by Rye Hart
“You son of a bitch,” Hollis said.
I watched my brother crash into Ike as his partner helped me off the floor. I was sobbing. My legs were aching, and my back was throbbing, and it was hard to swallow. Hollis’ partner was trying to get me to look her in the eyes, but all I wanted to do was get to my phone which was ringing.
I pushed her away and ran back to the couch before I picked up the device.
Grant was calling, but I knew I couldn’t take the call. So instead, I pulled up a text message. Tears were dripping onto the phone. I had no idea what to say.
Honesty.
It was always the best way with Grant.
I need you.
I sent the text message off before a pair of hands descended onto mine. I jumped and cried out, then whipped around and saw my brother. His eyes were wide with anger as his gaze fell to my neck. He reached his fingertips up to feel the bruising I knew was already marking my skin.
“Did he—?”
I shook my head as my face crumpled.
“Come here,” he said breathlessly. “I’ve got you.”
I fell into my brother’s embrace, and he gathered me up in his arms. He carried me out of my apartment and down the stairs, then set me on the edge of the back of an ambulance. People were looking me over and shining lights in my eyes as I recounted what happened. I saw his partner going into my apartment with people who held cameras and plastic bags and all sorts of other things.
“They’re collecting evidence,” Hollis said when he noticed me looking. “Just start from the beginning.”
I rattled off what happened, and Hollis almost couldn't contain himself. His head whipped over to where Ike was sitting in the back of a cop car with his hands cuffed behind his back. He was staring at me with that angry look in his eyes, and Hollis yelled to get him out of here.
Though he didn’t use such kind words for it.
“You need to go to the hospital,” Hollis said. “I’ll be over as soon as I can.”
“I don’t have to go. He didn’t finish what he was trying to do to me,” I said.
“It doesn’t matter. If you’re hurt, the doctors have to chart where you’re hurt and match it up with your testimony. It keeps you from having to go to court and provides further evidence as to what happened.”
“I don’t want to go, Hollis.”
“I know,” he said as his forehead fell to mine. “I know you don’t. But you have to. I know it sucks, but you have to. And I swear, the moment I can break away, I’ll be there.”
I looked over and watched the cruiser drive away with Ike. He craned his head back to keep me in view, and I watched as he disappeared. I knew he was going to jail. I knew he wouldn’t be able to get to me again. But I still didn’t feel safe.
I still wanted Grant.
“Go with the paramedics, Theresa. Trust me on this. It doesn’t make you weak, and this isn’t me controlling you.”
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll go.”
CHAPTER 20
GRANT
I was calling Theresa repeatedly to see where she was. I couldn’t wait another night to see her. I had to see her now. I made my workday a short one and hopped on the road the second I could and reached Maine as night fell. I couldn't wait to see the look of surprise on her face when I showed up at her apartment, talking with her like I was still in Boston and then knocking on her door.
But her phone kept ringing and she wasn’t picking up.
I hung up to try and call her again, but then her text came through. I need you. Oh shit. She was ready for it tonight. I sped up as I weaved around town, aching to get my arms around her and my tongue between her legs.
I tried calling her again, however, and when she didn’t pick up that time I started to worry.
What if that wasn’t a sexy text? What if something was wrong? My happiness turned to dread, and I hung up the phone call mid-ring. I scrolled to Hollis’ name and pulled over on the side of the road as my eyes began to dart around.
What the fuck was going on?
“Grant?”
“Hollis. Where are you?” I asked.
“I’m at Theresa’s apartment. Why? Where are you?”
“I told you I’d fucking be back in town, and you’re not home. What gives?”
Fuck, I’d gotten way too good at lying to my best friend.
“Ike,” Hollis said. “That’s what gives.”
“What the hell did he do?” I asked.
“He attacked Theresa in her apartment. Look, I can’t go into details—”
“Where is she?” I asked.
“What?”
“What hospital is she in?”
“MDI,” he said. “She’s at MDI.”
I hung up the phone before he said anything else. Theresa had needed me and I wasn’t there to protect her. If that son of a bitch had hurt her, I’d never forgive myself.
I whipped my car around and broke every speed limit I could getting to that damn place. I sped through red lights and hopped curbs to get into a turning lane faster. If that son of a bitch had left one scratch on my woman’s body, I was going to kill him. I would hunt him down and make his life a living fucking nightmare from here on out. I blew past speed traps and lost cops on back roads before I sped into the hospital parking lot, and I saw Hollis’ cruiser sitting in the corner lot.
His car was still creaking with its cool down as I pulled up beside it.
I jumped out of my car and sprinted through the hospital doors. I stormed through the central lobby area and took the steps three at a time. I barged into the emergency portion of the hospital and found Hollis standing at the nurse’s desk.
I didn’t give a shit about anything anymore. All I needed was to see Theresa.
“Where is she?” I asked.
Hollis’ eyes widened as he turned his body toward me.
“How the hell are you—?”
“I said, where is she?” I asked.
