Risky Vengeance

by Rhonda Brewer

  “I’ll protect her with my life,” Trunk promised.

  Darren insisted Keith send the invoice for the services as soon as possible. When Keith assured him Abbie was family, Darren wouldn’t hear of it. Abbie’s father made it clear that he could afford to pay for his daughter’s protection.

  “I’ll send it.” Keith nodded.

  “You better.” Darren left the waiting room and headed into the intensive care unit where Abbie was recovering.

  By four in the morning, Trunk was the only person left with Abbie. At first, the unit said he couldn’t stay all night, but when Darren explained the situation and Keith’s father arrived to speak with the administration, Trunk was given a comfy chair, and they moved Abbie into a private ICU room. Keith’s father being the well-respected Dr. Sean O’Connor had come in handy.

  Trunk’s stomach was in knots as he watched Abbie’s chest rise and fall with the soft whoosh of the ventilator. She was pale, and with so much equipment attached to her, he didn’t know how she could be comfortable, especially with the tube down her throat.

  “She’s doing well,” an older nurse told him as she checked Abbie’s vitals.

  “Her family will be relieved to hear that,” Trunk said without looking away from Abbie’s face.

  “I’m sure it makes you feel better as well.” The nurse reminded him of his mother.

  “I’m simply here for security.” Trunk smiled.

  “Honey, no man looks at a woman like that unless she owns his heart.” The nurse touched his shoulder.

  “I…” Trunk started to speak.

  “Talk to her. I believe they hear everything around them.” The nurse walked out, leaving him alone with Abbie.

  Trunk turned his attention back to the woman lying motionless in the bed. She did own his heart, but if telling her how he felt while she was unconscious would help her recover, he’d do it.

  “You’ve got to come out of this, Abs. I can’t live in a world that you aren’t in. We might not be able to be together, but knowing you’re out there living your life makes me happy. I’m saying this because I know you won’t remember, but I love you more than my own life. I love you so much that I let you go so you can find someone who could make you happy. By the way, you need to keep looking. That piece of shit you’re with now hasn’t even come here to see you. So, get better so you can dump his ass,” Trunk whispered the words into her ear.

  Two days of agony followed as they waited for the doctors to decide when to remove the respirator. Before they could do that, they had to wean her off the medication that was keeping her unconscious. Her parents sat on one side of the bed and Trunk on the other as they waited for Abbie to wake up.

  “It’ll take a little while before you see any signs of her coming out of the sedation,” the doctor told them as he checked Abbie’s surgical site.

  “I thought you would take out the respirator before she woke up.” Claire seemed ready to burst into tears at any moment.

  “No, she needs to be somewhat alert when we remove it. That way it’s easier to see if she can handle breathing on her own,” the doctor explained.

  Almost thirty minutes later, Abbie began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, and at first, she seemed panicked. Her father shot to his feet and held Abbie’s hand before she pulled all the medical equipment out.

  “Shh, Monkey,” Darren whispered. “You’re fine. This stuff is to help you get better.”

  Abbie’s eyes flicked back and forth between her parents, then her eyes locked on Trunk. He was surprised when she motioned for him to come closer. When he did, Abbie grasped his hand and pointed to the tube in her mouth.

  “The doctor is coming in to take it out soon. You need to calm down, Abs,” Trunk whispered softly.

  Abbie nodded, and her body relaxed, but she kept a tight hold on Trunk’s hand. She began to make signs with her hands and got frustrated when they couldn’t understand her.

  Trunk recognized it as sign language because he’d seen Billie communicate with her niece that way. He never understood what they said, but it was obvious Abbie was trying to communicate with it. Billie, Mike, Abbie, Dana, and Billie’s family all knew how to sign. None of it made sense to Trunk, and from the looks on her parents’ faces, they didn’t understand it either.

  “I have no idea what you’re saying, Abs. It won’t be long, and you’ll be able to talk again.” Trunk smiled.

