Chapter 34

The constant beeping.

The hard-ass bed and flat pillows.

The tube in my nose.

The catheter in my crotch.

The strong smell of life and death with a blend of antiseptic.

I'm back at the fucking hospital.

Everything comes crashing down.

Sophia.

Tia.

Donnie.

Ash.

I want to cry and wallow in my misery. I thought all the physical and mental pain would die once Dad was gone, but my past seems to be catching up to me and I can't run fast enough.

"Shorty, it's ok. I'm here."

Donnie.

"Shh, baby, don't cry." His fingers gently wipe the tears from my eyes.

I sob, my whole body shaking, when he pulls me into his arms. I grasp his shirt and pull him closer, wanting to feel his warmth.

"Oh, God. Tia, my baby." My cries are muffled as I cry against his chest.

"It's ok, baby. They're all ok."

"Wh-what?" I look up to meet his gaze.

"Yeah, baby. Tia is making a full recovery. They just moved here a few doors down from you. And Sophie…she's ok, baby."

I cry in relief that everyone is ok, but I also cry for all the pain we've been through.

"How long have I been here?" I ask.

Donnie tells me I have been in the hospital for seven days. They were able to repair my collapsed lung…again. One-hundred and two stitches total over my body, and a broken arm.

Then I remember Donnie and Ash in the warehouse begging Frankie to spare my life. I will never forget the horror on their faces, and their gut-wrenching cries as they were forced to watch me get beaten.

"Oh, Donnie." I reach for his face, placing my hand on his cheek. One side of his face is bruised, and there's a cut on his lip, a gash on his forehead, and dark circles underneath his eyes.

"I'm so sorry," I cry.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he reassures me but I don't agree. When he notices me pulling back, he gently grabs my face in his big hands and pulls me closer so our foreheads touch.

"Listen to me. None of this was your fault. Don't ever apologize for something that was out of your control."

He places a soft kiss on my lips but when I look at him, his face has a torn expression.

He stares at me for a minute, closes his eyes, and says, "I'm…I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry." His voice cracks.

"What do you have to be sorry for?" I ask him, confused.

When he opens his eyes, tears fall down his beautiful, bruised face. "I promised…" He gasps for breath. "That I would protect you, and I failed." He places a soft kiss on my lips, our foreheads still touching.

"You saved me, Donnie. You found me, and you saved me. I love you." The words escape before I can stop them, but part of me doesn't want to take them back.

His blue eyes gazes into mine and they are full of love and promise.

"I fucking love you, so much." His words sound strained. "I have loved you since I was six years old. You are mine, baby."

"Always," I whisper back.

He leans in and kisses me tenderly and pulls back as if to see my reaction, only to crash his lips against mine passionately. I gasp for air, allowing his tongue to enter. Our tongues wrestle with one another, desperately seeking more.

He places a small kiss on the corner of my mouth and tucks my hair around my ear. His fingers brush my cheek and then drift down to my throat, causing goosebumps to form on my skin.

"Do you want me to get you anything?" he asks while caressing my hand.

Before I can answer, there's a knock at the door.

Whoever is there doesn't wait for my reply and peeks into the room. Paloma and Seb walk into the room with somber looks on their faces. Paloma looks like she's been crying for days.

A few seconds later, Detective Carter walks in.

"Hi Sadie," I don't care for the uneasiness in Carter's tone.

Why is he here? Does he need to take my statement?

"Sadie, it's about your brother."

To be continued…