Page 25 of Victorious: Part I

“Stone,” he states, placing out his hand to shake. “I wish we were meeting again under better circumstances.”

Alpha straightens, keeping one arm around me while reaching for Poppy with the other. “Dr. Rhodes. How is she?”

Jerking my head back, I glance Dr. Rhodes up and down. “Lochlan Rhodes?” I ask as he approaches, his eyes flickering briefly over my blood-stained clothes before nodding just once. “Yes, that’s me.” He clears his throat, pointing to my shoulder. “Have you been seen to, Miss—”

“I don’t matter right now. I’ll be fine. But I want you to know that Livvy is one of the best people I have ever known. I think you know that, too, right, Lock?”

Alpha glances at me, raising his brow in clear confusion, but Dr. Rhodes weakly smiles. “I do know that. And for the record,everylife matters, including yours. So, if you need medical attention, please let us help you.”

I exhale, slumping my shoulders. “I will. But please, Lock, I know how Livvy felt about this place, about the people in it,about you.”His nostrils flare, his eyes clenching like that hit him straight in the chest, so I continue, “Youhaveto help her.”

Lock sniffs, his eyes meeting mine like he’s struggling to keep his shit together in front of the entire club, before shifting his attention back to Alpha. “Can we speak privately?”

I finally risk looking at Alpha, his face stern. Definitely concerned, but there’s no malice held toward Lock for obviously having a relationship with Livvy. “Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of my family,” Alpha replies, his grip tightening on both me and Poppy.

Oh God, why do I feel like this isn’t going to be good news?

Chapter Seven

HAVEN

Lock hesitates, then nods, his professional demeanor slipping just enough to reveal his own distress. He lets out a long exhale, his shoulders slumping and his eyes drooping with clear anguish. “Livvy, while one of the strongest women I know…” He pauses, taking a moment to compose himself. “She’s suffered extreme trauma. Multiple deep lacerations, severed digit, significant internal bleeding, and shock.”

His eyes fall to the floor, his hand sweeping through his blond hair in frustration. “We’ve done everything possible to repair the damage, especially to her liver, but…” He pauses again, genuine pain crossing his features as his eyes slowly lift upward to meet Alpha’s again. “At this point, it’s just a wait and see how her liver responds to what I was able to do in there.” He pauses, flaring his nostrils. “Whoever stabbed her knew exactly where and how to cause maximum damage to her internal organs. They wereabsolutelysending a message.”

Alpha stands frozen, his breath catching in his throat. His eyes, wide and unblinking, flicker between disbelief and something darker, something shattering. His jaw clenches so tightly that I hear his teeth grinding. But that does nothing to stop the tremor in his fingers, the way his hands curl into fists like he’s trying to hold himself together. His chest rises and falls in uneven bursts, and when he finally exhales, it’s a ragged, half-breath, half a broken sound. Rage burns beneath the surface, the tension in his body coiled and ready to snap, but the grief is just as raw, pooling in the hollows beneath his eyes.

Suddenly, Poppy turns into his side, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. The fear from his daughter seems to snap him from his red haze as he glances down at her. His shoulders slump, and he pulls Poppy closer to him. “It’s gonna be okay, Poppy,” he reassures her, his eyes flicking back to Lock. “Right, doc?” he practically begs.

My heart breaks for the man I love and my stepdaughter. Seeing their world being torn apart in front of me, knowing I could have prevented Livvy from being this badly injured if I had just called for backup.

“She’s conscious,” Lock adds, his voice growing softer. “And asking for you. We’ve given her medication for the pain, and she’s lucid. I suggest you spend this time with her.” He hesitates, but I can see he has more to say, so I dip my head at him, urging him to continue, “While she’s awake,” he states softly.

Alpha clenches his eyes shut, letting out a groan like he can’t believe this is happening. My heart is still beating so fast in my chest that I can’t think straight.

But I have to.

I need to be strong,

For Alpha and Poppy right now.

Clearing my throat, I take a step forward. “Can we go see her now?” I manage to ask when it becomes clear Alpha can’t form words.

Lock simply nods. “Follow me. Just family for now,” he adds, glancing at the rest of the club standing like sentinels throughout the waiting room.

Loki steps forward. “We’re all family here, doc. But we’ll wait.” He places a hand on Alpha’s shoulder. “Take care of your old ladies, Pres. We got your back. Whatever you need.”

Alpha acknowledges him with a nod before we follow Dr. Rhodes down a sterile hallway that seems to stretch endlessly before us. With each step, I feel the weight of my promise to Livvy growing heavier.

Take care of them.

And I will.

Whatever it takes.

Lock stops outside a room at the end of the corridor. “She’s heavily medicated for her pain, so she may drift in and out. She may also be unaware of the things she says.” He hesitates, then adds in a lower voice, “I’ve ordered the nurses to give you privacy. So, stay as long as you like.” He steps aside, allowing us to enter. But just as Alpha is about to step through the door, he grabs Alpha’s arm, stopping him. Lock’s mouth is right next to Alpha’s ear, but I’m close enough to hear.

“I know what happened to her is because of you. Because of the club. If it were up to me, I would’ve called the police already. But Livvy gave us strict instructions to let you handle this.”

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