  There was something odd in the way she gazed up at him. Abbie hadn’t looked at him with such affection since their one night together. In the last six-plus years, she gave him two types of looks, detest and hurt. She had to be still groggy from the medication, but he’d enjoy it until she was herself again.

  Trunk had a feeling it would change when Chad showed up to see her. The asshole called Claire a couple of times to find out Abbie’s condition, but when Claire asked if he was coming to see her, Chad said he got tied up with some business that he couldn’t put off. He promised to be by before Abbie woke up, but it looked like that didn’t happen.

  Before they removed the tube from Abbie’s throat, they turned off the respirator. They had to make sure she could breathe on her own before they disconnected her.

  A short while later, Abbie gripped Trunk’s hand. It was difficult to watch the nurse pull the long tube from Abbie’s throat, but even though Abbie gagged, she remained calm. Once the tube was gone, her grip on Trunk’s hand eased.

  “I’m going to get you to take a couple of breaths on your own while I listen to your lungs,” the doctor told her as he placed his stethoscope on Abbie’s chest.

  The doctor listened intently, and after several minutes, he seemed satisfied with what he heard. When the doctor left, Abbie’s parents followed, asking questions about what to do next. It left Trunk alone with Abbie gripping his hand as if she needed it to live.

  “It’s good to see those beautiful green eyes again.” Trunk smiled down at her.

  “How did I get here? It must have been some night we had. Why are you bald?” Abbie’s voice was raspy, and she stared at him with narrowed eyes.

  “Abs, you were stabbed outside the restaurant,” Trunk explained, but her question about his shaved head confused him.

  Abbie had seen his bald head many times but with the way she was studying him, it seemed as if she was looking at it for the first time. Her eyes darted back and forth as if she was searching for the memory. She winced when she lifted her head, and Trunk explained how she hit it when she fell.

  “I don’t remember going to a restaurant. The last thing I remember is…” Her words stopped when a commotion started outside her room.

  Abbie’s eyes widened, but Trunk assured her he’d see what was going on and be back. At first, it didn’t seem as if she would release his hand, but when he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, she let him go.

  “What do you mean I can’t go inside?” Chad’s voice sounded like nails on a chalkboard to Trunk.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but Ms. Martin has a restricted list of visitors, and your name is not on it. This is a secure patient and all visitors have to be cleared. It’s why when I saw you at the door, I stopped you,” the male nurse told Chad.

  “I can’t see why I wouldn’t be on the list. I’m her boyfriend, for Christ’s sake. As a matter of fact, we got engaged the night she was mugged,” Chad spat.

  Trunk stepped next to the nurse and glanced around for Abbie’s parents. They seemed to have disappeared, and they might not want Chad to see Abbie. If it were up to Trunk, he’d have tossed the bastard out a window, but if what he said was true, it meant Abbie was engaged.

  “What’s going on here?” Trunk asked.

  “What are you doing here?” Chad sneered.

  “He’s Ms. Martin’s security detail,” the nurse explained.

  “Why does she need security? She was mugged by some low life who is more than likely out of the province by now,” Chad scoffed.

  “Her parents don’t believe that,” Trunk resp
onded.

  “She must not have had a chance to tell them we were engaged.” Chad glared at Trunk.

  “They didn’t know since it took you three days to come to see her,” Trunk returned.

  “I don’t need to explain myself to you. I want to see Abbie.” Chad tried to go into the room, but before Trunk could stop him, the nurse immediately stopped the irritated man.

  “What you want and what you get are two different things. Until Ms. Martin’s parents say it’s okay, you won’t be going through this door.” The nurse crossed his massive arms and glared down at Chad.

  Trunk wanted to pat the guy on the back, but instead, he mirrored the nurse’s stance and glared at Chad. After a few seconds, Chad spun around, mumbling something about heads rolling as he pulled out his phone.

  “You can’t use your phone in here,” the nurse called after Chad.

  Trunk almost laughed as the arrogant bastard stomped out of the ICU. Claire and Darren wouldn’t be happy with Chad visiting. Especially since Abbie’s dad was so furious that the asshole didn’t walk Abbie to her car. Then there was the fact that he hadn’t taken the time to come see the woman he supposedly cared about.

