The prestigious, private hospital near the lake was nothing like South Austin Emergency. The Chief Surgeon had greeted Ethan and the emergency personnel at the double entry doors to the emergency area. They’d whisked Ethan away and made Mari wait on the other side of a second set of double doors.

That was three hours ago.

She paced.

Milo, Twitch, Zoey, Vi, and Mary had all tried to drag her into conversation. Make her sit. Make her eat something.

The excuse was always different, but the objective was the same—keep her attention away from the fact they hadn’t heard anything about Ethan.

“Hija.”

Crap. Mari squeezed her eyes shut as her mom drew her into a hug. She was still covered in blood and hadn’t given a damn about that fact. But she didn’t want her mom witnessing all this. The aftermath of the final battle.

Chester was dead.

She was too terrified about Ethan’s prognosis for that fact to settle in.

“Come, we’ll get you showered and changed.”

Mari shook her head. “No. They’ll come out soon. I want to be here.”

“We’ll come get you the second they come out,” Zoey promised. “You don’t want him waking up and seeing you like this, sweetie. No man should see his woman bathed in blood, especially if most of it is his. Trust me, I know a thing or two about this.”

“She’s right,” Chatter offered as he stopped beside Zoey. “There’s a shower right down the hall the nurses said you could use. Ethan’s tough. He’s not going anywhere. The sooner you clean up, the faster you’ll find out how he’s doing.”

It was the most words the man had ever uttered in her presence.

“You promise?” Mari looked around the small waiting area they’d been taken to.

“We promise,” Jen said. “Go. My brother’s too stubborn to die.”

“Come,” her mom ordered. “Zoey and I will help.”

She’d been showering herself since she was a kid, but she obediently trundled down the hall in her bare feet and let her mom and Zoey steer her wherever the mythical shower was. Mari didn’t remember taking her shoes off.

She didn’t remember much, to be perfectly honest.

Shock.

Chester was dead.

She continued to bookend the evening with that thought every now and then to remind herself her ordeal was over. She hoped.

As long as Ethan was okay, she’d be okay.

The realization seeped down deep, settled in her heart and grew. They’d known each other for such a short amount of time, but she wanted to explore their attraction. She wanted to be a part of Ethan’s world.

Because he mattered to her.

Because she mattered to him.

Mari didn’t realize how out of it she was until her mom and Zoey shoved her into the shower. They’d managed to get her dress and undergarments off without her even noticing.

They must have trusted she was alert enough to handle washing herself thanks to the pelting of warm water against her skin. She let the tears she’d held back flow as the heat from the shower sloughed off enough of her shock for reality to return. For her fears to collide with the fact she didn’t want to speculate the worst-case scenario.

She’s survived for years by planning strategies based on assuming the worst case. But her brain refused to plan the worst-case scenario today.

Because that meant Ethan was dead.

She scrubbed and soaped until the water going down the drain was clear. She toweled dry and stepped into the scrubs left on the small counter nearest the shower. Clean, she exited the bathroom.

Chatter was heading toward them down the hall. Her feet moved double-time toward him.

“The surgeon just came out to talk to us. Jen made him wait until we got you,” he said.

Jen made him wait. Mari’s heart swelled. She wasn’t family. Jen and Milo could’ve easily let him give them an update, even if they’d promised otherwise.

But good people didn’t lie. They abided by their promises because they gave a damn about the person they’d made them to. Mari let that fact sink in.

She mattered to Ethan, but she also mattered to Jen, Milo and the others.

Because she mattered to Ethan.

Somehow the echoing thought in her brain helped keep her calm as she shuffled down the hall as fast as the too-long pants allowed.

Milo was closest to her in the huddle and she took in his presence like a punch to the gut. God, he did look so much like Ethan, more so tonight. He’d lost the glint in his gaze. He squatted down before her and she stood frozen as he rolled up the pants legs of her scrubs.

He stood and smirked. “Can’t have you falling. Ethan would kick my ass.”

Mari hoped to hell Ethan would be up to doing precisely that soon. She looked expectantly at the surgeon standing before the larger-than-Mari-realized crowd of waiting people.

“The surgery was touch and go, but Ethan made it through. He lost a large amount of blood, but the field work saved his life. Recovery will be slow, but he’s through the worst of it.” The man looked around. “He’s still awaking from surgery, but he’s quite vocal. Is there a Mari here?”

She gulped. Tears filled her eyes. Ethan was going to be okay. The cluster of people parted and slowly guided her closer to the surgeon.

“Ah, yes. You must be Mari. Come with me. He’s demanded to see you, assuming he’s still awake. We expected him to sleep for another few hours before he was fully alert and ready for visitors, but he’s quite determined to see you.”

That sounded exactly like Ethan—more worried about her than himself. She reached for Jen. “Can she and his brother come with me? Please?”

“This is highly irregular,” the surgeon responded.

Milo cleared his throat and pointed a finger at the wall. Mari thought the gesture was odd, then she saw the plaque on the wall. The Davenport Wing.

They’d funded this wing of the hospital?

The motion activated the surgeon. He nodded and the newly formed group of her, Jen, and Milo headed down a long, white corridor that stunk of antiseptic and…hospital. She didn’t know how else to describe it.

If she ever had a bajillion dollars she’d figure out a way to make hospitals smell like roses. Or begonias. Anything but this. She muttered the thought as she followed the fast-walking doctor.

Milo’s laughter boomed within the narrow corridor. “I’ll see what we can do about that.”

The momentary bit of humor helped slough off the worst of her fear. Ethan was going to be okay. Chester was dead.

It was over.

