Page 308 of Second Sets Omnibus
“Rad,” I confirm with a sob, falling apart as he embraces me more. His fingers wipe the rogue tears escaping down my cheeks.
He’s here. He’s safe. Fuck. I’m safe. There’s no longer a stark darkness holding me captive. Just this room. My boys.
“We’re so glad you’re finally awake, Little Star,” Callum says with a quivering voice. His bottom lip trembles when he looks me over, checking for more injuries.
Callum rests in front of me with dark bags blooming under his eyes from lack of sleep. The faintest smile tugs at his lips when his fingertips brush the hair from my face.
“Thank fuck you’re finally awake,” he whispers with relief sagging his entire body on the bed.
“Awake?” My eyes dart around the room, taking in my surroundings.
“It’s okay, Pretty girl. You’re safe. You were having a gnarly nightmare,” Rad whispers right into my ear. My body trembles from the rumble of his voice, vibrating through my back.
“Nightmare?” I croak, shaking my head.
The never-ending darkness crowds my mind, but I shake it away. I will not be a victim of my fucking memories.
“You were mumbling and twitching in your sleep. It was…” Callum trails off, putting his fist in front of his face.
“Fucking scary as hell. But you’re here at the hospital with us. You’re safe.” Rad softly kisses my hair, squeezing his arms around me as we lie tangled in the hospital bed.
My body jerks when the door to my room swings wide, displaying a new face.
“Oh good! We were beginning to worry about you, Miss West. Your assailant really did a number on you.” My muscles stiffen when a woman dressed in all-white scrubs saunters through my room like she owns it.
A mess of brown hair rests on top of her lifted head. A stethoscope rests around her neck, and glasses perch on the end of her nose. A warm smile crosses her lips when she takes the three of us in, easing my initial worry.
“A nightmare,” I confirm again, remembering the thick darkness I was just in with Van’s menacing voice and… “What about Van? Did they get him? Oh my god…” I trail off as the nurse resets my IV bag and turns off the beeping machine. “My daughter?” I rasp.
The need to see Lyric and make sure she’s okay overrides everything. I’m ten seconds away from climbing out of this bed and hightailing it out of this stupid hospital. She’s probably freaking out without me. I’ve been here for God knows how long, and she’s been by herself. No. Not alone. She’s had the four of them.
The nurse sends me a sympathetic smile, humming under her breath.
“I’ll send in the agents stationed outside your door. You should be okay for a while. The doctor wanted to monitor your vitals and make sure you got fluids while the drug was in your system. I suspect he’ll want you here for another day to make sure it didn’t have any other lasting effects on you.” She smiles one last time, squeezing my arm before she walks out the door.
As soon as she exits, Olivia bursts in with a frantic look. Normally, she hides her emotions behind a thick wall of professionalism. Not today. Her eyes glide all over my body, taking me in.
“Bestie,” she murmurs, a hint of emotion filtering through her voice.
“Liv. What happened? Where’s Ly? Asher? Where’s Van? Did he…”
“Don’t worry, Dollface. I shot him in the dick,” Jordy quips, strolling in casually after Liv with a cocky grin plastered. “Don’t give me that disapproving face,” he says, pointing at Olivia, who huffs in response.
“He’s on Devil Head Island with the rest of the Veritas prisoners. They mended his…” She pauses, twisting her face. “His uh…manhood.” She grimaces, pointing between her legs.
“His dick. You can say it. D-I-C-K. Or what’s left of it. He’ll be permanently limp from now on.” He beams with pride, setting his eyes on me. “You missed, by the way. But that’s okay. Thankfully, Liv and I stormed the castle before he could drag you away to his lair.” He shudders at the thought, looking away with a head shake. “You were a lucky girl, Riv.”
“Super fucking lucky,” Liv murmurs through a breath.
“What the hell is happening?” I mutter, rubbing my temple. “So, he’s gone?”
“In prison for a very long time. The good thing about Veritas is he doesn’t need a damn trial. Besides, thanks to Asher’s quick thinking, we have his confession on tape. So, Van is there forever.”
“With sickening pride, too. Where the fuck did you find this guy, Riv?” Jordy asks, shaking his head.
“He was my ex, but he dumped me,” I groan, trying to process what they’re saying about him. “So, what is he saying?” I question with curiosity.
Olivia sighs, having a silent conversation with Jordy. Eyebrows raise. Hands move. But their mouths never open.
