Dani sobbed. She’d been thinking the same thing. She was still thinking the same thing.
“Love goes a long way to healing someone, Danielle. Kye’s going to fight for you and Hunter. I know it in my heart. But you have to remember, Hunter’s hurting, too. More than anyone probably even realizes.”
Dani frowned, wondering how Mrs. Sterling knew that.
“I was talking to Ryan,” she admitted. “He was telling me about Hunter’s former partner. Said he lost him.”
“He did,” Dani said, her voice a rough whisper. “Josh was killed while on assignment.”
“Hunter’s strong,” Mrs. Sterling said. “But not nearly strong enough to make it through this alone.”
Dani stared at Kye’s mother as the words penetrated her brain.
The guilt suddenly shrouded her, covering her like a wet blanket. Dani’s chest constricted. Here she’d been thinking only about Kye, worried about him, wanting to be there when he woke up. All the while, Hunter had been the strong one, taking care of her, making sure she had everything she needed.
No one was taking care of Hunter.
Dani stood for the first time in hours. Her legs were weak, but she managed to remain upright. “I need to go see Hunter.”
Mrs. Sterling smiled. “I promise, I’ll stay with him. And if he wakes up before you get back, you’ll be the first person I notify.”
Dani did manage a smile that time. She leaned over and kissed Kye’s cheek, whispering softly into his ear. “I’ll be back soon. You keep resting.” She looked up at Kye’s mother. “Thank you.”
Mrs. Sterling looked sad as she glanced down at Kye. “Sometimes we overlook things when we’re hurting. We let the pain consume us when there are other people who require our focus.” Her eyes cut over to Dani. “Take care of Hunter. He needs you right now. We’ll be right here when you come back.”
With that, Dani took another long look at Kye, then went in search of Hunter.
THE INSTANT DANI EMERGED THROUGH the ICU doors, Hunter was on his feet. His heart skipped a couple of beats, fear threatening to strangle him.
“Is everything okay?” he asked immediately as he moved in her direction.
More eyes shot over to them. Kye’s father, Kye’s oldest sister and her husband, Casper and Elizabeth, RT and Z. They were all there waiting for Kye to wake up.
“Yes, everything’s fine.” Based on her expression, she realized she had scared him. “Nothing has changed. He’s still…asleep.”
When Dani reached for his hand, Hunter clutched her cold fingers, pulling her close to him.
“Can you take me home for a little while?” she asked, peering up into his eyes. “I’d like to take a shower.” Dani glanced back at the doors. “Kye’s mother will stay with him until we get back.”
“Of course. Let me tell RT.”
Dani nodded, then allowed Hunter to lead her across the room to where RT sat with Z. The two of them had been at the hospital every day since Kye was admitted. They left occasionally to grab food and sleep, but they always came back. Everyone else at Sniper 1 had done the same, showing up randomly to check in, wanting to know if Kye had opened his eyes yet.
“I’m gonna run Dani home for a bit. Grab some food and a shower.”
RT nodded. “We’ll stay here until you get back. If we hear anything, we’ll let you know.”
“Thanks.”
When Hunter turned toward the door, Dani shifted so that she was at his side. He tucked her in close and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, holding her against him. He had to be strong for her, for Kye. As much as he wanted to fall apart, Hunter knew it wouldn’t do any good. No one needed to see him shatter into a million pieces, but that was how he felt. As though a strong wind would knock him over and he might never get back up again.
But for Dani, he could hold on.
*
Half an hour later, they were walking in Hunter’s front door.
“You want me to make you something to eat while you take a shower?” he offered.
Dani shook her head. “I want you to shower with me.”
“Of course.” Figuring she needed support, Hunter wouldn’t deny her anything.
He went to the bathroom and turned on the water, his eyes instantly falling to Kye’s razor, which was sitting on the edge of the sink. Hunter planted his palms on the counter, feeling as though his legs would give out. He was shaking, still. Had been since he saw Kye lying there in a pool of blood.
