Caelum.
My knees gave out as they lay my husband down. He was too pale.
Whatever they had done, it wasn’t going to be enough. I felt it.
“We have to get him to the hospital. He needs someone watching his vitals all night.”
Killian appeared next to me; his brows creased in worry.
My voice broke as I faced him. “Please, Killian. Please.”
His green eyes lifted, like he was the one pleading with me. His jaw clenched, and with one look at Silas, he closed his eyes. “They’re watching the hospitals. Silas would want you and the boys to stay safe here. Please understand that. They got the bullet out. There wasn’t as much damage as we all assumed. They think he’s going to pull through because he’s too fucking stubborn not to. Give him the benefit of the doubt, Natty.”
I could barely see through the stream of tears that continued to flow. Swiping at my face, I tried to think through another option. Any other option.
“What about Archer Green?”
Killian’s brow raised. “Archer?”
“We made an alliance with Archer a long time ago, and even if he’s mostly retired, I know he’ll honor it. We have Giles, and now we have Lance.”
I was desperate. I could feel it, but down in my bones I knew he would not last the night.
“What exactly are you proposing we do? Archer Green hasn’t set foot outside of New York aside from visiting his wife’s family, but that’s an entirely different shitshow that I want nothing to do with…involving him with his new connections would be even more dangerous because we don’t know which side he’d fall on. Regardless, we can’t even move Silas, Natty.”
I knew that, yet my heart demanded we try.
“What if we can bring a doctor to him with supplies? Everything he’d need.”
A sigh left Killian’s chest, but with one small flick of his gaze, he wasstaring behind me. I could feel my sons’ presence, and while everything inside of me felt brittle to the point of breaking completely in half, I continued to stare at Killian.
Let him see my son stand there. Let him watch as he refused to do absolutely everything within his power to save my husband.
“What would you do if it were Laura?” I stepped closer, still swiping as tears filled my eyes. My voice cracked, but I kept going.
“You would do everything, and I would help you do it.”
His gaze was still on my son, his nostrils flaring wide as he seemed to think it through.
“I’ll make a call and see if we can get one here. Pen seemed to know one who helped us a long time ago…maybe she’s still around.”
I turned with him, seeing Ryle standing there, wide eyes and trembling lip.
“I don’t care who it is, Killian. Archer has men close to Rose Ridge. Call him to go with you, help you. The Death Raiders will ride with you. Giles will go with you. Find a doctor, I don’t care who or if they want to come. Ask what they’ll need to keep my husband alive through the night.”
Killian shook his head, “It’s Christmas Eve?—”
“The alternative, Killian,” I cut him off, stepping up to him, my anger surging, “is that I take Lance with me, and I ride myself to do this. If that happens, I will cut all ties to this club. I will convince Penelope to have Jameson return to the Chaos Kings and I promise you, Lance will have my back as we take up the colors of the Death Raiders again. I have stood by this club as everyone turned their backs on us. Silas has rode with you, protected you. But if you don’t do this, I will do it and that is your choice.”
Lance suddenly stepped into the room, standing directly behind me. “If you decide to help, I’ll make an alliance with you right now. Death Raiders will have your back no matter what, we’ll be indebted to you for life.”
Killian’s face didn’t change even the slightest bit, but his fists clenched nearly as tightly as his jaw.
“And if he doesn’t make it?”
Lance spoke again, his own voice cracking the smallest bit. “He is my brother. My family. Try, that’s all we’re asking. Try and you have my support for life, whether he makes it or not.”
“This is a fucking suicide mission. We don’t have the numbers; even if Iwanted to ask Archer, he could never get his men here in time. What you’re asking of me, you need to put in writing, so the club has your vow, Lance. So whoever leads after me…they’ll have Death Raider support no matter what.”
Killian pushed past us, clearly upset but agreeing, nonetheless.
Lance put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t lose heart, Natty. Give all you’ve got to him, and more. He calls you heaven. Let’s see if you hold any sway with it while we beg for him to be spared.”