  “I caught him listening at the door. That guy is a huge douche.” The nurse shook his head.

  “You said it.” Trunk chuckled.

  “I hope I wasn’t out of line.” The man turned to face Trunk.

  “Not at all. Thanks.” Trunk held out his hand.

  “It’s in my blood. I’m former military, but after an IED took part of my foot, I had to change careers,” the nurse explained.

  “Thank you for your sacrifice.” Trunk had great respect for military veterans.

  “If you need anything else, I’m here until midnight. Just ask for Justin Bishop.” He shook Trunk’s hand.

  “Thank you, Justin. I’m Ben Murphy, but everyone calls me Trunk,” he told Justin.

  “Trunk? I guess there’s a story there. Everyone usually calls me Bish, so if you’re looking, they’ll know me by that name too.” Justin nodded and returned to the nurse’s station.

  When he returned to her room, Trunk found Abbie looking at the bandage covering her side. She looked up when he stepped next to the bed and pointed to her stomach.

  “Am I gonna have a scar?” Abbie whispered.

  “You’re alive. I don’t care if you have a hundred scars.” He smiled.

  “I guess it’ll be a while before we can take a tumble again.” Abbie laid her head back on the pillow and gave him a cocky grin.

  Before he could respond, Abbie’s parents stepped into the room. From the expressions on their faces, they both were not happy. Claire seemed completely flustered, but Darren looked pissed.

  Trunk was about to ask what was wrong, but the problem walked in behind Darren with a huge smile. It made Trunk want to punch Chad in the face because it was one of those looks that said, I won.

  It wasn’t the fact that Chad had gotten his way that made Trunk uneasy, it was the way Abbie stared at the man. Something wasn’t right but before Trunk could voice his concern, Chad turned on the charm.

  “I’m so happy to see you.” Chad hurried to Abbie’s side and reached for her hand.

  Abbie pulled away and grabbed for Trunk’s arm. Chad didn’t seem to notice the reaction and when he leaned down to kiss her, Abbie shoved him hard. She glanced at Trunk but when she turned back to Chad and spoke, she surprised everyone.

  “Who the hell are you?” Abbie asked.

  Chapter 8

  Abbie was confused about why some strange man tried to kiss her as if they knew each other. The guy wasn’t her type and looked like the assholes she avoided. Besides, she was head-over-heels for Trunk, and since they had made love, she didn’t want to lose him.

  “What do you mean? Who am I?” The man seemed hurt.

  Abbie glanced at her parents, but they looked puzzled by Abbie’s reaction. She turned to Trunk, and he seemed just as concerned. Abbie turned to the preppy snob and shook her head.

  “I don’t know you,” Abbie said.

  “Abs, are you sure you don’t know him?” Trunk leaned forward.

  “Yes, I’m sure. How would I know someone I never met?” Abbie rolled her eyes.

  “Abbie, he’s your boyfriend.” Her mother sat on the foot of the bed and gently touched Abbie’s leg.

  “Fiancé.” The preppy man grinned as if he’d just told her something that would make her happy.

  “I’m sorry, what?” Her father roared.

  Abbie knew by her father’s narrowed eyes he didn’t like the man, and she didn’t either. He seemed much too smug, and something about the way he looked at her made her uncomfortable.

  “I proposed the night at the restaurant, and she said yes,” the man said proudly.

  “You proposed to my daughter without talking to me first and then let her walk to her car alone at night? You’re a fucking asshole.” Her father gripped the foot of the bed.

  “Chad, you should have talked to us first. That’s disrespectful,” her mother replied.

  “For God’s sake, it’s the twenty-first century.” The man rolled his eyes.

  Before Abbie could say a word, her father was around the foot of the bed and fisted the front of Chad’s expensive suit. Her dad’s face was red, and all she saw was pure rage. Abbie’s mouth dropped open because she’d never seen her father act that way before.

