Chapter 86: Chapter 17

ROSA

Eddie’s stumble sends a scream ripping from my throat. Everyone else starts running too. Just as I’m about to reach him, Caden’s arms wrap around me, pulling me back.

Nate and Jessie flip Eddie onto his back, tending to his wounds. I struggle against Caden, desperate to get to Eddie, when the distant wail of sirens reaches my ears. Nate, Jessie, and Jace hoist Eddie up, sprinting toward the approaching ambulance.

Caden releases me and I take off after them, my legs pumping as fast as they can. My shorter strides take two, sometimes three, to match their one. I reach the ambulance just as Nate is helping me up into the back.

He tells me to sit down and stay out of the way. He jumps back in, assisting the paramedic with Eddie, while the EMT slams the doors shut and jumps into the driver’s seat. The ambulance whips around, sirens blaring, racing toward the hospital.

I tap my foot anxiously, biting back the urge to yell at the driver to go faster. Nate shoots me a warning look, shaking his head. He knows what I’m thinking.

We aren’t driving Miss Daisy here! As we pull into the emergency room parking lot, Nate tells me to brace myself. The moment the ambulance comes to a halt, the doors are flung open.

Eddie is quickly unloaded and Nate grabs my hand. We follow Eddie into the hospital, where we’re ushered into a waiting room. The doctor informs us that they’re taking Eddie straight into surgery to stop the bleeding.

He promises to return once they’re done. We wait for what feels like an eternity. One by one, everyone shows up to wait with us.

Caden and Eva bring food, but I can’t eat. All I can think about is Eddie. He has to be okay, right?

The doctor finally returns, and the look on his face tells me it’s not good news. “He’s out of surgery and alive,” he says.

“He lost a lot of blood and there was significant internal damage. He’s in recovery now and should wake up soon. We’ve done all we can, but only time will tell if he survives. He’s still in critical condition.

“I can take a few of you to see him. The next few hours are crucial.”

Eva grabs my hand and we follow the doctor to Eddie’s room, Caden trailing behind us.

The sight of Eddie, tubes snaking out of him, sends a wave of nausea through me. I barely make it to the trash can before I’m emptying my stomach into it. Eva kneels beside me, rubbing my back as I try to calm my roiling stomach.

A nurse comes in with some medication. I’m shaking so badly I can barely take it from her. With Eva’s help, I swallow the medicine with some water.

Within twenty minutes, my body starts to relax. I curl up in a chair next to Eddie’s bed, holding his hand as we wait. After an hour, Eva brings me a blanket.

The room is growing colder. We sit in silence, the steady beep of Eddie’s heart monitor the only sound in the room. We spend hours watching nurses come and go, the doctor checking in periodically.

I keep my eyes on Eddie’s hand, hoping for any sign of movement. I think I see his hand twitch, but when I look at his face, there’s no change. I’ve done this so many times, hoping against hope that he’s awake.

I’m drifting off to sleep when I feel a slight movement in Eddie’s hand. I open my eyes, but his hand is still. I think I see his thumb twitch, but I tell myself it’s just wishful thinking.

Then his hand moves again. I look up at his face, but he’s still unconscious. I look back at his hand—it’s definitely moving.

I stand up, alerting everyone, and reach out to touch his face. His eyes flutter open and tears start streaming down my face. “Eddie? Please tell me you’re awake,” I plead.

His voice is raspy when he responds, “Rosa, I’m awake.” Relief washes over me and I collapse next to him, sobbing. Eva leans against Caden, her own tears falling.

Eddie’s awake! He carefully scoots over and motions for me to climb onto the bed. I crawl up next to him, crying into his chest as all the pent-up emotions spill over.

The doctor comes in, a smile on his face. He tells us Eddie will need to stay for a few more days for monitoring. Eva has to practically drag me away, promising we’ll be back in the morning.

I give Eddie a kiss before we leave, heading back to the compound for some much-needed rest. Back at the compound, I shower quickly and crawl into Eddie’s bed, his scent still lingering. I fall asleep quickly, but I’m jolted awake by alarms blaring throughout the house.

I remember Eddie’s instructions—run to the back wall and open the escape route. I punch in the code, but nothing happens. The panel flashes “invalid code.”

