Blacklisted (Loveless, Texas #3) - Jay Crownover Page 0,105

that I knew who the other woman was, the sense of betrayal and abandonment had all but dissipated. Even with my brain rattled and my body barely hanging on, I knew he wouldn’t have been in that room with her without a solid reason.

It was several days later when I could finally keep my eyes open for more than a few minutes at a time and felt like I could move my limbs without wanting to throw up from the pain motion caused. There was still a fleet of medical personnel in and out of my room, but today there was also a very handsome man with dark hair and a concerned expression on his face parked next to my bed. I knew Crew was the one who donated the kidney that saved my life, but seeing the athletic and typically hearty man move slowly and carefully really drove home that he’d risked his life and career for me.

Faced with his sacrifice, I wanted to sob, felt the way my body fought to shake and quiver. However, I was still totally battered, so all I was capable of was silent tears and a whispered, “Thank you.”

Crew had been the least welcoming. He was the one who still had suspicions about my intent toward my new family. And yet he’d saved my life because at the end of the day, we were family.

The charming rodeo rider gave me a lopsided grin and put a hand to his side where I knew we would eventually have a pair of matching surgical scars.

“It’s rare to really get a second chance. I got one, so I know how special it is. Make sure you don’t waste yours, Presley. Let’s be sure we live well and take care of each other going forward. Family first from here on out.” When he grinned at me I heard a nurse sigh, and if I’d been able to, I would’ve returned his smile.

I barely got the words “Family first” out to agree with him, when it all got too much. I closed my eyes to get my composure back under control and must’ve fallen asleep. When I opened them again, my other brother was in the room, and I could tell from a crack in the blinds over the window that it was starting to get dark.

Case looked ten times worse than Crew did, even though the younger one had just been through major surgery. His usual scruff was reaching actual beard stage, and his already silvery and black hair looked like there was more white threaded throughout. His eyes appeared tired, and there was no missing the dark circles underneath. His face looked slightly gaunt, and the deep grooves that fanned out from the corners of his eyes seemed even more pronounced than usual. Case was always ruggedly handsome and never really looked his age, but sitting slumped in an uncomfortable-looking chair next to my hospital bed, he looked every year he’d had to weather and win.

I must have made a sound alerting him to the fact I was now awake. Watching him, it was apparent he hadn’t slept much and was stumbling over his own feet. He stopped at the side of my bed, and I was surprised enough to jolt slightly when he reached out and put one of his big, scarred hands over mine, being careful of the tubes and wires connected to the back. His touch was warm, but there was no mistaking the faint tremor in his fingers. Case was usually so stoic and so good at keeping himself contained. We were similar that way, so I knew that tiny quake was an indication there was an actual landslide of feelings happening inside the man.

“I sent Shot home.” His words were extra raspy and his bright blue eyes shone with regret. “He’s been by your side since the beginning. He isn’t eating. I don’t think he’s slept more than a few hours. His club was threatening to storm the hospital if they didn’t get proof of life, so I made him leave. It wasn’t easy.” Case sighed and softly squeezed his hand around mine. “He’ll be back.”

I blinked in surprise, because it hadn’t crossed my mind to wonder if Shot had stayed by my side or not. I knew he’d been in the room while I was unconscious, because like always, that scent of leather and sunshine lingered behind him wherever he went. I didn’t understand why Case was so adamant I