  “Darren, stop it,” her mother ordered.

  “You egotistical piece of shit. How dare you talk to me and my wife like that.” Her father was pissed, and Abbie turned to Trunk.

  Trunk looked furious, but there was something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Abbie didn’t know what the hell was going on, and her side hurt, not to mention her head pounded like a thousand hammers were knocking inside her skull.

  “Okay, everyone out. Now.” A huge man in scrubs stepped into the room.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Chad snapped.

  “You can leave this room on your own, or Trunk and I will physically remove you.” The nurse narrowed his eyes and glared at Chad.

  “Okay. Everyone, stop,” Abbie tried to shout, but it was difficult because her throat was still sore from the ventilator.

  Everyone turned, and the room was suddenly silent. Abbie’s father still had Chad by the jacket and looked as if he could kill the man. Abbie felt sick to her stomach, and everything started to spin around her. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second then opened them again.

  “First of all, Dad, let the guy go.” Abbie pointed at her father.

  “But…” her father began.

  “Darren, let him go,” her mother said.

  Her father released Chad with a small shove and stepped next to her mother. Abbie glanced around the room and tried to will someone to tell her what the hell was going on. When nobody said anything, Abbie turned to Chad.

  “Now, I’ve got no idea who the hell you are and what makes you think I ever agreed to marry you, but you need to go see a doctor about that,” Abbie told Chad.

  “Abs, you don’t know him?” Trunk crouched next to her bed.

  “I’m pretty sure I’d remember if I met this guy.” Abbie hitched her thumb toward Chad.

  “Monkey, what’s the last thing you do remember?” her father asked.

  Abbie felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she glanced at Trunk. The truth was the last thing she remembered was snuggling next to him after a night of incredible sex.

  “Leaving Kathleen and Sean’s house.” Abbie glanced at Trunk.

  “What were you doing there?” her father asked.

  “Dad, they caught the guy who was after Billie. We were celebrating.” Abbie said.

  “Abbie, that was nearly seven years ago,” her mother said softly.

  Abbie stared at her mother as if the woman had lost her mind. She wasn’t sure what everyone was trying to do, but none of it was funny. She waited for someone to crack a smile and tell her it was all a joke, but ever
y face in the room showed nothing but concern. Except for Chad, he looked annoyed.

  “Not funny, Mom.” Abbie tried not to sound frightened.

  “She’s not joking, Abs.” Trunk held up his cell phone and pointed to the date.

  Abbie stared at it as if she was looking at something in another language. If that was right, then why didn’t she remember anything since the night she was with Trunk. It also meant she and Trunk were not together. What happened between them?

  “Why don’t I remember…” Abbie found it hard to get air in her lungs.

  The nurse ran next to the bed and pushed Chad out of the way. The man spoke to her calmly, and Abbie tried to focus on him. It was so hard to breathe, and she felt light-headed.

  “Find something to focus on and breathe, Abbie,” the nurse said.

  “Listen to Justin, Abs. Slow your breathing.” Trunk held her hand between his, and she focused on his eyes.

  “That’s right, Abbie. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Slowly,” Justin said.

  “This is bullshit,” Chad grumbled but stepped away quickly when Trunk glared at him over Justin’s shoulder.

  “Good.” Justin seemed to be completely focused on her and ignoring the situation around him.

  How could this be true? If it was, she was missing almost seven years of her life. She glanced over Justin’s shoulder at Chad and didn’t see anything familiar. She didn’t understand how she could be engaged to the man when she was so in love with Trunk.

  Chad was handsome enough, but he was the type of guy she would wine and dine to get a sale, not date. He looked like many of her clients, and Abbie never mixed her business with dating.

  “That’s better.” Justin smiled as her breathing returned to normal.

  “You have to take it easy, Abs.” Trunk held her hand.

  “I’m going to have to ask everyone to leave. It’s almost quiet time anyway, and I’m going to get the doctor to come see if we can figure out what’s happening with the memory loss.” Justin turned to her parents and Chad.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” Chad straightened his shoulders.