Everly's the best thing that ever happened to me. I couldn't lose her.

An army of white coats rushed her into surgery, shoving me aside when I tried to follow them down the hall. The ride on the ambulance had been the most terrifying thing I'd ever experienced. She lost so much blood. I was surprised she remained conscious the entire time.

Everly was the strongest woman I knew. Watching her sob and plead with God not to let her die broke my heart. All I could do was hold her hand and give her empty promises that I wouldn't allow that to happen. She wanted me to stay by her side. Despite how brave she was, she was just as terrified as me. And I broke my promise. The doctors and nurses wouldn't grant me access to the operating room, which was understandable. But so damn infuriating.

I spent hours pacing the ER hallway. After pestering every nurse and doctor I could find, nobody gave me the answers I needed. Critical but stable. They kept repeating that every time I asked. A nurse suggested I should sit and get a coffee to calm down. My girlfriend was possibly dying and so was our baby. I didn't need a fucking coffee. I needed to see her beautiful face and hold her in my arms again.

Kicking the vending machine, I scared the living hell out of a timid nurse. How the hell could I be so stupid? I should've realized someone followed us. I should've defended Everly and caught the culprit. What kind of pathetic excuse of a man was I if I couldn't keep her safe?

The doors to the waiting area burst open, making me jump. I turned around, frowning. Just the man I didn't want to see.

Emmett Larson stormed up to me, wearing a fancy blue suit. I met his angry glare. I knew he was high from his bloodshot eyes and enlarged pupils. Being around them so much made it obvious to tell. To be honest, I couldn't remember a time being around him when he wasn't tweaked out.

He brought his partner, Kazimir Vassiliev with him. Lord knew his last name was difficult to pronounce. His dad was from Russia. Colorful splotches of paint covered his blue button down shirt. The short-stack kept sniffling like he had a cold, rubbing at his nose.

"What the hell happened to my sister?" Emmett demanded.

"She's okay, isn't she?" Kaz adjusted his thick-framed glasses, eyes brimmed with tears. "We heard she was shot."

"She was. The driver came out of nowhere and was gone so fucking fast. I couldn't even get the license plate number." I clenched my fists at my sides. "I don't understand why someone would target her. Why not me? Why did they leave me unharmed?"

"Hell if I know. I wish he would've shot you instead," Emmett replied. "We heard about what happened on our police scanner and hurried over here. Why the hell were y'all out at the aquarium so late?"

"Isn't it obvious? We were on a date."

"That place closed hours ago," he pointed out.

"I had a friend who let me give Everly an exclusive night tour," I explained.

Emmett rolled his eyes. "Real romantic. Look where it got her."

"Are you fucking with me right now? You're not really trying to blame me for what happened, are you?"

"It's best for everyone if you leave Everly alone. Hopefully she never wants to see your ugly ass face ever again."

"You have no right to tell me that. The person who shot her is probably one of y'all's clients. So, instead of blaming me, go take a long look in the fucking mirror," I told him. "Your drug business brings in all sorts of dangerous criminals. Whoever you pissed off this time probably came after her."

Emmett twitched. "Why didn't you just shoot the bastard? What kind of shitty cop are you if you can't defend your ex-girlfriend?"

"Keep talking and I'll get you admitted here in minutes." I grabbed his wrist and forced his sleeve up. "Funny for a man with fucking zombie arms to try calling me ugly. Everly needs me because you're too busy killing yourself."

"Leave him alone." Kaz intervened, trying to wedge his small body between us. "Fighting won't help Everly."

Emmett yanked his arm from my grasp, covering his nasty scabs from abusing the needle. A nurse at the front desk kept a close eye on us, letting her hand waver on the phone. If we didn't calm down, she'd call security to kick us out. That was the last thing I wanted.

"You can go to hell."