His chest swelled but felt too tight, the ache intensifying until it was hard to breathe. He fisted his hands. He had to stay strong. The mere thought that Kye would never be there to shave or to leave his socks all over the house had Hunter’s heart clenching painfully.
“Ah, God.”
He couldn’t… Hunter couldn’t live without Kye.
A sob tore through him and his knees threatened to buckle. He kept his hands on the counter, forcing himself to remain upright as he fought to breathe. In, out. Again.
It hurt so fucking bad.
He couldn’t live without Kye. No more than he could live without Dani.
Dani called out his name and he turned to see her standing behind him. She was crying, tears streaming down her face. She raced into his arms, her small body slamming against him and he grabbed on to her, squeezing her tightly as he let the tears fall.
“I can’t…” he whispered. “Kye can’t leave me.”
“He won’t,” Dani said forcefully, pulling back and staring up into his eyes. “He won’t leave you, Hunter.”
“I can’t live without him,” he admitted. “He… God. Kye saved me at a time when I was ready to give up on everything. I don’t want to live without him.”
“I know,” she said reassuringly. “He loves you, Hunter. He loves you so much.”
“I never told him,” he said, his throat constricting. “Never actually said the words.”
Dani’s arms squeezed him. “You didn’t have to. Kye knows. He knows you love him.”
“Do you know?” Hunter tightened his arms around her and buried his face in her neck. He couldn’t hold back anymore, the pain he’d locked inside unbearable. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“I do.” She was sobbing uncontrollably. “We both know, Hunter. Never doubt that.”
“I have a hard time saying it,” he admitted. “I…”
“You don’t have to.” Her hand curled around the back of his head as she held him. “Sometimes, words aren’t necessary. Kye knows you love him. He does. And when he wakes up, you can tell him.”
If.
He wanted to say it aloud, but he held back. Dani was clinging to hope that Kye would wake up. Hunter was, too, but even if he did, no one knew the extent of the damage the bullet had done. There was a possibility Kye could be paralyzed. Although they’d done some tests, the doctors said they wouldn’t know for sure until he woke up.
Not that it would matter to Hunter or Dani. Kye would still be Kye, regardless. And they would love him unconditionally. But he had to wake up.
“He has to,” he choked out. “I need him to wake up.”
It hurt. The not knowing. Hunter needed Kye to open his eyes. He needed…
Unable to stand any longer, Hunter sank to the floor. He pulled Dani down with him, holding her as tightly as he could.
“I can’t lose him,” he whispered again, letting the tears fall as his body shook with the grief he fought to contain. “I can’t.”
Hunter had no idea how long they remained like that, but Dani was the one to finally pull away.
“Let’s shower and eat,” she said, cupping his face as she wiped a tear from his cheek. “Then we’ll go back and sit with Kye so we’re both there when he wakes up.”
She was right. He needed to get ahold of himself. Falling apart wasn’t helping anyone. He pushed to his feet and helped her up. A few minutes later, they were in the shower. The water was still warm, which meant they hadn’t been huddled on the floor fo
r too long.
After Hunter washed up, he turned to face the spray. Dani was standing there, staring back at him. Her hands came up to his chest, gliding higher until she was pulling his head down to hers. When their lips met, the kiss was both sweet and sad. Consoling. He could taste the salt from her tears, and it felt good to kiss Dani, to feel her arms around him, to know she was alive and breathing.
All thought fled momentarily. All the hurt, the fear, the anger. It disappeared, replaced by Dani’s warmth, her kiss, her need. It would be back, he knew. But for now, he could lose himself in her.
“Love me, Hunter,” she whispered, holding on to him.
“I will always love you,” he assured her. “Always.”
Within seconds, he had her backed against the tile wall, one hand behind her knee as he lifted her leg, opening her to him. He was hard, aching to feel her. He aligned their bodies and pushed inside, the heat of her pussy sending shockwaves through him. For a few blessed moments, he welcomed the distraction. Being able to hold her, make love to her, lose himself in her was what he needed in that moment.
