“I know… I know you want to leave.”
“I have to go find our girls.”
“Then go,” she told me. Her eyes never opened. They were swollen shut, but she turned her head in my direction.
“I love you.” The urge to say those words wouldn’t allow me to keep quiet or leave without her knowing exactly how I felt.
“Forever.”
TWENTY
10 hours later…
The soundof my unborn’s heartbeat had lulled me to sleep and woke me by sunrise. It was the sweetest sound God had ever created. As I tried opening my eyes for what felt like the millionth time, I managed to progress. I didn’t recall being moved, but I could feel the difference between the one I was in now and the one I’d left. The curtain that I’d kept hearing being pulled backward was nowhere to be found and the hundreds of noises and voices weren’t either.
“Hey, you’re awake,” Lyric cheered.
Immediately, I felt her arms around my neck, hugging me with her lips against my ear. Careful not to apply too much pressure with her body, she refrained from touching areas where I was obviously in pain.
“Don’t tell them anything. You were mugged. End of story,” she whispered.
“My neck,” I warned, reminding her it hurt a little, too.
“Sorry, just so happy to see your eyes open again.”
“Glad you’re awake, Ms. Sinclair. I was wondering if we could have a word with you.”
“Hi.”
“I’m Detective Gaines and this is Detective Cypress. We’re here to ask a few questions about your attack. Do you happen to remember anything at all?”
“No. I was hit in the head.”
“We’ve learned that you suffered a concussion, but we were wondering if you remember anything leading up to the incident. Any suspicious vehicles or anyone following you?”
“No.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing,” I repeated, lifting my hand to place it on my forehead. I wanted them out of my sight as soon as possible and if that meant being a little dramatic, then I didn’t mind.
“She’s not feeling very well. I think you should leave your card with us, and we will give you a call if she remembers anything,” I heard my mother say.
“Sure. Here’s my card and here’s Gaines’ card. Make sure you keep in touch. We want to catch whoever might’ve done this.”
“Of course,” Lyric agreed, grabbing my hand to hold.
I heard as their footsteps retreated and then headed for the door. It wasn’t until they were gone that I released a sigh. There was only one thing on my mind and it wasn’t the pain I was in.
“Where’s Luca? Has he located the girls?”
Though I’d just awakened, the exhaustion I felt was so rough on my body and my spirit that I wanted to do nothing but cry. Everything on my body hurt. It felt like I’d been hit by a moving vehicle. It even hurt to breathe.
“Not yet, babe. He’s working on it, though.”
“I feel so much pain right now. It even hurts to breathe,” I explained.
“You have bruised ribs on both sides, Ever. I’m so sorry that everything hurts. Would you like me to have the nurse up the pain meds she’s giving you?”
