Page 98 of Shades of Ruin

“An ambulance is coming, angel. You’re going to be okay.You’re going to be okay.” I can’t tell whether he’s trying to convince me or himself at this point. “You were so brave, little ruin. So goddamn brave.”

“Hey, Grey?” I hum, my lips heavy and numb.

“Yeah, angel.”

“We’re even now.”

“What do you mean?” he asks, his words floating through the air like bubbles right before they pop.

“Two to two.”

“Christ,” he hisses. “Are you tallying the body count right now?”

“Yes-s-s,” I answer, the word drawn out for so long it sounds strange. “So do I win?”

“Yeah, angel. You definitely fucking win.”

I feel a smile tug on my dry lips as everything starts to fade away.

Then there’s nothing.

An incessant beepingrings in my ears, tearing me from sleep. My body aches, and my stomach feels tight and uncomfortable. The room smells strange—too clean, too sterile. The lights overhead are bright white and glaring. I don’t like it here. I want to be home, tucked under the warm sheets with Grey’s arms wrapped around me. Why am I here?

I force my eyes open, my lids heavy and dry. I glance around the large room and realize I must be in the hospital. I’m in nothing but a scratchy hospital gown, my pulse is hooked to a monitor, and I have an IV tube running from my arm to a bag of unknown liquid hanging from the bed. I guess the blonde bitch must have really fucked me up, but I’m alive, which is more than I expected.

“Shit, you’re awake,” comes a groan from the corner of the room. I turn to see Grey curled up in what looks to be a very uncomfortable chair that’s far too small for his large body. I don’tsee any bandages on him, and he’s lucky enough to be wearingactualclothes.

“How the fuck am I in a hospital bed and you’re walking around free?” I accuse, reaching for the IV in my arm and ripping it out.

“BecauseIgot a few flesh wounds andyourgoddamn heart stopped beating for almost a minute,” he bites back, rising to his feet and storming over to my side. “I thought I fucking lost you. Don’t you ever scare me like that again.”

He picks up the tube that’s started to leak fluid onto the floor. “I’m going to call the nurse and have them shove this back in your arm where it belongs.”

“I’m fine,” I sigh in exasperation. I slide my hands over my stomach and feel the large bandage plastered over the stab wound. “Looks like I’m all stitched up and good to go.” I swing my legs over the side of the bed, pausing when the sudden motion makes my head spin with dizziness.

“You’re not fuckinggood to go,” he scolds before pushing my legs back into bed. “I’m not letting you leave this hospital until the best doctor they have on staff tells me you’re in pitch-perfect health.”

“You’re cruel,” I pout with my arms crossed over my chest.

“It’s never bothered you before.” The smoldering smirk on his lips sends arousal flooding between my legs in spite of how completely unsexy I look right now.

“You better get thatfuck melook off your face, Angélica Flores. Toby could walk in at any minute.”

Oh my God,Toby. That bitch could have done anything to him when she knocked me out in the kitchen before stabbing me and strapping me to the chair. “How is he? Is he okay? Did she hurt him?”

“He’s fine. A little shaken after hearing that the woman who raised him is dead, but he took it far better than I expected. Thequestions from the cops were hard for him, but he was a good boy and answered everything as honestly as he could.”

“Can I see him?”

“He’s with my sister right now. He and Elia were begging for snacks from the vending machine, so I gave them a hundred to keep them busy for a while.”

“They’ll clear out the whole thing,” I laugh, picturing how irresistible Toby and Elia must be when they’re together.

“I imagine Liv will give me shit for their excessive added sugar and sodium intake, but it will be worth it to be their favorite person for the day.”

“You’re terrible,” I chide with a shake of my head. “But speaking of sugar and sodium, I’m fucking starving.”

“I’m afraid the food in the hospital cafeteria is less than edible, but I could always special order something from Grey’s. What are you in the mood for?”

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