital room.

“Nowhere else I’d rather be.” And he wouldn’t leave until she woke.

“Any news from the doctor on her condition?”

He shook his head. “Just more of the same. The blow to her head when it hit the ground hit a vulnerable spot and we just have to wait it out as her body fixes things.”

Rock winced. “I am so sorry, Hous. I was afraid Frank would shoot her.”

“Don’t. You did the right thing. I’m never going to blame you for doing everything you could to protect her.”

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