Page 69 of Shot Through the Heart

“Okay, but like, you could also tell me what to do and I’ll send Stella in.”

I ignore him and push to my feet with a pained grunt. The room spins, but before I fall forward, Dean is beside me.

“Need to get to her,” I say in a breathless rasp and Dean finally nods. He wraps an arm around my back, forcing my arm around his shoulder and helping me to the door.

The door flies open, two nurses halting in surprise when they find me and Dean.

“Mr. Moreno, you should be in bed,” one of the ladies says, but I ignore her and continue past them.

“Yeah, tried telling him that. He’s a determined mother fluffer,” Dean calls out, helping me walk into the hallway.

It’s easy to find them. The gathering crowd of concerned nurses and two approaching security guards are practically a flashing neon sign.

That and my mom’s shriek for someone to remove the crazy woman.

My mom’s back is to me as she points and shouts insane accusations. Stella’s eyes find mine over her shoulder and I can see the way her shoulders drop in relief.

“The only person who needs to leave”—I interrupt my mom’s threats—“is you.”

My mom whirls around. A mix of surprise, fear, and something a little wild flash across her face.

“Oh, sweetie, you need to be resting. Don’t worry, I’m taking care of everything.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly why I’m not in bed,” I say. Pulling my arm from Dean, I force myself to stand on my own. Even as I do, I still feel him lingering at my back. “I told you to leave.”

“You were hurt.” She waves a hand in dismissal. “This is where I belong.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I am your family. She has no right to be here!” she shouts back.

“Stella means more to me than you ever have. That woman supported my every dream when we were teenagers, and had you given her the chance, you would have learned that she makes me the best version of myself. Your idea of family means nothing to me. Stella ismyfamily, and I will pick her every time.”

I turn to the closest security guard. “My mother is the one who needs to be removed. She is not welcome here and is a threat to my own health as well as my girlfriend’s.”

He nods and closes in on my mother, who swats him away.

“This is nonsense.” She steps toward me, her eyes wide and crazed.

Holy shit, my mother is actually insane.

“Don’t let her get into your head, Greyson. She’s just a whore trying to drive a wedge between us!”

My jaw clenches and it takes everything I have not to lash out at her.

“No, Mom, pretty sure you did this all on your own.”

I dip my chin toward the security guard and immediately limp around my mother to Stella. Pausing beside the security guard, I don’t take my eyes off Stella as I address my mother one last time.

“If you ever call her a whore, or speak ill of her in any way again, I will make your life even more miserable than it’s about to be.” I take my eyes off Stella for a brief second and scan the audience of nosey nurses and staff. “Where’s Dad?”

“I don’t know.” My mom huffs from behind me. “He stormed off after we left the arena.”

“Well, that makes this even easier.” I grin and address the security guard next to her. “Please have her removed.”

Stella rushes forward and wraps her arms around me but not in a hug.

“You need to be back in bed,” she says, guiding us past the security as they corral my mom toward the elevators.

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