Page 49 of Racer

EMILY

Three weeks later

My phone rang just as the sun was starting to rise. My eyes were bleary as I saw the hospital’s number flash across the screen.

I answered with a breathless, “Hello?”

I could practically hear the nurse’s smile through the phone as she said, “You’ll want to come in, Miss Novak. Your brother woke up.”

I was already shouting for Jude before the call ended.

Half an hour later, I stood just inside Mason’s hospital room, heart pounding as I stared at my big brother. He looked pale and worn, but his eyes were open and alert.Finally.

And laser-focused on the man holding my hand.

“Tell me I’m hallucinating,” Mason muttered. His voice was gravelly, but the sarcasm still hit home. “Because the last time I checked, I didn’t authorize my little sister to hook up with some guy, much less from another club, while I was unconscious.”

Jude just squeezed my hand and waited.

I stepped closer to the bed, trying not to cry. “Mase, this is?—”

He cut me off with a groan. “Let me guess. ‘He’s different, Mason. He’s sweet and strong and—’” His eyes narrowed. “Does he at least treat you right?”

Jude's low voice rumbled beside me. “Better than anyone else ever could. And I plan to keep treating her right for the rest of her life.”

Mason blinked, his gaze darting between us as his brows drew together. “Okay. What the hell happened while I was out? I’m gonna blame it on the coma because I just realized you’re wearing his property patch. I was only in a coma for a few weeks, Em. What the fuck?”

A wave of nausea slammed into me so hard I barely got the words out, “Oh no.”

I dropped Jude’s hand and sprinted for the bathroom. My stomach turned itself inside out while I knelt on the cold tile, hugging the bowl and silently begging the universe to let me breathe.

Jude was at my side before I even started to puke. He pulled my hair back gently and rubbed soothing circles on my back.

When I finally sat back, pale and trembling, I gave him a sheepish look. “That wasn’t dramatic timing at all.”

He chuckled, brushing a damp strand from my face. “You okay, angel?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I should be good now.”

We stepped out of the bathroom to find Kane standing just inside Mason’s door, arms crossed, face unreadable.

He glanced at me, then at Jude. “Heard Axle was awake.”

I flashed him a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I should’ve texted.”

Kane waved off my concern. “I get it, Em. You were too excited to think of anything but getting to your brother.”

Jude shot Kane an apologetic look. “I should’ve let you know.”

My brother’s glare sharpened. “Who the hellareyou?”

“Racer?” Kane jerked his chin toward Jude. “He’s the reason we got the bastards who took you out. The whole damn ring.”

I punctuated the last word by lifting my hand to show off the glittering diamond on my finger. “And your future brother-in-law, as soon as you’re healthy enough to walk me down the aisle.”

Mason opened his mouth, then closed it, at a loss for words for the first time in his life.

“You don’t have to like me, Axle,” Jude said bluntly. “But you’re gonna have to get used to me.”

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