Page 99 of Beautifully Broken Control

What the hell? Had Tuck tased her accidentally? I checked for wires. There was nothing. Panic dug its icy claws into my chest. “Help! I need help!”

Walker rushed to my side. “What happened?”

“I don’t know.” My hands frantically skimmed over Kennedy’s body as she convulsed. “She said she was fine, but her words were slurred, and then her eyes rolled back in her head.”

“Help me get her on her side.” We rolled Kenz to her side as she shook.

“What’s going on?”

Walker glanced quickly at me before returning his focus to Kennedy. “She’s having a seizure. Could mean trauma to the brain.”

“Ambulance and backup are on the way. ETA, five minutes,” Tuck called from the floor where he was cuffing the woman.

My muscles were wound so tight, it seemed they might snap.No. No. No.This could not be happening. I would not lose her. Kennedy’s body stilled, and Walker rolled her to her back, placing his cheek next to her mouth. “She’s breathing.”

My muscles didn’t relax. I circled around Walker as he moved to her wrist, trying to take her pulse. I brushed the hair back from Kennedy’s face. She was so pale, her freckles standing out in dark contrast. “Kenz. Please open your eyes.”

Tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t hold them back. Didn’t want to. I hadn’t cried since the day we’d put my sister in the ground. But these tears, they were filled with all the words I hadn’t said. Things I hated myself for holding back. “Kenz.” It was a plea. “Don’t leave me.” My voice broke. “I love you.” A single tear spilled over, splashing on her cheek. She didn’t answer.

45

Kennedy

Beep.Beep. Beep.The sound was the first thing I became aware of. Then came the pain. A throbbing that seemed to engulf my entire body. I let out a small moan. Or what should’ve been a moan but was more like a croak.

A hand spasmed in mine. Warm. The skin rough. Everything about it was familiar somehow. “Kenz? Can you open your eyes?” The voice. It was tough and gentle all at the same time. I wanted to crawl inside it and stay there forever. “Please, Kenz. Let me see those beautiful green eyes. Please.”

I wanted to give the voice what it asked for. My lids fluttered, but I couldn’t quite seem to force them open. It was as if each eyelash held a weight, keeping them down.

The hand squeezed mine. “That’s it, baby. You can do it.”

My eyes flickered and then opened. The light in the room was low. The figure hunched over my bed, almost in shadow. Scruff covered his jaw, and his eyes were full of pain. He took my hand and brought it to his lips. Warm, soft skin pressed into my own. “Cain.” My voice was barely audible, and the single word burned my throat.

Cain instantly turned to grab a cup from the table. “Here. They said you could have a couple of small sips as soon as you woke up.” He guided the straw between my lips. They felt dry, cracked, but the water was heaven on my tongue and throat. I swallowed eagerly. Cain removed the straw. “Okay, that’s enough. We don’t want you getting sick.”

I let out a sound of protest, but the moment I tried to lift my head off the pillow, pain shot through my skull. I gasped.

“Shit. Let me get a nurse.” Cain rose, crossing to the door and calling out into the hallway.

The loss of him, his closeness, was worse than any pain coursing through my head. My breaths picked up speed as panic set in. He couldn’t leave me. I wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Worry etched lines in Cain’s beautiful face as he returned to my bedside. “Baby, breathe. What’s wrong?”

“Don’t leave.” I wasn’t above begging. Any bits of pride had long since fled. Tears filled my eyes.

Cain’s jaw hardened as pain, raw and deep, filled his gaze. He gently cupped my cheek. “I’m not going anywhere. Not ever again. You have me.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but a woman in scrubs bustled in, ending the moment. “Hello, Kennedy, we are so glad to have you awake and with us.” The woman was beautiful. Smooth, brown skin, and amber eyes, hair piled on her head in a bun. She eyed Cain with a smile. “And I’m pretty sure your fella here is glad, too. I’m Dr. Andrews. How are you feeling?”

Cain answered before I had a chance. “She gasped in pain when she tried to lift her head off the pillow, and her throat hurts.”

The doctor nodded. “For now, let’s try to stay still. I’m going to do a quick exam, and then we’ll get another dose of pain meds in you. Sound good?”

“Yes. Thank you.” I licked my lips. “What happened?” Everything was hazy. I wasn’t even sure what the last thing I remembered was.

Dr. Andrews pulled a small penlight out of her pocket. “We’ll fill you in on the whats and hows a little later, but you hit your head.” She flashed the light over my eyes. “There was enough force that it caused a bleed in your brain that required surgery to relieve the pressure in your skull.” I tensed, and Dr. Andrews patted my hand. “You’re going to be just fine. We’re taking good care of you, and if all goes well, you’ll be out of here in just a few days.” She pulled on a pair of gloves. “I’m just going to check your incision quickly.”

In a matter of moments, she was peeling back what felt like gauze and then putting it back in place. “Everything looks great. The nurses will be in to check on you every thirty minutes or so for the next few hours, but we’ll try to let you get some sleep tonight.” Dr. Andrews glanced at Cain. “Should I let everyone in the waiting room know the update?”

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