It had been several days before she awoke, and the pain she was in was so intense that they wanted to keep her sedated or the nausea from the concussion could make her vomit, and that would be dangerous to her bruised trachea. It was a mess, and none of them could get any rest until she was in the clear. The door opened, and he glanced up to see Kane, Culter, Chase, Athena, and Fox. They brought them some coffee and some food, but none of them had eaten very much.
Culter walked closer to the bed. “She awake yet?”
“No,” Corey said and stood up. Fox and Chase stepped closer. Kane looked at Titus, Corey, Aleck, and Mavis.
“We could stay so you can get cleaned up and rest,” he offered as Athena held on to Fox and tried not to cry.
“We’re good. People here know your sister. The doctor had worked with her before for some volunteer program,” Titus told them.
“They let us wash up in the locker room for staff. I went home to get us clothes during the night,” Titus told them. Kane nodded and then looked at his sister.
“She’s strong and stubborn. She’ll pull through just fine, don’t you worry.”
“You know we are worried, despite the positive results from tests. We just need to see those green eyes and hear her voice. What if she can’t talk? If her vocal cords were compromised?” he asked.
“She won’t be able to do the things she loves,” Aleck said.
“She’ll be fine. You need to stay positive,” Athena said to them, and then they were all quiet again.
Charlie could hear the voices. She felt the pain in her head and then in her throat. As she opened her mouth to speak, she coughed and winced.
“Easy, baby. Corey, the doctor,” Mavis said. She blinked her eyes open as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Shhh…don’t cry, honey. You’re going to be okay. You’re in the hospital, and we’re right here with you,” Aleck said to her.
She tried to talk and couldn’t. She felt full and clogged. The doctor and nurse came in, and she recognized Arthur Spay.
“There’s those beautiful green eyes. How are you feeling?” he asked as he put on his stethoscope and started listening to her heartbeat. He placed the device over her throat and then down to her chest. “A little clogged up. Maybe we’ll get you to sit up and drink some water,” he said, and the nurse disappeared then reappeared with water. They brought the straw to her lips.
“Small sip to test your throat,” the doctor said, and she could tell her men were upset as they watched with concern. She felt the ache, but drinking seemed to make it better.
“Ice chips, then some sips. There’s bruising inside the esophagus besides outside,” he said and looked upset as his eyes landed on her throat. She raised her arm up and saw the bandages on her wrists, then remembered the pain from the restraints. The doctor explained her injuries, and she realized why her men were so upset. She acknowledged what the doctor explained about what he was doing to treat her injuries. She tried to talk but it really hurt, and her voice sounded deep and froggy like laryngitis, plus it hurt. He said he would be back to check up on her, and she looked at her men. Her one eye was so swollen. She reached up and went to touch it.
“Easy, baby. It’s pretty swollen,” Titus said and took her hand, kissed her knuckles and held her gaze. She nodded.
“Lucas?” she asked. It sounded distorted, but they understood.
“Recovering from the gunshot wound to his leg. He had severe damage and nearly died. When he’s done with recovery, they’ll transfer him to the penitentiary hospital near Dallas. He’ll be serving a long time in prison for what he did,” Titus explained.
The door opened, and she saw her brothers and Athena. They smiled wide and hurried to her. “Oh thank God you’re awake,” Athena said and smiled wide.
“Hey tough girl, you gave us all a pretty damn good scare,” Kane said.
“Okay,” she tried to say.
“Hey, easy on talking. Remember what the doctor said. Rest, little sips of ice chips and water. You have a long road ahead of you, and we will ensure you’re back to normal and perfect once again,” Corey said to her and gave her a wink.
They all talked to her about who came to see her, and about all the flowers and food being sent to the Mullen house. They told her that Adele and Cody were safe, that she pressed charges against Lucas, too. Also, that Maya was, as well, and should be by soon. She felt relieved that no one else got hurt, but then she closed her eyes and felt the caress to her hand and then a hand squeeze hers before she drifted back off to sleep.
Several weeks later, Charlie walked into the kitchen dressed and ready to go to the craft fair in town. Titus had been adamant about her not going, but she insisted that she needed to show all the town people that she was fine. He eyed her over as she entered the kitchen with Mavis right beside her. She lost a bit of weight, and her coloring was still a little off, but the bruises were barely there. She wore a pair of beige Capri pants, tennis sneakers in white and a long-sleeve green top that accentuated her large breasts and showed off her thin figure. Corey came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist, surprising her. She looked feminine and small, and that protective feeling consumed him and obviously his brothers, too.
“I don’t know about this,” Aleck said as he held the truck keys in his hand. She reached out and touched his arm.
“Aleck, I’ll be fine, and when I get tired, we can sit,” she said in that sexy, rough voice they were beginning to get used to. Especially when making love and she asked for more.
“Or we could stay home in bed and listen to you demand sex with that voice of yours?” Mavis teased and nipped her shoulder. They chuckled.
“Very funny,” she said as it cracked, and she swallowed.
They headed into Cherry Hill and were greeted by so many people, even ones Titus didn’t know and didn’t know that Charlie was friendly with. She did as she said and when she got tired, they sat on a bench, and this time she sat on Titus’s lap. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and leaned against his chest. “I love you so much. I told you it would be okay, Sheriff Mullen,” she whispered, her froggy voice making his dick hard as usual.
“I guess my brothers and I just wanted to keep you all to ourselves. You’re safest in these arms, Charlie. Letting you out of our sight ever again just doesn’t seem feasible.”
“You will. One day when I’m fully healed and ready to get back to normal. In fact, I’m thinking next week,” she said, and he held her tight as she started to get up.
“Back to work next week?” he asked, but before she could answer a young man and woman with a baby came over.
Charlie stood up as the young man hugged her. “Thank God you’re okay, Charlie. We were so worried.”
“I’m good. How are you feeling?” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, I’ll be back in the office next week. Send me a message on what day works for you, I mean it? And we’ll talk. How’s this beautiful baby girl?” she asked and bent down to say hello to the baby in the stroller. Titus watched her interact with the couple and then she introduced them to him and his brothers. Turned out the man was a soldier, had been injured six months ago and retired. Charlie was helping him with his PTSD. She said good-bye and reminded them to call before she smiled and watched them go.
Mavis wrapped his arm around her waist. “Next week, huh?”
“I need to, Mavis, guys,” she said and looked at them. She locked gazes with Titus.
“Love heals, Charlie, and everyone deserves to feel loved and to get help when they need it. Just remember, one of us will be popping in throughout the day at work, and we better get a text in between counseling sessions,” he warned.
“Yes sir, Sheriff Mullen,” she teased, and he cupped her cheek leaned down and kissed her lips. He was proud to be her man and happy to finally have Charlie in their lives, in their beds, and as their woman just like they had wanted for far too long.
THE END
WWW.DIXIELYNND
WYER.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Epilogue
Love Heals Page 13