Saving Our Hearts

by Velvet Reed

  I close my eyes and try to relax, even if only for a few minutes, but as soon as I do, the scene from the exam room pops straight into my mind: blood all over the floor, my clothes and arms splattered bright red. I can almost feel it spraying my face. I can see Cole lying there and myself crawling over and shaking him, trying to get him to respond to me.

  My heart pounds erratically as I open my eyes again and the tears run unchecked down my face.

  “Oh, Gracie,” Olivia embraces me fiercely. Someone takes my hand and squeezes in silent support while another hand is placed on my leg. They’re all here with me, willing to do anything to get me through this, but what they don’t understand is that all I need right now is the comfort of one person. And he’s not here.

  “Let it out, honey. Just let it all out,” Olivia tries to soothe me.

  I continue to purge the emotion's consuming me, attempting to just let go.

  “Is everything okay in here?” I hear Sam ask.

  When I lift my face from Olivia’s shoulder, my heart skips a beat and then takes flight when my eyes absorb the glorious sight before me. His eyes may not be showing their usual spark, and his face may be battered and bruised, but he’s still the most gorgeous man I’ve ever laid eyes on. He’s the love of my life.

  “Cole,” I say breathlessly, bringing on a fresh round of tears.

  “Thank God, you’re okay, baby,” he says, his relief obvious from his tone.

  Sam moves Cole’s wheelchair closer to the bed, and when he tries to stand up, everyone protests. “Just give me a minute. I’m fine, but I need to hug my woman.”

  He sits on the side of my bed, and we fall into each other’s arms. I hear him suck in a breath, but despite knowing he may be in pain, I can’t let him go. An overwhelming sense of relief takes over as all the fear and worries I’ve been holding onto fall away. We’re safe; we’re together, and we’re free from the threat that Troy imposed on us.

  “I’ve been so worried about you. They took you away while you were still unconscious. They said you were all right, but I wouldn’t let myself believe it until I saw you with my own eyes.” I pull back, letting my gaze slide over his features. “I was so scared, Cole. There was so much blood, and I didn’t know if it was yours or Troy’s.”

  “Shhh.” He strokes my hair gently and places little kisses over my forehead and eyes. “It was all his blood, baby. The shot Troy fired grazed my arm; that's all. I was unconscious because the bastard hit me in the head a few too many times, so it looks like you’ve got a roommate for the night.”

  “Tough guy here has to stay the night for observation. He’s lucky he has a thick skull” Sam chuckles.

  “You’re really okay?” I ask, pulling out of his arms completely and allowing my eyes to roam his body looking for any indication he’s more seriously hurt than they’re letting on. The bandage on his right bicep is the only thing I can find other than the bruising to his face.

  “We’re both perfect, and now that there’s no threat against us, we can move on with our lives. I just still can’t believe Troy would actually stoop to the level he did. The guy was truly fucking insane!”” Cole says.

  There are words of agreement from around the room, but Olivia pipes in again, “Okay, you’ve hugged your girl. It’s time for your mother to get some love. Between the two of you, I’m sure to have a full head of grey hair before the day is through.” She immediately rushes over and envelopes Cole in a hug that has him wincing in pain.

  “Watch the arm, Mom,” he mumbles as she holds him tightly.

  “Sorry, darling.” She doesn’t let go, only moves her arm so that she can continue to hug him without touching the wound. “We love you both dearly, but after the last seven or so weeks, I forbid you from ever causing us all that kind of stress and worry ever again. Do you understand me?”

  Cole and I share a smile, because even in the midst of all the craziness today, the relief and knowledge that we’re both fine allows us to make light of Olivia’s demand and we answer her in mocking unison, “Yes, Mom.”

  She shakes her head. “I mean it. Don’t you dare give me any sass.”

  After a few moments of idle chit chat, Sam speaks up, “So are you guys going to tell us what happened exactly?”

