Chapter 27

Tucker! Help! The screams were too far away.

You should’ve saved me! You should’ve saved her first!

Tucker!

Tucker!

“Tucker.” I jolted awake, Izzy’s screams fading back into the ever-circling torrent of my thoughts. My back ached with the way I was slouched over the bed, and I carefully sat up, pulling my arms slowly above my head in an easy stretch that still killed my back. My eyes burned, and I rubbed to help bring them back into focus, taking in the now familiar dim lighting of Izzy’s hospital room. A machine beeped by my ear, like a stab to my head in my exhaustion. Every ounce of sleep I was managing to get was filled with her screams.

A hand touched my shoulder, and I looked up, finding Bridgette staring down at me. Stress from the last few days lined her face, and her eyes were drawn, likely from her own exhaustion. The two of us had been by her bed more than anyone, just waiting for Izzy to wake up.

She gave me a compassionate smile, or what she could manage at least, the corners of her mouth barely lifting. “Why don’t you take a break? Head home for a shower and some real rest. I’ll take over for a while.”

I shook my head and scraped my hands over my face, trying to wake up. “No, I’m alright.”

“Tucker, you’re exhausted. And hurt. You know what the doctors told you.”

I glanced down at the bed. Izzy looked the same as she had for the past several days since the accident. Tubes across her face and hand, her left leg and right arm in casts, her head wrapped heavily in gauze, and bruises splotched across her body. Her color was sallow, still too pale, even for her. It ate at my gut for letting this happen to her.

“Not as much as her,” I finally answered, and Bridgette sighed.

“No, but still enough that I’m concerned about you. I’m sure Izzy knows you’ve been here, and she’d want you to take care of yourself.”

I took the pale hand on the bed in mine, holding it in my palm to not disturb the tubes.

“She’s not waking up anytime tonight, Tucker. The doctor hasn’t cleared her yet.”

All they’d cleared her for so far was the transfer from the Dallas hospital to the one in Houston. They weren’t even willing to place her in one on the Ridge; they were so concerned about her injuries.

I pulled in a long deep breath, relishing the sharp pain along my spine and ribs. I deserved to feel all of it.

“Tucker, if you don’t go, I’m going to put you on the ban list for the room.” Bridgette pulled out her no-nonsense voice, and I slowly turned to glare up at my girlfriend’s mother. “Look at me like that all you want, but I mean it.” She crossed her arms over her chest, raising a single brow as she leveled me with a stare.

Damn. I knew that look. It was basically the Donovan women’s signature Do-what-I-fucking-say look.

Pushing the chair back, I stood and leaned over Izzy to press a gentle kiss on her brow just below her bandages. “I’ll be back, princess.”

Bridgette’s look was pure compassion when I turned around, but I didn’t say anything, stepping around her to pull open the wide, faux wood print door.

I barely remembered walking down the hall to the elevator. My body was on autopilot. My thoughts still in their never-ending torrent, torn with needing to be there when she woke up. Still praying she did. Terrified of what would happen once she had.

There was no way to win.

Not that it was a game. It was far from that.

Life had sucked the humor right out of me.

Frowning when I sat in my truck, because I barely even remembered walking outside, my brain struggled to focus as I turned the ignition. I was going to need someone to drive me back. Hell, I probably should call someone now, but that would take time, and the longer I sat here, the less likely I was to leave.

After almost drifting a few times on the highway and a close call at a stoplight, I made it home and trudged up the stairs to my room, part of me groaning that it was at the end of the ridiculously long hall. I fell face first onto my bed, not even bothering to kick off my shoes, and within seconds, I was out.

I jolted when I woke later, the sounds of Izzy’s screams still echoing in my head, and immediately groaned. A massive bruise on my spine and a few fractured ribs were no joke, and I was stiff as hell.

Trying to get my bearings, I glanced at the window, taking in the lack of light in the room. It had to be near dusk, just a hint of light coming through the crack in the curtains. I’d been sleeping for hours, then, and it was the first time I felt half-rested in days. Somehow, it felt wrong. I’d been gone too long. Forcing myself to roll over so I could get back to the hospital, I frowned when I realized I was just in my socks. Did I take my shoes off?

I glanced around, spotting them set neatly on the floor next to my door and knew that hadn’t been me. Mom. I surmised, finding a bottle of water and Tylenol on my nightstand next.

Sitting up, I downed the painkillers before getting up, and I stumbled a little when I tried to move. Making my way to the bathroom, I flipped on the shower, taking a minute to brush my teeth while the water warmed up. The reflection staring back at me was rough.

My eyes were bloodshot, even after sleep, and damn, did I need a shave, my jaw rough with several days’ worth of stubble. But I’d worry about that later. All I cared about was running some soap over myself and getting back to Izzy.

Just like before, I was running on autopilot, but my thoughts weren’t as muddled this time, actually half alert. I sent Jet a text about a ride and threw on some clothes before grabbing a jacket, a killer cold front scheduled to come through soon, and started to run out the door.

“Tucker, is that you? Are you feeling any better?” Mom’s voice came from the kitchen, and I bit back a curse.

“Yeah, tons. Just heading to see Izzy with Annie and Jet,” I said, glancing at my phone as Jet texted back.

