Page 91 of His to Protect

Chapter 20

Trina

When I opened my eyes, I immediately flinched away from the blinding light, cringing and twisting my head to the side.

“You’re awake.”

Slowly, I opened my eyes again and then gasped when I saw Declan sitting in front of me.

My eyes stung and I squeezed them shut.

“Trina,” he said, and reached for my hands. “I’m okay, and you’re okay.”

Shudders racked my body. Opening my eyes again, I licked my lips. “I almost got you shot.”

“No,” he said. “Nothing happened to me.”

I tried to tug my hand from his but he tightened his grip.

“All of this was because of me.” My chin wobbled. I tried to look away, but he reached out with his other hand and pressed it against my cheek.

“This was not your fault, Trina. And Kevin is no longer an issue for you, or for us.”

I struggled not to look away from him.

“Are you really okay?” I asked, trying to sit up in a bed that I didn’t recognize. It was only then I looked around the room and noticed I was in a hospital bed. Curtains were drawn around the left side of the bed and in front of me.

My eyes opened wider and I sat up with a jerk.

“Hey…,” Declan said in a soothing tone that did nothing to calm me.

“Where am I? And why am I here?”

“You’re at Detroit General,” he said. “You passed out in the alley and were brought here for shock. They gave you something to help you sleep. They thought you might have a concussion from how hard you went down, but you don’t.”

I shook my head rapidly. “I don’t…I don’t remember that. Just…oh my God…Boomer.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks and I brushed them away.

“He was taken to a vet, honey. Calm down, okay? Just give yourself some time to wake up and we’ll talk about everything.”

There was no time to talk. I had to get out of here.

I needed to leave…and go…somewhere.

My breath came in small ragged pants, and I began pushing the scratchy sheets off of me.

“Hey.” Declan stopped me, one of his hands on my hip and one on my wrist. “Trina. Calm down for a moment. Nurses will be in here if your heart rate skyrockets any further.”

“Kevin?” I asked, not feeling calm in the least. The last thing I remembered was his gun at my temple.

Declan’s eyes softened minutely. His voice was even gentler than his expression. “He shot himself, sweetheart. As soon as cops jumped out of their cars with their guns aimed at him.”

I squeezed my eyes closed. I hated the man. Hated how I had stayed with him for so long, and tolerated his abuse for longer than I should have. He shot my dog, threatened to kill me and Declan. I despised him with an undying passion, but did I want him dead?

It seemed so…ugly. So final.

I shook my head, unable and unwilling to think about Kevin. In the days to come, I knew I would, but at that moment, I was just grateful to be alive.

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