Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5)(93)
SHILOH
Faint beeping pulled at me, and my mouth twisted into a grimace. “Quiet.”
A hand squeezed mine. “Come on, Shiloh. Open those eyes. Let me see those ice-blues.”
I wanted that. Wanted to see the owner of that husky voice. I struggled to lift my lids, but they were so damn heavy.
Lips pressed to my forehead as a hand squeezed mine. “You’ve got this.”
My eyes fluttered, bursts of low light filling my vision, and then onyx eyes were staring back at me. Ones I thought I’d never see again. “You’re here.”
“Where else would I be? My place is with you.”
My throat burned, my eyes following as tears slid down my cheeks.
Ramsey instantly framed my face with his hands, worry filling his expression. “Hey, hey. You’re okay. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
“I thought I was losing you.”
“Never.” The single word was an uttered vow. “You’ve got a shadow for life, I’m afraid. You won’t be able to kick me to the curb even if you try.”
A small laugh escaped me, but I instantly regretted it. Hot-white pain surged in my belly.
“Don’t laugh. You’ve got a world of stitches in your stomach.”
I nodded, swallowing hard.
“Want some water?”
“Please.”
Ramsey held a straw to my lips. “Nice and easy.”
I took a few sips and then released the straw. The cool water was heaven on my throat. I reached out for Ramsey. My hand shook, the weakness surprising me. “How long have I been asleep?”
“A little over twelve hours, but you lost a lot of blood. It’s going to take some time to recover.” Ramsey wove our fingers together, stroking the back of my hand.
“Howard?”
Storms swirled in Ramsey’s eyes. “Dead.”
“Good.” I only wished it could’ve been me who’d ended him.
Ramsey leaned forward, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’m so sorry. I never should’ve left you alone. I should’ve found another way to get the drop on Howard—”
I squeezed Ramsey’s hand as hard as I could. “You came for me. And when I needed to be strong, it was your face I called on.”
He let out a shaky breath. “I almost lost you.”
“You should know by now I’m stronger than that.”
His mouth curved the slightest amount. “I should. Bravest soul I’ve ever known.”
“I missed you.” I knew it had only been hours, but it felt like a lifetime.
“Could barely breathe without you,” Ramsey whispered against my lips. “Every time I inhaled, it felt like breathing in shards of glass.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t make me go through that again.” His lips brushed against mine. “Stay with me.”
“I’m here. Always.”
Ramsey pulled back a fraction. “Will you move into the main house with me? Make things official?”
I frowned at him.
“What?”
“I like the guest cabin. It’s cozy.”
He barked out a laugh. “Only you would want the tiny-ass cabin instead of the mountain lodge.”
I scowled at him. “I like what I like.”
Ramsey brushed his thumb across my cheek. “There’s a hell of a bathtub in the main house.”
My brows lifted. “I have found myself partial to baths lately.”
“You and me both.”
A knock sounded at the door. “Hey, Ramsey, do you want—?” Beckett halted mid-stride. “She’s awake.”
“Hey, big brother.”
“You’re awake.” He rushed towards the bed and immediately started listing off questions.
I held up a hand. “Slow down. I’m okay. The pain isn’t too bad, and Ramsey already gave me some water.”
He let out a shaky breath and ran a hand through his hair. “You scared the hell out of us.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
Beckett leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Thanks for coming back to us.”
“Always.”
Beckett shot Ramsey a grin. “It’s a good thing, too. This guy has been an insufferable mess.”
Ramsey glared at him. “I thought we had a pact.”
“That was to not tell Shy that you were crying like a baby and snotting all over her.”
My mouth dropped open. “Beckett.”
He shrugged. “Oops.”
Ramsey shook his head and leaned forward to press his mouth to mine gently. “Not ashamed for you to know how much I love you.”
Beckett made a gagging noise.
“Beckett Easton, you are not making ugly sounds like that,” my mother said as she moved into the room. Her eyes shone as she crossed to the bed. “My girl.”
“Hi, Mom.”
She shoved Beckett aside and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “So strong.”
“I’m sorry if I worried you.”
She brushed the hair away from my face. “I’ve had too many moments with my girls in this hospital. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that they’re fighters. They’ll always make it through.”