Silly man. Doesn’t he know that I’m immune to that stare?
I swallow hard. I knew Max wouldn’t like what we did, but I had to do it. I’m still in therapy, dealing with my own demons, but in a way being a part of rescuing someone else makes me feel good about myself. I know when I talk to Max and explain that, he’ll understand. I turn around so Max can’t see me, reach behind my back, take out my Glock, and double check the safety. Yep, it’s on. Or did I never take it off to begin with? Shit.
Savvy
There was a commotion over by the front door, then all hell broke loose. Everything happened so fast after that. First, the girls came in and knocked the one guy out. Then, Chloe and the man with the gun by my chair each had their guns pointing at each other. Then Max and a bunch of men came in. My eyes found Aiden’s, and for the first time since I was at my condo getting my things, I knew everything was going to be alright.
When the gunman put down his weapon, I felt like I did my part by kicking it away. It made me feel empowered in a strange way.
“Savvy,” Aiden whispered.
“Aiden!” I yell relieved.
He rushes over to me and falls to his knees at my side. He takes my face in his hands, then looks over every inch of my face, and then his lips softly come to mine.
“Are you alright?” he asks, taking a pocket knife out of his front pocket.
“Be careful. I think her left wrist is broken,” Gary says behind me.
Aiden cuts both of our wrists free. He scoops me out of the chair and holds me tight to his body. I cradle my throbbing wrist against my chest, while holding Aiden as close as I can get him with my other hand.
“Aiden, I’m alright,” I assure him.
I can feel his anxiety and relief coursing through his trembling arms as he holds me. I hear sirens off in the distance coming closer and closer.
“Is Gary alright?” I ask Aiden, trying to look at him.
Aiden turns us around so I can see him. Max is kneeling in front of him, looking him over.
“He’ll be fine. An ambulance will be here soon. We’ll get you both checked out at the hospital,” he says, then kisses me on the forehead.
I look toward the door and see all the men holding their wives. Everyone risked their lives to rescue me. There is no question anymore about me feeling a part of this family. They’ve all made me a part of this family. I have been all along. It was me standing in my own way.
“Are you alright?” Adrian asks Shay, holding her close.
“No, I’m in pain,” she replies to him.
What? I don’t think anyone touched her. How come she’s in pain?
“My boobs are leaking and I need to breastfeed Sammy,” she continues to tell him.
Adrian breathes a sigh of relief, takes his wife’s hand, and they leave the room.
Chloe and Jax come over to me and Aiden. Chloe takes my pulse just as paramedics get to the door. Men wheeling a stretcher rush over to Gary and he is immediately attended to. Another one comes over to me. Aiden lays me down, but never lets go of my right hand. Before they finish assessing me, Gary is rushed out of the room. They splint my wrist, put oxygen over my nose and mouth, then wheel me out of the dark, musty, cold room.
Aiden holds my hand the entire way to the hospital. I wish I could erase the worry in his eyes. Strangely, I feel great. It’s going to take a whole lot more than two dipshits to steal my thunder. And for the first time, I wish I could see Reno’s face, too. I’d give him a piece of my mind.
Dr. Matthews meets us at the entrance and I’m immediately wheeled back into a room. He orders tests and x-rays, and for the first time since Aiden picked me up out of my chair, he has to let go of my hand.
“Can I go with her?” he asks Dr. Matthews.
“You can walk with her up to x-ray, but you won’t be able to go into the room with her,” he tells him, putting his hand on his shoulder.
“Thanks, man,” he says.
Aiden and I haven’t said a word to each other since we left the warehouse. He doesn’t have to. His eyes say everything for him. He holds my hand as I’m wheeled out of the room, on the elevator, and all the way to x-ray.
“Aiden, I’m really alright,” I tell him.
I bring his hand to my lips and gently kiss his fingers.
Aiden takes in a sharp breath. I think it’s the first breath he’s taken since we left the warehouse. He brings my hand to his lips and returns the kiss, then he lets me go.
