Page 28 of Unlocked Desire: Vol One

"I know you do."

"I shouldn't have pushed."

Sonia grabbed my face. "No. You did what you had to do. A relationship can't have any secrets; that shit festers and consumes people until there's nothing left."

"When did you get so smart?"

Sonia laughed, flipping her hair, "I've always been like this."

"We found him," Tristen, Sonia’s husband, said, walking in the front door with Lip trailing behind.

I flung myself off the couch and straight into Lip's arms. He held me tight, silently telling me he'd never let me go, never let us fall apart.

"Where is he?" I asked, looking behind Lip, thinking Jack would be right behind them.

"He's in the hospital," Lip whispered.

My legs gave way. Lip’s arms were the only reason I didn’t collapse to the floor. He scooped me up and carried me back to the couch before sitting beside me.

"What happened?" I whispered.

Sonia handed me a glass of water, and my hands shook as I took it from her.

"He got in an accident on his bike. He hit his head pretty bad. He has some swelling in his brain. He's in a coma," Tristan said, pulling Sonia to him.

I glanced at Lip. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair disheveled, and he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. He was as heartbroken as me. Our relationship didn't work because I fell in love with two men who loved me; it worked because we all loved each other. We were three pieces of the same puzzle. With one in disarray, we all were.

I squeezed Lip's hand, trying to silently tell him that I knew what he was going through.

Lip smiled, attempting to reassure me, but it was the fake smile of someone on the edge. I knew how he felt. I didn't think I'd ever smile again if anything happened to Jack.

Lip kissed my forehead and pulled me closer. That was all I needed for the tears to flow. The dam broke, no longer able to hold the weight of the water, submerging me in fear and worry.

"We gotta go," I said, jumping off the couch.

Lip got up, lacing his fingers in mine, and we headed toward the door.

"If you need anything, call me," Sonia said, hugging me tightly.

I nodded, feeling too heavy to say another word, as I walked out the door and headed to what could be the beginning of the darkness known as my life.

We drove in silence to the hospital, both consumed in our own thoughts.

When we arrived, Lip cut the ignition, his knuckles white from fisting the steering wheel. "He's not dead."

Those three words echoed nonstop in my mind. He's not dead.

"He'll be fine," Lip said, squeezing my hand. "It's Jack. Nothin's gonna hold him down. He'll be fine."

I nodded, trying to hold back the tears. "It's Jack. He'll be fine."

Bile rose in my throat as we got off the elevator for the Intensive Care Unit. Seeing all the doctors and nurses with gloves and masks made me realize how serious this was.

Lip dragged us to the nurses' station, demanding someone help us. "I need to know what room Jackson McGrath is in."

"Are you family?"

"Yes, my name is Phillip Sullivan," Lip said without hesitation.