Oracle Seeing (The Phoenix Files Book 2) (52 page)

He begged her to stay.

“Put pressure on it,” he urged. “Jesus! Can you untie me? I can help you! Bishop! Don’t you leave me!”

She knew the odds.

A stomach wound?

Yeah, she was already dead.

“I love you so much,” she whispered, trying to keep her eyes open. She began coughing.

Lucian tipped his chair over, so he could try to get to her. “Stay with me, Bishop. Oh, God! Stay with me. If you go, I’ll be that monster. If you leave, I’ll have nothing to keep me grounded. I need you, baby.”

She kept coughing.

“I had to save you. It’ll be okay,” she said, lifting her hand to touch his cheek.

“I love you,” he said. “I’ll love you forever.”

“I’ll wait for you,” she whispered, her hand falling from his cheek and to the floor.

He heard the footsteps.

“HURRY! Bishop’s been shot!”

Luke and Jagger raced in, and they surveyed the damage. Immediately, Jagger called for an ambulance.

Luke cut Lucian free.

It sucked that they were too late.

“She stood in front of me,” he said, kneeling beside her. “She saved me from him.”

He pulled off his T-shirt and pushed it into her stomach wound.

Luke rolled her to her side.

“It’s not through and through,” he said.

Jagger hung up. “Sit her upright. If the bullet is still in there, the pressure of her organs will slow the bleeding down. It’s the only thing that’ll save her.”

Lucian pulled her into his arms.

He held her against his body and prayed for more time with the woman he loved.

“Bishop, stay with me, baby. God! I need you to stay with me. I can’t do this without you.”

“Come on, Bishop,” Jagger said, patting her cheek. “You gotta fight. I didn’t pull you out of that river to watch you die. Listen to me. Fight.”

She tried to keep her eyes open.

For Lucian, she’d give it all she could.

He rocked her, leaving kisses across her face and neck. “I’ll never love anyone but you. I’m sorry I wasted all those years, Bish. I’m sorry I wasted our time.”

She stared ahead, and the edges of her vision were going gray. She was slipping in and out, missing half the things around her.

There were sirens.

Lucian’s sobs.

Gravel crunching.

Men talking.

She could hear him pleading, but he sounded so far away. Before long, she wasn’t in his arms. Bishop could feel the cold press of table to her back.

During it all, she held on for as long as she could.

The last word she spoke, before she passed out was her mantra. She’d found her way back into his life to save him. It was good enough for her.

She’d done her duty.

She served Ravenswood.

Bishop had carried on…

“Lucian.”

If she died, it was with him on her lips, and in the end, that was enough for her.

Epilogue

Sunday Night

Time wasn’t their friend.

As the clocked ticked, both men sat in a lounge, waiting to find out if they were going home alone. In death, everyone was the same. The living were forced to watch as the reaper took whoever he wanted—their time or not.

Death didn’t play favorites, and the two men didn’t know if they were going to win or lose.

Fate was driving this bus.

Nathaniel Carter, a man who fought—
even when he couldn’t fight any more
—was waiting for the news.

Lucian Monroe, a man who ran—even when he didn’t think he was strong enough—found that he had to be the one who held up.

They both had to move on.

It was when Nate looked up to see his sister heading his way, that he truly crumbled. He’d been in this situation before, only it was that woman who’d been on the cusp of death.

“Callie,” he said, as she raced into his arms. “I can’t…” Nate didn’t even have the words. It meant so much that she’d flown across the country to get to his side.

She got it.

“Shhhhhh, darlin’, I’ve got this. Let me handle the situation. I’ll carry you.”

She got him to sit. She knelt down to stare at the man beside her brother. “You’re Lucian. Maura told me that your fiancée was shot, and she’s in surgery too.”

He nodded. Lucian didn’t need an introduction. The woman looked a lot like Nathaniel Carter. They had the same curls and icy blue eyes.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got you too.”

He didn’t know what to say.

Pulling her badge, she headed off to do battle. The men watched as the family, some blood, some now friends, rallied around them.

