by Maya Banks
Seth gave him a look that sent Liam’s hopes plummeting.
“She’s awake. Max is trying to get her to talk. She still seems like she’s in shock or at least unaware.”
Noah cursed and then, without another word, pushed past the Colter men and walked into Lauren’s room. Liam hurried behind him.
Max looked up when they walked in, his gaze hopeful. He got up, leaving Lauren’s bedside, and strode over to intercept them.
“Maybe she’ll respond to you,” Max said in a low voice. “I’ve been talking to her but it’s like I’m not even here.”
Noah and Liam glanced toward the bed and then left Max. They took either side, both reaching for her hands. Liam brought her fingers to his lips. They were so cold.
He blew his breath over the tips to warm them and then captured her hand between his palms, rubbing to generate heat. Then he lowered himself to put him in the path of her sight.
“Lauren, baby, can you hear me?”
He waited a moment, and when she didn’t so much as blink, he brushed his hand across her forehead and trailed his fingers down the curve of her cheek. He followed his hand with his mouth and inhaled her scent as he pressed his lips to her temple.
“We’re here, honey,” Noah said, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotion. “You’re safe now. That bastard can’t ever hurt you again.”
Her eyes flickered and slowly she turned her head so she focused on Noah.
“Is he dead?” she whispered.
Joy and hope exploded in Liam’s mind. He gripped her hand tighter, his urge to pull her into his arms overwhelming.
“Yes,” Liam said with savagery.
“Good.”
The simple word conveyed a wealth of relief.
“How are you?” Noah asked. “Are you hurting? Did he . . .”
He didn’t finish because Lauren flinched and looked away, her body immediately tense. Liam wanted to put his fist through the wall. He and Noah exchanged fierce glances even as they tried to maintain their composure.
“My ribs,” she said faintly. “I think I must have broken some in the accident. Hurts.”
Noah turned toward the door where the others were standing. “Get the doctor in here. Or a nurse. Someone who can tell us what her condition is.”
“On it,” Dillon said before disappearing.
“Listen to me,” Liam said in a low voice, his head close to hers. “I want you to rest and focus on feeling better and the fact that Noah and I love you. Joel Knight can never hurt you again. You’re free.”
Her eyes filled with tears and it nearly broke his heart right in two. They tracked down her cheeks in silver streams as she stared sightlessly toward the ceiling.
“I want to go home,” she choked out.
“We’ll take you home,” Noah promised. “As soon as the doctor says it’s safe for you to travel, we’ll take you back home.”
Even as Noah made the quiet vow, Liam knew that it was the right thing to say. Whatever sacrifices he and Noah had to make to ensure Lauren’s happiness was worth it. She belonged in Colorado with her family and the two men who loved her surrounding her. She needed them all. Now, more than ever.
Somehow he and Noah would have to make it work. Love was about sacrifices, and Liam would sacrifice anything and everything to be with Lauren and to see her smile again.
CHAPTER 41
WHEN the nurse came in, Liam told her that Lauren was in pain, and as the nurse administered the pain medication, Lauren drifted off, her eyelids fluttering closed.
Her lashes were dark against her cheeks and bruises shadowed her beautiful face. As Noah stood there staring down at her, he was struck by the enormity of what she’d survived and escaped.
He knew there was more. He knew she’d endured the worst, but he was so goddamn relieved to have her back that he was weak with it.
“The doctor will meet you outside,” the nurse said in a quiet tone. “He’ll be able to give you the X-ray results as well as tell you how long she needs to remain in the hospital.”
“Thank you,” Noah said.
He leaned down to press his lips against her forehead and closed his eyes for a long moment.
“I love you,” he said against her skin. “I love you so goddamn much. We’ll get through this, sweetheart. I swear there’s nothing we can’t beat together.”
She sighed and turned her face upward as if seeking the comfort of his voice. He ran his fingertips over the delicate lines of her face before finally retreating.
Liam waited at the door and when the two men stepped out, the doctor walked down the hall toward them. His step was brisk, and he stopped in front of the group of men, his gaze sweeping over them.
“Which of you are Miss Wilder’s family?” the doctor asked.
Every single man spoke up.
The doctor cleared his throat and glanced skeptically at the assembled group.
“We’re her family,” Adam said in a grave tone. “We’re her fathers and brothers.”
Max nodded his agreement.
“How is she?” Noah blurted, no longer able to be patient. “When can she go home? She’s been asking.”
The doctor sighed. “I see all manner of things through this emergency room. Some you wouldn’t believe. One would think as often as I see the results of violence that I would be immune to it. And yet it still pisses me off every single time a woman comes through these doors because some bastard used her for a punching bag.”
The others simmered and seethed, their anger a tangible thing that hovered over them like a cloud.
“She fractured two lower ribs and has extensive bruising in that area, whether from the car accident or from abuse. It’s hard to say, and it’s likely that it’s from both.”
He paused a moment before continuing.
“Considering what she’s been through, her physical condition is better than I would have expected. Quite frankly, it’s her mental state that has me the most concerned and why I’m hesitant to release her from the hospital.”
