Page 112 of Hart of Darkness
35
Dillon
Isat in a chair next to Maggie’s hospital bed. She was bandaged from head to toe. Her face was cut due to Cory. She’d been shot by Miguel, the fucker. And she’d taken a bullet to save my life. My heart was bursting with so many emotions, including a tinge of anger for putting herself in the line of fire.
The worse part of Maggie’s injuries was the bullet in her leg. We’d learned from Misty that Miguel had shot Maggie. The doctor who operated on her had said she was lucky to be alive. The bullet missed her artery by a fraction. Not to mention, she’d lost a lot of blood. Thank God for blood banks because she’d had to have a transfusion.
I adjusted my position in my seat. My ass was becoming numb. Maggie had been out for five days, and during that time, I’d been in hell. I hadn’t slept. I’d only showered once, and that was a rush job so I could get back to her. I wanted to be there when she woke up. I’d hardly eaten. Hughes had been in and out with food for me and to check on Maggie.
He’d been as much of a basket case as I was. But he couldn’t hang around since he had work to do, like making sure Miguel, Cory, and his man, Rick, didn’t make bail.
Ted strutted in, looking as deathly as I probably did. “Damn. She’s not awake yet.”
The fact that her heart was beating was the only thing keeping me from losing my shit.
Ted settled on the other side of Maggie’s bed. “You should go home and get some sleep. I’ll take this watch.”
I shook my head. “Not happening.”
He chuckled. “I take back what I said about you. You’re not bad, Hart.”
I didn’t need his approval when it came to Maggie, but it sure helped, considering Ted and Maggie were close. “I never thanked you for giving Maggie that lead on the tattoo shop. If it weren’t for that, I’m not sure I would’ve uncovered all that I did on Grace or that I would have found her.” And I wouldn’t have been able to force Duke’s hand.
Duke and I had parted ways with a hug and handshake. He was dealing with something heavy, but I knew not to pry. Duke was the type to process information in his own way, and if he needed to talk, then he would. For now, I was happy he and I weren’t at each other’s throat, and I was thankful and grateful he had helped me out with finding Maggie. It had been the first time since our gang days that I’d spent any time with my brother.
“I was surprised the lead amounted to anything. How’s Grace, by the way?”
“She’s got a lot to deal with considering the four years of torture she went through. But she’s okay. She’s staying at the shelter with the girls you rescued from Miguel and the other guests I have.”
Considering the family who wanted her returned to them for killing their son was still a threat, I was surprised Grace didn’t want to go into hiding. She’d said that she couldn’t keep running, and she had Dom, my brother Duke, and me to protect her. As far as the man she’d killed, she hadn’t said a word about him to Ted. She might when she was ready.
Maggie stirred. Her eyes flickered open, and she blinked. Then her eyes closed again.
I jumped up from the chair.
Hughes leaned over her bed and grabbed her hand. “Mags?”
She licked her lips then winced.
I commandeered her other hand. “Hey, beautiful.”
Her eyes flickered around, landing on Hughes then me. When she smiled, my heart soared high up into the sky.
Then she turned to Hughes. “Did you get the girls?”
“Shh,” Hughes said. “All taken care of.”
As if the heavens opened up, tears filled her stunning green eyes that were so darn mesmerizing.
Ted’s phone rang. He plucked it from his belt and answered. After a pause, he said, “I’ll be right there.” He lowered the phone. “Good to see that you’re back with us. I have to go, but I’ll come see you later.” He kissed her on the forehead, then his long legs carried him out of the room.
Maggie rubbed her chapped lips together.
I grabbed the cup of water I’d been drinking and brought it up to her mouth. She sipped a little, then a little more until the water was gone.
As I deposited the cup on the bedside table, she said, “Grace. Is she okay?”
I sat on the edge of the bed. “She’s fine. She’s at the shelter. You scared me. What were you thinking, taking a bullet for me?”