Dani never stopped kissing him, her arms wreathing his neck, their bodies sliding together as he thrust his hips forward, impaling her on his cock. Hunter could admit he needed this. Dani. Needed her to hold him, take care of him. And she was. It was evident Dani was loving him because she knew he needed it.
And he did.
He needed her more than he needed air.
“Dani…” Hunter nibbled on her lower lip. “Ah, baby. Come for me, Dani. Let me feel you come.”
She moaned, her head tipping back against the tile as he stared down at her, his hips gyrating forward and back, forward and back. She felt so good. Better than good.
“I love you, Hunter,” she whispered, her eyes still closed. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” He slammed into her several times. “Come for me, Dani… Oh, God.” He wasn’t going to last. It was too much. She felt like heaven, and hearing her tell him she loved him pushed him closer to the edge.
Reaching between them, Hunter rubbed her clit with his thumb, circling the bundle of nerves until she was crying out his name over and over, her pussy squeezing him until his release was inevitable. Hunter crushed his mouth to hers as he came, holding on to her for all he was worth.
*
When they arrived back at the hospital a couple of hours later, there had been no change. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling had left so they could go home and get some rest. They would be back soon, and Casper had promised to call if there were any changes.
Hunter’s parents had been holding down the fort, sitting with Kye until they arrived. They slipped back out without a word, leaving Dani and Hunter alone with Kye.
“I need to call Max,” Dani told him after they’d been sitting there quietly for a few minutes.
“Sure.” He glanced down at Kye. “I’ll be right here.”
She offered a sad smile before slipping out the door.
Hunter knew Dani didn’t need to call Max. She was giving Hunter a few minutes alone with Kye. He damn sure wasn’t going to turn it down. He pulled a chair close to Kye’s bedside, then dropped into it, reaching up and running his fingertips over the back of Kye’s hand.
He glanced up at Kye’s face. The man wasn’t wearing his hearing aids, so he had no idea how much Kye could actually hear. His hearing loss was significant, but he had to believe that Kye could hear them, that he knew they were there.
“You know I’m not a patient man,” he told Kye, staring at the spot his fingers traced over Kye’s skin. “I never have been, doubt I ever will be.” Hunter looked up at Kye’s face again. “Which is why I need you to wake up. I’m reaching my breaking point, Kye.” He leaned in closer, his voice raspy with emotion. “I can’t take this anymore. I need you to open your eyes. I need…” He couldn’t hold back the tears. “Kye, I need you to come back. I need you to wake up.” He laughed, but it hurt. “Okay, fine. Maybe you’re tired of taking orders from me. You’ve always said I was bossy. What if I asked nicely?”
Hunter twined his fingers with Kye’s and held his hand up to his mouth.
“Please. Kye. Please come back to us. To Dani. To me. We need you.” Hunter sucked in air. “It hurts to breathe without you here with me. It hurts so fucking much.” Another tear fell, but he let it, holding Kye’s hand against his face. “I haven’t told you I love you yet. I get that much. I get to tell you that I love you. And I get to hear you say it back. You’re not leaving me until then. No. Strike that. Not even after that. We’ll be having babies and grandbabies, spending many, many years together. Me, you, and Dani.”
He kissed Kye’s hand, then laid his cheek against it.
“But you have to wake up soon because I fully intend to ask Dani to marry me and I know you’re going to have an issue with that. You’ll want to be the one to marry her. We’ll have to fight about it. You’d make a much better husband to her than I would, anyway.” Hunter choked on a sob as he crumbled, the tears falling unbidden down his cheeks. “Goddamn it, Kye! Come back to me. Please.” He dropped his head, resting it on their joined hands. “Come back to me, Kye. Please, just come back.”
TWENTY
ELEVEN DAYS.
Kye had been in a coma for eleven days and Dani’s hopes were beginning to wane. Her heart physically hurt when she thought about Kye possibly never waking up. After all she’d been through, Dani wanted her happily ever after, and in order to have it, she had to have Kye.
