“Carla.”
I spun around at the sound of my name.
A nurse looked at me with kind eyes and I shot another prayer up to God that those eyes were kind because she had good news and not because she had to tell me something bad.
“Is he awake?”
Please say yes.
I’ll do anything, God.
Anything.
She smiled. “Yes, he’s awake. He’s still a little groggy, but he asked for you.”
Oh, my God.
Relief coursed through my body and I felt a little lightheaded. I reached for Nash to hold onto. “So I can come in now?”
She continued to smile. “Yes, but only for a quick visit. Follow me.” She eyed Nash and Yvette. “I can only take two in.”
Nash indicated for Yvette to go with me and we followed the nurse. My legs were shaky and my breathing had picked up.
He’s awake.
He’s okay.
Thank you, God.
The nurse led us through the ICU and as we approached Havoc’s bed, I took a deep breath at the sight of him. Even in his wounded, groggy state, his eyes tracked me and he had that intense aura that was all Havoc.
“Carla,” he said, his voice raspy.
I moved to the bed and placed my hand on his arm. “I was so worried.” As my words came out, my tears fell. I couldn’t hold them back.
“Angel,” he murmured as he gripped my arm. His face contorted in pain, but he didn’t let me go. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Tears flowed down my cheeks and I nodded. Burying my face in his neck, I clung to him until I stopped crying. When I let him go, I took in his expression. He’d never looked at me that way before. It was a softer Havoc, and while he’d given me soft once or twice, it had nothing on this.
This soft told me he wanted me.
It cleared up any doubt I had.
“Thank fuck you’re not going anywhere. I want to see this woman pull you into line,” Yvette said.
Havoc’s lips twitched. “I see you’ve met my sister,” he said to me. “Don’t mind her, she’s a smartass.”
“I take after my brother,” she quipped.
Their banter reminded me of my family. I loved listening to them because although they were sparring, it was clear they felt deeply for each other.
He’d been groggy and in pain when we’d come in and it looked to me like he was struggling to continue the conversation. But Havoc being Havoc pushed through. Always the fighter.
When they finished talking, I touched his cheek. “You should go back to sleep.”
“I’m good,” he said.
I shook my head. “No, you’re not. You need your rest.”