Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets #2)

by Silla Webb

  “Mark my words, Ashton.” He says, pointin’ his dirty finger in my chest. “For every bone he broke, I’ll crush two. His blood will stain my hands and I’ll bask in every damn second of watchin’ that asshole suffer.”

  Once they finally have assessed her injuries, they move Carly Jo from the emergency department to labor and delivery for observation. I pull the heavy wooden door back and quietly walk into her room. My heart drops to my stomach and my knees go weak seein’ her curled into a heap in the hospital bed. A sight for sore eyes, I silently praise God that she is alive and safe; but, I’ve never felt so much fury rip through me as I did in this very second. Sittin’ on the side of her bed, I trail the tips of my fingers down the side of her cheek, causin’ her to wake in a state of panic. She peeks up at me through heavily swollen lids and her panic filled eyes soften, hazin’ over with unshed tears. She tries to speak but her throat is swollen from strangulation, so she hiccups a broken sob through her raspy voice. Chokin’ back my frustration, I gently cradle her head softly in my palms, pressin’ a soft kiss to her temple. She leans into my chest, soakin’ my shirt immediately with heavy tears and I cry right along with her. My heart breaks for my beautiful wife. She shouldn’t have endured this, but I’ll avenge her afflictions if it’s the last damn thing I do.

  Crawlin’ in the bed beside her, I brush her caramel waves away from her tear stained face, she melts into me allowin’ sleep to claim her once more. I just need to hold her close to me. I take in her injuries through clenched teeth. Her soft face and throat are swollen, black with bruising. Her beautiful sunflower filled irises are blood shot and puffy. She has a small gash on the side of her head, but they were able to stitch it up neatly. A fetal monitor is strapped to her belly and the swooshing sound that quietly fills the room is music to my ears. The baby is perfectly fine, just a little stressed from the external trauma that Carly Jo suffered. Dr. Staton and Kaylee have been by her side since she came in, keeping a close eye on her and the baby. She told me that Carly Jo’s injuries look worse than what they are.

  Savannah on the other hand is a totally different story. My God, to look at her, I didn’t even recognize her. She has three broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder and a collapsed lung. The swelling and bruising of her face made her barely recognizable, but the doctor said she’s lucky that her facial bones weren’t broken or dislocated. When she finally came to she was so distraught, thrashing and screaming in obvious terror the doctor had to sedate her just to perform testing. She was admitted to intensive care due to the extensive trauma. Luke is grief stricken. He argued with the staff that although he wasn’t family or a spouse, he was her friend and she needed someone familiar by her side when she finally woke up. Realizin’ that he was right, they relented and allowed him to stay by Savannah’s side.

  Carly Jo lets out a small whimper, wincing in her sleep. Shushin’ her, I rub small circles across her belly and lightly kiss her cheek to calm her down. This hospital bed is a tight fit for the two of us, but she’s still in shock and every time my hand leaves her stomach she panics immediately, joltin’ up from her sleep. She’s sub-consciously worried about the baby and finds solace in my touch. I’ll take it. Even if I’m squished up in a tiny bed with my feet hangin’ from the edge. As long as my darlin’ feels safe and is restin’ easy I’ll not leave her side.

  My eyes open to a cloudy haze. Pressing my lids together then fluttering them open a few times, I rub my eyes sleepily and wince in pain. SHIT.

  Why the hell does my face feel like it’s been smashed repeatedly with a frickin’ meat tenderizer?

  A soft swooshing sound fills the room with white noise. The bend of my elbow pinches as I shift in the bed. My eyes scan the room, taking in my surroundings. Small, cold room with a ceiling to floor locker in the corner next to the window. An IV pole stands by the top of the bed with a line connecting to my stiff arm. A chair sits by the bed, empty. The hospital?

  Panic ensues, crawling through my chest slowly tightening around my throat as I struggle to speak. Damn, that hurts.

  Why is my throat so scratchy?

  My chest begins to heave with anxiety as the nightmare replays through my mind. I try to sit up but a cold steel grip keeps me pressed firmly to the bed. Looking down, I see a coal covered hand wrapped tightly around my stomach and I relax into the bed knowing that I’m safe.

