Rafe (Inked Brotherhood 5)

I try to squeeze her hand, show her I’m listening. Because she’s staying like she said she would, giving me a second chance.

Can’t ask for more.

Chapter Nineteen

Megan

The police followed us here and interrogated everyone involved. I told them all about Carson and Mom, how he beat her, how she lost the baby. Afterward, I find myself sitting in one of the hard plastic chairs lining the waiting room with Tessa’s and Erin’s arms around me, my cheeks wet. Didn’t even realize I was crying. For Mom. For the baby. For myself.

And for Rafe, who’s still inside with the doctors.

They said they fear a concussion. Apart from that, he has three broken ribs and some kidney bruising, but other than pissing blood for a few days, he should be okay.

But they’re worried because he’s still not fully awake. And I’m worried, too.

I heard Zane’s statement to the police about this Nino Gaspari, about how Rafe found out he was his family’s killer. About Rafe confronting him. About debt collectors executing Nino.

Rafe said he was tired. Fighting in a cage, facing the killer, having him shot before his eyes, and then almost dying himself when trying to save me. A lot to deal with. Too much to take in. Could this be why he’s not waking?

The guys are there, only Asher missing. Audrey had the baby, Tyler tells me, and Asher is with her, but if Rafe doesn’t wake up soon, he’ll come over, too.

“The baby’s a boy,” Tessa says, giving me a suspicious look, tucking a strand of blue hair behind her ear. “You knew all along,” she mutters. “How did you know?”

“I didn’t. It was a lucky guess.”

And I’m in no mood to chat about Audrey’s baby right now. All I can think of is that I need Rafe to be all right. I’d give anything, do anything to make sure he’ll wake up and smile that beautiful smile again. Whenever I remember how he burst running into that alley where Carson kept me at gunpoint, how he ran in front of the bullets to get to me…

Yeah, I’d do anything for him. He has my heart. Had it, in fact, from the start.

Tyler is talking in quiet tones with Dylan at the back of the waiting room. Ocean and Micah, the two tattoo artists of Damage Control apart from Zane, are sitting a few seats away, silent and stony-faced. The apprentices, Seth, Shane and Jesse, are lounging by the door to the examination room, together with Zane.

Dakota is gone to look for coffee. Not sure why. Although it’s way past midnight, everyone’s buzzing with nervous energy.

Zane suddenly straightens and steps inside the examination room. Everyone immediately gravitates in that direction and I jump to my feet just as a doctor appears at the door, brows lifting when he finds himself surrounded.

“How is he?” Zane asks, and everyone crowds around him, to listen, though they let me through when I press between them to get closer.

“Like I told you earlier,” the doctor says, clutching a file to his chest, “he’s not in danger. We have administered painkillers and fluids, as he appears to be dehydrated. He seems to be sleeping. Has he had problems sleeping lately?”

“He did,” I say. “Said he couldn’t sleep.”

“We have helped him up, made him walk and talk, did some tests. It’s possible he just needs rest.”

A collective sigh goes through the room.

“Can we see him?” Dylan asks. “Is he conscious now, then?”

“Not yet.” The doctor moves backward, blocking the open door. “Dr. Mendoza is still with him.”

Tessa tries to see past the doctor into the room. “When can we talk to him?”

“I’m calling Ash,” Tyler mutters and wanders away, his cell in his hand.

The doctor takes another step back and I know he’s about to close the door to Rafe’s room. Lifting my chin, I prepare to ask, beg if I have to, for him to let me inside. I promised Rafe I wouldn’t leave, swore I wouldn’t move from his side, and I haven’t seen him since he was wheeled out of the ambulance, hours ago.

“Is one of you Meg, by any chance?” The doctor pauses, his hand on the door handle. “He has hardly spoken three words the whole time he’s been here, and one of those was Meg.”

“I’m Meg.” I smooth down my blouse, nervous. “Can I see him?”