Dad’s head snapped to me. “You gave Marcello money?”
“No way is he dumb enough to do exactly what I told him not to do.”
“He doesn’t care about the money,” Ray whined, blood still dripping from his nose. “He wants you.”
I ran a hand through my hair. Could all of this be my fault? I ignored Ray and turned to Dad. “I gave him half of what Ray owes. Told him to leave Tess the fuck alone. He was only after her because this fucker owed him a half.” I gestured down at a sniveling Ray.
“Obviously the motherfucker didn’t back off,” Dad roared. “He thinks he can hurt one of the Hawes family and we’re going to roll over and give into him?”
I was having a hard enough time thinking through everything without Dad’s tirade. I held up my hand asking for silence. One problem at time.
I walked around behind, looking down at where he was strapped to the chair. Gesturing to his ankle, Charlie grabbed and held on while I kicked his knee out of its socket. His screams filled the room.
Nathan Marcello had hurt Tess
I would deal with him. But right then, Ray Wasden was my target. He was the one who’d borrowed the money from Marcello in the first place, putting the focus on me, and in turn, Tess.
Casually, I walked around the front and watched him; his face scrunched in pain, tear tracks down his dirty cheeks. Good. The bastard needed the lesson. I nodded toward his arm and waited for Brock to cut the zip tie. Once his hand was loose, I grabbed his hand and stood in front of him. I took hold of his pinky finger and separated it from the others.
“Does Tess belong to you?”
Snap. I bent his pinky back until his nail touched the back of his hand.
“No,” he cried.
“Will you leave her alone?”
Snap.
“Yes, please just stop.”
“The problem with that is I’ve given you the benefit of the doubt once before and you chose to ignore me. Hopefully, the next time you choose to go against my will, you’ll remember what happened here.”
I drove home the message, not stopping until all of the fingers on one hand were either broken or dislocated.
“I’m done.” I walked back over to the chair and picked up the bottle of scotch..
Dad snapped his fingers at Charlie. “You know the drill. Do whatever you want to him then leave him for cleanup.”
“You got it, Malcolm.” Charlie hauled Wasden’s limp body off the ground.
“Dean, I want to know what Marcello wants,” I said
“Fuck that.” Dad turned to Brock. “I want Nathan Marcello dead. I’m done with the sick motherfucker trying to destroy everything our family built. I want him out of the picture.”
“I’ll take care of it.” Brock nodded at both of us and left.
“I hope Tess is all right,” Dean said, following Brock out the door.
They both had jobs to do. Brock would need to follow Marcello, learn his habits to find the best way to deal with him. Better to take your time than to risk getting caught. And Dean I knew Dean would set up whatever security was necessary to make sure Tess was safe. He knew me well enough to know that would be my biggest worry.
“Me, too,” I said to the almost empty room.
A hand curled around my shoulder. “Go back to the hospital. You’ve gotten your revenge, or part of it. You’ll feel better if you’re there when she wakes up.
I drew him into a hug. “Thanks, Dad.”
I walked out the door, the only place I wanted to be was by Tess’s side. My eyes were the first thing I wanted her to see when she woke up.
The city past by me in a blur, my only goal, getting to the woman I love.
When I arrived at the hospital, I was directed to a private room, exactly like I’d requested. Elena sat by the bed, holding Tess’s hand, the same as when I left. It settled me to see someone with her, someone who cared about her. Ashton stood by the windows looking out over the city.
Elena gave me a teary smile when I walked in. “She’s still sleeping.” She stood giving me the chair.
Something in me settled the moment my hand slid over Tess’s. I hoped somewhere deep down she knew I was there with her.
“Thanks, Elena.” I took the seat at the same time Ashton walked over, the question clear in his eyes. I handed over the keys.
“It’s partially handled.” Elena knew what our family did and there was no doubt she understood that whoever hurt Tess had paid dearly.
“Do you need anything?”
I shook my head. The only thing I wanted at the moment he couldn’t give me. I’d worry about all of the other shit when I knew Tess was okay.
He laid a hand on my shoulder. “Call if you need me for any reason. We’ll stop by Mom and Dad’s on the way home.”
“Thank you.”
And I was thankful that he understood. That I wouldn’t have to explain everything we’d learned from Ray. No doubt Dad was already arranging security for Mom, Elena, and Tess. All I wanted was to stay and take care of the woman who held my heart.
CHAPTER 28
Theresa
The pain was incessant. Intense. Unrelenting. It radiated from my toes to the ends of my hair and I would have given anything to make it stop. The sounds around me weren’t familiar, but fear kept my eyes shut tight. The last thing I remembered was walking into my kitchen to get another beed and something connecting with the back of my head.
“Hello Tess.”
If whoever had done it was still there, I didn’t want to give them any reason to hit me again.
The pain was becoming too much and I couldn’t stop the movement of my body as I braced against the onslaught of pain.
“Tess?” The voice was one I recognized. But it was soft, sweet. I had never heard that tone in his voice before.
Fingers slid across my face in a gentle caress. “Tess, if you can hear me, please open your eyes.”
The command in his request had me feeling safe for the first time since I’d gone home.