Now they could move on with their lives, whatever that translated to. With all luck, she could continue getting to know Ethan. The doctor halted at the end of the long corridor and motioned toward the room on the left.

Mari’s heart leapt into her throat as her pulse quickened. Tears streaming down her face, she turned the corner and vaulted into the room. Relief assailed her as she forced a ragged breath and studied the sleeping man on the bed.

“His body’s been through quite an ordeal. It’ll likely be a while before he wakes again,” the doctor said in a whisper. “I can let you know when he wakes up.”

“No.” Mari quietly moved a chair as close to the bed as she could and sat. “I’ll wait.”

“Ma’am, I’m afraid you need to return to the waiting area,” he said.

“She’ll wait here. We will all wait here. Thank you,” Jen said, her tone dismissive. “Please have someone bring in another couple of seats and one of the sleeper recliners. Oh, and a meal of some sort. She’ll need to eat in a few minutes.”

“Yes, ma’am, of course.”

Mari was grateful Jen had handled the doctor. Eyes watery, she breathed another deep breath and grasped Ethan’s hand. It was limp, but warm. She threaded their fingers through one another and reached over with her other hand until her finger grazed the pulse point along his wrist.

Eyes closed, she began the slow glide. One letter at a time.

Ethan blinked awake. He was higher than hell. He recognized the feeling from the injuries he’d sustained while fleeing the jungle prison. Aw hell.

He knifed up out of bed and froze as his vision settled on Mari. Thank fuck. He collapsed back on the bed.

“She hasn’t left your side,” Milo whispered. He made his way to the side of the bed. “We took turns staying in here with her, but she hasn’t left. She passed out a couple hours ago. You were out a while. You got an infection.”

“How long?” His throat hurt like hell. He swallowed as he ran his fingers through her hair.

“Two days. You’ve been in and out of it, mostly out. You went through a patch where you thought you’d just gotten back from the jungle. You made a hell of a mess.”

“You didn’t tell them I reacted badly to painkillers,” he said.

“I did, but they felt it was worth the risk. We all agreed.” Milo smirked. “Nolan and I got you back down. You responded to him, probably because he was there back then.”

Shit.

“She’s damn near written an entire book on your wrist,” Milo commented. “You’re skin’ll likely be sore. Then again, maybe not. She’s used almost a whole bottle of lotion on you.”

He reached down and ran his hands through her hair and grasped firmly enough to draw her attention. She needed her sleep, but he needed her to know he was okay more.

Mari’s head popped off the bed. Beautiful brown eyes widened and latched onto him.

“Ethan.” She breathed his name and cupped his face. “You’re awake. Finally.”

“I’m okay, sweetheart. I’m sorry I scared you. You should be at home resting.”

She shook her head. “I wasn’t leaving until you woke up. I have it on good authority that seeing a friendly face when you’re waking up somewhere strange is always welcome, especially after you’ve had a scare.”

Ethan reeled as he took in her smile. He processed her statement, remembered when he’d said it to her back when everything started and he’d had Twitch bring June Bug.

She remembered.

Word for fucking word, she remembered.

“I’m sorry you got shot,” she whispered. “You’re going to be okay, though. Jen and I found the best physical therapist around. The bullet did quite a bit of damage, but it’s nothing you can’t fully recover from. We have a plan. Or, well, several.”

He smiled. It sounded like little sis had worked hard to keep Mari’s mind focused on the future rather than watching him rot away in a hospital bed.

“Status?”

“Chester’s dead. Investigation’s ongoing. So far they’ve suspended three detectives in Homicide and two in Robbery. The blue’s rolling over on them. No one wants the foul taste of what he did stinking up the APD,” Milo said.

“Jen’s worked out a settlement with the police department for me. I told her I didn’t want anything from them, but she said I should take it.” Mari squeezed his hand. “So I did. She’s going to help me start a nonprofit to run in conjunction with Counterstrike. I want to educate and train the women you’re helping, so they can get better jobs.”

Ethan smiled. “That’s a wonderful idea, sweetheart.”

And a pricey one. Either Jen had negotiated one hell of a settlement with the APD on Mari’s behalf, or little sis and big-bro-by-two-minutes had quietly added a couple zeroes to get her dream started.

“I’ll go let the others know you’re awake and alert for real this time,” Milo said as he shuffled from the room.

Ethan squeezed Mari’s arm. “Come up on the bed with me, sweetheart. I need to hold you in my arms.”

“Okay, but let me lock the door. Last time I crawled into your bed, Nurse Cratchet got mad at me.” Ethan chuckled as Mari quickly locked the door and then crawled into the bed on his “good side.”

Fuck. Physical therapy was gonna suck, but he’d endure it for her.

He’d do just about anything for her.

“I was so worried, Ethan,” she whispered against his neck as she settled against him. Hand around his chest, she peered up into his gaze. “I know it’s too soon, and I don’t know how, but I’ve fallen in love with you, Ethan Evans Davenport.”

“I love you, too, Marisol Santos,” he whispered. He claimed her mouth in a kiss too passionate for the scant amount of time they had alone.

He doubted Jen and the team would wait long to enter and see for themselves he was okay. The road to recovery would be a long, pain in the ass, but well worth it.

“The second I’m out of here, we’re going out on another first date.”

She smiled. “You promise?”

“This time we’ll do something quiet, out of the way. No pretention. No security risks. No gunshots.”

“As long as it ends with me in your bed, we can do McDonald’s for all I care,” she whispered.

Ethan threw his head back and laughed. Mari was hysterical because he knew she meant every word. She didn’t give a damn what they did as long as they were together.

“God, I love you, sweetheart.”