  Before either Cole or I can respond, there’s a knock at the door. Everyone turns at the same time to see Detectives Walker and Marsh standing in the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt, but we were hoping to talk to Ms. Rivers,” Detective Walker says.

  “Come in,” John tells them and turns back to everyone else. “How about we all go and grab some coffee?”

  Everyone agrees as they head out of the room, except my dad. Slowly, he makes his way over to my bedside and leans down to place a kiss on my forehead before he whispers, “I’m so sorry, Sweet Pea.” Pulling back, he heads for the door.

  “You don’t need to be sorry, Daddy. No one knew what Troy was capable of. He fooled us all.”

  He nods, but I’m not sure if he believes what I’m saying. “We’ll talk later, Gracie.” And he’s out the door.

  The detectives make their way over and have a seat while Cole moves to the chair beside me instead of sitting on the bed. I don’t want him too far away so I keep hold of his hand as if my life depends on it.

  “We’re sorry you both had to go through this today. The nurse who was in the room with you, Miss Allison Reynolds, has already given us her account of what happened. It’s important we get all sides. We’ve organized to use the room next door so we can get each of your accounts,” Detective Walker says. “Doctor Tierney, we’ll take you next door first and then come back in here to speak with Ms. Rivers.”

  Detective Marsh then signals for a nurse who comes into the room, ensures that Cole returns to his wheelchair and wheels him toward the door. “I’ll be right back, baby,” he assures me.

  The next half an hour drags by with no one to talk to and nothing to do but think and replay the events that occurred in the ER. I’m not sure if I’m relieved or anxious when the detectives return to the room and take a seat again. “Okay, Ms. Rivers, we need you to tell us everything that occurred today. Be as specific as you can and speak clearly; we’ll be recording your statement and taking notes as well.”

  Detective Marsh then places a recording device beside me on the bed and opens a small notebook.

  I take a deep breath and let it out. “I guess I should start with the flowers.”

  “Flowers?” Detective Walker questions.

  I nod and relay the events of the day from receiving the roses until the gunshots rang out through the ER. The detectives interrupt me now and then clarifying points, but mostly they listen and take notes. Actually recounting everything that happened in full detail has me feeling the emotions again and while the fear isn’t there as I share my version of events, I break down crying many times, overcome but it all. Detective Walker hands me tissues and allows me to compose myself before continuing. His sympathetic smiles and gestures help me keep calm.

  When I finally finish, the tape recorder is turned off and the notepad put away. We’re all quiet for a moment and the detectives share a look. “So if you give us a few moments, we’ll send Doctor Tierney back in and then speak to you both together,” Detective Walker says to me, and I get the feeling from his tone that anything they have to say isn’t going to be good. Shit! What if I get charged for stabbing Troy?

  Once again, unease rears its ugly head, and clouds any calm vibes I had going on. Surely, my actions would be seen as an acted of self-defense. God, what if I get sent to jail? What about Cooper?

  I’m on the verge of a full-blown panic attack when Cole is wheeled back into the room. Seeing the stricken look on my face and sensing my impending melt down, he’s on my bed beside me. “What happened?” His own eyes showing his worry. “Gracie, what’s wrong?” he asks again.

  Tears well for the millionth time today as I stare into his beautiful blue eyes that would normally calm me. “What if I get in
trouble for stabbing Troy?”

  I’m in Cole’s arms instantly “No one in their right mind would blame you for doing that, Gracie. The asshole was about to r...” He trails off, makes a choking sound in the back of his throat, and expels a heavy breath before continuing. “You had no other choice, baby.” He kisses the top of my head and tightens his hold on me.

  The clearing of a throat has us both looking up at the detectives standing in the doorway once again. “Sorry to interrupt, but we have a few more things to discuss with you.”

  Cole doesn’t move from my bed this time, and we wait expectantly as the detectives return to the seats they occupied earlier.

  "First off, we need you to understand, Ms. Rivers, that you put yourself in extreme danger today. You made an extremely bad decision, not only endangering your life but also Doctor Tierney’s, Ms. Reynolds and the officers involved,” Detective Walker begins.