“Have you eaten?” She came around the corner, resting her shoulder on the doorway as she wiped her hands with a dishtowel. “I can make you something.”

“Not hungry.”

“You need to eat, Tucker. I know you’re worried about Izzy, and I understand, but you have to take care of yourself, too, or you won’t be any good for her.”

“Not. Hungry.” I tried not to growl.

Mom sighed, her eyes looking sad as they raked over me. Somehow, it just grated on me more. “Fine, but I’m sending you with a couple of sandwiches I prepped for your dad for work tomorrow. Maybe you’ll want them later.” She disappeared around the corner and reappeared with Dad’s lunchbox.

“Thanks.” I took it just so I could get out the door.

Jet and Annie were waiting by my truck, an easier fit for us than the Mustang. I tossed Jet the keys, and we climbed in, not a word between us. Annie looked as rough as me. She’d been up at the hospital almost as much, only going home when it was her shift with Archer. Jet was the only one of us that had even been to school this week. The recruiter had come by yesterday. He was getting a full ride. We hadn’t even celebrated.

I wasn’t sure I even could. Not with Izzy…

“Any changes?” Annie asked at some point during the drive.

I shook my head, half-zoned out as I stared out the window. The doctors still weren’t ready for her to wake up.

Weaving through Houston traffic, we pulled up to the hospital a while later, the mood stoic between us as we all got out on the far side of the packed parking lot. Jet and Annie led the way in, but as soon as we reached the sidewalk, I stopped, almost doing a double take as a familiar Lexus pulled in.

Hell no. There’s no way…

But apparently there really fucking was. I took off, once again moving on autopilot, only emotions and fury driving me.

“Tucker?” Annie called out, confusion in her voice until she spotted who I had. “Oh, hell no!”

“Fuck,” Jet grunted, grabbing her waist when she started to charge. “Think it through, man.” I heard his warning.

I already had.

And I was seeing white. Way past red.

The second my cousins came around the back of their car, I went off.

“The fuck are y’all doing here?!”

Micah took a step back, his hands going palms out up by his chest to show no harm. “We wanted to come check on you.”

“So, you just show up?! After all the shit y’all pulled?!”

“Uncle Chuck–”

“Shut up! What makes y’all think I want you here?! I don’t want you anywhere near her!”

Jet’s arm came around me, hauling me back before I could reach them. Both of my cousins’ brows raised in shock at my hostility, but I couldn’t rein it in, everything just pouring out. “My child is dead! The love of my life is still fighting in there for the chance to wake up, and you think I care that you suddenly care?! After everything you’ve done to her?! I want nothing to do with either of you. We’re done!”

“Y’all better leave,” Jet ordered over his shoulder, still hauling me back.

“Okay, yeah, we’re gone.” Micah grabbed Ryder’s arm with a tug, directing him back, and Ryder scowled as they turned away, disappearing back into the SUV.

My chest was still heaving as they pulled away, white noise rushing in my ears, my blood was pumping so fast.

“Come on.” Jet jerked his head for me to follow, and I did. Needing direction. Needing someone to tell me what the fuck to do in that moment.

I frowned as he led us back to my truck, but the look on his face said not to argue. I did anyway.

“I’m not leaving without seeing–”

“We need to leave before someone reports all that racket you just made. Now, get in. We’ll be back.”

Shooting him daggers alongside Annie, we crawled in.

“Where are we–”

“You’ll see.” He cut Annie off, too, taking a minute to look something up on his phone. I was still fuming as Jet pulled back out onto the highway, but just a few exits later he pulled off and turned into a large parking lot for a gym. “Y’all need to cool down before you go see Izzy. Y’all are so bottled up, you’re ready to explode. Neither Izzy nor Bridgette need that right now. Now, come on.”

He hopped out of my truck, and Annie and I shared a baffled look before following. He might have a point.

“We need three day-passes.” Jet walked straight up to the counter to ask, and within minutes, he and I were in a back room, punching the shit out of punching bags while Annie was off somewhere racing her demons on a treadmill.

“Harder,” Jet directed, gritting his teeth with each of my throws. ‘You sure?’ my look asked, and he gave me one that said to shut up and bring it.

You asked for it.I pummeled down on the bag, my fists flying, every ounce of my frustration, anger, hate, and outright fear unleashing with my punches. My back throbbed, and my ribs screamed, but I barely felt them, the rush of everything flying out of me just too great. The release of my emotions took over, fueling me until I finally clutched the bag, leaning against it for support. Everything in me done.

Jet held it steady, letting me catch my breath, and then he clapped the back of my shoulder, not another word between us. It wasn’t needed.

I grabbed a towel to wipe down, and we headed out to find Annie still going strong. Jet waved so she’d see us, and it took another five minutes before she slowed the machine for her cool down.

Dripping sweat, she stepped down and grabbed a towel, heading over to the water fountain where she spent another minute.

She stood up, brushing sweat soaked strands of hair away from her face, and placed her hands on her hips. “Are we done wasting time?”

Jet’s lips quirked up in a grin, but I couldn’t have said it better. As great as the relief had been, something inside me was screaming to be with Izzy again. Convinced she’d know I wasn’t there.