Page 95 of The Road Less Traveled By

Nico comes over to where I am on the floor and grabs my face. “Listen to me, Bree. Vince came back for you because he cares about you. I’ve seen how he looks at you, how you look at him. I know you two mean more to each other than being a client and bodyguard. He’s going to be okay, Bree, and when he wakes up, he’ll tell you the same thing I am—that it’s not and will never be your fault.”

“The darkness always seems to follow me. If I was you, Nico, I’d leave the room. Who knows what could happen to you while I’m around.”

“Bree, don’t.”

My chest heaves as I barely get the words out. “Nico, I can’t do this anymore. I can’t—”

“You’re enough just as you are, Bree. It’s going to work out, but you have to trust us.”

I’m fucking terrified. What if Vince never wakes up? What if I leave the hospital and something happens? What if his sister never sees him again because of this?

Oh, fuck.His sister.

“Someone needs to call Aria and tell her what happened,” I tell Nico through tears.

“I talked to her an hour ago. She’s trying to get a flight, but the next one doesn't leave for a few hours.”

“What about Nellie? Is someone at the house with her—”

Nico cuts me off with a hug, my tears leaking down my face as the exhaustion from the past few hours starts to hit. I don't even know what time it is, and part of me doesn't care. All I want to know is that Vince is going to be alright. I’ll sleep when I know that for certain. “Nellie is fine. Aria is coming, and Vince is going to be okay, too. Now, please, eat something before you’re the one who ends up in one of these hospital beds. I don't want to face Vince if he wakes up and you’re down the hall in a hospital room.”

I sigh as I take one of the sandwiches and sit back on the chair. It’s tough to get down, but I do it, and by the end of the sandwich, I feel a bit stronger already.

“The doctor told me he probably won’t wake up tonight, so if you want me to take you home, I can.”

“I’m not leaving his side, Nico.”

“I figured as much. I’ll go get us some cots to sleep on. And here,” he says as he throws a bag at me.Where did he get this?“I asked Emerson to run home and get Vince a change of clothes for when he wakes up. There’s also pajamas in there for me and you.”

“Thanks, Nico.”

“Anything for you, princess. I’ll knock before I come back,” he tells me as I grab one of Vince’s shirts and throw the pair of shorts in here on. I don't hear Nico come back, because as I sit down in the chair beside Vince’s bed, exhaustion takes over, and I fall asleep.

Two Days Later

My eyes feel asheavy as rocks when I try to open them.Where the fuck am I?

“Jesus, it’s fucking bright in here,” I mumble as I bring my hand to my head. My body feels so fucking heavy, as if I’m being weighed down by a freight train.

“Vince?” I hear a familiar voice say beside me.

“He’s awake. I’ll go get the doctor,” I hear Aria say.Aria? What the fuck is she doing here? Am I hallucinating?

I feel a hand slip into mine, and even though my grip is loose, I sure as hell won’t be letting her go.

Bree’s face comes into my line of sight, and I notice how puffy and red her eyes are. “Were you crying over me, angel? You should know I’m harder to take down than that.”

She practically laughs through her fresh tears. “You scared the shit out of me, Vince Evans.”

“You scared all of us, Mr. Evans. We’re glad you’re back,” a doctor says as Aria comes back into the room and heads toward the edge of my bed. I notice Nico on the other side with Bree, and he smiles when he looks at me.

“Glad you’re okay, buddy.”

“You didn't give me CPR, did you?” I ask him, and he just laughs.

“No, but that can be arranged,” Nico jokes back.

“Can you guys stop joking around?” my sister threatens, but I know she’s just as glad to see me awake.

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