17:38 Wed, Dec 31
Chapter 54
Chapter 54
-Hailey-
:
36
55 vouchers
The first time I woke up, it was brief. Blurry and disjointed, like surfacing from the bottom of a lake.
I didn’t open my eyes. Everything was noise the wail of a siren, a voice I didn’t recognize, the rhythmic beeping of a monitor.
My body felt heavy, detached. Like it didn’t belong to me anymore.
“-medical history?” the strange voice said. “Allergies? Medications?”
“I… don’t know,” Logan’s voice replied, strained and helpless. It cracked something inside me to hear him like that Logan, who was always so sure. So unshakable.
–
I wanted to tell him I was okay. That I didn’t have allergies… I wasn’t on anything. But my tongue felt like lead, and darkness dragged me back under before I could make a sound.
The next time I woke, it was to the sterile glare of fluorescent hospital lighting. My eyelids fluttered open, and everything was too bright.
My shoulder throbbed, a dull insistent ache that radiated down my arm. I turned my head carefully, and there he was. Logan.
He was slumped in the chair next to my bed with his head resting on his folded arms. His hair was a mess, and he looked exhausted. Like he hadn’t slept in weeks.
There was dried blood on his hands, smeared up his arms. My blood.
“Logan,” I croaked, my voice rough and unfamiliar.
He jolted awake. The pained look in his eyes told me he’d been reliving the moment over and over. His jaw was tight, but the second he saw me, something softened.
He sat up, reaching for my hand like he needed to touch me to believe I was real.
“Ace,” he whispered, his voice cracking. He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “God, you scared the hell out of me.”
I managed a weak smile. “Sorry,” I murmured. “For scaring you. Not for taking the bullet.”
He squeezed my fingers. “You’re so goddamn stupid,” he said, his voice low. His eyes darkened and his voice edged on a growl. “Don’t ever do that again. I don’t give a shit what happens to me. You don’t get to-”
His voice broke, and he dropped his forehead to our hands. “You don’t get to leave me,” he whispered.
I wanted to say something, to reassure him, but the words caught in my throat. I reached up with my free hand, running my fingers through his curls. He leaned into the touch, his breath hitching.
17:38 Wed, Dec 31
Chapter 54
36
65 vouchers.
Before either of us could say more, the door opened and a doctor walked in. He was middle–aged, with a kind face and tired eyes. He glanced between us before focusing on me.
“Miss Conway,” he said. “I’m Doctor Patel. It’s good to see you awake… you gave us quite a scare. How are you feeling?”
“Like I got shot,” I said dryly, and Logan let out a soft laugh.
The doctor smiled faintly. “Understandable. You lost a significant amount of blood. The bullet nicked your subclavian artery, but we were able to repair it surgically. Rather unlucky there but it did miss all major nerves. Still, you’ll likely need a bit of physical therapy to regain full mobility.”
–
I nodded, processing the information. Physical therapy seemed like the least of my worries right now.
The doctor continued, explaining the details of the surgery and what to expect in the coming days. I tried to listen, but my attention kept drifting back to Logan.
He sat stiff in the chair with his hand still clutching mine like he was afraid I might disappear.
“She’s gonna be okay, though?” Logan asked, pulling my attention back to the conversation.
“Yes,” Dr. Patel said firmly. “She can go home today, but she’ll need time to recover. Rest is crucial.”
I smiled at the doctor’s words. I was more than ready to get out of here. But Logan’s jaw clenched, and I could feel the tension radiating off him.
“Home?” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re talkin‘ like she just stubbed her toe. She got *shot*, doc. You think she’s ready to just bounce outta here?”
Dr. Patel took a slight step back, his kind face faltering. “I understand your concern, but her condition is stable. We’ve done everything we can-”
“Everything you can?” Logan interrupted, his voice rising. He shot up from his chair, his green eyes blazing. “She’s still pale as a ghost, and you’re ready to kick her out the door?”
I reached for his arm, trying to pull him back down. “Logan,” I murmured. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”
He glanced down at me, but he didn’t sit. Instead, he turned back to the doctor, his glare sharp enough to cut glass. “You better be damn sure she’s ready. If anything happens to her-”
“Sir,” Dr. Patel said, holding up a hand and taking a step back. “I assure you, she’s stable. If you’re uncomfortable, we can monitor her for another night. However, she’s not in immediate danger.”
Logan’s jaw flexed. But I reached out and squeezed his hand, and he didn’t push further. Instead, he sat back down heavily, lacing his fingers through mine again. “Fine,” he muttered. But his tone made it clear it wasn’t fine at all.
Dr. Patel nodded, relief flickering across his face. “I’ll leave you two to rest. Press the call button if you need anything.” He turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
The silence stretched between us. I could feel Logan’s anger simmering beneath the surface, but I didn’t know
17:38 Wed, Dec 31
Chapter 54
BG voucher
36)
how to soothe it. “Logan,” I finally said. “Where the hell did that come from? He was just trying to be helpful.”
Before he could respond, the door opened again, and Dr. Patel was back with two police officers. One carried a small notebook and a pen.
“Sorry, I know I said I’d let you rest,” the doctor said. “We’re required to call the police when someone comes in with a gunshot wound, and they’ve just arrived.”
He ducked quickly out of the room before Logan could lay into him again.
“Miss Conway… Mr. Nash.” one of the cops said, his voice clipped but polite. “I’m Officer Wilton. This is Officer Miller. We already have the basics of what happened… we just need to get your statements real quick.”
I nodded, though the mention of the event sent a chill through me. “Okay.”
Logan’s grip on my hand tightened again, and I could feel him bristling beside me. “She just woke up,” he said, almost a growl. “Can’t this wait?”
Officer Wilton glanced at him, his expression like stone. “The sooner we get this wrapped up, the sooner we can get Detective Becker arraigned and processed.”
I swallowed hard. My throat was dry. “Becker shot me,” I said bluntly. “He burst into the clubhouse this morning trying to arrest me – us – without cause. He pointed his gun at Logan. When I stepped between them, he fired.”
The officers exchanged a glance. Officer Miller scribbled in his notebook while Wilton nodded. “That matches what we got from everyone else at the scene.”
Logan’s fingers twitched against mine. “He was aiming at me,” he said quietly. “She jumped in front of me like a goddamn idiot.”
I shot him a look. “And I’d do it again.”
Officer Wilton cleared his throat. “Miss Conway, do you intend to press charges?”
A dry laugh escaped me. “Does it matter? He’s already going to prison, right?”
“Most likely, yes. But your testimony will carry significant weight in court,” Wilton said. “Especially given the severity of your injuries.”
I glanced down at the thick bandages peeking out from my hospital gown. The pain was a constant throb, but it was the memory of Becker’s cold eyes that made my stomach twist.
“Yeah,” I said. “I’ll press charges. Every single one you can stick to him.”
Logan exhaled sharply beside me, his shoulders relaxing just a little. The officers asked a few more questions.
I answered as best I could, but the pain meds were making everything feel fuzzy at the edges.
By the time they finally left, my eyelids were drooping.
“Get some rest, Ace,” Logan murmured, sitting back in his chair. “I’ll be here.”
17:38 Wed, Dec 31
Chapter 55
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