I stormed off to the vending machines near the elevators. I couldn't handle his bullshit right now, and I knew I wouldn't be able to keep myself from punching that blond bastard in the face. I still couldn't understand how Everly was related to him. My theory was that Emmett was adopted and left behind on Earth by the devil himself.

Snatching a crisp five dollar bill out of my wallet, I slipped it in the machine I kicked earlier, and hit B6 many times for all the Hershey chocolate bars in there. I ate all five of them too.

More time ticked away and my anxiety only worsened. The hospital was suffocating. I couldn't stop thinking about Everly. I had no idea how she was doing now. The worst case-scenarios kept playing through my head. What if she died during surgery?

"Emmett Larson?" An ugly nurse with a face full of acne scars carried a clipboard close to her chest, looking around at the three of us. New Syracuse Memorial Hospital waiting area was dead in the middle of the night.

"Yeah?" Emmett rose from his seat. "How's my sister doing?"

"She just got out of surgery." The timid nurse adjusted her purple-framed glasses. She kept looking down at whatever she had on her clipboard. "Just, uh, come with me, okay?"

"I can see her too, right?" I asked.

The ugly nurse shook her head. "Sorry, but family members only. You two have to stay out here until she can be moved to the general ward."

My jaw dropped. "Come on, can't you make an exception for me? I'm a detective. Isn't there some kind of rule that allows me to talk to her about the man who shot her?"

"I'm sorry, but no. It's just hospital policy," she explained.

"Your policy is shit."

She didn't respond to that. She led Emmett down the hall to see his sister, leaving me alone in the waiting area with Kaz. He sat on one of the uncomfortable chairs, drinking a pop that Emmett bought him earlier.

"Their policy really is shit. They should've let you back there." Kaz rubbed his nose on the back of his sleeve.

"Yeah, I know. I'm worried about her." I sat down beside him. "Don't y'all usually work together dealing?" I kept my voice hushed in case the woman playing on her phone at the desk overheard.

"What?" Kaz blanched.

"You don't have to do that. I ain't gonna rat you out. Just be honest with me," I told him.

He relaxed a little. "Yeah, we work together."

"Have y'all had anyone aggressive come around lately? Maybe someone threatened her or got pissed over something?"

"Everly doesn't talk about her life in the gang, does she?" Kaz kept his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if she'd be comfortable with me saying anything."

I frowned. "Why? Kaz, if you know who might be responsible for what happened tonight, you need to tell me. You won't be in trouble."

"Some of the men who come in are loathsome. They try to make sexual advances on her sometimes or threaten her. I think you get what I mean without being specific." Kaz fiddled with his hands in his lap. "Me and Fatlard, I mean Charlie, always intervene when shit like that happens. Everly knows how to defend herself too."

I bit back the hateful responses I wanted to shout. But not at Kaz. I didn't blame him for any of that. It was Emmett's fault for letting her get involved with their dangerous drug dealing.

"Any men stand out to you?" I asked.

"There was this one creep. Dylan," Kaz said. "He swore he'd... get in her pants, to put it politely. We banned him from coming around and Emmett refuses to deal to him after he said that to Everly."

"That son of a bitch. It could be motive for him to go after her. Addicts don't necessarily think rationally either. No offense."

"None taken. I'd like to help out in any way I can. I think we still have his contact information back at the hideout. I can get it for you."

"Really? You'd do that?" I asked.

"Of course." Kaz nodded.  "Anything to help y'all catch this bastard."

"Thanks, man."

I wasn't in the mood to talk on the phone, so I sent a group text to my family updating them on the situation with Everly. Seeing how late it was, I knew my momma wouldn't answer until morning. But my brother, Adrian responded right away. He still had another couple hours left on his shift, but promised he'd drive down to New Syracuse tomorrow morning with Momma.

The ugly nurse from before returned, calling out my name. Her raspy voice startled me. It was about damn time they let me see Everly.

Heavy silence filled the hallway she led me down. I could smell cleaning solution and a faint whiff of blood. It brought me back to the parking lot where I desperately tried to stop the bleeding. Everly kept begging me not to let her die. I didn't know what to do or how I could save her.