  “I’m well aware of the danger I put myself in detective. I’m sorry I may have put others at risk as well, but from my point of view, Troy was going to hurt Cole because of me. There was no way I was going to sit back and leave his fate in the hands of the police when I was sure I would be able to talk Troy down.”

  The detective shakes his head at me, and when I meet his eyes and see the grave look in them, a chill runs up my spine. “You’re very, very wrong, Ms. Rivers. What you did was stupid and considering what members of the P.D found when they searched Mr. Troy Edward’s house earlier, you really have no idea how extreme the danger was to both you and Doctor Tierney.”

  Chapter 22

  Cole...

  The detectives left a while ago and I still don’t have my anger in check. I can feel my pulse throbbing at my temple, and I’ve hardly spoken a word to Gracie since they left, even though she’s sitting there sobbing in the damn hospital bed again because of that asshole.

  I’ve never felt such hatred for anyone or anything in my life. I’ve never actually wanted to commit such physical violence against another person in my entire life. I’m a doctor; it's my job to save people, but I can guarantee if the asshole was still alive, I would find a way to get to him and make sure he died a very slow and painful death.

  I can’t comfort Gracie because I’m too wound up from the information the detectives gave us. I’ve been pacing the room constantly. Gracie has tried to get my attention, but I just can’t pull myself together. Two nurses have already been in here demanding I get into bed because I’m under observation for a concussion, but there’s no way I can sit still right now. The last visit also included the threat that they would call the attending doctor to deal with me. Like I give a shit!

  Laughter coming down the hall toward the room grates on my nerves. When familiar voices join the laughter, I know our families are back on their way back to see us before visiting hours are over for the night.

  When everyone piles into the room, the laughter and cheery chatter falls silent as the tension swirling around washes over them. “Gracie?” Ashley says and rushes to her side.

  “Cole, what’s wrong? What’s happened?” my dad asks.

  I stop my pacing and stare blankly at my father, then start running my hands through my hair vigorously.

  “I told you both you can’t worry us anymore, and right now, I for one am freaking the hell out,” Mom splutters anxiously. “Will one of you please tell us what the hell is going on?”

  I look around the room and take in the worried faces. My mom and dad, my sister, Bryan, Ashley and Sam. How the hell can I share with them what the detectives told us?

  Bryan has moved to Gracie’s bedside in an unconscious protective gesture. Ashley’s comforting Gracie while my family is hovering around the end of the bed. My dad makes a move toward me. “How about you take a seat, Son? You really shouldn’t be exerting yourself right now.”

  “I don’t want to take a fucking seat,” I scream at him, and he steps back, shocked by my outburst.

  The room is eerily quiet until a small sob escapes Gracie. As I gaze around the room and take in the wide-eyed stunned expressions on the faces starring back at me and then the tear-streaked face of Gracie, I know my behavior was uncalled for. I make my way across the room to Gracie. “Move Ashley. I’ve got her,” I snap harshly.

  “How about you get yourself together first, Cole,” she sneers at me, not moving for Gracie’s side.

  I glare at her and step closer. “I said move!”

  The next thing I know is that I’m suddenly shoved from the side, and arms are pulling me away, then Sam’s in my face. “You need to calm the fuck down now, Cole,” he grits through clenched teeth. “It’s pretty obvious there’s something wrong, but I swear to God, if you speak to Ash or your dad, for that matter, like that again, you’ll deal with me.”

  I shove him off me “You think you can stop me. If anyone gets in my way of protecting Gracie, I’ll fucking kill them.”

  Sam let’s go of me and takes a few steps back. No one else moves or says anything, but I can see both Ashley and my mom wiping tears from their faces exactly like Gracie is. Guilt instantly consumes me as I realize I just acted like the asshole who put us in this situation.