Perhaps that made her selfish, but so what. She didn’t give a shit. When it came to Kye and Hunter, she was selfish. She would always be selfish. They deserved that much. They deserved to be first in her life and that was exactly where she put them.
“Are you about ready to go to the hospital?” Hunter asked when he emerged from the bathroom after his shower.
She nodded, staring down at her hands.
Dani had plopped down on the couch, her body weak even though she’d slept for a solid eight hours last night. It had been a fight, but Hunter had finally convinced her to come home for one night. She didn’t want to leave Kye for any length of time, but Hunter’s parents had promised to stay with him, alternating with Kye’s parents in the middle of the night.
The good news was that Kye was never left alone. That was the absolute last thing Dani wanted. To think that Kye might possibly wake up and no one would be there…it was a horrifying thought.
Hunter joined Dani on the couch. His big body dropped down right beside her, his arm going around her shoulder, his lips pressing against her head. Neither of them said anything. Then again, there was nothing to say. These days, it was all about prayers.
Several minutes passed before Hunter finally spoke.
“Courtney’s going to go grocery shopping for us. Is there anything specific you want?”
Dani turned her head, her eyes seeking Hunter’s. “I want Kye to wake up. I want him to come home.” Her face fell, and she knew the tears were coming, but she had long ago stopped trying to hide them. “I want him to come home, Hunter.”
“I know you do, baby. So do I.”
“No!” she yelled, turning toward him as though by insisting, it would somehow make Kye open his eyes. “I want him to wake up. I need him to wake up.” Her whole body shook with her sobs. “I can’t take it anymore. I can’t. I’m losing my mind. I need him here with us. I—”
“Shh.” Hunter pulled her against his chest, his arms wrapping securely around her.
Dani gave in to the pain and the grief that continued to pull her under. She cried into his shirt, not caring that she was a snotty mess.
“I love him, Hunter. I want him home with us.”
“I know, baby,” he said softly. “I know.”
It took a few minutes, but Dani managed to pull herself together. She was just about to tell Hunter what he could have Courtney get from the store when his cell phone rang.
“Yeah. Kogan.”
Suddenly,
Hunter jerked away from her, launching to his feet. For a moment, her breath lodged in her throat, her heart constricting. Every time his phone rang, she feared it was going to be a call that would shatter her entire world.
“We’ll be right there, Con.”
“What’s wrong?” Dani asked, pushing to her feet. She studied Hunter’s face, searching for answers before he even spoke.
“Kye’s awake.” He said the words as though he didn’t really believe them.
“What?”
A smile slowly tugged at Hunter’s mouth. “Kye’s awake. And…fuck. We have to go. Grab whatever you need.”
Dani snatched her cell phone from the bar and ran to the front door. Hunter beat her there, took her hand, then practically dragged her to Kye’s truck.
Neither of them spoke during the short trek to the hospital. Dani wasn’t sure what to say and she didn’t want to say anything that might jinx this.
When they reached the hospital, Hunter pulled up to the main doors, then jumped out. She followed, wondering if the truck would get towed. Not that it mattered. Kye was awake. The hospital could have the truck for all she cared.
Of course, she shouldn’t have been concerned, because a second later, Conner appeared holding out his hand for the keys. He had a huge grin on his face, the first one she’d seen in almost two weeks.
“Go!” Conner yelled, racing around and jumping in behind the wheel.
The elevator took its own sweet time. By the time they finally arrived on the ICU floor, she was vibrating.
Hunter’s parents were there to greet them.
“Go on back,” Casper instructed. “Kye’s parents are back there now. They’ll trade places with you.”
It only took another couple of minutes to get to Kye’s room, but Dani was already crying when Hunter put his hand on the door and slid it open. She held her breath as she stepped inside.
“Oh, my God.” More tears poured down her face as her gaze settled on the most beautiful sight in the entire world. “Oh, my God.”
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