Cruel Intoxication (Underground Kings 4)

“Seeing Heaven,” he says, rubbing his hands over Quinn’s stomach. She has an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth, breathing steadily. “Where’s Jolie?” he asks, but realization dawns on him and he stands up a little straighter. “No.”

I nod and clench my teeth together so tight the muscle in my jaw jumps. “This was all planned. He took her. Bathroom is wrecked.”

“Fuck, what do you need?”

“Is she okay?” Quinn pushes her mask to the side and blinks at me, exhausted and in pain.

“I don’t know. I’m going to see Heaven and tell the rest of the crew, but then I’m leaving.”

“You need backup?” Jaxon says.

“I have Howard. I don’t need anyone else. I want everyone to stay here with Heaven and Quinn. My niece and nephew better stay in there, okay?”

“Mmm, I’ll do my best,” Quinn slurs.

I bend down and press a kiss to her forehead and give Jaxon’s hand a shake.

“If you need anything, call me,” he says.

“Will do.” The only thing I need is Jolie.

I hurry down the hall, slithering through crowds of angry people and doctors that are stressed. I find room 323 and walk in. Heaven is sitting up and has a huge bandage on his chest. He’s laughing with Sebastian and Grayson, but then he holds a hand to the middle of his sternum and groans. “Don’t make me laugh. Shit hurts,” he grouses.

“Heaven,” I say his name as I enter the room with a view of Trinidad, but all I can hear are the heart rate monitors. “Fucking hell, I’m glad to see you alive.”

Sebastian and Grayson aren’t as forgiving toward me. They clear their throats and look away, arms crossed yet tense.

“It’s okay, man. I’m alive. I’m here. I’m ready for my fucking muffins.”

I stop at the side of his bed and take his hand, then slap my other one down on top of it. I’m emotional. I might not see the guys again if things don’t go the way I plan. “I’m so fucking sorry, Heaven. I wasn’t thinking straight. You were in the line of my anger, and it isn’t an excuse for what I did. I wanted to see you before I left. I need to go find Jolie. He took her.”

“What do you mean?” Grayson asks.

“What happened? Does this have to do with the gas leak?” Sebastian uncrosses his arms and stands straight.

Heaven’s heart rate spikes. “What the hell are you talking about, Owen? Jolie is gone?”

“Yeah, she went to the restroom before the entire hospital fainted. I went to go check on her, and the door was busted down. This was all him.”

“You’re sure?” Grayson asks.

I crack my neck, wishing I had a sip of whiskey right about now to calm my nerves. “I’m positive. She wouldn’t ever leave like that, and the door was kicked in from the outside, dented to hell.”

“We’ll go with you,” Grayson says, grabbing his coat.

“No, it’s okay. Howard is coming with you. Stay with Heaven. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt because of me.” My eyes land on Heaven, and he shakes his head in disagreement.

“Heaven—”

“No. No! I get it. You feel bad for what happened, I get it. I do, but it was an accident. I wouldn’t have been myself if I found out the guy who killed my wife and baby is after me again and had been abusing the girl you currently love. You think I’m just going to think that’s easy to process? No, fuck you, Owen. Fuck you for thinking that we aren’t going to be there for you because of this. I’m fine. I have fifty stitches and a morphine drip. You’re not going to blame yourself for this more than you already have. Take the guys, man. Take them. Let them be your backup,” Heaven pleads, giving me deadly eyes. “You have to do this. You know how you said you’re my best friend? You’re mine too, man. You can’t go in half-cocked.”

“I’m not. I’m not. I swear. Howard is with me. He’ll be good backup. You all need to stay here.”

“Jolie is family,” Sebastian states, staring at Gabriella who is asleep on the couch.

Grayson stares at the recliner where Finley is also asleep.

“We are there for family.”