Fever (Breathless #2)(124)

“Jace.”

He glanced up to see Mia sitting beside him. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged tightly.

“She’ll be okay. She’s strong. She’s defeated insurmountable odds. No way she’ll go down over this.”

Jace crushed her to him, holding on just as tightly. He buried his face in her hair and just held on. He was losing his grip on his sanity. He was slowly breaking. With every minute that passed with no word, he died a little more himself.

“I can’t lose her, Mia. I can’t lose her.”

“You won’t,” Mia said fiercely. “She’s stronger than that, Jace. She’ll make it.”

Jace lifted his head and over Mia’s shoulder, his gaze locked on to Jack, who sat in the corner, face buried in his hands. Anger crushed through him all over again. It took all his restraint not to go over and take him apart with his bare hands. He was furious that Jack could have been so careless with Bethany. It didn’t matter that Jack hadn’t intended to hurt her. It had happened and now he could lose her. If that happened, Jace wouldn’t rest until Jack paid for what he’d done.

“Love you, baby girl,” Jace whispered against Mia’s hair. “Thank you for being here and for believing in Bethany.”

“I love you too, Jace.” Her voice was filled with sorrow. “I love Bethany. She’s perfect for you and you’re perfect for her.”

“Not perfect for her,” he said in a muffled voice. “I’ve done so much wrong, Mia. I’m gutted by all I’ve done wrong with her. If she pulls through this, I just pray she’ll forgive me.”

“Honey, listen to me,” Mia said, pulling away. She put her hand to his face and cupped his jaw. Her eyes were so full of love and understanding. “We all make mistakes. Look at the mistakes Gabe made. I was so furious with him. I was devastated when he pushed me away. I’ve never hurt like that in my life. You know that. You saw me. You and Ash took me away at Thanksgiving and you saw how I was that whole time. But you know what? He made it right. And no matter what he did, it didn’t change the fact that I loved him. I may have been hurt and angry, but it didn’t mean that I didn’t love him. She loves you,” Mia said softly. “And that didn’t change because you hurt her. You’ll get the chance to make it right, Jace. You have to believe that. It’s what she needs right now more than anything. Faith. We have to believe that she’s going to pull through this, and you need to believe in your love.”

“Thank you,” Jace breathed. “You’re right. I know you’re right. She’s going to make it. She’s a fighter. She’s damn sure not a quitter or she would have quit long before now. And I’m going to be right there with her every step of the way. I’m not giving up, just like she won’t give up.”

Mia smiled and then leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “I like you in love, Jace. She’s good for you. I’m glad you’ve found that special someone. You deserve it for all the years you sacrificed to take care of me.”

Jace caught her hand and held it between them, anchoring himself in family and the unconditional love surrounding him. “It was never a sacrifice, Mia. I don’t have any regrets. I was waiting my entire life for her and now I’ve found her. I’m just glad we’re both happy now and have a very bright future to look forward to. Can’t wait for you to give me nieces and nephews to spoil shamelessly. I can’t wait for my own children to do the same with.”

Mia’s smile was breathtaking, lighting up her entire face. “That’s a wonderful thought, isn’t it? Us building families together. One big family.”

“Yeah, it is,” Jace returned softly.

“Mr. Crestwell?”

Jace whirled to see a doctor standing in the doorway.

“You can come back and stay with her now if you like.”

Jace surged to his feet, fearing the answer to his next question. “Is she okay? Did she . . . make it?”

The doctor’s expression was relieved but grim. “We got her back and we managed to get most of the drugs from her system. She’s resting comfortably now. She probably won’t come around for a while, but you can sit with her if you like.”

There was no question. He would stay with her until she woke again and he’d never leave her side.

Before he left, he turned his hard gaze on Kaden and then nodded in Jack’s direction. “You make sure he doesn’t go anywhere. I haven’t yet decided what’s to be done about him.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jace hurried back to Bethany’s room. It was much quieter than before. His breath caught in his throat when he walked through the door and saw her on the bed, lying so pale and still.

He took a seat by her bedside, pulling the chair so he was right next to her head. She looked extremely fragile, like a porcelain doll, so still and quiet. He reached up to tuck a strand of hair away from her cheek and let his fingers trail down her skin.

The only sound was the heart monitor and the steady rhythm of her heart. She still wore a cannula, which fed oxygen into her nostrils. Other than that, she didn’t stir. Her breaths were so light that he leaned forward to reassure himself she was still breathing.

He pressed his lips to her forehead, closing his eyes as he savored the reassuring sound of the heart monitor. She was alive. She was breathing. Her heart beat. It was enough. No matter what happened from here on out, it would always be enough that she was alive and in his life.