Page 114 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
“Grif.” Sea salt and driftwood surrounded me as Verity crouched down with me.
Verity stroked my arm. “AJ, let’s allow them to do their job, okay?”
Mine.I glared at her.
“I know you’re worried, but please let the doctor look at him, AJ.” Jonas’ words were sharp enough to knock me back to reality.
“Oh, sorry.” I realized I was holding Grif to me and growling at everyone. Jonas, Verity, and Dean crouched by my side on the ice.
Actually, the entire team was there.
“AJ?” Grif gasped, opening his eyes as I set him down.
“Grif.” My heart soared.
That strange sensation coated me again as he started to shake. Emergency personnel swarmed him.
“GRIF,” I bellowed as his scent went rotten and anguish filled our bond.
Arms tightened around me.
“Let them work,” Jonas growled, keeping me from running over to him. “You can go with him, but let them do their fucking job.”
“They’ll take care of him,” Verity said softly as she held Dean who started sobbing.
“Was he not feeling well?” Dr. Mosser asked us. “Any symptoms?”
“He didn’t seem alright on the bench. He told me he ate too much cake.” Jonas eased his grip on me.
Grif collapsed. He fucking collapsed.
“He said that to me, too,” Dean sobbed.
“They’re taking him to Manhattan General,” Dr. Mosser told us. “Jonas, Dean, I’m guessing you’re going with him.”
“I’ve got this, Double-D. Go,” Jean-Paul told Dean, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Go,” Coach said. “Don’t even think about not.”
They loaded Grif onto a stretcher and carried him off the ice.
“Okay, let’s go. AJ, ride in the ambulance with Grif. The guys will change, and I’ll drive us to the hospital, and meet you there,” Verity said, looking no-nonsense, voice full of authority.
I gave her a kiss. “Thank you.”
“What’s wrong with him?” Dean sobbed as I followed the stretcher off the ice.
But I knew. Guilt coated me. We hadn’t done enough for him. I hadn’t done enough.
We knew we were on borrowed time.
That time had just run out.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Verity
“We’re here, whatever you need. Do you need me to fly out and take care of Mercy?” Creed offered over the phone as I sat in Jonas’ SUV in the underground parking garage of the hospital.
