Songbird

by Maya Banks

  “Rand,” she managed to get out between coughs.

  “He can’t hurt you anymore. Oh Jesus, Emmy.”

  His hands fluttered over her body, and she could see the panic in his eyes. It was bad. But then she knew that.

  She smiled, ignoring the blood seeping from her mouth.

  “So glad you came,” she whispered. “Love you.”

  “Emmy, listen to me. I’ve got to pick you up. It’s going to hurt like hell, but I’ve got to get you to the hospital.”

  She nodded, his face blurring above her.

  “You stay with me, okay? Swear to me you’ll stay with me.”

  “Swear,” she slurred.

  Why couldn’t she breathe? She sucked in huge mouthfuls of air, but she could only manage the smallest bit into her lungs. And it hurt. God, it hurt so much. She didn’t want to breathe, but she panicked when she held her breath for too long.

  Taggert slid his arms underneath her, murmuring apologies and prayers the entire time. His words faded in and out, or maybe it was her fading. How could she tell?

  She was lifted into the air, and agony seared through her body like a bolt of lightning. She gasped then choked as blood filled her mouth. She gagged and coughed and that sent another surge of pain through her chest so fierce that her eyes rolled back into her head.

  The next thing she knew she was lying on the seat of Taggert’s truck, and Taggert was shouting at her to stay with him.

  Blackness crowded her vision, closing in on her like night. She struggled to stay awake, to stay with Taggert as he demanded over and over. It hurt too much, though. It was easier to slide toward the dark.

  “Tagg…”

  “Yes, baby, I’m here. I’m here, Emmy. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me, honey.”

  “L-love you. So…so much. Always…have. Tell Greer. Love…him…too.”

  She was sliding. Endlessly. No handholds. No way to hang on.

  Chapter Seventeen

  When Emily opened her eyes, she knew something wasn’t right. It was too quiet, too peaceful, and there was no pain. She wasn’t even lying down, but then after glancing down, she wasn’t exactly standing either.

  For the love of God¾literally¾don’t let this be one of those out of body experiences people talked about when they died.

  A chuckle had her whipping around, well, as much as one could when she had no sense of physical being.

  Sean. Standing there with a big ole smile on his face, worn jeans—his favorite pair—boots and a threadbare T-shirt. Looking just as gorgeous and as full of life as he’d ever looked.

  “You’re not dead, Emmy,” he said.

  “Sean,” she whispered. Tears filled her eyes. Her nose stung, and her throat ached.

  “Hey, love,” he said in a husky voice. “Still causing trouble, I see.”

  She smiled through her tears and then threw herself into his arms.

  Oh it was the best feeling in the world. It wasn’t a dream. She could feel his arms around her when she thought never to feel them again. He even smelled just like he always did.

  She pulled away and looked up into his eyes. “Kiss me.”

  His mouth lowered to hers. This was a gift like none she’d ever expected to receive. How many times had she begged God for just one more time in Sean’s arms? One more chance to tell him how much she loved him and how much she missed him.

  “I love you,” she whispered into his mouth.

  He gripped her shoulders, his thumbs rubbing a pattern over her skin. “I love you, Emmy. I’ve always loved you. Now we need to have a talk.”

  She groaned. “Don’t spoil things. I don’t want to talk. I just want to be with you.”

  His eyes were so serious. He cupped her cheek and held her face between his hands.

  “Taggert and Greer need you, Emmy.”

  She shook her head, only focused on the miracle of seeing—of talking—to Sean again. How could she even think of leaving him?

  “I had three wonderful years with you, Songbird. Three years I’ll cherish for eternity. I don’t regret anything. You weren’t to blame for my death.”

  She looked away, tears slipping down her cheeks.

  “Emmy, look at me.”

  She raised her gaze again, overwhelmed at the love and understanding she found in his eyes.

  “You weren’t to blame. If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was my time. It’s not your time.”

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  “I’ll always be with you. Wherever you are, I’ll be.”

  She rested her head on his chest, savoring the connection to him that time and his death hadn’t erased.

  “I love you.”

