Page 14 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whispered.

He kissed the top of my head. “Are you all right? Did they get all the water out of your lungs?”

“They say they did. No more coughing for me.”

“Thank fuck.”

I nuzzled against him. “Max, I’m so--”

“I’m so sorry for the position I put you in tonight.”

I paused. “The position you put me in?”

He crooked his finger beneath my chin and pulled my gaze up to his.

“The entire time we were in the truck, I kept thinking you were going to die because of me. Because of my selfishness and the life I lead. I couldn't stand the thought of it, Dani. Of something happening to you because of me.”

I furrowed my brow. “I’m not sure it’s you who got me into this situation tonight.”

“It is. It’s this life I’ve chosen for myself. A life that isn’t suited for even the most dangerous of criminals. I’m sorry, gorgeous. I’m sorry for getting you caught up in all this.”

I stared up at him with worry filling my gut. I didn’t like where this conversation was going. The emotion behind his eyes froze me in my spot. But when his eyes grew glassy, my heart clenched in my chest.

“Max, this isn't your fault.”

I tried to sound strong, but my raspy voice didn’t do much in that department for me. If anything, it made the worry behind his eyes grow more fierce. Almost to the point where the glassiness of his stare scared me.

“Max?”

He blinked. “Yes?”

I cupped his cheek, lowering my voice. “This is your father’s doing. Not yours. Plus, I never should’ve left my dorm. I never should’ve come looking for you. Rupert was right. All I did was make things--”

He shook his head. “Enough.”

I swallowed down the rest of my words as he heaved a heavy sigh.

“What’s done is done, gorgeous. You’re safe, and that’s all that matters to me. Okay?”

My forehead fell against his shoulder. “When can I get out of here? I don’t want to be here any longer.”

The doctor piped up from the doorway. “You’ll have to stay overnight, I’m afraid.”

My head whipped up. “What?”

“Overnight. You both will have to stay for some monitoring.”

“But I thought you said--”

“This is protocol. You were without oxygen, Miss Young, for at least a minute. Maybe more. And if any signs of brain damage are going to manifest, the greatest chance of them doing so is within the first twenty-four hours. You’ll have to stay for monitoring. Him, too. But if everything looks good with you both after that, you'll be free to go.”

Max didn’t take his eyes off me. “I want to stay with her. In this room.”

The doctor walked into the room. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. The whole point of being monitored like this is so you can rest easy.”

I nodded. “Unfortunately, I think I agree with him. I’m tired.”

Max shrugged. “Then I’ll sleep in the corner. But I’m not leaving this room. Understood?”

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