Yours Forever (Reign 3)

“I’ve got absent lung sounds on the right.”

Pressure poked different spots on my chest. I tried to beg to these far off voices for help. But I couldn’t even exhale enough to whisper.

“Have the one-way valve ready,” that same voice said.

A slice of agony burst through my ribs and a rush of blessed air released. I blinked as fast as I could, but it didn’t help. Just flecks of light pierced the darkness.

A loud bang rang out. Like a fist against solid glass. “God damn it!”

That voice I recognized. It was Cal.

“Cal!” I screamed out for him. But my mouth didn’t move. I could have sworn I screamed. Another bang. Finally, a little clarity struggled into my vision. Hands flew above my face, passing medical instruments back and forth.

Hospital. I was in the hospital.

A memory tapped on my skull briefly. I remembered Anita…the gun…the pain.

Forcing my gaze as far as it could go, I finally saw him. Saw my Cal. He was on the other side of a window. Banging at it.

I couldn’t move. I just looked at Cal. He was so mad. So scared. His big fists resting against the window as he looked in. Looked at me.

When his blue gaze met mine, his massive chest stumbled on a heavy breath, and so much water lined his eyes that I could see it from the several feet and through the wall of glass that separated us.

He was beautiful. Like a phantom sent to watch over me. I didn’t want him to be sad. I didn’t want him to hurt.

He looked at me, his mouth moving, but I couldn’t hear the words.

A flare of black eyes caught my attention. Jack. He was right next to Cal. He moved into my line of vision like a sleek angel of darkness. Only what I saw made my chest hurt. Which was odd, since I was numb. But this pain came from the inside.

Jack was deadly with his stare, but I’d never seen a look like this on his face before. Defeat. He looked lost. His thick lashes blinked once and rained tears with the action. Silent. Still. With a continuous stream of water falling from his eyes. He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just looked at me.

“Don’t be sad,” I tried to say. “Please…” I couldn’t bear the look on his face. Couldn’t bear it on Cal’s. We were separated by a window and it seemed so trivial. It was so easy when life was stripped away and left nothing but the people you loved…who loved you back.

My eyes felt heavy. The low hum of all the voices faded together and a fog settled over my vision. I just needed to close my eyes…just for a moment.

“Her pressure is dropping!”

The last thing I saw was pure fear streak across Jack’s face and Cal pounding the window, calling my name.

Chapter 25

Soft cool hands cupped my face. The smell of sugar cookies engulfed me, and I took a deep inhale.

“Bea?” I whispered, surprised to find my throat nearly closed up and scratchy.

“Yes, sweetheart. It’s Aunt Bea. Open your eyes for me, sweet girl.”

I tried. But they felt so heavy. So, I tried again. It took several seconds, but Bea’s plump face finally came into focus, and it was a wonderful sight.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She frowned. “You’re asking if I’m okay?” She smiled. “You’re the one who got shot.”

Oh right…the pain in my chest and shoulder throbbed and reminded me quickly what had happened. I didn’t want Bea to be around me if it wasn’t safe.

“Anita and Brock…they are bad. They…”

“I know, honey. We called the police. Harper is still out there talking with them. They have an officer with Anita now. Your friend Harper broke Anita’s leg and gave her a nasty concussion from hitting her with that car. Though I wish she would have reversed and driven over that horrible woman again,” Bea grumbled.