  His hands slid over her back and into her hair. “I love you too. Always. Taggert and Greer love you. They always have even if they wouldn’t admit it. They need you, Emmy. They can’t lose us both.”

  He tilted her head back up so she looked at him again.

  “I’ll never leave you. Do you know that? I’m always here.”

  Tears slipped rapidly down her cheeks as she stared wordlessly up at him.

  “I don’t want to say goodbye,” she choked out.

  He smiled. “Then don’t. Say you love me and then go back. I’ll be waiting for you. When it’s your time, I’ll be there.”

  “Oh Sean. I do love you so much.”

  She threw her arms around him and held on desperately. This time…this time she knew she wouldn’t see him again until it was her time.

  “I know, Songbird. I know. I never doubted for a moment that you loved me. Now go. Taggert and Greer are worried. They’re scared of losing you, and you’ve been a very difficult patient.”

  He smiled a little as he said it and stroked her cheek with one finger.

  “Do one more thing for me.”

  “Anything.”

  “Sing.”

  She swallowed then nodded. Sean leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the lips. She closed her eyes and basked in his love. When she opened them, he was gone.

  Chapter Eighteen

  They wouldn’t leave her alone, and it was seriously pissing her off. She’d been poked and prodded in places that didn’t bear mentioning. Awareness was slow to come and with it the realization that Sean was no longer holding her, kissing her.

  She retreated from that reality and let herself be surrounded by the beckoning fade.

  “Goddamn it, Emily, don’t you dare leave me. You fight, damn it. Don’t you fucking give up.”

  Greer. What was he doing here? And why was he so angry with her? It wasn’t like she shot herself.

  They need you, Emmy.

  Sean’s gentle reminder echoed softly in her fragmented mind.

  She sighed, or at least she thought she did.

  “Emily, I swear to God, I’m going to kick your ass.”

  She smiled. She couldn’t help it. So like Greer to threaten to kick her ass if she died on him. Where was Taggert? Wasn’t like him to miss out on a chance to snarl and bellow.

  “Emily, please. Fight, baby. Don’t leave us.”

  Ah there he was. He sounded… She flinched away from the grief she heard in his voice. He thought he’d already lost her. Just like he’d lost Sean.

  You were right, Sean. I can’t leave them. I’m so sorry.

  Don’t be sorry, love. I’ll wait for you. Go now. They’re worried.

  Sean’s warmth and strength surrounded her, urging her, pushing her back to the voices calling for her.

  I love you. I’ll miss you.

  She felt his smile all the way to her toes.

  I love you too, Songbird.

  A gasp of pain escaped as suddenly she was brutally thrust out of the shadows. Noise surrounded her. Beeping, loud voices, the sound of wrappers tearing, hurried footsteps. And pain. God, the pain.

  “We’re here, Emmy. You stay with us,” Greer said.

  Not going anywhere.

  She tried to stay aware, but
the pain was horrific. She felt a gentle hand on her cheek. Taggert. Comforted by the knowledge he was there and she wasn’t alone, she surrendered to the heavy drag of oblivion.

  ***

  Quiet surrounded her. She was dimly aware of pain, but it seemed muffled and a little fuzzy. It was a welcome change from the way she’d been thrust so rudely into chaos before.

  Her eyelids weighed about two tons, and by sheer force of will she managed to pry them open. Thankfully the room was mostly dark with the only light showing from the hallway. The entire front of her room had windows looking out to the nurses station, and she could see medical personnel bustling back and forth between the station and the other rooms. She must be in ICU. Things must have been bad.

  Slowly she registered her surroundings. Greer sat next to the bed, his head back, eyes closed. On her other side, Taggert sat bent forward in his chair, his head between his hands. He was completely still, and she wasn’t sure if he was also sleeping or just at his wit’s end.

  Guilt hit her hard. While she’d been begging Sean to let her stay, Taggert and Greer had been fighting for her life. Sean was right. She couldn’t give up. They needed her, and she needed them.

  For once the idea that Sean was no longer here didn’t fill her with relentless grief. She felt him as surely as if he were standing at her bedside. He’d made her a promise, and she knew he’d never go back on his word. He’d be there when it was her time. Until then she had a lifetime to look forward to with Taggert and Greer.