I watched him open his mouth like he was about to say something before he closed it quickly. My eyes bore into his. I took a step toward him, and he bucked up to me. I was ready to throw down every card in my fucking arsenal to get him to cough up where she was.
“Room 402. Down the hallway, third door on the right.”
I took off in a dead sprint down the hallway. I counted the doors before I gripped the side and swung myself through the doorway. My eyes fell to the hospital bed shoved into the corner, and I felt myself grow cold.
Theresa looked so fragile lying in that bed.
She was staring out the window, but not for long. Her face tilted toward me and a small smile managed to grace her cheeks. I walked over to her as her smile grew and I sat on the bed next to her. I looked down into her face and felt her lightly lean into my body.
“You’re here,” she said.
“Of course I am. I’d never be anywhere else,” I said.
I wanted to take her hand, but my eyes wouldn’t pull away to find it. I was staring at the bruising around her throat and the redness of her cheeks. My blood was boiling, and my fists clenched in my lap. Her nose was a little swollen, and her forehead had this very angry red spot right in the middle of it.
That motherfucker was dead if I had a chance to get at him.
“How are you here so soon?” she asked.
“I was coming to surprise you.”
I watched Theresa’s lip tremble, and she leaned into me. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into my lap, wiggling myself into her hospital bed. I spread my leg and felt her entire body shift into place as her cheek pressed into my chest, and her sobs became audible.
I stroked her arms and held her as close as I could without hurting her further.
“I was so scared. I thought he was going to – to --,” she couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.
“Ssshhh,” I said. “You’re safe now. No one will ever hurt you again while you’re with me.”
“I’m so glad you’re here,�
�� she said into my chest.
“And I’m never leaving you again.”
I stroked my fingers through her hair as she cried in my arms. Her tears soaked my shirt and my insides raged. The idea that Ike could put his hands on her at all made me sick. Punching him repeatedly in the face until his bones shattered underneath my fists sounded like a pretty good idea. I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and she nuzzled underneath my chin.
I drew in a deep breath before the words slipped from my lips.
“You do need someone worrying about you,” I said. “But it doesn’t make you weak. Every powerful woman in history had someone who worried about her.”
But she only cried harder.
“That bastard’s never going to touch you again,” I said. “I’m here, and I’m not leaving you vulnerable like that again.”
Her face tilted up to mine and she sniffled. I lifted my thumb up to her cheek and dried her tears. I wanted to heal her hurt and make sure that she never hurt again. And I’d meant every word. I wasn’t leaving her again. I didn’t know how I was going to work it out or how the hell it was all going to play out, but I was going to protect her from here on out.
Like she deserved.
My lips fell to her face, and I kissed away her tears. I placed a kiss on each of her eyes before I trailed to her nose. I pressed one to the tip of it and watched as a small grin crossed her cheeks. I thumbed my finger over her bottom lip and felt her sigh against me, then I pressed my lips to hers and allowed the love I had for her to pour into our kiss.
“What the fuck?”
Hollis’ voice caused Theresa to jerk, but I held her steadily against my body.
“Remember,” I said, whispering. “I’m not leaving you again. It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay.”
I could feel her shaking against me as my eyes panned over to Hollis.
“Could I see you outside for a second?” he asked, his jaw tight.
“No,” Theresa said.
My eyebrows hiked up to the edge of my hairline as I looked down into her face. She no longer had fearful eyes and trembling lips. The strength I knew she had buried deep within her shone through her eyes and the tight line of her mouth. She had her eyes trained on her brother, her body poised to fight. She was no longer weak against me but alert and ready for anything thrown her way.
“I need to talk with Grant,” Hollis said.
“Butt out,” Theresa said. “He’s not here to fight with you. He’s here to comfort me.”
A grin spread across my cheeks as my eyes darted back over to her brother. He was glaring at the both of us, his eyes whipping back and forth. He pushed off the doorframe and came into the room, his arms crossed over his chest. I knew he was pissed, and I didn’t give a shit about it. This wasn’t about him, or us, or Theresa and I, or some friendship, or some kiss. I was sitting with Theresa and making her promises I had to find a way to deliver on, and the last thing I needed was to bicker with her overbearing brother.
“Wanted to let you know that Ike won’t be getting out of jail,” Hollis said. “The judge he appeared before is a friend of Dad’s, and he promised he wouldn't set bail. He’ll sit there until his trial.”
“Good,” Theresa said. “He doesn’t deserve to see the light of day.”
The strength in her voice brought a smile to my face. The feisty girl that first emerged when their father had kicked me out all those years ago was back. And I would never let her be buried again.
“Yep. But don’t think we’re not talking about this,” Hollis said.
He pointed his finger at me as Theresa leaned back into my body.
“Whatever you have to say, you can say to both of us,” Theresa said. “Because this weekend, he’s mine. Not yours.”
I would’ve kissed that woman right there on her lips if I wasn’t too busy trying to stifle the laughter bubbling up my throat. The look on Hollis’ face was priceless, and he turned around and stormed out of the room. I leaned back into the support of the hospital bed and gathered Theresa close to me, then felt her heave a heavy sigh.