Miller.
Slowly, I complied. The room was bright, lit by garish strip lights, and I had to wait for my eyes to adjust before I could see the haggard look that graced Miller’s face. Large dark circles sat under his eyes, his brow furrowed. The five o’clock shadow he sported told me it had been at least a few days since he had last shaved. But that didn’t make sense because I’d only seen him earlier.
Hadn’t I?
“Where—” My voice was rough, almost hoarse, and I couldn’t finish my sentence. Miller knew what I was asking, though, and his eyes were trained on my face as he spoke, waiting for some kind of reaction.
“St. Luke’s. You’ve been out for three days.”
Three days?
“I rem—”
He covered my lips with his finger. “Don’t speak. I want the doctor to check you out first. Then we’ll figure out what the fuck happened.”
Before another word could leave my mouth, he walked over to the door and demanded the nurse get the doctor. She scowled at him when he wouldn’t move from the doorway. Finally, she pushed past him to enter the room.
“Miss Carner, how are you feeling?” the nurse asked, throwing a glare over her shoulder.
I had a feeling Miller had caused more than a little trouble for the staff. I’d give him shit for his behavior, but the shooting pains that were racing through my body were taking most of my focus.
Glancing down I saw a white cast, covering my arm all the way up to my elbow. My legs were covered by the sheet so I couldn’t see what was causing the heavy, dead feeling in them. Given the state of my arm, I was slightly grateful. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to take everything in all at once. I was already starting to feel lightheaded. I tilted my head to one side to look under the sheet but the movement was too much. I could feel something tight wrapped around my chest, though.
“Like someone threw me down a flight of stairs.” My voice was still weak, but at least I could get the words out.
“This is no time to joke,” Miller snapped, walking over to the other side of the bed and taking my good hand in his.
“Mr. Hawes, tone it down. You’re not helping the situation.”
A man with graying hair walked through the door. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Miller’s shoulders relax, if only slightly. While stereotypical, the white lab coat was a pretty good indication that this was the doctor in charge of my care.
“Miss Carner, glad to have you back with us. Can you tell me where you are having pain?”
“Everywhere,” I said, unsure where to start.
“Can you be more specific?”
I paused for a second. “Answer, the goddamn question, Tess,” Miller snapped.
There were lines of strain around his eyes. I knew he was upset, that didn’t give him a right to be an asshole to anyone, especially me.
I gave him a filthy look, wanting more than anything to let him have it, but the pain was getting worse every second. Each breath felt like a sledgehammer to my chest, so I decided to go with that. “The left side of my chest and right wrist. But I was being serious—everything hurts. They’re just the worst at the moment.”
“I’ll have them give you something to dull the pain. Now bear with me while I give you a brief update. You arrived three days ago with multiple contusions on your face and body—to be specific, two fractured ribs, a fractured wrist, a concussion, and contusions to the face and chest. I’ll have the nurse bring you some oral pain medication. It should dull the pain, but it also may make you drowsy.”
“That’s okay with me.” My voice was starting to slur but I couldn’t tell whether it was because of the pain or the fact that the doctor now had two faces. I needed sleep. At least when I was asleep I couldn’t feel the stabbing pain from every angle.
He nodded. “I want to do a quick examination first, then we’ll get you the pain medication and let the police know you’re awake.” The doctor turned to Miller. “Sir, if you could leave the room—”
Miller crossed his arms over his chest, feet apart. He eyed the doctor and it was clear to everyone that he wasn’t going anywhere.
“He can stay.”
The doctor eyed me warily, looking back and forth between Miller and myself. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, it’s fine.” I just wanted the examination over and if Miller staying in the room achieved that, then so be it.
The doctor nodded once and then moved the sheet down, lifting the gown just high enough to reveal the bandages wrapped tightly around my sternum. I guessed they were there to stop my ribs from moving too much. Not that they were doing shit to keep the pain at bay, but I had a feeling that it would be ten times as worse without it.
Then he touched them.
My body contorted, trying to get away from his prying fingers. The pain of breathing was nothing compared to that of him putting pressure on them.
“Sorry. I know that hurts, but I needed to make sure they hadn’t moved.” He pulled down the gown. “I’d like to keep you for one more night to be sure there’s no other damage, especially now that you’re awake and can tell us where you have pain.”
“I can go home tomorrow?” I asked, more than ready to snuggle into the covers of my own bed.
“Yes, but I’d be more comfortable letting you leave if I knew someone was staying with you.”
“I live—”
“Tess is living with me. She won’t be left alone.”
I what? What in the hell was he talking about?
I snapped my eyes up to his, afraid to move any other body part that fast for fear of the pain. Miller didn’t bother to meet my gaze. If he thought for one moment I was letting that comment go, he was out of his mind. I’d already told him I wasn’t moving in.
I needed more. Moving in only for my safety wasn’t enough. I’d lived with Ray to split the bills. If I was going to live with someone again, it would be because they loved me and couldn’t imagine a moment without me.
“Perfect,” the doctor said. “The police have been waiting to speak with you.” He looked over at Miller and back at me. “I’ll contact them and let them know you’re awake.”