Roxy was there, her head on her grandfather’s shoulder. Silas’s eyes were filled with tears as they waited for news. There were deputies, standing behind Lucian for hours, making sure he knew that he wasn’t alone.

It was one hell of a scene.

And in the center of it all was a black-haired doctor, raising some hell.

They watched as somehow, she got them to let her go back into the cordoned off hall.

They observed as she talked to a scrub clad man behind the door. She listened, they watched, they watched, and she listened.

It went back and forth.

It was like a tennis match.

Finally, when she was done talking to him, she headed their way.

Kneeling down in front of her brother, she touched his cheek. “Avalon is done. She’s in recovery. She’s really sick from the drugs. You can see her in a few minutes. They need to stabilize her.”

He was able to breathe.

She moved over to the blood covered man.

“Don’t tell me she’s dead. Please don’t tell me she’s dead,” he whispered over and over again. If those words came out, Lucian was walking out of the hospital, home, and to end his life.

He wouldn’t do this without her.

He couldn’t.

Without beauty, the beast would die.

“She’s in really bad shape, but she’s alive. They’ve patched her up, but it’s touch and go for a while. She lost a lot of blood.”

He stared at his hands.

He knew it was true because it had been all over his hands.

It was on his soul.

“They said you have to wait a little longer.”

He nodded.

His torture wasn’t over.

It wasn’t even close.

He started to cry.

Callie sat beside him, feeling his pain. They’d all been there. They’d all sat in a waiting room, this fear choking them.

“We’ll stay with you until the end,” Maura said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

He couldn’t speak.

Jagger saw Roxy sitting there, sobbing for her friend. He crossed to her and sat beside her.

“I’ll stay with you.”

She sobbed harder as his arms went around her, and he pulled her into his body to offer her reassurance.

They all sat.

They all stood watch.

In the end, justice was more than about putting a criminal in a cage. It was about this.

It was about family.

And it was about holding on, even when hope wasn’t on your side.

And for now, Lucian had no choice.

This was Bishop’s call.

Stay or go.

He was waiting for her to decide.

Then, and only then, he would follow.

       
                
* * *
  O R A C L E   * * *

Monday Morning

She felt awfully crowded in her bed. Avalon could feel lots of people touching her, but she didn’t know where she was. The energy around her was strange, and there had to be about six auras in the room with her.

It was confusing.

The drugs had made her head hurt, and she couldn’t hear the static. She was pretty dosed up with pain medication.

“Nathaniel?” she whispered.

Immediately, he moved beside her, his big warm hand touching her cheek.

“Avi! Jesus! I’ve been so scared.”

He left kisses across her forehead and lips.

“Who’s here? I’m still out of it.”

“We all are,” Maura said, giving her a kiss on the crown of her head.

“Me too, Kiddo,” Jagger said, doing the same.

Luke went next. “You nearly killed the boss man. His hair is gray…well, what he didn’t yank out.”

She laughed. For some reason, Avalon didn’t doubt it. She figured Nathaniel had nearly shit a brick.

Avalon focused on two more auras. “You feel familiar.”

Callista laughed. “I’m your favorite sister to be. I won’t be upset that I had to remind you of that. I will say it stings that you love Maura more. She’s a shrew.”

Maura snorted, and then gave her sister-in-law a fist bump. “Yeah, you should talk.”

Avalon smiled. “Callie. You came to see me. I missed you!” she said, as Nate’s sister gave her a big wet kiss. “Is that Quinn?”

“It certainly is,” he said, running his big rough hand over her head.

“I’m sorry you all came. I’m really okay.”

It was time to give her the bad news.

“Baby, we lost the pregnancy.”

Nate had been dreading saying that all day. From the second Avalon got into her room, to that moment, it ate away at him.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

She heard it in his voice. “Nathaniel, it wasn’t meant to be. It’s okay. I’m good.”

Her hand found his cheek, and it was wet.

“There will be more chances.”

“I suppose you want to put off the wedding?” he asked, knowing that there was no reason to get married so fast. He wasn’t going to be a daddy.

“Maybe this happened for a reason,” she offered. “Let’s pick a new date and let Fate drive this one. I told you that once you move fate off her track, it’s a bitch to get her back.”

