Page 122 of Wicked Sin

“We have another gunshot wound here,” I hear someone say.

It takes me too long to realize they’re talking about me.

39

Taylor

The next thingI hear is a beep.

Beep, beep, beep.

My mouth tastes like ass. Dry ass, the worst kind of ass.

I try to open my eyes, but those feel like sandpaper, and that’s not happening. I crawl back into my sleepy hole, because it’s easier there.

I think I might hear Luke’s voice, for a second, but then it’s gone.

Someone is touching my hand.Cool fingers.

I groan.

“Taylor?” That’s Luke’s voice. I try to find him, but my eyes are gummy now. Is gummy better than sandpaper?

“Here.” A woman’s voice. “I’ll turn off the light. Is that better?”

“Ye—yes.” Oh. That’s me. I try to smile, but my lips crack. Ow.

“Shh. You’re a bit dry, dear.” I blink again, and this time my eyes open all the way.

I’m in the hospital. Luke is on one side of me—looking like absolute shit, and gorgeous at the same time—and there’s a nurse on the other side. She’s holding a cup, and a washcloth.

“Water?”

She nods and daps the cloth at the corners of my mouth. Oh, Lord, that feels good.

I try to sit up, but Luke stops me.

“You’re covered in monitors, baby. Stay still.”

“I’ll get the resident on call.” The nurse disappears, and then we’re alone.

“Hi,” he says, his voice crazy soft.

A tear slides down my face. How can I make tears when I’m this freaking dried out? “Hi.”

“You gave us a good scare.”

“Back at you, Detective.”

“Yeah. Sorry about that.”

“What happened?”

“Shhh. I’ll tell you everything later. Right now, just stay still. They won’t let you sit up and move around if you set all the alarms off.”

It’s coming back. My mother. God. Mymother. How could I be born to that hellbeast? “Is Amelia dead?”

He gives me a stricken look. “Yes.”

---