by Maya Banks
“Where am I?” she asked hoarsely when he returned to the bed.
He sat down in a chair by her head and cupped her cheek with a gentle hand.
“You’re in the hospital. Do you remember any of it? They had you in the ER for quite a while. The bullet wound wasn’t serious so they moved you to the floor. You cracked some ribs, though, and they want to watch you for a few days.”
She licked her dry lips. “The baby?”
She couldn’t look at him when she asked the question. The pregnancy had been a huge shock to her. She could only imagine what the news had done to him.
He nudged her chin, still stroking her cheekbone with one finger.
“The baby is fine for now. They did lab work to confirm the pregnancy, and they said your HCG levels were normal.”
Fear sliced through her chest. “For now?”
“Shh, sorry. Bad choice of words. You’re pregnant. I just meant that we have to play it by ear. You went through a hell of a lot.”
You could still miscarry.
She heard the words as surely as if he’d said them.
She sagged into her pillow, pain pounding a little more fiercely through her shoulder. She took a deep breath and immediately regretted it. Fire swelled through her rib cage. Tears slid down her cheeks as she panted.
Micah swore and pulled his hand away from her face. “Let me get the nurse. She can give you something for pain.”
He punched the call button, and when he didn’t get an immediate response, he abruptly got up and strode out the door. A few minutes later, he returned with a nurse in tow.
Angelina gratefully extended her good arm with the IV line in her hand for the nurse to give her the injection. When she was done, the nurse patted her softly on the arm.
“Try to get some rest, hon. I’ll be back to check on you later.”
“I have so many questions,” Angelina murmured when the nurse had gone. “So much to say.”
Micah bent and kissed her forehead. His breath stuttered unevenly over her skin as if he held to his control by a thin thread.
“We’ll talk later, Angel girl. We have all the time in the world. Right now you need to rest and get better.”
“Stay with me,” she said.
The drug worked through her veins, leaving in its wake sweet relief and marked lethargy.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Hold me?”
“I wish I could, baby. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Won’t hurt. There’s room. I can move over a little.”
“No! No,” he said in a softer voice. “Stay where you are. I’ll manage.”
She held her breath as he gingerly settled himself next to her, but she shouldn’t have worried. He took such care that she barely felt him when he edged close.
Awkwardly, he put his arm over her waist, lower than her injured ribs.
“This okay?” he asked.
She nodded against his chest and nuzzled her cheek against his shirt. It didn’t hurt to dream a little longer. Dreams were a safe harbor against hurt and grief. For just a little while she could escape, because when she woke up, she had to let Micah go.
CHAPTER 40
M icah lay next to Angelina, listening to her breathe. She’d drifted off almost as soon as he’d climbed into bed with her, and he didn’t dare move now for fear of disturbing her. Plus he liked holding her. He needed to hold her. He’d come so close to losing her.
He carefully moved his hand from her back, sliding over her hips and then low on her belly. He cupped the area just above her pelvis where the baby—his baby—was nestled.
That knowledge blew him away. His baby. A life created by him and Angelina. Part of him was shamed that the baby had been created in a moment of blind lust, at a time when he’d lost complete control. He would have rather the conception happened when he’d tenderly made love to Angelina. But their relationship wasn’t tender. It wasn’t easy. It was volatile. She gave and he took. But that was going to end. Starting now.
A soft knock sounded at the door, and he stiffened. Then it cracked open and Connor stuck his head in.
“Uh, I can come back,” he said.
“No, it’s okay. She’s sleeping. Just keep it down,” Micah said.
Connor walked in, followed by Nathan. They stopped at the foot of the bed and stared down at Angelina sleeping in Micah’s arms.
“How is she doing?” Nathan asked.
“She woke up for just a few minutes and the nurse gave her pain medication. She’s been out ever since. Doc said the shot was just a flesh wound and she’ll be okay.”
“And the baby?” Connor asked softly.
“According to lab work, everything’s normal.”
“Hey, that’s great, man. You gonna kick my ass if I congratulate you?” Nathan asked.
Micah smiled. “No, not at all. I think I’ll be happy about it once it’s all said and done and I know for sure Angelina’s going to be all right. She’s my priority right now.”
“They found Devereaux,” Connor said. “Just like Angelina said. Tied up in the abandoned house he took her to. She worked him over pretty good. He looked like shit.”
“Good. I wish she’d killed the bastard,” Micah gritted out. “I was such a goddamn fool for trusting him. I brought him right to her front door. Hell, I practically gift wrapped and delivered her up on a silver platter.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, man,” Nathan said. “He wasn’t going to stop until he had her. She took care of herself. You should be proud of her for that. Think I’ll have her teach Julie a thing or two about self-defense.”
Connor snorted. “Men are already afraid of Julie.”
Nathan grinned. “That’s good. Then I don’t have to worry about beating their asses for getting too close to her. Now I can lead a peaceful existence.”
“Not if you keep her around for a long time,” Connor said.
Nathan smiled. “As a matter of fact, I’m going to pick up the ring tomorrow.”
