Page 56 of Finding You
After a slight hesitation, Lynix said, “Follow me. They’re all in the same curtained off space, and it sounds like they’ll be discharged soon.”
When Zion made it to the area, he stood at the opening of the room and just watched them for a minute. It felt like it was the first time he could really breathe since receiving the call. Raven was sitting on a bed in a hospital gown with her left shoulder exposed, with what appeared to be some type of ointment on it.
She was lovingly staring down at Andrew who was in her arms looking up at her. A nurse stood near the head of the bed holding Zanaya, rocking her back and forth. The baby looked to be sleeping.
Zion’s heart, so full of love for all of them, felt as if it was going to burst out of his chest. Seeing them all with his own eyes, and knowing they were going to be okay, was overwhelming. Lynix shoved him forward, and that’s when Raven looked up.
The moment she saw him, she burst into tears, and that caused Andrew to start crying.
“Aww, baby,” Zion said and sat on the side of the bed. He lifted Andrew into his arms and then pulled Raven close until she gasped and winced.
Dammit.
“I’m sorry,” he said, and started to pull his arm away, but Raven didn’t let him. She gripped the front of his shirt tightly and burrowed her face in the crook of his neck and just cried.
Zion hadn’t seen her cry often, but whenever she did, he hated it. Hearing her sobs and feeling her tears on his neck was like taking a punch to the gut. He felt helpless and wasn’t sure what he could do to soothe her. So, he just held her close, trying not to hurt her shoulder in the process.
He placed a kiss against her forehead and told her how glad he was that she was all right. That seemed to help settle her a little, but she didn’t say anything.
He glanced down at Andrew who was still a little fussy. “Okay, lil man. You’re okay. Daddy’s got you,” Zion said, rocking his son in one arm, and continuing to provide comfort to Raven with the other. Thankfully, Zanaya was content with the nurse.
Zion wasn’t sure how long they stayed that way. It felt like forever but was probably only a few minutes. He kissed Raven again. He just needed her close. Needed to feel her heartbeat next to his. Her scent and having her in his arms helped, but he was still a little on edge. He could’ve lost all of them because of some punk-ass kids who didn’t value life. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been joyriding and driving recklessly.
“I was so scared,” Raven finally said, her voice muffled against his neck.
“Me too, baby. Me too. I love you so damn much. When Lynix called I…” his words trailed off and he closed his eyes.
Zion silently gave thanks that they were alive. He didn’t know how he was going to ever let the three of them out of his sight again. They meant everything to him, and it would’ve killed him if he had lost them.
“I love you, too,” Raven admitted. “I love you so, so much. You and our babies are my everything, and I—I could’ve…”
“Stop. Baby, you did great, and you protected our family. How about we get out of here and go home?”
Sniffling, she lifted her head and wiped frantically at her eyes. When she finally met his gaze, his heart lurched at thesadness in her beautiful light-brown eyes. God, he loved her more than he thought he could ever love another human being.
He gently gripped her chin and pulled her close before brushing a light kiss over her lips. “I love you, baby.”
She gave him a watery smile. “Not as much as I love you.”
No way she could love him more than he loved her, but Zion kept that thought to himself. He planned to spend the rest of his life showing her how much she meant to him.
“Come on. Let’s go home.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The next morning, Zion sat on the edge of the bed near Raven. He didn’t want to be one of those possessive guys who didn’t want to let their woman out of their sight, but he was afraid he might turn into that.
How pathetic.
When he was a Marine, he had seen things he thought he’d never see, and experienced crap he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy. As a cop, he had witnessed his share of horrific situations and had to sometimes deal with people who weren’t in their right mind. Still, he kept going back day after day, putting his life on the line sometimes in the worst conditions and managed to keep his cool.
Yet, last night had practically brought him to his knees. His emotions had been all over the place when he’d come face-to-face with the reality of almost losing the woman he loved. He’d always known life could be snuffed out in a heartbeat, literally, but Raven’s accident had truly brought that home.
While holding her through the night, he concluded that he’d live the rest of his life differently. He wouldn’t take anything for granted, starting with Raven.
Zion stilled when he heard one of the babies crying, but almost immediately, he heard Dorian go into the nursery. No doubt Onyx was right beside her since the dog was already protective of the twins.
Dorian had met them at the house last night, and while Zion catered to Raven, she took care of the twins like she’d been doing it forever. He was glad she’d still been willing to spend the night because, like Raven, the evening had taken a lot out of him. His mother had wanted to come by, but Zion had assured her everyone was okay. She finally conceded once she learned that Dorian had stepped in and planned to spend the day at his house.