“I love when I hear cursing from hospital rooms,” said a voice, as she walked in.

“Elizabeth?” Avalon asked.

“Spooks, you’re making a lot of waves. Which part of under the damn radar, don’t you five get?”

Nate was worried. “Are we safe here?”

Elizabeth handed Avalon a big fluffy bear. “That’s from Ethan and Callen. They couldn’t be here. I had to do this under some big time sneakery. We have to get you moving, and tonight.”

Nate’s heart began pounding.

He knew how dangerous Avalon being discovered could be, and that freaked him out. If POTUS got word, he’d take her back. Nate couldn’t let that happen.

“There’s an ambulance waiting for you. Wheel her out. As far as anyone knows, this patient didn’t make it. Today, the FBI lost another agent in the field. The medical records have already been scrubbed.”

They got it.

Elizabeth Blackhawk was burying this identity. “Go home, lay low, and don’t come back to this hospital.”

They all got it.

“Major, here,” she said, tossing Maura a bag with an ambulance driver’s uniform. “You drive, they ride, and Jagger, clean up the damn mess. When I say clean...”

He knew what that meant.

“Yes, Director Hot Stuff. It’ll be my pleasure.”

They all split up.

“Next time, team, avoid the media! They got Avalon on film. The new Deputy Director has shit a royal brick. You know it’s bad when he wants me cleaning it up!”

They got moving.

Nate stopped in front of his boss. “Elizabeth, thank you for all you’ve done.”

She hugged him. “You’re welcome, Nate. Keep your head low, and get back to Fire Bay. I’ll buy you some time to get to cover.”

He took off.

Elizabeth headed out, dialing her phone. When he answered, she gave him the news. “The birds have left the nest, Raven. It’s all clear.”

“See you at home, Elizabeth. Fly safe.”

She would.

They’d adverted one hell of a mess.

By the skin of their damn teeth.

This time.

       
                
* * *
  O R A C L E   * * *

Bishop’s Room

He didn’t move from her bedside.

It was ironic how it was four days. It was just like fate to have the last laugh. Finally, when they brought her to her room, he refused to leave her side.

It was only fair.

So, he sat, holding her hand.

Then when he was at his darkest, she moved. He could hear the intake of breath and see the fluttering of her eyelids.

His baby was back.

“Bishop!”

She opened her eyes. “What’s a girl got to do to make out with a very smelly beast?” she teased.

He started laughing.

Then he started crying.

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

It was the truth. This had nearly killed him. Lucian had been through a shitload of pain in his life, but none of it ever came close to what he was living in that moment.

His mouth found hers, and he kissed her. That familiar rush came back, as she offered him that peace.

The heart monitor jumped, and a nurse came in.

“Hands off the sheriff, Mr. Monroe.”

Lucian sat down. “She’s mean. She wouldn’t let me climb into bed with you.”

That made her laugh.

Then moan in pain.

“Lucian!”

“Sorry. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Me too.”

Then he went serious.

And angry.

Very, very angry.

“IF YOU EVER PUT YOUR BODY IN FRONT OF MINE TO PROTECT ME AGAIN, I’M GOING TO SHOOT YOU MYSELF.”

“Gee, how do you really feel? You’d think you’d buy a girl some flowers to say thank you—not yell at her.”

He pointed at the table full of roses. There were four huge bunches of roses.

“One for each day you didn’t wake up.”

She touched his cheek. “I’m okay, handsome.”

“I love you so much, Bishop. I’m so glad you’re okay. Now that you are, I have something to do.”

He went out into the hall and whispered something. Then he came back. Lucian got down on his knees next to the bed, and took her hand in his. He slid that ring right back on, and a giant diamond engagement ring to go with it.

“Marry me.”

She smiled. “Absolutely.”

There were sounds of walking, laughing, and then people came in the room.

“Right now,” he added.

“What?” she asked.

“Marry me right now—as in today, here, present time, and while you’re in that bed.”

A minister walked in.

Then the mayor, who looked like he’d been there for days.

“Are you shitting me?” Then she realized what she’d just done. “Sorry, Father.”