“She needs to be home where she feels safe and surrounded by the people who love her,” Liam said.
“I agree,” Max interjected. “I think the sooner we get her back home, the sooner she’ll come around.”
Noah faced the doctor, his chest tightening with dread. “Besides the fractured ribs, did she sustain any other injury?”
The doctor folded his arms over his chest, trapping his clipboard against his body. “It’s my opinion that she wasn’t sexually assaulted. She’s bruised and she’ll be sore for several days, but given the circumstances, she fared far better than one might expect. She’s a tough young woman.”
Noah let out his breath, nearly light-headed from holding it. “So can we bring her home? How long will you want her to stay?”
The doctor seemed to consider the request for a moment. “If you are indeed going to take her home and see that she gets the proper rest and care, then I’ll discharge her as early as tomorrow morning. I want her to stay at least one night for observation.”
“She’ll have the best care possible,” Max said in a terse voice. “And she won’t so much as lift a finger.”
Noah and Liam both nodded their agreement with Max’s statement.
Movement behind Adam and Ryan made Noah’s gaze veer in that direction. Liam’s parents had come to stand just behind the assembled group and were listening as the others spoke.
“Then I’ll have her moved to a private room so she can rest overnight. If all looks well in the morning, the on-call doctor will see her when he makes rounds and he’ll discharge her.”
Noah extended his hand. “Thank you.”
The doctor shook Noah’s hand and nodded at the others. “We’ll get her up to a room as soon as possible.”
When the doctor turned to leave, Noah motioned for Lisa and Carl Prescott to move forward. He introduced them to Max and the Colters and saw Lisa’s eyes widen when the Colter familial situation was explained.
“Is Lauren all right?” Lisa asked after pleasantries were exchanged.
Liam sighed. “No. Not really. But then she shouldn’t be expected to be all right. She was kidnapped by a monster and subjected to God knows what.”
“She will be, though,” Noah said with determination. “Liam and I are going to take her back to Colorado. Home.”
Noah saw the knowledge in Liam’s mother’s eyes. To her credit she didn’t argue or try to persuade them differently. Her face softened, as only the love of a mother can soften a woman’s face.
“I know you’ll both take good care of her.”
Carl stepped forward. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let us know. And, Liam, don’t forget in all of this to take care of yourself as well. Your mother worries about both of you. A bullet wound is no small thing so don’t treat it as such.”
“I will, Dad,” Liam said as he was pulled into his mom’s arms.
Lisa pulled Noah closer until she stood between the two men she called her sons. The Colters and Max had discreetly moved farther down the hall, affording Liam and his parents privacy.
“When she’s better, I’d like you to bring her to visit and to meet us,” Lisa said in a low voice. “I don’t want to burden her right now and I think it better if we leave. I just wanted to be sure you were okay, Liam.”
“We’d like that,” Noah said. “I think Lauren would like it too.”
Liam nodded his agreement. “As soon as she’s up to it, we’ll bring her for a visit. Promise.”
“Good enough,” Carl said.
Liam’s father pulled Liam into a bone-crushing hug and then did the same to Noah. Noah winced. Liam got his size and build from his father. Carl Prescott was no slouch at sixty years old. He was a former mixed martial arts fighter and had served in the Marines before going to work in the paper mill he’d retired from. Even so, it was amusing to see that Lisa Prescott had the big man in the palm of her hand.
This was what Noah wanted. He wanted what Liam’s parents had. He wanted what the Colters had. He wanted Lauren and her love, and wanted to shower her with his love and devotion so that one day their children could look at them and think that they wanted the same.
“We’ll let you two get back to her,” Carl said in a gruff tone. “Call us when you get back to Colorado and let us know how things are going. Your mother will worry if she doesn’t hear from you.”
“Will do, Dad. Love you,” Liam said.
“Love you too, son. Both of you.”
Lisa kissed them both and gave them one last hug before she and Carl headed down the hallway toward the exit.
Liam turned to Noah, blowing out his breath. “Well. That went a little better than I thought it might.”
CHAPTER 42
LAUREN laid her head back against the seat and closed her eyes as the plane lifted into the air. On either side of her were Liam and Noah, both touching her in some way whether it was a leg against hers or a hand on her arm. It was a silent reminder that they were there. Just as they’d been every minute since they’d burst into the lake house where Joel had died.
The last day had been a blur. Constant flow of people in and out of her hospital room. Noah and Liam had been determined that they were taking her back to Colorado at the very first opportunity, despite requests for them to remain in the area for further questioning.
She’d been questioned at length by the investigator assigned to the case as well as the district attorney whom Noah had turned the disk over to. In truth, she’d paused briefly, considering whether she should give the information now that Joel was dead. It shamed her that she feared reprisal from other quarters once the investigation was launched.
But Castanetti had guaranteed her anonymity and that she wouldn’t even have to testify since all she’d done was collect information from Joel’s computer. They’d have to launch their own investigation based on the information she’d provided. She’d given the disk to the D.A. and had immediately felt a weight lifted from her shoulders.
It was something she should have done from the start. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that, had she not done so much wrong, she wouldn’t have been abducted and subjected to Joel’s abuse, and Liam wouldn’t have been shot rescuing her.