“Try to get some rest,” I said. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“I know,” she said. “I know you will be.”
And my heart soared with pride at knowing she could trust me.
CHAPTER 21
THERESA
I tried to smile, but my head was pounding. I didn’t want to be in the hospital. I wanted to be home. Or in a hotel. Or somewhere with just Grant and I. Being in this hospital room made me a sitting duck for whatever anger was going to come from Hollis. And I knew it would come. I knew how my brother worked. He was probably on the phone with my father telling him what he saw, which meant I could expect to incur the wrath of them both.
I hoped they would let me recover a bit first before bombarding me with their unwanted opinions. I almost felt sorry for Grant, but I knew he could, and would, handle himself. He’d told me the night before that even though Hollis was his oldest and best friend, he wasn’t giving me up, even if it meant that friendship was over.
Waking up in Grant’s arms had been the most amazing feeling. I drew in a deep breath before I winced at the pain in my head. Grant’s fingertips started stroking my hair again, and it almost sent me back into a slumber.
Almost.
“Just coming to check some vitals,” someone said.
I felt my IV tube moving.
“When can I go home?” I asked.
My eyes finally peeled themselves open to see the nurse looking quizzically at me.
“Well, you’ve sustained a decent concussion, so the doctor wants you here a little longer so he can keep an eye on you. Are you experiencing any double vision or a headache?” she asked.
“It’s fine,” I said as I pushed myself farther up Grant’s body. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” Grant said. “Yes, she’s in pain. Is there something you can give her?”
“There is. Let me go put in a request for it. I’ll be back in a few minutes. You might as well get comfortable because you’re not going anywhere anytime soon,” she said with a pointed look.
“Great,” I murmured.
Grant’s fingers caressed my hair, lulling me back to sleep. But when darkness overtook me, all I saw was Ike. I saw the anger in his eyes, and I could hear the disgust in his voice. Whore. Slut. All the names he called me. I felt myself pinned back against the wall, and I could hear his buckle jingling behind me. I could feel his hand clamping down on my throat and cutting off my air supply.
I jerked awake and felt a pair of strong arms around me. I tried to push them away as I sat up on the bed. My head wasn’t pounding anymore, but I still felt sick to my stomach. Bile was creeping up the back of my throat as someone slid from my hospital bed.
“Theresa. Open your eyes. It’s me.”
Grant.
I could hear his voice.
I felt his hands on top of mine, trying to soothe me. I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was blurry, and the bright light made me close them tightly again, but there he was. Grant. The big, bad-boy who was so tender with me.
“Look at me,” he said. “You’re safe.”
I opened my eyes again and I reached out for his shirt and pulled him back to me. My back fell onto the hospital bed, and I urged Grant’s body to cover me. I didn’t want to see Ike anymore. I didn’t want to dwell on him any longer. All I wanted was Grant. His voice. His touch. His smile. His protection. I wanted his muscles draped over me and his voice in my ear and his presence surrounding me for as long as I could have it.
For as long as he could promise.
“It’s okay. Come here. I’m here, Theresa. I’m not going anywhere.”
His voice was low, and it sent shivers up my spine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he snaked his behind my back. I could feel his muscles twitching, blanketing me as he sat on the side of my bed again. I buried my face into the crook of his neck and sniffled, trying to keep my tear
s at bay.
“Please stay with me,” I said breathlessly.
“They’d have to drag me out of here in chains,” Grant said.
I laid my cheek on his shoulder as he cradled my body. The rhythmic sounds of monitors beeping were the only sounds filling the room. I hugged Grant as tightly as I could and committed to memory the feel of him. This was how a man should treat a woman.
I never wanted to let go of him.
Suddenly, rapid footsteps were echoing in the hallway. I panned my gaze over to the door and saw a tall figure appear in the doorway. I felt Grant tense next to me as I lifted my head up and blinked to try and rid my eyes of their blurriness.
But when I heard his voice, anger welled within me.
I was going to kill Hollis.
“Didn’t I tell you once to stay away from my daughter?”
“Dad? What the hell are you doing?” I asked.
My throat burned with every word I spoke. The swelling around my neck and throat was causing pain every time I swallowed. My voice felt like nothing but a whisper and sounded like sandpaper.
“You stay out of this. You clearly aren’t capable of making decent decisions on men,” my father said.
“Says the guy who approved of Ike for years,” I said.
“I knew the past couple of years with him were rough, and I made that known. And now you’re in the hospital clinging to yet another man not worthy of your time!”
My vision cleared as my father approached the bed, the blatant anger on his face nearly making me sweat. He stepped close to Grant and pointed a finger at him.
“So much for your promise that you never touched my daughter,” he said softly.
“And I didn’t back then,” Grant said.
“Get the hell away from my daughter.”
“You made decisions for her years ago, but you won’t make them now. Theresa wants me here so this is where I’m staying.”
“I threw you out once, and I’ll throw you out again. You were terrible for my daughter then, and you’re terrible for her now. And I won’t have you ruining whatever it is that’s left of a future for her!”