  “Lay still, darlin’. Rest.” He whispers against my ear. I try to speak but my throat is so tight I can’t force the words to break free. I need to pee…bad…like really frickin’ bad. I tap Colton’s hand, gauging his attention then motion towards the bathroom. He springs up, makes his way around the bed and helps me sit up to gain my bearings.

  The room tilts and spins. Colorful spots flash in my field of vision and my body trembles.

  My eyes flutter shut and I pull in a deep, ragged breath. “Take a sip.” He instructs pressing a straw to my lips. The cool liquid trails down my throat and the restricted feeling slowly dissipates. Finally feeling confident enough to stand, Colton unsnaps the fetal monitor from the band around my waist before he gently pulls me up to my feet. I slowly shuffle to the bathroom.

  Relieving my bladder, I sway lightly from side to side, but Colton keeps his hands firmly on my shoulders to keep me sliding from the toilet. When he gets me back in the bed, I try to speak and my voice finally forms a small whisper.

  “Drink, please.” My throat burns, but at least I can form words now. Colton presses the straw to my lips and I can’t seem to quench my thirst. It feels like I’ve been sucking on cotton for days, and each sip I take, I crave more.

  “How long have I been out?” I whisper.

  “Bout eighteen hours, baby.”

  “Is Savannah okay?”

  Colton rakes his hand over his face roughly and replies, “She’s hangin’ in there.”

  I hear a light knock, then the door opens filtering a streak of light into the room.

  “Well, would you look at that…she finally decides to roll her lazy ass outta bed.” A bubbly Kaylee sings through the room. “You look terrible, but seeing you sitting up makes me very happy. It’s progress, so I’ll take it.”

  I smile weakly to Kaylee. She repositions the fetal monitor on my stomach, then wraps a cuff around my arm and begins to check my vitals. The loud swooshing sound fills the room and I smile to myself, ecstatic that my little monkey is thriving. Such a strong little fighter. Kaylee flashes a small flash light over my eyes, marking my chart as she goes.

  “Alright sweets, everything is looking great. Well except you. You look like hell.” She shrugs. Thanks, Kaylee. “The police have been impatiently waiting for you to wake up, so they can get your statement. When you feel like talking to them let me know, ‘kay?” I nod. “Do you need anything before I go?”

  “Savannah.” I whisper. She looks to me sadly, then glances up at Colton. He nods at her as his eyes drift closed.

  “I’ll get you a wheel chair. Sit tight.” She replies, patting my hand lightly.

  A few short minutes later she pushes a wheelchair into the room, then disconnects me from all of the monitors, damn lines leadin’ everywhere. “I called downstairs and let the nurse know you would be down shortly. It’s not visiting hours, but they’re understanding.” She says as she helps Colton seat me in the wheel chair. After Kaylee leaves the room, Colton kneels beside me and laces his fingers in mine.

  “Baby, listen closely. Savannah don’t look so good right now. Are you sure you wanna see her?” His eyes soften as he speaks. I nod and fight back the hiccup in my chest. He kisses my forehead then stands tall on his feet and pushes me out of the room into the brightly lit hallway. We take the elevator down a few floors then exit in front of large double doors with a keypad and intercom on the wall. Colton speaks into the intercom, giving the nurse our names and after the doors swing open, he pushes me down a long sterile hallway. Loud beeping shrills from every direction. Stopping in the hallway, Colton peeks into the dark window then rakes his k
nuckles over the heavy steel door before entering. My eyes fall upon Luke first as his eyes widen in surprise when Colton wheels me into the room. A heavy sigh falls from his lips and after gazing at me for a few seconds, he smiles.

  “How’re ya feelin’ beauts?” He says quietly.

  “Te-terrible. How’s my sister?” I ask, then look to the body that lays lifelessly in the bed. I gasp, covering my mouth with my hands and I choke on a ragged sob. Tears fall quickly and all air seems to have escaped my body. Colton wraps his arms around my shoulders, blanketing me in his protection as he shushes my cries.

  “Darlin’, I told ya she wasn’t well. She’s sedated right now, but she’ll wake up once the medication wears off and her body’s no longer in shock. It’s just gonna take time Carly Jo. But she’s gonna make it.”