X-rays only take a few minutes, then my free hand is back in Aiden’s hand. I’m wheeled back down to the emergency room and within a few minutes, Dr. Matthews comes back into the room.
“Looks like you have a distal radius fracture. It’s a clean break in your left wrist. We’ll get you casted up and out of here as soon as we can. Everything else looks great. I’ll remove the stitches on your face I put in a week ago, too, since that’s healed nicely,” he says, and leaves the room.
“See, I’m alright,” I tell Aiden.
“I should have gone with you. I should have taken you myself. I’m so sorry,” Aiden says.
“Oh, sweet cheeks, this wasn’t your fault at all,” I start to tell him as Max and Chloe walk in.
“How’s Savvy?” Max asks Aiden.
“I’m right here. I’m not deaf you know, and I’m just fine, thanks to my kickass girls,” I say, looking at Chloe.
Max looks at Chloe and gives her a look. Not just a look, but a look. Chloe shrugs at him, then smiles at me.
“She has a broken wrist, some bumps and bruises, but the doc says she’s fine. We’re just waiting for them to come in and cast her arm, then I’m taking her home,” Aiden tells Max.
There’s that home word again.
Chloe comes over to me, sits on the side of the bed, leans in and gives me a big hug. I look up at her with big crocodile tears.
“I don’t know the right words to say to you other than, thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you girls in my life,” I tell her, squeezing her hard.
“We protect what’s ours,” she says, standing up.
“Where is everyone else? I need to thank them, too.” I say, trying to look out the curtain.
“Uh, I think all the girls are grounded and can’t come out and play for a little while. I’m only here because Max won’t let me out of his sight and he needed to come see how you are, and talk to Aiden,” she tells me.
“Ruh-roh. The guys aren’t for real mad at them, are they?” I ask concerned.
In the back of my mind I hear Urkel in his whiny, high-pitched voice saying, ‘did I do that?’ Wait. Do people even know who Urkel is anymore? I think I’m showing my age.
“Nah, they’ll all be fine,” she says. In a whisper she continues, “We’ve got them wrapped around our little fingers. They can’t stay mad at us. Besides, we totally kicked some major butt today.”
Max stops talking mid-sentence to Aiden, turns to Chloe, pulls her close to his lips, then whispers in her ear, “You may have me wrapped around your little finger, but baby, I swear to God, you ever do anything like that again, I’ll lock you up and throw away the key.”
Now Ricky, from I Love Lucy, is talking in my head. When Ricky says to Lucy, ‘you’ve got some ‘splaining to do.’
Chloe kisses him on the cheek, then smiles at him. Max turns back to Aiden and starts talking to him again. Chloe looks back at me and smiles. I think they’ll all be alright. The Wellington women are strong. The Wellington men may think they’re the boss, but we really know who wears the pants. Or maybe the men are so much in control, that they make us think we’re in control, but they’re really in control. Wait, now I’m confusing myself.
“They’re locked up?” Aiden asks Max.
“They’ll never see the light of day again. They’re staying in Washington to face their crimes here from the past and for this. They’re not going anywhere. I’ve got a man on the inside, he’ll keep me updated,” Max says.
“What about Reno?�
�� Aiden whispers.
Chloe sits on the edge of the bed and we both listen.
“He’s not going to see the light of day either. I told you I took care of it,” Max says.
“Man, I want to believe you, but I can’t put the life of the woman I love in anyone else’s hands ever again. I need to know where he is. I need to know that Savvy will never see his face again,” Aiden says, getting louder.
“Trust me on this,” Max replies.
“Aiden,” I gently call. His eyes come to me. “It’s alright,” I continue.
“No, it’s not alright,” he says, looking from me back to Max.