I took a deep breath and braced myself when we reached her room. Please, God, let her be okay. Everly was the strongest and bravest person I knew. She would pull through and so would our baby.

"We've already filed a police report about the shooting," the nurse said. "You know I shouldn't even be letting you in here, right? I know you're not here on official police business. Everly insisted though, and the doctor allowed it."

Stupid bitch. I wanted to knock the glasses right off her face. What was her problem?

The moment I saw Everly's beautiful face again, I had to resist shoving the nurse aside to wrap her up in my arms. She looked up at me briefly but quickly turned her head away again. I wanted to hug her and promise everything would be okay.

Emmett perched himself in the chair beside her with his legs sprawled out. He was munching on some peanut butter crackers.

"You just missed the doctor," he said. "She's a nice lady. She even let you come join us for twenty minutes."

"Better than nurse ratchet," I muttered once she left the room.

They had Everly hooked up to all kinds of whatchamacallit's I couldn't identify. Thank God I never became a doctor. I'd never be able to handle it.

"Baby, I'm here now." I knelt down at her bedside. "How are you feeling?"

"Adam." Her voice barely came out as a whisper.

I reached up to wipe away the tears that fell from her beautiful green eyes. She shivered as she grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly.

"What's wrong, honey?" I asked. "Are you hurting somewhere? Do you want me to page a doctor?"

She shook her head.

"Are you sure you're okay? You can be honest with me," I told her.

"Just tell him," Emmett said. "It's not like he's going to be mad at you."

"Shut up. You don't know everything."

I loved how she still had that spunk in her despite everything that happened. Brushing her blonde hair out of her eyes, I gently caressed her damp cheek. Why couldn't she tell me what was wrong?

"You can't blame yourself for what happened. Didn't you listen to anything that doctor told you?" Emmett asked.

"I wish they'd let you take Emmett's place as my guardian." She sighed.

I smiled at that. "Me too. I can't imagine how annoying he's been."

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here." Emmett scowled. "You're stuck with me until mom and dad get here."

"Seriously though, what's wrong, baby?" I kissed her knuckles.

She looked down, trying to fight back the tears that spilled again. Her gorgeous green eyes were already so puffy from crying. I hated seeing her in so much pain. I'd do anything to take it all away

She sniffled. "I lost the baby."

It broke my heart to hear those words. I held Everly tightly as she sobbed on my shoulder. Only a few hours ago, I was so happy and already in love with our unborn baby. I'd already started wondering what he or she would look like. Maybe he would've had her beautiful eyes and my dark brown hair. No matter what, I would've loved the baby. We would have been amazing parents. But some bastard stole all that from us.

"I'm sorry."

I tucked strands of her blonde hair behind her ear, frowning. "What are you apologizing for? Don't you dare think for one damn minute that this is your fault."

I held myself together for Everly that night and let her weep in my arms for as long as I was allowed to stay. It was very possible whoever attacked my girl and killed our baby would try to finish the job. I had to stay there to keep her safe. Even if it meant staying down in the waiting area. I couldn't go home knowing she laid awake in a hospital bed crying over our baby. One of us had to stay strong.

I didn't want her to see me break down, so I waited until my visiting time was up. Walking down the pristine white hallway, I tried my best to keep it together. I wanted to make it outside, where nobody would see me cry. I wanted to stay strong, but I couldn't.

Tight pressure welled in my chest before the sobs poured out like rainwater rushing from the gutters. I barely made it to a chair to steady myself on. We lost our baby. I just learned I would be a father, and only hours later that all got taken from me. I thanked God that Everly survived, but why did our baby have to die? It wasn't fair.

I felt Kaz's hand on my back. He didn't say a word. I think he knew I didn't want to talk.

In that moment, I knew I would find the son of a bitch who hurt Everly and our baby. I would show them no mercy.