  Guilt grips me, shaking the ever-lovin’ shit outta me. This is all my fault. I tried to protect Savannah by hiding the truth, and here she lies on death’s bed. I could have protected my sister from so many beatings if only I had the courage to be honest about Daddy’s secrets. I should have told Savannah about Drew to begin with, but I was so ashamed of the hidden family secret.

  “How bad did he hurt her?” I mutter. Luke looks up to Colton, shaking his head.

  “Beauts, she’s alive. She’s got a long road of recovery ahead of her, but we’ll see her through it.” He pauses, pinching the bridge of his nose. His piercing blue eyes are softer, filled with exhaustion and worry. “I promise you this, Carly. She’ll never be hurt again.” Standing up quickly, Luke charges out of the room trying to hide his ever present emotions.

  Luke has a strange visibility of empathizing with people. Somehow, he can see every emotion a person evokes and I often wonder if he sees a person’s pain, recognizing it before they do. People are prideful. I think Savannah lied to herself for so long, pretending to lead the perfect fairytale life that she began to believe it. She believed that she deserved to suffer at Josh’s hand. She believed that she was unworthy of love. But Luke saw through her façade and that’s when she began to crack. She knew that her mask had slipped and someone saw her pain in the rawest form. Not only did Luke see Savannah’s pain, but he felt it.

  It pains me that I was oblivious to Savannah’s plight for so long. Had it not been for Luke, I probably never would have known. I was too busy in my own life and trying to protect Savannah from Drew, when she was literally sleeping with the Devil himself.

  I just want to embrace her and wash away all of her pain, but I’m terrified to touch her because of her frail state. So many thoughts flood my mind at once that I begin to ramble endlessly. Apologies for my mistakes, things that should have been said well before now. But then I remember, she may not even hear me and she ain’t able to respond. I flinch in pain when reality strikes me like the bitch that it is. Savannah may never recover from this and it’s all my fault.

  Chapter 34

  I stare up at the ceiling trying to steady my breathing as the nightmare replays over and over in my mind. I’ve woke up a couple of times, but all I can remember is screaming uncontrollably before drifting back off to dream again. Sleep is easier. I’m safe, protected there by piercing blue eyes that comfort me and keep the nightmares at bay. It took me a few minutes to recognize my surroundings when I woke up and I nearly screamed out again in fear. But seeing Luke Ashton slumped over in the chair next to my bed instantly hushed the anxiety that was working its way up my chest. I grip the edge of the bed, trying to shift my body and flaming heat sweeps across my abdomen. I moan softly, then bite down on my lip to hush my cry, hoping I don’t wake Luke.

  His head snaps up quickly, and sleep laden blue eyes pierce mine with a fierce intensity. He scrubs his hand over his face waking himself up before approaching my bed. I stare up at Luke in shocked disbelief. "Hey, sweetheart." He whispers softly. "Try not to move too much. I'll be right back with a nurse." He backs away slowly, his wild blue eyes never leaving mine as he steps from the room.

  Luke returns almost instantly with a middle aged man in tow. The man introduces himself as Dr. Hensley and begins to ask routine questions as he checks the monitors. I was out much longer than I realized; over thirty two hours. Dr. Hensley tells me he sedated me twice because when I woke up terror stricken, screaming and crying the nurses couldn’t control me. He said that sleep would be the best cure for the shock and it would allow my body to rest.

  Luke sits, then stands, then paces the floor before finally resting himself against the wall. Dr. Hensley presses the stethoscope to my side and I cry out in pain, gripping the sheet tightly in my fist. Luke grumbles low in his throat, taking a step towards me before thinking twice and stepping back in his place. Feeling his eyes on me I peek up through my lashes and suddenly feel naked and exposed as he watches Dr. Hensley’s every move. I want to hide under the covers, become invisible to his piercing glare.

  "Stop staring, it's rude," I snap at him. He arches his eyebrow in surprise but his glare never wavers. In fact, he watches me closer with a smirk splayed across his face. If his goal is to make me feel uncomfortable- mission frickin' accomplished.

  "Well it appears you're spunky nature has returned." The doctor chuckles. "The bruising is getting lighter. We’ll order an x-ray to check your lungs. How do you feel, Mrs. Moore?"

