**** Book 3/3 of the Bartending Trilogy ****
With a new life in the world to protect, will Hazel's men be able to protect both her and their new baby girl?
Protect them, or die trying.
+++ This is not a standalone book. It is part of a series that...
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I stare blankly at Theo's unconscious body.
Lottie slumbers in my arms and I should feel relaxed holding my baby, but I feel nothing.
My eyes come in and out of focus as I watch Theo's steady breaths rise and fall in his chest.
It's been two weeks now, since the accident, and he still hasn't woken up.
I hear the door open to his room, followed by two sets of footsteps, but I don't turn to look at them.
My heart is entangled with pain and numbness, squeezing it in a vice grip that tells me to give up.
It's my fault he's in a coma.
"Hey, Angel," I hear Andros soft voice from next to me, but I keep my vision straight ahead.
He sighs and steps in front of me, blocking Theo from my line of sight.
"I'm going to take Lottie, okay?" he asks.
I don't say anything, simply letting him take my sleeping baby from my arms. His footsteps fade out of the room, only barely heard above the ringing in my ears.
The other pair of footsteps move, reminding me there is someone else here.
"Hazel," I hear Atlas's voice, soft but with a harsh tone edging it.
I don't respond, only blinking to wet my drying eyes.
"Look at me, Hazel."
I stare straight ahead, and with a sigh, he picks me up from the armchair.
I don't say anything as he carries me in his arms out of the room, only keeping my gaze on Theo's sleeping body until he's out of view.
My heart hurts.
I close my eyes as Atlas strides down the hallway, but I can feel his eyes on me. A door is opened and we step inside. The smell of Atlas' scent increases tenfold, the tobacco and woody notes like a shock to my senses.
He places me down on the bed and I reluctantly open my eyes to see him staring down at me, with blazing eyes.
"This has got to stop," he announces, his tone hard.
I don't say anything, simply sitting on the edge of his bed in the same position he placed me.
"Look at me," he grips my chin and forces me to meet his eyes, "It is not your fault. What happened to Theo is not on you."
I gulp, my face blank as he keeps hold.
"It's been two weeks and you've completely closed down. I've given you your space but enough is enough. If trying to care and comfort you isn't working, I'm going to try something else."
I blink at him.
"You're going to let go. You're going to submit to your guilt. I'm going to punish you until you can finally release it."
