Page 51 of Claimed
“Losing you.”
He rests his forehead on mine and flattens his palm on my sternum. I close my eyes, absorbing his words. He’s scared of losing me. But why? Why would he still want me after everything that’s happened? I tried to kill him twice, for God’s sake. I can’t even think about it right now. My brain already hurts.
“Sweetest sound I’ve heard in a long time,” he mutters.
“What?”
“Your heart beating. I’ve been listening to it for the last twenty-four hours.”
Deena comes in with my water, hands it to me, then backs out of the room. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
I down the contents, hand the empty glass to Gage, and settle back into the pillows. Gage strokes my cheek as my eyes begin to close again.
“Sleep, babe. We’ll talk when you wake up.”
***Gage***
I’ve been checking her heartbeat every couple of minutes. I know she’s just sleeping, but I need the reassurance of her pulse beating beneath my fingers. E says she’s going to be fine. He brought in one of his doctor friends and we managed to get her out discreetly so they could run all kinds of tests on her. I had to pay him a hefty sum to do it and keep quiet, but it was worth it. Apparently, I found her before the pills could have caused any serious damage to her organs.
I drag a hand down my face and close my burning eyes for a few seconds. I haven’t slept, and I’m beginning to feel the effects.
“You should go take a nap,” Gina suggests. “I’ll watch her.”
“I’ll just rest my eyes for a bit. Thanks.”
I settle into the chair, lean my head on the back, and close my eyes. When I open them again, Raven is sitting up in bed, drinking soup and talking to Gina.
“I love your perfume. What is it?” Raven asks.
“It’s not perfume. I’m allergic. I mix essential oils and different lotions together to get the scent I want.”
I shake away the sleep and sit on the edge of the bed, halting their conversation. “Why didn’t you wake me?” I ask Gina.
“I told her not to,” Raven answers. “You looked tired.”
Gina takes the bowl from Raven and leaves. I climb in next to her and wrap my arm around her shoulder as she leans in to me with a sigh.
“How do you feel?”
“I’m okay…worried about you. Deena said you hadn’t slept…and your face is bruised.”
“Who’s Deena?”
“We’ve been through this before. The woman who just left here…Super Head?”
“Fuck me.” I chuckle. “I’ve been calling her ‘Gina’ all this time. She didn’t even say anything.”
“Now, who would dare correct the mighty Reaper?”
I inhale deeply, squeezing her shoulder. “Not so mighty. I haven’t been able to save you.”
She sits up, searching my eyes as she lays a hand on my jaw. “None of this is your fault. You’ve done everything you can do. The rest is on me.”
“Tell me what to do. Tell me how to help you. I can’t help if you don’t talk to me. I need to know, Raven. I need my baby girl back.”
“You’ll get her back, I promise. I’m not going to let this thing rule my life anymore. I’m taking back control. I think that’s what Dr. Jayne said. I should have listened to her a long time ago.”
