Page 62 of All of Me

Gray jumped up. “If he is involved, pretty sure it would suit his Daddy to tidy up what he might consider lose ends.”

I picked up my keys, “Danny, you and Kane stay here. Call me the second you know anything.” I looked at Gray and his smile was wicked. Jay followed us both out.

Shae

I glanced away. I didn’t want to watch the needle. Then I thought of Gael. His skin was impervious, so some sick bastard had burned him, because nothing else they did had worked.

Then I remembered Derek.Derek is Shae’s friend.I wanted that so badly it hurt.

It would be easy letting the needle pierce my skin. I knew Drake’s dad had done the same to Jethro Dunne, and this was nothing to him.

Drake’s dad took a step forward, his fingers reaching for his gun, even though he still held the syringe.

I stared at him, and saw the glint of sick satisfaction. I knew in that moment he wasn’t here because I’d hurt his son. He didn’t love Drake. He’d beaten him as a child. He was here because… and everything seemed to slow. He’d saidhurt. He hadn’t said killed or murdered. He’d saidhurt.

Which meant Drake was still alive. He had to be. I almost felt my heart jump.

I wanted to get back to the farm. To Tammy, because she deserved a big brother that wouldn’t take the easy way out. To Maxie and all the dogs we could squeeze in so they could have a good life and a family that loved them.

Same as me.

I needed to be with Drake. I knew he loved me, and I remembered how he’d read that book to me. How he’d protected me when no one else on the planet did. Diesel had told me he wanted me.He just thinks he isn’t allowed to have it.

He was wrong.

I knew in my fucked-up heart that I would die for him, except he wasn’t asking me to. I knew—absolutely—that he wanted me to live. Live for him. Live for Tammy. Live at the farm and look after Albert and Moira.

Let Dolly eat as many fucking flowers as she wanted.

I surged up, breaking the chains, and holding so-called Sergeant Starr’s arm above his head while he screamed—syringe on display—until the cell was full of cops.

They might know Starr had wanted to kill me, but at the same time I was gearing up to run a fancy lawyer named Hannah Metcalfe arrived and proved I hadn’t shot Drake. It was fitting they were now faced with one of their own attempting murder, because they had to know what a bully Starr was, and he’d just gotten away with it for years.

I was outside in the clothes Diesel magically produced and rubbing my wrists twenty minutes later. “How is he?”

“Out of surgery. Come on, let’s get you back there.”

Drake was alive.I looked at Diesel as he headed for the car, and he glanced back to see I’d stopped. I just grinned and caught his eye-roll as I sped back to the hospital. I walked into the ER and immediately spotted the same nurse from before, who took one look and beckoned me over. I followed her along a corridor and into an area with six rooms, all arranged in a sort of circle. We headed into the first one and I stopped and stared.

“We’re keeping him sedated to help him heal.” I gazed at Drake. At the sheet that covered him up to where a bandage covered his chest. The tube that ran down his throat. The wires attached everywhere to him and the machines that beeped, especially the line going up and down in a steady rhythm, and felt the tears threaten because I knew that meant his heart was working.

“Can I sit with him for a little while?” I whispered, prepared to beg, and she smiled.

“Of course, apart from me owing you a huge apology, Mr. Rawlings seems to be a personal friend of Richard Conner, our Medical Director.” She twinkled and I would have rolled my eyes like Diesel if they hadn’t been glued to the bed.

“I understand you’re Mr. Starr’s next of kin, and we take great care of our heroes in here.”

I blinked at thenext of kinand wondered if Danny had done some magic, but rather than dwell on that, my feet took me to the bed of their own accord.

She nodded to one of two chairs. “Hold his hand, talk to him,” she encouraged. “I’ll make sure Eddie gets you a coffee.” I didn’t watch her leave because I was pulling the chair close, sitting down, and taking Drake’s hand.

I sat for a while. Someone brought me coffee, but it went cold. The nurses kept coming in and out. The nurse had said to talk to him, but I didn’t know what to say. Diesel had gotten there and stood next to me for a while, then went to see the doctors. I still didn’t know what to say, but in the end I decided to be honest. Tell him what I wanted.

“So, it’s me.” I half-laughed, half-sobbed at such an inane statement. “I know you’re convinced you’re no good for me, but well, that’s tough, because I don’t scare off easily. You’re going to get better, then we’re going home with Tammy and Maxie, and we’re going to rescue all the dogs and all the horses we can fit in there because I love you and nothing else will work.” My voice cracked and I tried to swallow. Took a breath. “Might even get another donkey, so Dolly has a friend she can take on her travels if you think the flower beds are up to it. I’m going to make a start on that kitchen floor, and you’re going to read me all the books.” My throat closed, but I stayed holding his hand. When two doctors came to check on him, I took the chance to go to the bathroom.

Diesel found me. “Thought you’d like to know Ryan Connaught is singing like a canary. He implicated everyone he’d paid and, interestingly enough, we understand the feds have come to an agreement with Garcia. In return for him not going back to jail, he’s given up the name of the judge that took bribesto get him released, and he’s agreed to leave Albert and Moira alone.”

“Wow,” I said weakly. I’d been so caught up in Drake, I’d never even asked what had happened to everyone else.

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