Page 49 of Come Alive
Mateo didn’t answer. Instead, the van filled with their deepest, darkest concerns. But in that ride over, one thing was born from Yara’s injuries.
The three men were bound together, in trauma, and their love for the woman bleeding out.
Chapter 30
Yara
Hot.
I’m on fire. Am I dying?
“She’s twitching.” The words floated around my subconscious, not quite landing but circulating a few times. “Get the nurse!”
There was a rush of cool air against me, followed by loud stomping.
Rustling and then pressure across my skin.
Grumbling, I attempted to swat at it.
A deep chuckle vibrated across my palm, bringing me closer to consciousness.
“Little bee, it’s time to wake upnow. It’s been weeks.”
My eyes were sealed shut, but my chapped lips parted. “No,” I coughed out.
The movement caused astabbingpain to hit right below my heart, and I couldn’t help the whine that desperately crept from me.
“Careful.” The gentleness of the word was marred with a harsh warning.
“I should leave before she wakes up fully. She won’t want me here.” This voice was huskier, aching.
“Idiota, stay in the fucking chair. If you go anywhere, I will cut your balls clean off.”
This time, when I tried to open my eyes, it worked. Blinking in rapid succession, I cleared my vision. I was in a hospital room, that much was obvious. A nurse was by my side, looking me over. Kazi and Mateo were bent over me, worry etched in their flat lips and furrowed brows. But it was James who drew my attention.
He sat in the chair beside the bed, his head hung, his body deflated. Carefully shifting up with Kazi’s help, I reached for him first, offering a squeeze.
“The babies?” My free hand traced over my stomach.
“Healthy, just waiting for their mother to wake up. You were shot, directly below your heart, but above your uterus. Somehow, it missed anything vital. There will be a road to recovery and you will need to rest, but you areokay.” Kazi sighed, watching me critically, a glassy sheen coating his eyes. “You worried us.Pleasedon’t do that again.”
His words were backed up by the full bodyachethat held me in its clutches, but they also eased my anxiety.
“Yes, they’re fine. It was a miracle, but you are going to be okay,” the nurse agreed. She ran a few tests, poking and prodding me, and once she was satisfied, she stepped back. “Call us if you need anything.” She inclined her head, eyeing the men in the room warily before making her escape.
We were okay. We were all okay.
“I’m not a bee. They die too easily,” I informed Mateo. “I’m a wasp.”
But where is Izzy? She should be here.
Mateo chuckled softly, distracting me. “I missed you.” His large arms gently wrapped around me, but instead of releasingme, he held me there for a few minutes, his entire body shaking around me.
The typically stoic and emotionless man, breaking down, caused liquid to form in my eyes too. “Fucking hormones.” I hiccupped as the tears fell freely.
“It’s understandable to feel this, Yara. It was a lot.” Kazi’s comforting tone was my undoing.
My sobs turned loud and erratic as Mateo continued to hold me to him.
