Page 76 of These Jagged Edges

"Possible hearing damage, got it, anything else?"

A soft no sounds from behind me, and I feel relief flood every molecule of my being.

Henry clears his throat. "What about you Allison?"

“She wouldn't let him touch me.” Her voice is hoarse and faint.

I chuckle darkly. "Of course she didn't." God, I’m proud of how strong she had been, but my heart is fucking shattered as I hold her battered bloody body in my arms.

"She said to tell Lou there’s an envelope taped under the bed with everything she's going to need just in case."

Allison's faint words threaten to take me back to that dark place Evie had dragged my sorry ass out of. A world without her? Unthinkable. The sun rose to kiss her good morning, the flowers bloomed just to catch her gaze, and the stars ignited the night sky, all because she existed.

"Oh, no." I look down at Evie's beautiful face. "We're not doing that because you're going to wake that pretty ass up! We're going to have a beautiful life baby. I'm going to give you everything." I gently trace the side of her bruised face. "You're going to marry me and give me more precious babies and I'm going to spend forever loving the hell out of you. You gave me my life back, now you have to live it with me."

I’m going to give her everything—a marriage filled with endless joy, more children with her mesmerizing eyes, and a love so overwhelming that she’ll forget she was ever without it.

Needing something to tether me back from the brink I ask, "Because I need someone to call me on my shit, right Henny?"

"Damn straight," my brother says weakly. I don't have to look at his face to know he's crying. His face is probably as tear streaked as my own.

"I'm going to spend everyday basking in your warmth Evie Taylor and kill any bastard who dares to dim your light." A slender hand reaches from the back and grasps my shoulder in a reassuring squeeze.

Henry radios everything in and a few minutes later we arrive at the hospital. Letting go of her is one of the hardest things I've ever done. Parking my ass in that hard plastic chair is the next one. The last time I’ve been in a hospital was the night Livvy died. This has to be different, Evie will be okay.

Henry brought me a shirt at some point, I hardly remember putting it on. I don't know how long I sit here staring at nothing until a cry tears me from my stupor.

"WHERE IS SHE?" Lou's scream stops all movement in the ER, and once her gaze settles on me, her face twists in denial. "No!" Henry reaches for her, but she pushes him away and stomps over to me like a Valkyrie ready for battle. "Maddox Cole, tell me she’s okay!"

"Lou—" I say gravely.

"Tell me I don't have to tell those beautiful babies she's gone." Lou's face crumbles as tears streak her cheeks. Reminding me so damn much of the night her mama walked out abandoning her and Sophie.

"That's her blood ain't it? Damn—" I didn't even notice Aunt Joe show up. I pull Lou and the old crow in my arms as we cling to each other in desperation.

The sun rises and nobody says a word. Mercy and Mama stayed with the boys. Vic showed up at some point, but honestly, I can't tell you when. He's just sitting unmoving staring at the door waiting for the doctor to come out. Then Mama showed up at some point, but I don't know when time passes in a blur.

"Never got those cameras fixed did you Josephine?" Vic asks, his eyes never leaving the door. Aunt Joe doesn't respond, just hangs her head heavily in shame. Vic doesn't say another word.

Finally, the door opens, and the doctor comes out. He has asolemn look on his face as he asks for the family of Evie Taylor. We all stand.

I try to speak, but I can't get the words to come from my mouth. They sit heavily on my tongue like wet cement. Too scared, too chicken shit of what he may say.

"Give it to us straight, Doc," Vic says. "No fancy words and bullshit."

The Doctor gives a nod. "Right. Well, right now I've put her in a medically induced coma. While her condition is critical, we have managed to stabilize her."

"What’s she facing when she wakes up Doc?"

Everyone holds their breath waiting for the Doctor to answer Vic.

"She's suffered a great deal." His grim smile makes bile swim up my throat. "Bruising, scarring, multiple stab wounds to her right side, and the one to her chest just barely missed her heart, but one did go through a lung. Ms. Taylor has lost a significant amount of blood. She's going to need you all to be strong for her."

"Can we see her?" Lou's voice cracks.

"Ms. Taylor needs her rest." The doctor pushes a hand through his white hair and looks at each of us standing there. "However, if she remains stable for the next few hours I'll allow visitors."

"But—"

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