Love in Flame (De La Fuente Family 5)

“She wasn’t lying,” Mateo mumbles softly cursing, looking at Erin. She lays a palm against Mateo’s stomach, leaning into him.

“She was here? I thought I was dreaming but I wasn’t, was I?” I rub my brow, trying to remember what I heard. “I was starting to wake up and heard her being told to leave… I’m right.” I look at Kasey for confirmation.

“I’ve only just arrived, but I wanted to know why Rae was running out of the hospital instead of into.”

“Why would anyone,” I snarl, “think that I wouldn’t want Rae here when I woke. I love her—”

“I see my patients awake,” the doctor announces and glares at the rest of my family, making me believe that I’ve missed more than I thought.

“Doc, I want straight answers.”

He nods.

“My friends, Levi and Rich, are they okay?”

“They have both been treated for smoke inhalation, stitched up, and released.”

“My wife?”

I watch as the doctor’s eyes widen and he glances at my mom.

“You know what? How about someone gets me some clothes so I can go and ask Rae. She’ll give me straight answers.”

The doctor places a hand on my shoulder, which I’m going to rip off if I don’t get the answers I want.

Kasey steps forward and dislodges the doctor’s hand. “Look, I’ll go and find Rae. I saw where she headed and she was my next stop anyway after I’d checked on you. I’ll bring her back.”

Staring at the doctor, I know who he is. “I recognize your voice. You made her leave.”

The doctor sighs. “I hate family drama.”

“There isn’t any family drama. My wife and Kasey are the only ones I want in this room.” I sweep my eyes over the others. “Whatever was said to make her leave, I’m guessing you all supported it.”

“Diego—” father starts but gets cut off.

“How can you not want us here? We’re your family.” Mom steps toward me but with one glance at my withering glare she steps back into the embrace of my father.

“My wife is my family, and she is the only person who I want by my side, and…” I suddenly realize that my ring is missing. “Where the hell is my ring?” I roar and right now I don’t give a shit who the fuck hears me. “Is it hospital policy to remove wedding bands from your patients?” I ask the doctor who stutters without actually saying anything.

Collapsing back against the bed, I realize that I’m not going anywhere until my head stops its pounding and I don’t feel like I’m about to hurl.

“I want my ring,” I hiss. “Now!”

“I don’t know where it is as we don’t remove jewelry unless it directly involves our treatment of you.” The doctor frowns and glances around the room.

“I can’t keep my eyes open. When I wake that ring better be on my finger with the room empty apart from Rae, or Kasey.”

My eyes drift closed but I force them open one last time. “Kasey, please stay with Rae. Look after her while I can’t.”

“You got it, bro,” he speaks with determination.

Everything goes blank.

RAE

Once my tears had dried up I realized that I was stupid for letting everyone walk all over me. I’m not an idiot and I need to be there waiting for the man I love to wake up. So I’m going to go in there and I’m going to refuse to leave until Diego tells me to, which I know in my heart will never happen. I shouldn’t have run and I hate that I did.

Lifting my chin, I stop when I see Kasey walking toward me. He wears a worried frown on his handsome face and with a wince he tugs me into his arms. “He’s just woken and basically told everyone to go to hell. He was pissed as hell that you weren’t there,” Kasey whispers into my ear. “Only you and me are allowed in his room now.”