Page 67 of Wild Card

“Talon,” I whisper, squeezing his fingers.

“Not leaving you, Princess, so shut it.”

Great, now I have bossy Chase and Talon. I rear up, ready to give him reason but Grandma beats me to it.

“Men, clear the room, Talon and I are seeing to Willow.”

No one argues, but Dad gripes as they clear out.

“Talon, be a dear and bring her to me.” Grandma swings a bag over her shoulder.

“Please don’t piss her off,” I plead when she’s in the bathroom.

“Baby, I found you unconscious and unresponsive. It will be a long fucking time until I forget that.”

“That’s stupid, it’s my grandma. And we know what’s wrong.”

“There is a Goddamnedtheory,” he spats the words. “I couldn’t wake you. You scared the motherfucking shit out of me.”

His eyes burn with fear and something else.

Something beautiful… heart-rendering... powerful.

My insides twist in a way that has me gripping him again.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re weak and vulnerable to something out there that made you almost die.”

Did I really almost die?

“I see it’s registering now.” He swings his legs over the side, gently taking me with him and careful not to shuffle my torso.With expertise, he disconnects the tube from my IV and the blood pressure cuff.

“How do?—”

“I’ve had my fair share of time with IVs.”

His reply jars me, a reminder of his history and so much I don’t know.

“I can walk,” I say when he stands with me in his hold.

He doesn’t reply, carrying me to the bathroom where Grandma is waiting.

“I’m outside the door.” He places me on my feet. “Yell when she’s done.”

Once the door shuts, she spins around with a gleam in her eyes and a wide grin. “I love him!”

“Shhh!”

“No shushing me. I do. I adore this man. Thank God he’s not your patient anymore and you can finally be together…” she blathers on, but the words are drowned out by the ringing in my ears. Only one thing she says sticks.

I press a finger to her lips to quiet her, then rinse out my mouth with cold water, gurgling a few times to try and soothe my throat. There is still burning, but I push through it. “What do you mean he’s not my patient anymore?”

There’s a flicker in her gaze and she gives a little head nod. “Talon will explain.”

I start to push but my reflection catches my attention. All my questions evaporate as terror sinks in. “Oh my God, I look horrid!”

My skin is pale with little pink blotches popping along my cheeks and forehead. My hair is matted and tangled, resembling a true rat’s nest, the ponytail gone. One side of my lip is swollen with a bump that has a speck of deep crimson, surrounded by a purplish bruise.

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