Page 137 of Devour

She’s right. She killed two men with a folding knife and fought her way back to me. She’s far from fucking broken.

“You’re not broken, baby.” I kiss her temple. “You’re the most beautiful, dangerous woman I know.” I pull back and look at her. “But you know how I feel about anyone touching what’s mine.”

The nurse scoffs and rolls her eyes.

“See what I deal with?” Saylor says to the woman, then bites her bottom lip. “He’s sexy as fuck, isn’t he?”

The nurse shakes her head but I catch the smile she’s trying to hide. “I’ll be back in a couple hours to check on everything.” She gathers her tray and leaves, and I don’t blame her.

“So you think I’m sexy?” I look down at Saylor, and she’s grinning at me with heavy eyes.

“Don’t let it go to your head.” She grips the shirt I found to put over my bandages and pulls me to her. “Your ego is already out of control.”

“You’re stacking up a list of reasons to punish you, little heathen.” I let her pull me down and press my lips to hers. She tastes like apple juice, since she’s had three of those little juice boxes. I deepen the kiss, trying to remind my cock that I don’t have her home yet. Wherever the fuck that’s going to be. I won’t take her back to the Talon mansion after what happened there.

When I pull back, she looks up at me through her lashes. “Promise?”

A knock on the doorframe pulls my attention before I can respond to her. Reese Sinclair is standing there with her arms wrapped around herself and her cheeks wet from crying. Their family has been holding vigil in Dane’s room, hoping for improvement.

“I came—” she chokes on a sob and covers her mouth.

I stand straighter. “Is it Dane? Did something happen?”

She nods and wipes her eyes. I close my eyes preparing for the worst.

“I’m sorry. We’re just exhausted. They sent me to get you.” She draws a deep breath. “Dane’s awake, and he’s asking for you.”

My eyes open, and the air comes back into my lungs. Dane’s awake. That stubborn man is awake. Thank fuck.

“He’s alright?” My voice comes out rougher than I expect.

Reese nods. “He’s Dane. He’s already taken command of everyone that steps foot in his room.” She wipes her face with the back of her hand and almost smiles. “He made Fox and Tate get some fresh air and made sure Thorne was staying in bed. He asked me to have you come see him.”

I look back at Saylor. I can’t leave her. Every fucking time I leave, something happens to her.

Saylor pushes herself up on the bed. “Go.”

“You’re insane. I’m not fucking leaving you.”

“Dane almost died, Axl. I know you think of him as another father to you.” Her eyes are tired, but her voice is firm. “Go. You can’t be with me every second of every day. I’ll be fine.”

She’s right, and I hate that she’s right. I look at Reese. “Would you mind—”

“I’ll stay with her.” Reese is already pulling the chair closer. “Take your time.”

I lean down and press my lips to Saylor’s. “Don’t move from this spot, little heathen.” I still don’t want to leave her, but I kiss her forehead and force myself to step back.

Reese settles into the chair beside the bed, and Saylor looks over at her, giving her a soft smile. I want Saylor to get to know Reese better. She’s going to have days that are tougher than others, and Reese understands. Tate’s wife’s been through her own hell. She knows the kind of trauma Saylor has been through.

I walk out of the room and don’t look back, because if I do, I won’t be able to leave. It’s going to take a while before I can trust that someone isn’t going to try to take her from me. If I ever can.

Dane’s room is at the end of the hall past two Ravens standing guard at the door. Members of the Council are gathered in a group and nod to me as they leave together. One of Dane’s guards opens the door and allows me to enter.

Dane is propped up against a stack of pillows with tubes running out of both arms and monitors beeping beside him. I’ve never seen him like this. His skin doesn’t have the same color, and bandages are visible above the neckline of his hospital gown. But his eyes are sharp and focus on me the second I walk through the door.

Whitney is curled against his side on the bed with her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest. Her eyes are swollen from crying, but she’s smiling, and Dane’s arm is around her like he didn’t just shave years off of his entire family’s lives.

“Kitten, I told you I’m fine.” His voice is rough and raspier than usual, but the command is still there. “You don’t need to check my pulse every thirty seconds.”