“Hey that’s great, man,” Micah said sincerely. “Julie’s a great girl. You know I love her to death.”
He hadn’t seen Nathan so happy since he’d hooked up with Julie. He remembered how happy he’d been with Hannah. He wanted that again. He wanted what his friend had. It hit him like a ton of bricks. Longing. Envy. He wanted what Angelina had so sweetly offered him. Her love. Her trust. And he never wanted to let go.
He’d wanted some kind of guarantee that he’d never hurt again like he’d hurt when Hannah died. But what he’d experienced in the hours following Angelina’s abduction was a hell like no other. There had never been any hope when he’d learned of Hannah’s death. It was quick, merciful. He’d spent the longest day of his life not knowing if Angelina was alive or dead or if he’d ever see her again.
Now that he had her back, he only wanted one more day. One at a time. To make the best of each and every one.
“You okay, man?” Connor asked.
“I’ve been such a dumbass.”
He pressed his lips to Angelina’s temple and breathed in the scent of her hair.
How much had he hurt her with his adamancy? He’d told her he’d take whatever she had to offer but told her in no uncertain terms not to expect a damn thing from him. He winced as his own words played over and over in his memory.
“You finally figure it all out?” Nathan asked.
Micah turned to look at his friend. “Figure what out?”
“What the rest of us have known from the day Angelina walked back into your life.”
“I didn’t love her then,” Micah admitted. “She blindsided me.”
“Don’t they always,” Nathan drawled. “Julie ring any bells? Woman was as subtle as a freight train, but hey, us guys live in stupidity, or so I’m told.”
Connor pinned him with an even stare. “So what are you going to do about it?”
“Whatever it takes. She’s pregnant with my baby. Even if she wasn’t, I’d never
let her go. I want us to be a family. She’s my second chance, one I tried to throw away so many times it’s a wonder she never gave up on me.”
“We wouldn’t be men if we didn’t do stupid shit women don’t understand,” Nathan said. “ ‘It’s genetic’ is a perfectly good excuse.”
Micah cracked a grin. Angelina stirred beside him and he looked down, his finger over his lips. But all she did was snuggle a little closer to his chest and go still again.
Not caring that he had an audience, he ran the tip of his finger over her jaw and to her chin.
“We’re going to skate on out of here,” Connor said. “We just wanted to check in on Angelina. Let us know if there’s anything you need, okay?”
“Thanks for the update. I’m glad they found the son of a bitch,” Micah said. “If you see Sanchez, let him know how much I appreciate all his efforts.”
“Think he’s planning to come by later to see if Angelina’s up to talking,” Nathan said.
Micah nodded and gathered Angelina close once more. His two friends waved and headed back out of the door, leaving them alone.
He stared back down at her face, her lashes resting delicately against her cheeks, the dark smudges beneath her eyes, like bruises.
This ... this was what love looked like. Vulnerable yet strong. Constant, unwavering. She’d fought her way back to him, protecting not only herself, but her unborn child and him. She’d put herself between him and Chad, a fact that laid him low every single time he remembered lying helpless on the floor while she bargained for his life.
He was absolutely, completely unworthy of her loyalty. The magnitude of injustice he’d heaped on her was enough to make him sick. He’d treated her like some sexual conquest, a toy to slake his lust while he kept his heart guarded and safe.
She was beautiful inside and out. She was strong, resilient, and he couldn’t imagine anyone else having his children.
God, children.
He closed his eyes and blew out his breath. The knowledge that she carried his child blew his mind. Not even with Hannah would he have experienced such indescribable satisfaction that the life he and a woman had created was theirs and solely theirs. A child shared between him and a woman he loved. With Hannah, that child would have been shared with David, his but not his. It was an agreement that caused no regrets, but now the knowledge that he had to share nothing with another man was a revelation that opened the door on possessiveness he’d never known he could feel.
He could never share Angelina or their child with another man. It made him crazy to even think about it. She was his and only his.
He bent and whispered against her soft skin. “I never want you to know another day without my love, Angel girl.”
CHAPTER 41
“D etective Sanchez is here to see you. Do you feel up to talking to him?”
Angelina lay quietly on the bed, absorbing the dark around her. Her shoulder and ribs throbbed, but she’d refused any more pain medication, even though the nurse had assured her that it wouldn’t harm her pregnancy. Angelina didn’t want to take any chances, though.
She glanced up at Micah, who stood over her bed, concern etched deeply in the lines of his face.
“I’ll speak to him,” she said softly, knowing she could no longer delay the inevitable.
For two days she’d refused any visitors and stayed in her room with only Micah for company, but even so, she’d been moodily quiet and reserved, only answering direct questions from Micah and refusing to discuss what had happened.
Micah likely thought she was still processing the fright she’d received, but in fact she was collecting herself. Preparing herself for the future she had decided on. And dreading the moment when she had to tell Micah that Chad had been responsible for David and Hannah’s deaths.
Micah watched her uncertainly, as if he wasn’t sure what to say to her or how to say it. He hesitated a moment then reached for her hand and squeezed it. He opened his mouth as if to speak but then shut it again. Then he turned and went back to the door.
