Page 73 of Protective Phlox

I sucked in a ragged breath, fear turning the heat that had been filling me a moment ago to ice as my heart stopped beating.

“What,” I stupidly asked, even though I’d heard him fine.

“Meet us as St. Mary’s emergency.” People were talking in the background about too much blood loss and losing her. I stumbled back, barely catching myself before I ended up on the floor. “I’ve got to go.”

Goran hung up, and I clutched the phone, staring at the face before lifting my gaze to Dimitri.

“If Savannah dies, I will come for you. I will come for you with everything I have. You better start praying that doesn’t happen.” I would’ve usually taken joy in the little bit of fear that filled his eyes, but not today, not now.

“What’s wrong,” Titus asked.

“Savannah’s been shot,” I said, already jogging for the door.

“I’m coming with you. Hailey. Holly. Go to Cutter,” Titus ordered as we ran down the hall while the dogs took off to my son’s room.

Soldiers followed in our wake as we left the house.

“We’ll take my car. You’re in no shape to drive,” Titus said. I didn’t argue as I went to the passenger side of the McLaren. “What hospital?”

“St. Mary’s,” I said, wiping at something wet on my face. I stared at the clear liquid and then slowly closed my hand into a fist as my eyes locked onto my wedding ring.

She couldn’t die. I just got her back. If she did…there was nothing I wouldn’t do to avenge her. I’d start with making my father eat his gun.

I closed my eyes as we whipped down the road.

Please, God, don’t let her die, I’m begging you. My soul is nothing without her.

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

NATHANIEL

Titus hadn’t even stopped the car when I jumped out and ran for the emergency room doors. I growled at the glass when it didn’t move fast enough.

“Come on.”

The sound of my shoes echoed as I ran down the short hallway and skidded to a stop. I rounded the corner and saw my men looking sullen with their heads down. But the sight of my mother and sister crying as they held onto one another was a blade to my chest.

Goran was the first to spot me, and I stared at the front of him in horror. He was painted red from his chest to his knees. The color got more vivid the closer he came to me. I locked eyes with him, and I’d never seen him so distraught. Imagining the worst, I sucked in a shuddering breath as the pain in my chest felt like someone was ripping it open and tearing me in two.

Savannah was more than just my wife. She’d become part of me. She was the shimmering light in my mind that kept my heart from turning black. Her soft whispers of love and encouragement made me feel whole and more of a man than anything else ever could. My Kisa was more than my world. She was every speck of glittering stardust, the north star, and my universe.

“Dear God, no,” the words were nothing more than a gasp of breath as the sight of everyone in despair made me clutch my chest. My knees buckled, and I had to grip the wall. This wasn’t happening. She couldn’t be…she couldn’t.

Goran grabbed me and helped me to a chair to sit down. With my head in my hands, I leaned on my knees. Goran squeezed my shoulder and sat down beside me.

“She’s in surgery. They rushed her in as soon as we arrived,” he said, and I lifted my eyes to his.

“She’s still….” I licked my lips.

“Yes, Savannah’s a fighter. She’s still alive.”

I closed my eyes and let the relief wash over me as his words registered. When Mom and Kaylani walked over, they looked the way I felt, with tearstained cheeks and worry etched into every feature. My sister opened her arms, and I wrapped her up before I was gripped in a hug from my mom that I would know anywhere.

“I’m so sorry. I should’ve had everyone come to us. I put her in danger for dresses,” Mom said as she cried.

“No, this is not on you. It’s on that asshole you were forced to marry.” I clung to my earlier rage with both hands. I didn’t do fear, and I certainly didn’t know how to be here like this with my entire life caught in the balance and in the hands of surgeons.