Panic sets in as I hear gunshots outside. I keep entering the code, faster and faster, but it keeps flashing “invalid code.” I run to the front door and swing it open, only to find Angelo standing there, gun in hand.

This can’t be right. Angelo’s supposed to be dead. Eddie killed him—I saw it happen.

I try to run, but Angelo grabs my hair, yanking me back. He slams the door shut and throws me to the ground. I scramble away from him, but he’s right behind me.

Tears stream down my face as my heart pounds in my chest. I make a run for the back door, but Angelo slams into me from behind. I hit the wall hard and crumple to the ground.

Angelo is on top of me, tearing at my clothes. I fight back, but a punch to my face sends stars dancing in my vision. Angelo pins my arms down and starts kissing my neck.

I struggle to free my hands, but he just laughs. “Oh Rosa, baby, you didn’t think you’d get away, did you? Besides, I have a little gift for you.”

He calls out to his friends and they drag in a battered and bandaged Eddie. Angelo places his gun against Eddie’s head. I struggle to get Eddie’s attention, but Angelo just laughs.

“You’ll always be mine, you fucking bitch!” The sound of a gunshot echoes as I scream Eddie’s name, and then I’m drenched in icy water. I bolt upright, my eyes darting to Nate, Caden, and Eva.

I scramble off the bed, aiming for the back wall, but Eva catches me. My mind is slow to process who’s in the room until I feel her shaking me, shouting my name.

Suddenly, it all clicks and I crumple to the floor, curling into a fetal position. I sob uncontrollably while Eva tries to soothe me.

***

Still trembling, I’m lifted off the floor by Caden and placed back on the bed. Eva crawls in beside me, her presence a comforting balm. Eventually, I manage to drift off to sleep for the few remaining hours before we have to return to the hospital.

When I wake, Eva suggests I pack some clothes and stay with Eddie at the hospital. That way, if I have any issues, the doctor can give me something to help me relax. I quickly shower, pull on some leggings and a t-shirt, and grab one of Eddie’s hoodies.

***

I pack a bag and head out to the car. I must have dozed off during the ride because I’m jolted awake by a tap on my shoulder. We make our way to Eddie’s room and as soon as we enter, I drop my bag on a chair and crawl into his bed, burying my face in the sheets as I cry.

Eva explains to Eddie that I had a terrible nightmare where he was shot right next to me. I feel Eddie’s arms tighten around me as he holds me close. I hear the others leave the room, and then Eddie leans in to whisper in my ear.

***

“Rosa, sweetheart, I won’t let anyone hurt you again. I made sure he was dead, and I saw the text confirming they disposed of the bodies. It’s all over, I promise.”

I just nod, too exhausted to speak. Before long, I’m fast asleep again. I can’t wait until we can leave this place.

Epilogue

^FIVE YEARS LATER^

MASON

Jeremy and I have plans to grab dinner after work today. We’re meeting up with our old pals, Christian and Travis. We’ve been tight since we were kids, a perfect fit, like pieces of a puzzle.

So, when Christian and Travis needed jobs, it was a no-brainer. Who wouldn’t want to work for the Maxwells?

As the clock strikes five, we pile into an SUV, heading for our bar, The Striker. We pull up around six, parking right in front of the club. As I step out with my crew, a voice from the crowd catches my attention.

It’s a guy I don’t recognize, getting mouthy, with a girl trying to calm him down. I glance at her and my breath catches. She’s a goddess.

I can’t help but wonder how this is going to unfold, because I need her.

“Like seriously, they think they own the fucking town! Nothing but a bunch of pussies if you ask me.”

His buddies seem to agree, while the girls are trying to hush them. I straighten my suit as one of the girls is suddenly grabbed by the throat and slammed against a wall.

“Shut the fuck up, bitch! You three were hired for a good fuck tonight, so better behave before your owner gets called!”

I exchange a look with my guys and we all draw our guns, striding over. I slip my arm around the first guy’s neck, pressing my gun to his head. Jeremy and Travis pull the other girls away from the remaining two.

I signal for my girl to step aside while my guys keep their guns trained on the others. I release the loudmouth when he spins around to face me.

“You can’t just take our fucking girls! We paid for their services tonight!”

“I don’t give a flying fuck what you paid for! And guess what? We just took your fucking girls!”

End of Book 4