A few moments later he returned with Detective Sanchez.
“Turn the light on,” she told Micah in a quiet voice. There was no reason to conduct the interview in the dark.
She turned her face away and into her pillow when the room exploded with light. It took several long moments before she could focus on the detective without squinting.
“Thank you for seeing me, Miss Moyano,” Sanchez began formally.
“Please, call me Angelina.”
He nodded. “Angelina. I’m hoping you can answer some questions for me. We have Devereaux in custody, but he’s not saying anything. He lawyered up as soon as he hit the door, and he hasn’t opened his mouth since.”
Angelina sighed. “I’ll answer your questions to the best of my ability.”
For an hour she recounted the exact sequence of events, from the time Chad took her from The House to the moment the helicopter took her to the hospital. She left nothing out, not even the part when she’d stood over him with the gun wanting so desperately to shoot him.
Micah and Sanchez exchanged glances at the sudden tension in her voice. She went completely stiff, and she struggled even now with the surge of anger that assaulted her.
“Why did you want to kill him?” Sanchez asked gently. “Is there something else?”
“Did he hurt you?” Micah interjected fiercely. “More than what you’ve told us?”
Angelina looked away. “No. I told you everything he did.”
“Angelina look at me,” Micah said. “What aren’t you telling us?”
She raised her gaze to meet Sanchez’s, and she took a deep breath. Tears filled her eyes. The detective leaned forward and touched her hand.
“He killed David and Hannah.”
Micah went completely silent and Sanchez’s brow wrinkled in confusion.
“What did you say?” Micah asked in a dangerously quiet voice.
Sanchez looked at Micah and shook his head sharply. Then the detective turned back to Angelina and his expression softened.
“Now tell me what you mean. Who are David and Hannah?”
She avoided Micah’s gaze and focused on the detective. “David was my brother and Micah’s best friend. Hannah was Micah’s wife. They were killed in a car accident three years ago. Or what we thought was an accident.”
“And what makes you say that Chad killed them?”
“He confessed. It was why I flew into such a rage and attacked him in the house. It was how I got away from him.”
An inarticulate sound of rage came from Micah’s direction, and Sanchez ignored him. He stared hard at Angelina. “Did he tell you why? Did he give you details?”
Angelina closed her eyes as hot tears slipped down her cheeks. “He killed David because of me. I don’t think he cared anything about Hannah. He was obsessed with me even then. I never knew. David never told me Chad had approached him about me. Chad spoke to him when I was sixteen years old, and apparently David hit the roof. Told Chad if he ever caught him near me he’d kill him. Chad waited and approached David again when I was twenty. Apparently David must have told him to buzz off again, and it sent Chad over the edge. He said he caused the accident that killed David and Hannah. All because he saw David as a barrier to him getting to me.”
Micah got up so abruptly he knocked over the chair. Without a single word, he left the room, letting the door swing open behind him.
Angelina turned on her side, curling into as tight a ball as she could. She’d seen the anger and the torment in Micah’s eyes. The pain and betrayal. He’d lost everything because of her. Because of a man’s obsession with her.
Sanchez touched her arm in a gesture of comfort, but she flinched away.
“Please,” she begged. “I’ve told you everything. Just go away. I want to be alone.”
More tears spilled down her cheeks and she buried her face in the pillow. Her shoulders shook, causing excruciating pain to the bullet wound. Sharp pai
n stabbed at her ribs, but she ignored the physical discomfort.
She honestly didn’t know if Sanchez left or not. She ignored everything but the unrelenting pain in her chest.
I’m so sorry, David.
God, it wasn’t fair. One man had cost her everything. Worse, Micah, completely innocent in the whole thing, had lost the two people he loved most. David and Hannah had lost their lives and their future together.
She hunched her body in misery, ignoring the pain slicing through her shoulder and ribs.
“Hey,” Connor said softly next to her ear. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?”
She turned and all but flung herself into his arms. He caught her awkwardly and was forced to sit on the bed next to her so he could ease her back down on the pillows.
“You’re going to hurt yourself. You should be more careful,” he admonished even as he stroked her hair in a soothing motion. “Where’s Micah? Sanchez came out and said you were upset as hell.”
“He walked out,” she said, her voice muffled by Connor’s shirt.
“Any particular reason why?” Connor asked mildly.
“Oh, Connor, if only I didn’t have to tell him. I didn’t want to hurt him, but he had to find out.”
“You’re not making a lick of sense, sweetie, but I’ll sit here and listen if you want to talk.”
Despite her vow not to ask for any more pain medication, after two days of battling pain, she was at the end of her limit.
“I hurt,” she croaked out. “Can you call for pain medication? I’ll tell you all about it and then maybe I can forget for just a little while.”
Micah walked blindly through the hospital corridors, no clear direction in mind. He needed air. He needed to be alone before he completely lost his composure.
Tears blinded him, and he steeled his jaw, furious at his display of emotion.
Where the fuck were the exits?
He rounded the corner and encountered another maze of hallways. He strode to the far end, only to dead-end at the chapel.
