He nods his head and falls forward, gripping the ground as I walk away.

“Let’s go,” I say, while brushing past Blaine.

Blaine nods his head. “Give me one sec.”

I nod my head in understanding and jump into Blaine’s truck. Worried about Avalon, I power my phone back on. I turned it off to get rid of any distractions. I usually do that when I need to keep my head together.

When it finally turns on, multiple messages and missed calls pop up from Avalon, making my chest fucking hurt in fear. I feel like fucking exploding as I call her phone and it goes straight to voicemail.

Blaine hops in the truck, grabbing at his fist. I grab him by the shirt and shake him. “What the fuck did Jax say? Where is she?”

He releases a breath. “Your brother practically fucking kidnapped her. Jax got her out of the car, but she has a pretty bad bump on her head that is causing her some pain. They’re at the hospital about thirty minutes away from town.”

“Fucking bastard. He finally grew some fucking balls all of a sudden.” I quickly back away from Brian’s car and hit the road, with my hands shaking and my heart racing out of control.

All I can think about is getting to her and making sure that she’s safe in my arms; no one else’s.

My brother will be seeing my ass later . . .

MY BLOOD IS FUCKING BOILING the whole way to the hospital. Between thoughts of letting Brian live for the sake of a precious little girl and thoughts of choking my brother out, my mind has been consumed the whole thirty-minute drive.

That piece of shit will learn to never fuck with my girl again. He was lucky as shit to even get his chance with her when he did, but she’s over him now and has moved on with me. I have no problem with beating that info into his pretty little head.

“What floor is she on?”

I pull into the hospital and hurriedly search for an empty space to park. There’s so many damn parking spots here that it’s making me anxious. She could be anywhere in that fucking building.

Why in the fuck are there so many cars here?

AFTER COMPLETING THE BRAIN SCAN THAT the hospital recommend I get done, I rush back into my room in hopes that Jax has heard back from Royal or Blaine.

I could barely lie still when they took the X-rays because all I could do was worry about Royal, scared shitless that he may have gotten himself into some kind of trouble. Between that and my nerves from being in the hospital, I was a complete shaking mess.

Jax has been in my room throughout the whole thing, trying to keep me calm and assure me that Blaine would never let anything happen to Royal. I want to believe him, but it’s hard without any solid proof. It’s driving me insane.

“Have you heard from them?” I ask, causing Jax to look up from his phone. “Please tell me they’re okay. I need to hear something.”

Jax immediately stands up from his chair beside the bed and helps me get comfortable beneath the sheet on the shitty mattress. “Fuck, you’re shaking, girl.” He sits on the edge of the bed and starts rubbing my shoulders and arms to warm me up. “You really care about him, don’t you?”

I nod my head. “Of course I do. He’s all I ever think about, Jax. I haven’t been able to get him out of my head since that night I walked in on him in the basement. It hurts me so much to ever think about losing him. He’s special to me. I don’t care what he says about himself. He’s good to me.” I grab his handsome face and pull him toward me so he can look me in the eyes. “Now, please tell me something before I rip your balls off, Jax.”

He smiles at me and leans in to kiss my forehead. “You’ve definitely been spending too much time with Royal.” Releasing my shoulders, he lets out a small satisfied laugh. “They’re on their way here. They should be close now.”

Feeling relieved, I throw the sheet off of me and sit up. “How long ago did they leave?”

“I don’t know. About thirty minutes ago.”

“Good.”

I hop out of bed and quickly rush past Jax, making my way down the hall. A few nurses try talking to me, but I brush them off, leaving them throwing their arms out in frustration and looking after me. Whatever it is they want out of me can wait.

I can hear Jax calling my name from close behind, but I ignore him as well and keep on walking. He knows better than attempt to stop me from getting to Royal right now, so he’s keeping a small distance.

All I can think about is the fact that I need to be with Royal right this second, and he could be pulling up right now, looking for me too. I’ve waited too long to hear that he’s okay. I’m not waiting another second longer to see it with my own damn eyes. I have no idea what it is that he had to do tonight, but right now all that matters to me is that he’s alive and safe.

Once I reach the exit, I rush through the door, running barefoot across the wet parking lot in search of Royal.

There’s too many damn parking lots surrounding this hospital, but by some kind of freaking miracle I spot Royal and Blaine in the parking lot that is on the other side of the huge fountain, exiting a silver truck with the front smashed in.

“Royal!” I scream out. My heart goes wild in my chest as I take a step forward and shield my face from the rain. “Royal!” I scream again, but louder this time.

Our eyes meet from across the fountain, and without a second thought I take off running in the direction of the water, needing to get to him as fast as I can. Fuck going around it. That will take entirely too long and I can’t handle that right now. I need to feel him in my arms. I need to run my hands over his beautiful, flawless face and taste his fucking mouth.

I need this man like I fucking need air and no small bit of water is going to keep me from him. Nothing can right now.

As soon as he sees me moving toward him, he rushes toward the fountain as if he’s just as desperate to get to me as I am him. His face looks lethal as he walks with power, moving much faster than my legs will allow me.

Gasping from the shock of the cold water splashing against my legs, I run through the frigid water and he catches me in his arms, squeezing me tightly.

Gripping my face with both hands, he leans down to my height and desperately presses his lips against mine, while moving his hands up to grip at my hair, as if he just needs any and every part of me.

His tasty mouth is on mine. His strong, inked hands are in my hair. Our bodies are molded together as we desperately hold onto each other. I almost can’t breathe right now.