She shivered and her stomach coiled into a knot. Just being on a plane brought back the memory of what Joel had done to her. What he’d forced her to do. Tears burned her eyelids and she bit into her lip to maintain control.
“Are you all right, baby?”
Liam’s concerned voice reached her from what seemed a huge distance. She tried to respond, but she couldn’t even suck in a breath.
Panic clawed at her throat, squeezing and knotting. Her chest burned. She was paralyzed with fear.
There were muffled curses, the sound of seat belts clicking as they were thrown off. Then she was lifted from her seat and carried toward the back where the lounging area was.
A cold cloth was pressed to her face and strong arms surrounded her.
“Breathe, honey,” Noah said gently. “Take a breath for me. Can you do that? Look at me. Like this.”
He inhaled deep and slow through his nose and then let it out through his lips. His gaze bore into hers, willing her to follow his lead.
She reacted sluggishly, the effort taking every bit of strength she had. Noah framed her face with his hands, forcing her to look only at him and the way he breathed. Liam’s hand smoothed up and down her back, offering comfort, and gradually her chest loosened and the choking sensation was gone.
Tears streamed down her face, bathing Noah’s hands. She tried to lower her head, to shrink away from his and Liam’s scrutiny, but Noah held firm and then pulled her into his warm embrace.
“I’ve got you now,” Noah murmured as he rocked back and forth, his arm securely around her.
She clutched at his shoulders as she buried her face in his neck. He kissed her hair, her forehead, stroked his fingers through the strands and rubbed up and down her back. His voice was pitched low in a soothing, nonsensical rhythm almost as if he were calming a child.
Eventually the sobs faded and she lay limply against him, exhausted by the panic attack and emotional breakdown.
“Tell me he’s dead,” she whispered. “Tell me again.”
Noah kissed her forehead and Liam reached for her hands, enfolding them in his much larger ones.
“He’s dead, baby,” Liam said. “He can’t hurt you again. You’re free now.”
Tears clouded her eyes and she felt the warm trickle down her face but was too exhausted to call them back.
“He forced me . . . on the plane . . .”
She could hear her voice rise with hysteria, could feel the panic returning even as Noah’s hold on her tightened.
“Oh God,” she choked out. “He pushed me to my knees and he forced himself into my m-mouth.”
Even as she spoke, she wiped at her lips with the back of her hand, over and over as if she could remove the memory.
“He used me,” she sobbed. “I’m dirty. I feel so dirty. How could you possibly want to be with me knowing the things he made me do?”
Liam went to his knee in front of Noah so that she was trapped between them, touching them both. His expression was so fierce that her eyes widened. He tipped her chin with his fingertip and then slid his fingers down her jaw to make sure she was looking at him.
“I won’t say it doesn’t matter what he did to you,” Liam bit out. “It would be bullshit and I’m not going to say shit I don’t mean to try to make you feel better. Of course it matters. He hurt you. He violated you. He took your choices away from you and he forced himself on you. But if you think what he did changes one goddamn thing about the way we look at you or feel about you, then you’re wrong.”
She stared back into his eyes, seeing the burning sincerity in his gaze. Noah rumbled his agreement, his body so tense against her it was like resting against brick.
“But it changes the
way I feel,” she said, her voice cracking.
Liam’s expression went soft, his eyes full of love and understanding.
“Give yourself some time, baby,” he said gently. “We’ll get through this together. One day at a time. Noah and I will be with you every step of the way.”
“I love you,” she said, injecting as much conviction into her voice as she could.
Liam’s eyes went even softer and he stroked her face with his hand. “I love you too, baby. So much.”
She turned so she could slide her hand up over Noah’s shoulder, and she hugged him to her. Her face was buried in his neck, his scent surrounding her, filling her. She breathed deep, content here in his arms.
The panic that had so firmly gripped her just moments earlier had receded, and calm had wrapped her in its soothing embrace.
“I love you,” she said against Noah’s neck.
He put his hand to the back of her head and stroked through her hair. “Oh honey, I love you so damn much I ache with it. We’re going to get through this together. You, me and Liam. No hurry. We have all the time in the world.”
The words slid sweetly over her ears and loosened the tension in her chest.
“We do, don’t we?” she said in wonder.
Noah pulled her away from his chest, his smile tender and warm. “We have nothing but time.”
She reached for Liam, wanting that contact with him. Noah slid his hand possessively up her back as she curled into Liam, laying her head on his shoulder.
“I love you both so much and I was so afraid to let myself. But fighting it didn’t feel right. I was afraid to trust myself again after I made so many terrible mistakes, but this time I’m right. I know it.”
“In time you won’t question yourself or your decision,” Liam said in a solemn voice. “I plan to convince you on all points that you’ve absolutely made the right decision this time.”
She kissed him, wanting the deeper intimacy, wanting to show him that she had no doubts. That she loved him. That she wanted a life with him and Noah no matter how difficult the road.
She slowly retreated from the warmth of his mouth and his touch to turn her face up to Noah. His lips came down in a heated rush to meet hers, and she sighed in contentment.
