Page 45 of Revived
Clara eyes him wearily but nods and lets Kieran and Mac follow her out. One in front and one behind. She is the queen of the family, andthey protect her as such. They all walk out, leaving only me, Sully, and Rowan.
This is about to be bad.
Chapter twenty
Sullivan Byrne
“Elle, can we have the room?” Rowan asks, but he’s not really asking, he’s telling.
I grab her by the hand as I glare at him. “She’s staying.”
He nods, but the way his nostrils flare tells me he’s less than pleased. I can’t find it in myself to care, though. Elle looks uncomfortable but sits back down in the chair beside me. She wants to bolt, and I don’t blame her. At the same time I feel like shit and want her right here with me.
“Okay, want to explain to me why Mac had to tell us you were in the hospital? I thought there was a system in place if either of you got hurt?” His fists clench at his side, and I’m not completely sure that he wouldn’t throttle me right now if given the chance.
“That’s a question for Flynn. If I had to guess, my phone is probably still in the rig, so don’t look at me.”
I can feel a cough trying to force its way up, and I struggle to keep it down. I definitely tweaked my ribs in the fall, and now they kill every time I cough. Losing out I use my free arm to wrap around my middle as I cough. Dammit, this fucking sucks, but that little girl got out of the fire with minimal damage, so I regret nothing. Even as my esophagus burns and my lungs fight for clean air, I know I did the right thing.
“It’s too dangerous, Sullivan.” Rowan begins pacing the room. “If you would have– We didn’tknow. We didn’t know how bad it was until we got here. We spent the entire trip down unsure if you were alive because your phone was at the station, but your necklace was here.” Anxiety pours off of him.
Flynn and I wear simple gold chains that we were given as teenagers that have small trackers in them just in case something happened to us and our phones were taken. We always have them on, with the only exception being when I’m on duty, but even then I just put it in my basketball shorts that I wear under my gear. I guess he was alerted that they were separated and checked.
“I’m sorry that you guys worried, but really Roe, what would you have had me do differently? Bring my phone into a live fire?” I raise an eyebrow in question.
“No, smartass. I would have you working a desk job, but if youmustrun into buildings that everyone else is running out of, I’d prefer that Clara and I be your next of kin.”
“That’s not happening, Roe. It doesn’t make sense logically.” I match his fierce gaze.
“No, you’re just trying to cut all of us off and forget we exist.” He yells in the otherwise quiet room.
“You’re going to draw attention. This isn’t the time or the place for this. You need to leave.” I don’t raise my voice, but I don’t back down either.
“I’m done with this conversation. We can talk when you’re home and being less fucking stubborn.” He storms out of the room likehe’strying to escape a fire. At least he doesn’t slam the door behind him.
“Well… that was intense.” Elle notes while playing with my fingers.
“Understatement of the year.” I laugh as softly as I can. “Can you come lay with me,baby girl?”
She smiles before shaking her head, “No can do,baby boy.” Her voice dropping to try to imitate mine. “You need to lay there and rest so we can go home tomorrow.”
I can’t help but chuckle at how cute she is, “I’m not resting now. I can’t get comfortable and after the shit day I’ve had? I need you to make me feel better.”
She shakes her head with a smile, but she also climbs into the bed with me, and I adjust her until her ear is laying over my heart. I know I wasn’t the only one scared today. I press my lips to the top of her head and just breathe her in until her breathing evens out and my eyes get heavy. Being in this hospital bed sucks. At the same time, it sucks a little less with her sleeping in my arms.
***
They kept me in the hospital for two days because of my oxygen levels, but Elle and I finally broke free this morning. When we pulled up to my house, I’d never been more happy to see it. My buddies from the station were standing on the porch while the Luckys were in the driveway when we pulled up. The guys only stayed for about an hour to make sure we were good before leaving.
I’m lounging on the recliner in my living room while Elle is fussing over me when there’s a knock on my front door. There goes my relaxation. I know it’s Rowan before he even pushes the door open. What I don’t expect is Declan walking in behind him holding a beautiful vase of white lilies. Why the hell did he bring flowers to my house?
“Elle, these were left on your steps last night. Any idea who sent you flowers?” Declan asks as I look at Elle in question.
“Oh, those are from my Papa. He sends me flowers almost weekly. Was there a card?” She smiles brightly as she takes them from Declan and carries them into the kitchen.
“Boo? When did he start sending you flowers?” I question. I’ve never noticed them.
“He’s been doing it for years. Sometimes I’ll get home and someone will have brought them inside for me. I always assumed it was you, but it must have been one of the other guys.”
