Sweet Temptation (Sweet #4)(36)

“It’s my fault,” Julie said in a miserable tone. “I talked her into going out with us. This never would have happened if I hadn’t strong-armed her into going.”

Nathan pressed his lips to her temple. “Stop talking crazy, Julie. You did a good thing by asking her to come with us. She needs friends right now.”

His words hit Micah right in the chest. Nathan was right about that much. Angelina was alone in a new city, no friends, and Micah had begrudged her his because he was too much of a goddamn coward to face his past.

“You did a very good thing, Julie,” Micah said quietly. “Nathan’s right. She does need friends, and you guys are the absolute best.”

Julie smiled tremulously at him. The door opened, and Faith and Gray shoved in, followed closely by Connor.

“How is she?” Faith asked anxiously.

“Still out like a light,” Julie said.

“If anyone asks, I’m her sister,” Faith said. “The only way they’d let us back was if we were family.”

Nathan and Micah both stared at her like she’d lost her mind. Julie snickered openly, and Gray just looked at the ceiling, his lips twitching suspiciously.

“Um, Faith. What side of the family exactly does Angelina spring from?” Julie asked with barely veiled amusement.

Faith flushed. “It was all I could think of on short notice. Don’t tease me. I’ll say she was adopted like I was.”

Gray squeezed her shoulders while Connor walked to the other side of Angelina’s bed, a deep frown on his face.

“What the hell happened?” he demanded.

Micah stared at his friend through narrowed eyes. He didn’t want Connor near her. Didn’t want him to touch her. His fingers curled into tight fists when Connor gently touched Angelina’s cheek.

“Date rape drug,” Julie said in a weary voice. “Someone slipped it into her drink.”

The door opened again, and this time Damon and Serena appeared.

“How many damn people did you call?” Nathan grumbled at Julie.

The room was getting crowded. They’d be lucky if they didn’t all get kicked out, and they probably would the next time a nurse made a pass through the room.

“This could have been any one of you,” Gray said in a low voice, his stare encompassing first Faith and then passing on to Julie and finally Serena. “I shudder to think of what could have happened on your last girls’ night out.”

Nathan went pale. “Hell, he’s right. I walked into Cattleman’s and all three of you were flat on your backs on the floor giggling like fools. Anyone could have drugged your drinks and you would have never known.”

The girls all exchanged uneasy glances. Damon’s face had drawn into a thundercloud.

“They would have had protection if a certain someone hadn’t blown off the driver for the night. It won’t happen again, Serena mine.”

“Shit,” Julie breathed. “This is seriously going to cramp our fun.”

“We just want you to be more careful,” Gray said diplomatically. “No more going out alone and getting shit-faced. At least one of you is going to have to stay sober and look out for the others.”

The girls all nodded.

“How long has she been out?” Serena murmured as she moved closer to the bed. “Will she be all right?”

“Doctor says so,” Nathan replied. “He wants to watch her. Wait for her to wake up and monitor her for a while.”

“You don’t have to stay,” Micah said, turning to include the entire room. “I’m going to stay with her. You should all go home and get some rest.” He looked at Julie. “Especially you, doll.”

“We’d rather stay until she comes around,” Faith said stubbornly. “She shouldn’t be here alone.”

“She won’t be alone,” Micah said patiently. “I’m not leaving her.”

“She should have friends around her,” Connor said in a low voice.

Micah turned to see him still standing at Angelina’s bedside. It pissed him off that Connor was passing judgment and it pissed him off even more that Connor was right. Micah hadn’t been a source of support for Angelina. Ever.

That was all going to change starting now.

He could start by sharing his friends with her. It was obvious they all cared about her. Without saying anything else, he pulled up the remaining chair and situated it next to the bed so he could be close to her.

To his surprise, everyone hung out through the night. At various intervals the nurses made noises about shooing them all out, but gave up when the men growled their displeasure.

They took turns dozing. Julie stayed in Nathan’s lap, and Gray took the vacated seat, pulling Faith down to sit across his thighs. Connor remained standing at the foot of Angelina’s bed, his back resting against the wall. Evidently conceding to the inevitable, one of the nurses pushed another chair inside the overcrowded room, and Damon took it, and as the others had done with their women, he pulled Serena down on his lap.

Gray had taken care of calling the police, but until Angelina woke up and could answer questions, there was little they could do. Micah knew deep down that the chances of catching whoever had drugged her were very slim.

It was already well into the next morning when Angelina stirred and let out a low moan. Micah picked up his head from where it lay beside her on the bed and immediately reached for her hand.