Chapter 24

Something wet drops on my hand, my fingers. I blink my eyes open, and a bright light has me slamming them shut before slowly opening them again. I look down at my arm, wondering what’s dripping.

“Lili?” My throat is sore, my voice hoarse.

Her head snaps up, and her tear-filled eyes land on mine. “You’re awake. Shit. I need to get a doctor,” she says, reaching over and quickly pressing a button above my head.

I lift my hand to her face and wipe the wetness from her cheeks. “What’s wrong?”

“Travis, you were shot yesterday. How do you feel? That’s a stupid question.” She looks away and shakes her head.

“Why are you crying?”

“You were shot,” she repeats.

I try to sit up, only to stop when a sharp, piercing pain rips through my abdomen. “Fuck.” I grit my teeth.

“Don’t move. Your parents are here. They just went to grab a coffee,” Lili says. “Travis, I’m… I’m so sorry. I didn’t know…”

“What? Why are you apologizing, babe?” I’m still trying to wrap my head around what’s going on. But my brain feels foggy. I can only imagine how many drugs are running through my system.

“This is my fault,” she whispers.

“Lili, babe, as much as my world starts and ends with you, my getting shot is not your fault.” I reach out and take her hand.

Lili shakes her head. “I’m sorry. I should have stayed away from you. If I had, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lili,” I tell her honestly, glance around the room, and look back at her again.

I was shot… I remember leaving practice yesterday. I remember the pain, the blood, the red lights. Envisioning her red lips…

“I love you. So damn much. I’m so sorry,” Lili says.

Before I can respond, the door opens and my parents walk in. Followed by someone else. A doctor, if the lab coat and scrubs are anything to go by. Lili slips her hand free and steps away from the bed.

“Babe, it’s okay. I’m okay,” I tell her while trying to force myself up again.

“I… I’m sorry,” she repeats with a fresh wave of tears streaming down her face.

“It’s not your fault.”

She offers me a sad smile before turning and running out of the room.

“Shit,” I hiss out as I attempt to push up from the bed.

“Stop. You can’t get up.” My mom rushes to my side and gently presses down on my chest.

“I need to get her,” I say.

“She’ll be back. Just stay put,” Mom tells me.

“I’ll go talk to her.” My dad nods in my direction before pushing through the door.

The doctor picks up my chart, glances down, then looks up at me. “Mr. O’Neil, you’re one lucky man.”

Lucky? My fucking girlfriend just ran out of the room in tears, and I’m stuck here, in this bed, unable to go after her. I don’t consider that fucking lucky.

I keep that thought to myself, though.

“The projectile missed all major organs and we were able to control the bleeding. Barring infection, you should be able to make a full recovery in no time,” he says.

“When can I get back out on the ice?” I ask. It’s not my first concern right now, but it is a concern.

“That’ll depend on your body and how it heals. The police are waiting to talk to you,” he says, without giving me much of an answer.

“They can wait,” my mother is quick to chime in.

“Mom, I need to speak to Grayson. Can you find my phone?” I ask her.

“Oh, he’s just out in the hall. I’ll send him in and go find your father and Liliana.” She bends down and kisses my forehead. “Do not scare me like this ever again, Travis,” she scolds, like I got myself shot on purpose.

“I won’t,” I tell her anyway.

The doctor follows my mother out of the room, and I’m left alone for a whole minute before Grayson walks in.

“Is Lili out there?” I ask him.

“She’s with her brother,” he says, and some of my panic eases with the knowledge that she’s with her family.

“We need to talk.” My eyes bounce between my teammate and the door.

“Hold that thought.” Grayson raises a finger to his lips, urging me to be quiet. Then he sticks his head out the door and someone else walks in. It’s Enzo, one of Lili’s cousins. He pulls a black box out of his pocket and flicks a switch.

“What’s that?” I ask. I really don’t want to have this conversation in front of a Valentino.

“A scrambler,” Enzo says. “Can never be too careful. Thin walls and all.” He shrugs.

I nod and pretend to clear my throat. “Can you get me some water?”

“Do I look like your fucking nurse?” Enzo grunts.

“Please,” I add, looking from him to Gray.

“You could just lay it out straight and say you don’t want me in here.” Enzo sets the device on a nearby table, pivots on his heel, and stalks out of the room.

“What’s going on?” Gray asks as soon as the door closes again.

“Whoever shot me… they said it was for Liliana right before they pulled the trigger,” I tell him. “I need you to get me out of here, Grayson. If someone is after her, I can’t be fucking stuck in this bed.”

“If someone is after her, they’ll have to get through her family first. And that’s not going to happen. You get a good look at the fucker’s face? The cameras were cut.”

I shake my head. It’s all a bit fuzzy still. “I don’t remember.” My eyes flick around the room. “I need to get out of here,” I say, while pulling a bunch of wires from my chest.

“You just got shot, man. You should leave your ass in that bed.”

“I need to get Lili,” I tell him.

“She’s with Alessandro. He’s taken her back to the house.”

“What house?” I stop what I’m doing and peer up at Grayson.

“A rental, near my place.”

“Is it secure? I need to make sure she’s okay.”

“Why aren’t you telling her family? They can protect her better than anyone else.” He lifts a questioning brow.

“I don’t want her knowing. I need you to find a way to make sure she’s got security on her without anyone knowing why,” I tell him, then add, “I know you have the resources to do that.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Gray swipes up the little black box and walks out just as my mom and dad are walking in.

“You need to be resting, Travis.” My mom lays a gentle hand on my arm.

“What I need is my girlfriend,” I tell her.

“She’s scared and processing. I have no doubt that she will be back,” Mom says.

“Travis, lay your ass down before you do more damage. You need to heal. If you want to be any good for that girl, then you have to focus on healing properly,” my father barks.

“I need her,” I repeat, my voice quiet.

“I know, sweetheart. You just have to be a little patient with her, a little more understanding.” Mom kisses my forehead.

I don’t like this. I feel so out of control and fucking helpless. I know Lili blames herself, but if anything, she’s the reason I’m still fucking here. It was her face that kept me awake until the ambulance arrived. It was her voice that kept me from giving into the darkness that threatened to take over. I had to get back to her. I couldn’t leave her.

“Did you find my phone?” I ask my mom.

“I did.” She opens a drawer next to my bed, pulls out my cell, and hands it to me.

I tap on my messages. I want to call Lili, but I don’t think she’s going to answer. She will read my words, though, so I settle for sending her a text.

Me:

I love you. I know you’re scared, and I’m sorry I caused you to feel that way. I need you to come back, Lili. Do not run from this.

Me:

Please.

The notification pops up, telling me that she’s read the message, but she doesn’t reply.