  She opened her mouth to call out to Taggert and frowned when absolutely nothing came out. Her throat hurt. Probably had a damn tube shoved down it. She licked her lips and tried again.

  “Taggert.”

  It came out in barely a whisper, but Taggert’s head immediately popped up. So much relief washed over his face. He leaned forward, his hands reaching for her and then he seemed to think better of touching her. He looked down and then back at her almost as if he didn’t have the first clue what to do.

  She smiled and moaned when that simple action sent pain rocketing through her body.

  That woke Greer up. He jolted forward, his feet hitting the floor with a thump.

  “Emmy,” he breathed.

  Taggert scooted his chair to the edge of her bed. He tentatively touched her arm, and her gaze fell down her body, her eyes widening at the bulky bandages decorating her chest.

  “Hi,” she croaked out.

  Taggert smiled, and then his face completely crumbled. Tears shimmered in his dark eyes, and he picked up her hand, pressing it to his cheek.

  “Thank God,” he choked out. “You had us so worried.”

  “We should call the nurse. They’ve been waiting for you to wake up,” Greer said.

  “No, not yet. Please. Just let me lie here for a minute while you two talk to me.”

  Greer took her other hand and rubbed his thumb over her palm.

  “How long have I been here?” she asked.

  Taggert grimaced. “Four days. You were taken here after surgery. I was beginning to think you planned to sleep for the rest of the year.”

  The memory of that gun staring her in the face made her flinch. “Rand?”

  Greer’s face blackened. “Dead.”

  “Oh.”

  She attempted to turn more so she could see Taggert better but quickly abandoned that idea. Hurt too damn much to move.

  “He didn’t shoot you?”

  “No, baby. You took the bullet meant for me,” he said fiercely. “I shot him. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

  “Pity,” she murmured. “Would be nice to see him go to prison for a long time.”

  Greer muttered a few choice words under his breath.

  “Better this way. He’s out of our lives and it’ll save the taxpayers the expense of a trial,” Taggert said with a scowl.

  She smiled. “I knew you’d say something like that.”

  “I’m so pissed at you,” Greer growled.

  She raised one eyebrow. “I know. You sounded mad when you were shouting at me not to die. I didn’t shoot myself, you know.”

  Taggert actually smiled.

  Greer wasn’t smiling, though. “You ever pull a stunt like that again and I swear I’ll tan your ass.”

  “Trust me. Getting shot again isn’t high on my list of priorities.”

  Taggert sobered and gripped her hand a little tighter.

  “I couldn’t let him take someone else I loved from me,” she said softly. “Now will one of you tell me how bad it is? I don’t remember much.”

  Both men scowled.

  “You almost died. You did die,” Greer said bleakly “He shot you in the chest. You lost an enormous amount of blood and the bullet nicked your lung. Damn lucky it missed your heart.”

  “I take it I’m out of the woods now?”

  “No,” Taggert clipped out. “There’s still risk of infection, pneumonia and a whole host of other complications. You’re going to be here a good while, and even when you get to go home, it’s going to be a long recovery.”

  She sighed. “Guess you two will have to hover, huh.”

  “Damn straight,” Greer said.

  She squeezed both their hands with as much strength as she possessed, which wasn’t much. “I’m not going anywhere. Promise. I have it on good authority it’s not my time.”

  “That’s good since we don’t have any intention of letting you go,” Taggert said gruffly.

  “Think you can put up with me for the next fifty years or so?”

  “Fifty years is only the beginning, Emmy.” Greer leaned over and brushed his lips over her forehead. “It’s only the beginning.”

  Taggert touched the inside of her wrist then lifted her hand to kiss each fingertip. “I’m kind of liking the sound of forever.”

  Lightness bubbled even amidst the pain raging through her body. For the first time in a year, her future looked bright and free of the shadows that had haunted her soul.

  Her smiled came easier this time and was missing the agony caused by her wounds. She glanced between the two men and saw some of their worry ease.

  “I can deal with forever.”