Page 116 of The Prodigal

Two weeks later, and I’m still an asshole.

Eden’s kidney didn’t fix that.

“Where is she?” I yell, fighting through the brain fog from the pain medication they gave me. “I want to see her!” I slap Duke’s hands away—at least, I think I do. My whole body feels heavy, but I make contact with someone, hopefully Duke. The bastard hasn’t left my side since I agreed to accept Eden’s kidney.

I don’t know if he was simply scared I would change my mind and run or if he’s still just a pussy and wanted to annoy me until I begged the doctor to perform the surgery early, just so I could get some fucking rest.

Either way, I was ready for this operation. I was ready to get back home and remind these fuckers that I’m not some golden retriever who needs constant attention.

Duke laughs, and I’m finally able to open my eyes long enough to catch his smug smile. “I can’t wait to brag to your mother,” he teases. “You inherited more than just my good looks—you got my diva gene, too.”

My eyes are already trying to drift closed again, but I manage to roll them just for Duke. “At least I didn’t inherit your daddy issues. You’ve been clingier than a bad fuck since I called youDad.”

Most fathers would yell, but not mine. He knows his way around a dark heart like a pro. “I’m happy to see you getting back to your old self. I was worried when you kept asking me for hugs.”

He’s full of shit.

I hugged him once, and that’s only because Mom shot me a look of death whenhehuggedme, and I didn’t immediately return it. I did it for her—not because I actually wanted to hug my father for the first time. I don’t know why everyone thinks I’ve somehow turned into an emotional vagina over the past two weeks. Just because I hugged them does not mean they don’t still get on my nerves.

“Stop trying to get them to sedate me again, Dr. Depressing,” I scold, my words slurring just a bit. “Go get my fucking girl, or I’ll—”

Vance shoves me down onto the bed. “Lie the fuck down before I punch you and upset your father. I can only deal with so many girls at one time.”

I can’t help it. I fucking grin. “Vance-hole,” I threaten, “if you don’t bring Eden to me right now, mygirl-ass will fuck up your life more than Halle. You will suffer—”

“Trust me,” Astor interrupts us by pushing a stretcher inside the room, “this entire hospital is suffering since you’ve been here.”

“Are you seriously being a pussy again, 101?” Eden’s eyes are closed, and several monitors are hooked up to her small body. It sends my heart racing, setting off my own monitors. I never wanted her to do this. I never wanted her to be in an ounce of pain because of me. Not ever again. But she didn’t give a shit and, like always, got what she wanted from me.

She would never tell another man she loved him.

Nor would she ever bear his last name.

She ismine.

Forever.

“I thought we agreed you’d only cry in private now?”

Vance lowers the side rails to mine and Eden’s beds and pushes us together, so I can take her hand.

For a moment, I simply squeeze, making sure that she’s here—that she survived. I don’t remember much from before they took us into surgery. I just remember threatening her while the surgeons explained what was going to happen while we were asleep.

“Just know that if you decide to do something stupid like die on that table, you will take many people with you—including your surgeon,” I threaten, stopping the surgeon cold.

“I will haunt you from hell, Eve. I will make sure that our prophecy comes true. You will suffer for your bad decisions.”

Vance clamped a hand over my mouth. “First thing we’re doing when we get home is getting your sick ass some therapy. Who threatens the person who is saving their life?”

I do.

And Eden better write her surgeon a thank-you note for dooming her to an eternity of torture.

“Don’t expect me to be nicer to you just because you gave me a kidney,” I warn as relief sets in just by touching her.

“As long as you don’t expect me not to stab you just because you almost died.”

I’m so fucked with this woman.

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