“Aiden,” I call again, holding out my right hand for him. He sighs, walks over to me, takes my hand, and then sits on the bed next to me. “I trust Max. If he says he took care of it, I believe him. I have no doubt or fear in my mind. Neither should you. I’m alright, we’re alright. Don’t give Reno another second of your time. I’m not,” I assure him.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s to lean on the people around you. In that leaning, I’ve gained confidence and inner strength. A strength I never knew I had. Sure, I was good at pretending I had it, but I never really did. Not until I kicked that gun away. It clicked in my brain that I’m a strong woman and I have amazing people in my life. With that, I will never be a victim again, not to Reno or anyone who thinks they can walk into my life and take a piece of it without my permission.
Aiden nods at me, then looks back at Max. I wish I could read exactly what is being said with just that glance. If I had to guess, I think Aiden is putting his trust back in Max, but there is also a warning in there. Max will not get another chance to mess up. Max is such a good man. I have complete faith in him and know he’d give his own life to protect the things he loves.
“How’s Gary?” I ask Max.
“They’re keeping him overnight for observation. He took a few serious hits to the head. He has a concussion, some minor cuts and bruises, but he’ll be fine,” Max says.
“That’s good,” I breathe a sigh of relief.
Dr. Matthews comes back in with another woman who will cast my left arm. Chloe kisses me on the cheek, then her and Max leave. Like a kid, I get to pick out my cast color. I’ve never broken a bone before, so this is kind of exciting. I watch in fascination as she wraps my arm in the different layers. The very last layer is a bright orange.
She pulls out a pen, hands it to me and asks, “So who’s going to be the first to sign it?”
I take the pen and look at her with a smile.
“Aiden?” I say with a smile, and hold out the pen to him.
He takes the pen and sits next to my right side. He gently pulls my arm in his lap. He takes the cap off with his teeth and starts writing. My arm is in front of him, so I can’t see what he’s drawing. It only takes him about a minute, then he puts the cap back on the pen and stands up. I look at my arm and in big letters across the entire top of the cast are the words, WILL YOU MARRY ME? Instant tears form in my eyes.
“What?” I whisper and look up at him.
“This isn’t at all how I wanted to ask you, or the place. I thought I lost you today. I never want that feeling again. I never want to live another day without you in my life, by my side as my wife,” he says, lacing his left hand in my right.
“I can dream, can’t I,” slips out in a whisper, as tears stream down my face.
It’s the first time I’ve said those words out loud.
“What?” Aiden asks, confused.
“All my life, I’ve felt like I’ve lived a Cinderella life. I’ve always felt like the dirty, no good, step-sister. In my version, I’m an only child, but unlike Cinderella, I never get my happily ever after. I live a long and lonely life, and I die wearing torn and tattered old clothes. When good things happen to me, that’s what I say in my head, ‘I can dream, can’t I.’ But all dreams come to an end, they always do. I thought I was onto something good when I met Reno. I foolishly listened to that voice and went with my heart. That ended horribly and left me without anything, except for the clothes on my back. Everything that I had worked for, everything that was all mine that I had rightfully earned that no one could stake claim to, it was gone. But I’ve been there before, exactly there, left only with the clothes I was wearing. I was awarded a full scholarship to nursing school. That little voice said, ‘I can dream, can’t I.’ Maybe this is your day; this is your time to shine I told myself. It was the best day of my life. The day Reno stole my books. I thought that dream had ended, too. If it weren’t for Chloe purchasing another set of books for me, I would have given that dream up. I’ve fought tooth and nail for this dream. It’s not all about me, it’s for my mom. But I live every day just waiting for it to be ripped away from me, just like everything else. I met you, and at every step that voice whispered, I can dream, can’t I? I fought it and I fought it. I fought it with everything I have. I’ve told myself I’m not good enough, that you are all better off without me in your lives, but here it is. My happily ever after, and it’s written on my arm.”
Aiden takes my face in his hands and wipes away my tears with his thumbs.
“Baby, I’m never going to let anything or anyone ever hurt you again. I love you, and I’ll live the rest of my life helping you make all of your dreams come true. Say you’ll marry me,” he says.
