Sultry (Bad Boy Rockers 3)

Reaching Callie, she takes my hands into hers and pulls me close. “If you don’t catch this, I’m not going to be impressed.”

“Are you serious?” I look at her incredulous.

“Of course I am.”

“God, between you and Mia I’m sure I’m going to manage. Just make sure you throw it in my direction. Now can we get on with it? Everyone is watching.”

She grins. “Yeah go, and make sure you stand near where Donovan is right now.”

“Okay.”

I turn and try to ignore the stares, which make me feel uncomfortable. Being center of attention isn’t me and stresses me out.

As I put my right foot forward, I feel a crack and then I start to stumble. My heel breaks. Reaching out, my hand connects with fresh air as I completely loose my balance and start falling down the stairs. My head cracks against the wall, my legs bash into the bannister and my arm—the pain. The last thing I hear is Donovan shouting my name.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Donovan

Watching Mara lose her balance on the stairs and then proceed to fall the rest of the way down has taken ten years off my life. I’m sure.

Screaming her name, I push through the guests in the foyer just needing to get to my girl. Right now I don’t give a shit who knows or finds out about us because I need to be there with her.

Breaking through everyone, I freeze. Mara is in a heap at the bottom of the stairs, unmoving. I drop to my knees by her head and smooth the hair from her face before dropping my forehead to hers. She blurs as my eyes fill with unshed tears. “Baby, please wake up,” I whisper to her. “I need you Mara.”

“Mara. Jesus. Fuck. Get the paramedics,” Reece shouts to the room at large. “Is she breathing?” he asks.

I raise my head knowing the minute he sees my face, he’ll know I’m in love with her. There’s no hiding it.

“She’s breathing,” I say meeting his gaze and watch as his eyes widen.

“Mara,” Cindy, her mom cries. She sits on the floor beside me, but I think it has more to do with her legs not managing to hold her up anymore. “Please tell me my baby is okay.”

“I don’t,” my voice cracks, “know. I wish I did.”

She wraps her arm around my shoulders. “She’s strong. She’ll be okay. She has to be, I need you both to give me grandchildren one day.”

“What the fuck,” Reece cusses.

“Now isn’t the time,” I croak as the paramedics arrive. I thank God that they were close by with a quick response time.

“Yeah, but—”

“Reece.” Callie pulls him up and into her arms. He holds her while she cries softly into his chest.

Dropping my gaze, I ask one of the paramedics, “Will she be okay?”

“Her right arms looks to be broken. Not too sure about her legs. We’re going to put a collar on her and make her as comfortable as we can to transport her to the hospital.”

I nod in acknowledgement.

My legs feel like jelly when Phoenix pulls me up from the floor. “What do you need?” he asks.

“Mara.” I’m struggling with my emotions. He wraps his arms around me and just holds me tight. I grab on to the back of his jacket needing his support right now. All I can see is Mara tumbling down the stairs and feel the fear of losing her in my chest.

“She’s going to be alright.”

I nod and pull away from him as the paramedics start to move her.