Nightfall (Devil's Night 4)

I shook my head, making a mental note to get caught up on that joke later.

I pushed off the wall and slipped through the guys. “Us first,” I told Aydin. “Wait your turn.”

I stepped into the hospital room, a nurse tending to Alex’s monitors, and my gaze fell onto the bed, seeing her as everyone trailed in behind me.

Her shoulder was bandaged up, her arm tucked into her, and her hospital gown and blankets keeping her warm.

She’d already been to surgery, as it had taken about two hours to get through the police and finding Martin’s body.

I should take a picture. She was going to be really pissed when she saw her hair hanging all limp like that.

The girls and I crowded around the bed, seeing her eyes start to open, and I leaned down, hating how pale her lips were. Alex always had color there.

“Just a few minutes, everyone,” the nurse warned and then left the room.

“How are you?” I asked as Will pulled the curtain closed from the night outside.

Alex’s head bobbed a little. “I feel so good right now.”

Rika laughed under her breath, leaning over from the other side. “A little high, are you?”

“Yeahhhhh,” she said, sounding all satisfied about it.

“I think Aydin wants to be naked in this bed with you right now,” I told her.

“He’s sooooo adorable.” She blinked, looking sleepy. “Did you see his muscles in that T-shirt? Shiverrrrrs.”

“Jesus Christ,” Damon grumbled, turning away.

“He wants to sit with you tonight, but we want to stay,” I said. “He can see you tomorrow. If you want.”

She didn’t say anything, but after a few moments, her eyes opened and she took a deep breath, looking more alert.

“Let him in,” she told us. “Go wake up that judge and finish that wedding.”

I shook my head. “No, we can do that tomorrow.”

“Tonight.”

She met my eyes, and I pushed the hair out of her face, Rika diving in and kissing her temple.

“I’ll see you later,” she said.

But…

“Go,” she ordered. “And don’t leave each other…go for at least eight hours.”

I chuckled, but I closed my mouth, not arguing any further. They had things to say to each other, at any rate. She needed to be alone with him.

“Send him in for me?” Alex asked as we all started to drift out.

“We’re leaving Lev right outside,” Michael called out.

“Why?” Alex inquired. “Am I in danger?”

“He’s a…” I drifted off, searching for the words. “A chaperone, actually.”

“Huh?”