Sacred Vow (Angels Halo MC Next Gen #5) - Terri Anne Browning Page 0,42

Colt exploded. “Is Nova okay?”

“Doc is with her now. She has a knife wound that needs stitching up, but we’re waiting to know more once Doc is finished examining her.”

“But nothing happened to River?” Aunt Kelli’s gaze shot to mine. When I shook my head, she visibly relaxed.

But when she shifted her attention to me, so did Colt, and I could feel his rage before he even took a step.

“What the fuck were you doing when you should have been protecting my baby girl?” he bellowed.

I squared my shoulders, prepared to let him get it all out. I understood—fuck, I wanted to rage a little myself. My fear that something had happened to River still lingered, even though I knew she was safe behind the door I stood in front of. He barely took a handful of steps before both Raven and Aunt Kelli blocked his path.

“Why are you yelling at the boy?” Aunt Kelli demanded, pushing at her husband’s chest. “She was at school, dumbass. He was on his way to work.”

“He should have—”

“What?” she interrupted him. “Followed her around like a lost puppy while she went to classes?” He sputtered for a moment before growling something low that I couldn’t hear. “Shut the fuck up, idiot.” She stepped into his personal space. “I’m tired of your tantrums, Colt. She’s a grown woman now. River loves him, and they’re together. Pull your head out of your ass and be happy for them.”

The door behind me opened, and I turned around at the same time Dad did. Jet stood there with a lethal look in his eyes, but his gaze moved past us to his youngest brother. “If all you’re going to do is yell and scream, then you should just go the fuck home, Colt.”

“How is Nova?” he asked instead, his anger turning into concern for his niece.

“Doc is about to stitch her up.” He stepped aside and looked over his shoulder. “River, honey, you look exhausted. You should go home, or to work.”

“I promised Ryan I would stay with Nova.” Her soft voice came from inside the room, but I couldn’t see her over Jet’s shoulders.

His lips tilted up in a grim smile. “I think he will understand if I take over guard duty.” He shifted, and I finally got to see my girl. She was leaning on the exam table beside her cousin, who was lying down with her injured arm stretched out while Doc and Flick bent over it.

My eyes ate up the sight of River. Her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were wrinkled. There were dark circles under her eyes and her cheeks were pale, but she looked as beautiful as ever to me. When she lifted her gaze from Nova, it locked with mine and she smiled.

“Hi,” she mouthed.

“Hey,” I said with a wink. “How about I take you home, beautiful?”

I could tell she wanted to go, but she glanced back at Nova as guilt filled her eyes.

Nova reached out with her free hand and squeezed River’s arm. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay. You should go to work.”

Pressing her lips into a hard line, River finally nodded and bent to kiss her cousin’s cheek. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I will. Love you,” Nova murmured softly. “Thanks for staying with me.”

“Love you too,” my girl said as they hugged. As she stepped out of the triage room, her eyes skirted over to her parents, and I felt her stiffen when she spotted her father. She reached for my hand, and I entwined our fingers. “I forgot my backpack at school. I need to get it so I can finish all my homework and study for a test I missed.”

Ben walked over to us. “School will be closed tomorrow, but I’ll have one of my deputies get your bag and drop it off to you.”

She smiled up at him. “Thanks, Ben. It was by my locker.”

“No problem, honey.” He shifted his gaze to me. “She’s had a rough day. Don’t let her do too much this evening.”

“I’m fine,” River argued. “It’s Nova who had a nightmare of a time.”

I tucked her against me, pressing my lips to her forehead. “I’ll make sure she takes it easy,” I promised.

“I’ll be here and then at Raven’s,” Dad told me. “Cancel all my appointments.”

I nodded. “Keep me informed.”

“Will do.” He pulled River away from me to hug her. “Glad you’re okay, honey.” To me, he growled, “Be safe.” What he meant was, keep her safe.