  "Terrible, if I'm being completely honest with you." Inhaling slowly through gritted teeth; talking, hell breathing hurts like a damn bitch.

  “That’s to be expected. I’ll have the nurse remove the catheter; that will ease some discomfort. Right now if you feel like walking, that will help work out the soreness and it will also help your lung heal up quicker. Otherwise, stay elevated when you’re resting. Be sure to use the spirometer also. You’re other injuries will heal on their own.”

  “When can I go home?”

  "A few more days. We'll keep you in intensive care tonight and with better progress we may be able to move you to a regular room tomorrow. Do you have any questions?" I open my mouth to speak then close it quickly before answering, my lips pursing together. Casting my eyes down I shake my head. "Very well then. If you need anything please use the red call button. I'll have the nurse order a meal; best way to regain your energy is by nourishing your body." The doctor tips his head towards me then shakes Luke's hand before exiting the room.

  Taking two wide strides towards me, Luke pulls a phone from his pocket and begins to fiddle with it as he sits down.

  "Luke?" He hums low in his throat in response to me, but keeps his eyes trained on his phone. "Why are you here?" His eyes snap up meeting mine and I wince seeing the pain that flashes in his eyes. The most beautiful ocean blue irises I've ever saw peer back at me sadly and a twinge of guilt pangs me for insulting him.

  "Where should I be, sweetheart?"

  "I - I dunno. I just wasn't expecting you to be here. Hell, I wasn't expecting to be here." I stammer around my words.

  "You probably wouldn't be if I hadn't got to you when I did."

  "How? I only remember calling Colton then everything after that is fuzzy."

  "You might've called Colton first but I don't think you got a hold of him because he was underground when that all happened, Savannah. You called me, yelled help then all I heard was the most agonizing screams," his head falls to his palms and he grumbles before scrubbing his hands over his face. "You're safe now, sweetheart."

  Pulling in a ragged breath, I twist the sheet between my fingers nervously. "Did you save us, Luke?” He leans closer and presses a feather lite kiss to back of my hand. A streak of light peeks through the room from the bright hallway.

  Looking into my eyes Luke mutters, "Not soon enough." He pulls away and his usual ocean blue irises are dark, almost as if there’s a thunder storm brewing in his eyes. Pure raw emotion is all I see in his eyes, so much that it terrifies me and I don’t know why. He steps away from the bed, and leans down to give Carly a hug as Colton wheels her into the room. Without looking back he leaves the room with his shoulders slumped.r />
  “I’m so glad to see your eyes opened, Savannah. I’ve been so worried about you.” Carly says linking our hands together. Colton gives me a smirk and takes Luke’s place in the chair next to my bed.

  “You. You look like shit, Carly.” I snicker then wince as deep heat blankets my side. “Damn it hurts to breath.”

  “You’re in really bad shape, Sis. Lucky to be here. If Luke hadn’t got to us when he did, it’s hard telling what would have happened with us. Why did you call him and not nine-one-one?”

  “I was trying to call Colton, he needed to get to you and the baby. I don’t even remember calling Luke. Everything is still pretty fuzzy. I don’t even know what day it is.” Suddenly I remember, I have no idea who has my kids. Panic rises up in my chest and my heart thuds loudly in my ears. “Damn it, where are Brailee and Braden? Oh God, please tell me Josh doesn’t have my babies!” I shriek and try to will my legs to move to get up. Colton stands up quickly, ready to take action in case I do have the energy to move, but I don’t.

  “Savannah, calm down. They’re with Heidi Jo and Momma. They’re safe.”

  I release a pent up breath of air and moan from the burning sensation in my chest. Relaxing back against the bed I ask, “What about Josh? What happens now?” I was lucky enough to get away within a hair of my life this time. I don’t want to have to look over my shoulder every day worried that he’s lurking in the shadows.

  “You don’t have to worry about Josh, Savannah. Once the police got statements from the EMT and emergency room physicians he was arrested. With all the charges he has between Black Pike, Simon Energy then this, he won’t see the light of day for a long while.”

  “Bastard better thank God the cops got to him before I did, that’s for damn sure.” Carly shoots daggers at Colton and he shrugs, “Don’t give me that look, darlin’. Death would be too gracious for that son of a bitch; he deserves to suffer.”