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Prologue
Atticus
Numbness.
It was like all color had been bleached from the world as I sat in the white waiting room, staring at the white walls, glaring at the lifeless pastels that were meant to be soothing but were just depressing.
She could not die. I had just gotten her back.
You might not be able to do anything about it.
Fuck it, why not? She had made me a promise. One I intended to make her keep. She would not die on me.
There was movement at the door, and I looked up to see my brother running in. Pierce was behind him, then Gavin and Rowan.
Their expressions were bleak. Each of them was pale, sweating, and terrified.
I sat ramrod straight as I watched them, unable to move. Unable to speak. Because if I did speak, if I spent any of the energy I was using to lock everything down and focus all of my positive thoughts on Gwen and her surgery, I would break. I would shatter into a billion little pieces and wash away on the wind.
Micah came over first and clapped a hand on my shoulder, and I could feel the weight of it pressing into me, trying to convey that Gwen and I would be back together again.
Gavin stood at my other shoulder. Rowan and Micah's shoulders touched, and then Pierce closed the circle. None of them spoke, but they all stood with me, covering me, giving me their strength.
When I could finally drag in a breath, I turned my attention to Pierce. He knew what I was asking without me even having to say a word.
"He's in custody. He wasn’t the shooter, but I wouldn't put it past him to have paid someone."
"So there's a chance that it was a hit?"
He shook his head. "There’s always a chance, but I don't know anything for sure. Right now, I'm here for Gwen."
There was more movement at the door, and I looked over, expecting to see the doctor. Instead, it was Lakewood.
Our gazes met and held. And then we both took a long breath.
In that moment, I could let go of the fact that he had wanted my wife, the fact that he loved her.
I felt nothing other than camaraderie with him, and if he could lend his energy or prayers or any of that voodoo bullshit to making her better, I knew I’d take it. Fuck, at that point, I’d have taken wishes on the stars if he had any.
I would have taken it all and given it to her. I’d happily forfeit my life for hers if it meant she would just wake up.
Lakewood said nothing. He just came over to the circle. Pierce and Rowan made a space for him, and he stood with us.
He glanced around and finally spoke softly. "I called her family. Morgan's on the way. Clarissa too. I couldn't reach Becker."
Just hearing her father's name made me grind my teeth. I lifted my gaze to Pierce. "It couldn't have been him?"
Pierce's brow furrowed. "It wouldn't make any fucking sense. You already took care of his debts. Anyone who was after him wouldn't need to send a message."
Rowan shifted on his feet. "The other concern is Jacobson. He is willing and able, and he’s pissed off enough."
"Do we have eyes on him?" I asked.
This time, it was Lance who spoke up. "Yeah. I may or may not have called in a drunk driver alert on him. The cops have him too."
My brows lifted, and I assessed Lakewood again. He did love Gwen. He had conceded defeat, but he loved her enough to take care of her, regardless.
He's a better man than you are.