  I sit heavily on the edge of the closest chair and hang my head. Rubbing my hands over my face roughly, I mumble, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  Bryan’s still hovering over Gracie and Ashley while Sam has a comforting arm around my mom. When I finally raise my head, I meet their wary faces. My dad drags a chair over beside me, causing a chilling shriek to echo through the silent room as it scrapes across the linoleum floor.

  “We’re going to excuse your little outburst, Cole, because from the state you’re both in I’m guessing your visit from the detectives didn’t go so well,” he says sternly, but from a lifetime of experience, I can hear the subtle reprimand in his tone. “Do we need to call April down here in a legal capacity?”

  I shake my head no. The asshole’s dead, so it’s not as if any charges can be laid against him now. “Then you need to tell us what the hell has you in such a crazed state.”

  I chance a look at Gracie, and I know she’s in no state to share the information, especially not after the way I’ve just reacted. “It seems Troy was a lot more fucked up in the head than anyone realized,” I simply say.

  Under normal circumstances, my mom would have busted both mine and Sam’s asses for cussing like we have, but she remains quiet. “What do you mean?” Sam asks.

  I still can’t fathom it and can feel my blood start to boil again. “When Allison got out of the rooms and to the cops, she told them Troy’s identity and what he said he planned on doing. They ran a check on him and sent some guys around to his house. Given the circumstances, they were given a warrant to search the place.” I stop and take a second to steel myself for the next part.

  “And?” Bryan interjects impatiently.

  “And what they found was fucking sick. I swear to God, I'd kill the guy myself if I could.”

  “Cole, just tell us,” Dad demands.

  "Apparently, he had pictures of Gracie beside his bed and a huge portrait of her in his living room.”

  A few soft gasps fill the room, a mumble curse and a “Goddamn”.

  I give a humorless snort at their responses. “No, wait, that’s not all though. The bastard had a sound proof room in his basement that was covered wall-to-wall with photos of Gracie. We were all in the pictures with her, every single one of us; only my head was either cut or scratched off. There were also personal details about everyone and details of the different ways he planned to kill me.”

  I shake my head, trying to clear the images I have dancing around as I think of this room. “He had items of clothing, presumably Gracie’s as well.”

  “What do you mean her clothing?” Ashley asks, confused.

  “Panties and stuff,” I reply, and the mumbled curse words fly again. “The kicker though, as if the rest of that isn’t bad enough, is that there was a crib shoved in the corner of the fu
cking room as well.”

  With the mention of the crib, Gracie completely loses it and so do my mom and Ashley. My dad places a supportive hand on my shoulder shaking his head in disbelief and Sam's expression is exactly how I must have looked when they entered the room, ready to tear something apart.

  However, Bryan’s reaction disturbs me the most. He doesn’t look at anyone, and he doesn’t say a word. I watch his fists clench and unclench repeatedly before he simply moves away from Gracie’s side and walks out of the room. I know full well the man didn’t intend for me or anyone else to see the tears raining down his face, but I did. I also know that Gracie and my hearts aren’t the only ones torn apart by everything Troy has done to us. Bryan Rivers’ heart may just need to be saved and put back together like the rest of us.

  Gracie and I somehow managed to sleep in the same single hospital bed together. Well, if you can call a fitful night full of bad dreams sleeping, I guess that’s what we did. Mostly, we held each other and murmured words of love and reassurance that we are both safe now and so was our son.

  Although every detail of that room plays through my mind, it’s the thought of the crib that really gets to me. Did he actually think that Gracie would take our child and live with him? I guess when you are that delusional, you’ll allow yourself to believe anything. From a medical point of view, it saddens me that someone with such a mental health issue didn’t get any help, but from a personal point of view, I hope that bastard rots in the fiery depths of hell.

  Bryan didn’t come back last night and everyone, especially Gracie, is worried about him. Ashley and Sam were going to call Charlie, who had apparently been missing from the revelation because he ended up taking Allison home, and filling him in on what we now knew. They promised Gracie that between the two of them, and Charlie, they would make sure that Bryan was okay.