“Are doing as they were told.”

His head snaps back. “No, they aren’t. I gave them specific instructions.” His eyes cut to Bass and narrow before moving back to mine.

“Instructions I overrode.”

He tenses where he stands. “Excuse me?”

“You aren’t welcome here, not yet.”

That gets him angry. He shifts closer and is met with a wall of men, but I push past them, stepping in front of him.

“Not welcome,” he drags out, his eyes moving over my shoulder. His words are calm but hold a heavy power. “I’d bury you for less.”

“Don’t threaten my men.”

His brows jump. “Your men?” When I say nothing he starts to break. It takes him a minute, but then his eyes lose their peril, sloping at the edges as concern seeps through. “Raven,” he pauses. “I need to be here for him.”

“Not yet.”

He shakes his head, not angry but unsure. “You have no right.”

“I have every right.”

“That is my son!”

“That is my husband!”

He jerks back like he’s been slapped, stumbling a bit even before he finds his footing.

I look to Bass.

Without a word spoken, he ushers the security a few feet away, but he makes sure he’s within his idea of a safe distance.

“When?” he breathes, eyes on mine.

“Six weeks ago. We wanted it to be easier for everyone. It backfired.”

His shoulders fall. “Maddoc... he heard, didn’t he?” His eyes move between mine. “That’s why I can’t reach him. He’s gone?”

I open my mouth to speak, but he surprises me.

“This is my fault. All of it.” He steps back, propping himself against the side of the elevator door. “He has no idea what’s happened, does he?”

“He’d be here if he did.” My eyes travel his face. “How did you hear?”

“My men.” He gives a sad laugh. “Our, your, I don’t even know anymore, but I was contacted the moment he was wheeled in. Gunshot they said?”

I consider not answering but, in the end, I do. “Two, but only one broke the skin. We’re waiting for him to be moved into a room.” I swallow. “Rolland, I can’t let you in here.”

“As much as it saddens me to say, I understand, Raven, and I respect the strength in your decision. I’d do the same.”

“Raven!”

Victoria shouts and I look over my shoulder.

“He’s in his room, we can go in!” Her eyes are tight, smile tighter.

I nod, turning back to Rolland.

His chin falls to his chest.

I almost give in, almost crack, but at this point, I have no idea what’s going on.

Everyone is suspect, and he has yet to earn my trust if he ever does.

“Get into the elevator, Rolland. Make this easier for everyone. If you don’t, Royce will walk out here, and I don’t want to put him in the position to choose.”

“He’d choose you, Raven.”

I look to him, finding nothing but sincerity and certainty staring back.

“They all would,” he whispers, a proud smile on his lips, hurt in his eyes. “I underestimated you.”

“Everyone does.”

“They won’t anymore, not at the end of this. No one will.”

“You sound so sure.”

His weighty gaze holds mine. “I recognize the fight in your eyes. You want answers, and you’ll stop at nothing until you get them.” He pushes the button behind him without looking, stepping back into the elevator when the door pings open. His shoulders square and he stands tall. “Go. Be with them.”

I don’t respond, but wait until the doors close between us, then turn and jog down the hall.

Royce grabs my hand and together we walk through the double doors at the back of the room, Vee and Bass behind us.

My palm freezes on the door we’re told Captain is behind, my eyes flying to Royce.

His hand comes up to cup my cheek, the vein in his hitting against his tan skin. “You’re not weak. His being behind this door is proof of that. You’re the bravest fucking person I have ever met, RaeRae, believe that.” He kisses my temple, pulling back to look at me. “Go. I’m right behind ya.”

I push through the door, my heart pounding harder against my chest with every step taken, but when Royce’s grip finds mine from behind, my hand tightens, my eyes flying to him over my shoulder.

I’m hit with an overwhelming sense of obligation. I don’t only need to be stronger for him right now, but I want to be. This is his brother lying here helpless – something they aren’t accustomed to being. And it’s just him.

What once was three is now one, at least that’s how it must seem in his eyes.

One decision from me took both his brothers from him, temporary or not, it’s what happened. He hates being alone, can’t handle being left out, has no clue how to trust or believe in something better.

My eyes move back to his.

His features are soft but rugged. The tattoos from his neck to his knuckles scream bad boy, unapproachable, but he’s so much more. He wants, more needs, someone to dare to look further, reach deeper. Look the angry in the eye and bear the burden willingly.

I’d do it in a heartbeat, but I wouldn’t be enough. He needs someone’s all, not the pieces I have to share with him.

“I’m good, RaeRae,” he whispers for only me to hear. “Keep those feet moving.”

We push farther into the room, the bleeps of the machines as irking as the sterile smell burning my nostrils.

“Hello.” A soft, warm welcome from the nurse at his side. “I’m Carmen, I’ll be here until he’s ready to stroll away on his own.”

Nobody says a word as she quietly walks out.

I force my eyes to Captain, and to my surprise, relief wafts over me. Royce steps behind me, so I drop my head against his chest allowing him to shuffle us to his bedside.

There are already three chairs placed directly beside it, so Royce and I lower ourselves into them.

The third chair mocks me, and guilt crashes hard, serving as a heavy weight on my body and mind.

I lean forward, laying my forehead on his lifeless hand.

Royce’s finds my lower back, and then his head joins mine.

My eyes close, my favorite shade of green flashing behind them before everything fades away and all that’s left is an empty pit of darkness, the universe’s sick way of saying not even in your dreams can you have him.

I crash.

The early morning sun shines through the window when my eyes open and I push myself straight in my chair.

Royce’s hand grips my thigh and I look to him.

“He hasn’t woken up yet, but they think he will soon,” he tells me.

I glance behind me to find Victoria sitting on the little couch, staring right at me, while Bass stands at the edge of the door, just in case.

From there, the days are repeated. One turns to two, then six, and before we know, fourteen days passed and we’re still here.

They removed the ventilator on the second day, and Captain started to stir on the third, but he’s yet to stay awake longer than five minutes. He looks around, groans here and there. The nurse was able to get the doctor in quick enough for him to do his doctor shit once, flash some lights in his eyes and check his pupils, told him how long he’d been here, but Captain fell back asleep before he was able to talk to him about his injuries.