“Thank you,” Miller and I said at the same time, mine forced through clenched teeth as I did my best to keep my temper in check. The one benefit of Miller’s ludicrous statement was that it had swept away the fog that had been taking over my brain and I was now much more awake.
The doctor left and I turned.
“Why did you just lie to the doctor?”
His head tilted. “I didn’t.”
“What do you mean, I didn’t? We’ve already had this conversation.” I didn’t want to have this conversation with him again, especially with me being in such a weak position. I attempted to sit up and winced, grabbing hold of my side. “I don’t live with you, Miller.”
“Goddamn it, Tess. Would you lie the fuck down and stay there before you make yourself worse.” His hands took hold of my shoulders, gently moving me back down onto the pillows.
“Fine, but you need to tell me what you’re talking about.”
The pain continued to increase but I used it to help fuel the anger burning through my body.
His words came out fast and all strung together. “I had a moving company bring all of your stuff to my house two days ago.”
“You did what?” I lurched up and regretted it immediately as a scream left my lips and spots danced in front of my eyes.
“Shit.” Miller lunged, catching me as I flopped against the pillow again.
The nurse came back through the door with a little white paper cup in her hand.
The pain meds.
She handed them to me, along with a small cup of water. Without a thought, I tipped the cup back and washed the pills down. I’d had enough of the pain. I didn’t care if these things knocked me out for a week if it meant I’d wake up and be able to sneeze without feeling like my ribs were being torn from my body.
She flitted around the room, checking on the IV in my arm, and the chart at the end of the bed. Once she was satisfied she slipped out of the door, leaving Miller and I alone once again.
Relief slowly spread through my system and each breath came a little easier. With the pain subsiding, I could finish my argument with Miller.
“You have twenty-four hours. One whole day to move all my stuff out of your place. Just have your ‘people’ box it up. I’ll scan the free ads today and see if there are any apartments available.” There was no way I’d head back to the last one. Not now that Ray knew where I lived.
“No, I won’t.” He braced: feet apart, arms crossed over his chest. This was what I had come to know as Miller’s “I ain’t kidding” stance and the very fact that he was doing it now when I had specifically told him what I wanted was infuriating to say the least. However, knowing Miller as I did, I knew it would be futile to argue. So I softened my voice, going with a different tactic.
“Ray won’t find—”
“It wasn’t Ray.”
My hands began to shake. I’d been so sure it was Ray. The calls, the texts all of the signs pointed to him. Was it a crazy customer from the bar? Or someone from Miller’s past? I swallowed hard. “Who?”
“Marcello.”
My blood ran cold. From what had Miller told me previously, Nathan Marcello was known for the way he punished loved ones. “But I thought you talked to him? Told them I wasn’t Ray’s anymore.”
“I did.” His eyes hit the floor. “I told that motherfucker to leave you alone. Apparently, he’s using this as a way to get to my family—to the people I care about.” His eyes lifted, his hand cupping my cheek. “I’m so sorry, Tess. He came after you because of me.”
As the pain disappeared my mind began to cloud. It became hard to think, to focus. I knew what Miller was saying, but I couldn’t really process any of it. My eyelids felt heavy.
“I don’t know what to do,” I whispered, the words tumbling from my lips.
He shook his head and helped me get comfortable on the pillow. “We do nothing. Dad is handling it now. You worry about getting better so I can take you home and fuck you in every room of our home.”
The words sounded wonderful together: our home.
As I started to started to slip into unconsciousness, I whispered. “I’m still pissed you paid off my loans.”
He bent and kissed me on the forehead. “I know, but I don’t care. This way, you won’t have to work as many hours—if any. You’ll have more time to finish school work and the rest you can spend with me. If you still want to be pissed that’s fine. But I won’t have you arguing about this Tess. You’re mine, and I take care of what’s mine.”
My lids slid closed and I confessed my fear. Too tired to hide the truth. “I don’t want to live you because it’s safer. I want . . . more.”
Warm lips pressed to mine.
“Oh, Tess, I’m worried about your safety and that’s why I had your stuff moved while you were out, but its not why I want you to live with me. I want you to be with me always. I love you and can’t imagine a day where I don’t want to come home to you and your smile. I want to wake up next to you for the rest of my life.”
And with that, the world faded to black.
***
The next day, I sat there waiting for Miller to return. He’d agreed to get me something different to eat when he deemed the food brought me inedible. After he’d left, I’d actually looked in the mirror for the first time and was horrified at the sight that greeted me. It was a good thing I’d waited for Miller to leave, I had a feeling my reaction wouldn’t help the guilt I could see behind his eyes every time he looked at me.
There were purplish marks surrounded by yellowing around my eyes. More healing bruises on my nose and jaw. Not wanting to see any more, I shut out the light and went back to the bed.
A soft knock sounded on the door. Miller said that Elena planned to stop by that morning. Apparently, she had been there on and off while I was out of it. I was excited to see her. She’d made me feel welcome in Miller’s family and since I planned on moving in with him, I needed to have a better relationship with his family. Elena was a good start.
House Rules Page 23