Page 66 of Revived
“Hey, principessa. How are you feeling?” His expression is more gentle than I’ve ever experienced, but I don’t understand. Where am I, and why? How long have I been here?
“What…” My thoughts are still somewhat foggy.
Just like I knew he would, Sully reads my mind and takes over. “Do you remember the trials, boo? Anything about them at all?”
I have to think really hard for the fog to clear enough to answer him. “I remember being in the locker room. Then Addy… she said Kenzie needed my help with her hair. Then it all gets too fuzzy.” I sheepishly admit.
“That’s okay, you’re doing amazing.” He smiles at me reassuringly.
“The boy. The stalker, he was there. He hurt you, principessa. Do you remember anything about that?” My Papa asks.
No. He wasn’t. I was just going to help Kenz. That’s not right.
I can feel my hands tremble with anxiety from knowing I’m missing time. “I’m sorry. I don’t.” My eyes water, but before the first tear can fall, Sully is there to catch it.
“It’s okay, you don’t need to worry about anything other than getting better.” His perfect lips press to my forehead gently.
“Where am I and why?” I ask, but already my eyes are getting heavy and sleep tries to pull me under.
“You’re at the hospital, but you’re okay. You just came out of surgery about an hour ago. You had to have screws and plates put into your forearm and elbow. They probably hurt, huh?” When I nod at him, he places a gentle kiss on my cheek. “Yeah, I figured. You were in a diabetic coma before surgery for three days. I’m sure you’re exhausted. We can talk about everything else later. Take a nap, I’ll be here when you wake up.”
It dawns on me that we aren’t together. I ruined us for good. My eyes widen in shock. “But we– we aren’t–”
“Do you want me here when you wake up, Elle?” He asks in a no nonsense tone. All I can do is sniffle back my cry and nod. “Then I’ll be here when you wake up. We’re fine, baby. I know. I know it all, andwe’re both safe now. Get some sleep.” His lips gently graze mine as peace and safety flood relief through my veins for the first time since he left me sobbing in the gym hallway.
He’s right, I am exhausted. Letting my eyes flutter closed, I listen to the sound of him breathing as I drift off. I’m almost asleep when I hear him whisper, “I love you so much. We’ll never truly extinguish. I’ll always revive us.”
***
“I think this may be overkill, Monster.” I giggle from the safety of Sully’s arms.
He’s been carrying me around since I was discharged from the hospital four days ago. I keep giving him a hard time about it, but really I’m so nervous that I don’t know if I could walk in here on my own. Sully seems cool as a cucumber as he struts across the parking lot to where his brothers wait for us outside of an old abandoned barn, at least it seems that way. I know better than that, though. This barn is owned by the BOCG, and the man who has been terrorizing me for ten years is inside of it.
Sully wants me as far away from here as possible, but I am my father’s daughter, so I needed to do this.
“Her legs aren’t broken, Sul. Put her down.” Kieran laughs as we approach.
“Shut the hell up. I’ve watched you all carry your women around for years. Get off my back.” Sully acts annoyed but I see the way his lips twitch.
“Who isall?” Flynn asks with a furrowed brow.
“Yeah, whoisall? Last I checked my ‘woman’ is a six foot four man who could make me bark like a fucking dog just by giving me one look.” Declan shrugs unashamed.
All of his brothers look at him like he just admitted to eating mayonnaise by the spoonful.
“Bark, Declan? Really?” Mac questions in disbelief. “The same man who was beating the shit out of you in the ring last week?”
“Don’t get involved in marital problems, Mac. I ate his left overs, the man had every right.”
They’re so weird.
“You guys are fathers… You remember that, right?” Rowan asks, a hint of teasing in his usually serious tone.
“And he’s an amazing Papa to our girls… But we still piss each other off sometimes. Mind your business.” He huffs out.
“Okay, leave Declan and his weird relationship with his husband alone.” Sully tries and fails to stay serious while defending his brother. “We aren’t here for that.”
His brothers sober as I wiggle to be put down. Sully complies reluctantly and slowly lowers me until my feet are on solid ground. He takes my good hand in his, refusing to allow me that much space between us. Normally it would irritate me, but I get it. He was terrified when he found me, much like he was when I survived being shot. So, I’ll let him be as clingy as he needs to be to assure him that I’m not a figment of his imagination and I’m actually here.
