“Haven.”
I abruptly sat up, my body tense in anticipation of whatever he would say next. “She’s alive?”
“For now. She’s in surgery.”
“Okay, yeah.” I sighed. “Let me get my keys, and I’ll get you there.” I grabbed my jacket and keys and led the way to my Lexus. I tapped my phone screen and saw it was dead.Fuck. I had forgotten to put it on the charger before I’d passed out. I plugged it into the car charger and drove silently toward the hospital. Once at the hospital, I grabbed my phone, slid it into my pocket, and followed Kai as he ran into the emergency room entrance. He scanned the hallways for signs of the elevator, and we raced through the sterile corridors, our footsteps echoing off the floors. He mashed the button to the fifth floor repeatedly, and I grinned.
“Don’t say a word.”
I couldn’t contain my laugh—whether from lack of sleep, delirium, or the fact that he was not his usual calm and collected self. When the doors finally opened, he bolted out, nearly knocking over a startled nurse.
The halls were decorated with photographed locations in New York City evenly spaced between patient rooms. When we reached room 5022, he rushed inside, and I saw Haven asleep in the bed. She looked small and fragile, her face nearly as white as the sheets.
I watched Kai’s face crumple with relief as he saw her chest rise and fall with each breath. I hung back near the doorway, feeling like an intruder on this intimate moment. The room was dimly lit, and the only sound was the rhythmic beeping of her heart on the monitor.
A nurse looked up from her computer and smiled at him. “Hi there,” she said. “Are you family?”
“Yes, I’m her boyfriend,” he responded.
“Oh, are you Mr. Montgomery?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Molly. One of our emergency department nurses gave me report and mentioned you’d be on your way.”
“How is she?”
“She just got out of surgery a little while ago. She’s still asleep but recovering well.”
I placed my hand on his shoulder as a silent show of support, then watched as he approached her bed cautiously, as if afraid she might shatter at the slightest touch. With a trembling hand, he brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, letting his fingers linger on her unusually pale skin, and then held her tiny hand in his. He pulled a chair to the side of her bed and sat next to her, resting a hand on her shoulder.
I caught up on some text messages and then decided to give him some time with Haven and grab coffee. Both of us could use it right now. Wrenly should be getting off work any time, so I wanted to try to catch her before she left with Cavan. I could take her home instead. I went down to the hospital cafeteria, the scent of stale coffee and hand sanitizer assaulting my nostrils. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a sickly glow on the few bleary-eyed patrons scattered among the tables. I ordered two black coffees, and while I waited, I checked my phone, which had enough battery to turn on. There were a string of missed calls and texts from Wrenly. Frowning, I opened the messages from her.
Is everything okay? I’ve been calling and texting all night.
Please answer.
You’re worrying me.
If you get this, I think there’s a girl here that you might know. Or Kai. Call me back.
Then I listened to her voicemail.
Fuck.
I needed to talk to her. I dialed her number, but it went straight tovoicemail without ringing. I checked her location, and she was still in the hospital. I grabbed the coffee and hurried toward the emergency department, where I approached the nurse’s station. “Hi, I was hoping you could tell me if Wrenly Morgan is still working?”
“Sorry, you just missed her,” a nurse answered.
“Thanks,” I replied and redialed her number.
Voicemail yet again.
I sent a text to Cavan.
When Wrenly gets out there, don’t leave yet. I’m here with Kai, but I’ll be right out.
You got it, boss.