I lean into his hand and close my eyes to stop the tears. As tight as I squeeze them closed, though, it doesn’t help. They slip down my face anyway. At times like this, that voice will whisper in my head, ‘I can dream, can’t I’? Holding Aiden’s hand, I don’t hear it. All I hear is the love in his voice. Love for me that I can feel in my soul. A love that I haven’t felt since my mother was alive, when she would take a chunk of my hair and twirl it in her fingers and with a smile tell me she loved me, and call me her Savvy girl.
I open my eyes and see Aiden’s love for me.
“Yes,” I whisper.
His lips come to my forehead. I wrap my cast under his arm and my other arm around his back and pull him close. Just like I will never be a victim again, I can dream, can’t I, will never ever be asked as a question again. It will be a statement. I can dream and those dreams will come true.
“Alright, here are your discharge papers . . . Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt a moment,” Dr. Matthews says, coming back into the room.
Aiden pulls away, takes my hand, gives it a squeeze and stands.
“With good news of you can take your fiancée home, you can interrupt all you want,” Aiden says.
“Fiancée? Are congratulations in order?” Dr. Matthews asks.
“They are,” Aiden says with a smile, walking over to Dr. Matthews. Then he shakes his hand and gives him a bro hug.
“Well, congratulations you two! Savvy, you’ll need to take it easy for the next few days. You’ll be in a cast for about six to eight weeks, but other than that, you’re good to go,” he says with a smile.
Aiden helps me get dressed, then helps me into a wheelchair.
“Can I go see Gary before we leave?” I ask Aiden.
“Anything for you,” he says.
We find out what room Gary is in, then Aiden pushes me in the wheelchair to his floor, and into his room. My eyes fill with tears as I see him lying in his hospital bed. His eyes come to mine.
“Don’t cry for me, Savvy. I’m good. I hear you got a fancy cast,” he says. I lift my arm and show him my orange cast. “It looks good on you. You go home and let Aiden take care of you,” he continues.
I nod my head and take his hand.
Aiden shakes Gary’s hand, and wheels me down to the ground floor.
As Aiden wheels me out the sliding glass door, I say, “Just one problem. How are we getting home?”
A sleek, black, Town Car pulls up to the curb. A man wearing a chauffeur’s uniform steps out of the driver seat and walks to the rear passenger door.
“That’s how,” Aiden says. “Leave it to Asher to think through all the details,” he
continues.
“Mr. Wellington,” he says with a nod to Aiden. “Ms. Savvy,” he says to me with a nod, then he opens the door.
“Thank you, Simon,” Aiden says, putting the break down on the wheelchair. He takes my good hand and helps me stand.
I slide into the luxurious leather seat and scoot over. Aiden gets in and sits next to me. Simon closes the door and takes us home.
Chapter 9
Aiden
Taking my fiancée home to our house, safe and sound, with only a minor injury, is a relief to my soul. Spencer said for her to take it easy for the next few days and I plan on making her do just that.
When we pulled up to the abandoned warehouse, I couldn’t believe she was being held in a place like that. When I saw her tied to a chair, I felt rage and anger in my chest toward the men who put her there, I didn’t know if I could harness that anger. Asher and Jax held me back when we walked silently in behind the girls. I know how they must have felt seeing their wives standing there with a man holding a gun toward them. I wanted to rip that man’s limbs from his torso. I wanted to pull his fingernails out one at a time, and then shove them into his eye sockets. Rage, and torture, that I thought was never possible for me to think, flooded my thoughts. I understood why Max had insisted I stay at the PI firm with the family. In the end, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I needed to be there for Savvy to pick up the pieces. But there weren’t any pieces to pick up. Savvy seems better than ever. She even called me sweet cheeks. I’ve missed her quirky terms of endearment. Somehow through this, Savvy has found her voice, her purpose. She’s not the least bit shaken by any of this. I think I’m more shaken up than she is.
I already knew in my mind that I wanted to ask her to marry me. Asking her in a hospital bed after she had been carjacked was not the ideal situation, but I couldn’t have picked a better time. I do, however, still plan on giving her the fairytale proposal that she deserves and she won’t be expecting it.
Running Into Love - The Complete Box Set Page 97
