by C. M. Owens
That same soft feeling tickles my arm again, and I jerk my eyes over to see the source. My heart melts, my eyes fill up with tears, and I smile down at the man who is clutching my hand, sleeping awkwardly with his head pressed just beside my arm and his body hunched over in a chair.
I lift my other hand, frowning when I see the IV line. Completely unnecessary.
Carefully, I shift so I can run my fingers through his hair, feeling the silky strands as I study the parts of his face that I can see. His trademark designer stubble is on his jawline; it makes him all the sexier.
His eyes are closed, but his dark eyebrows are puckered downward like he’s not resting peacefully. His lips are slightly parted, and I fight to keep from running my fingers across them. His dark lashes frame his eyes, making him look even more perfect as the light from the small bathroom casts a glow in the room around us. He almost looks like a dark angel in this moment.
He’s wearing a black T-shirt and dark jeans—not the blazer and tan slacks he had on when eating lunch with Erica. Has he been here all night?
“He wouldn’t leave your side.” At the sound of Tria’s soft, almost whispered voice, I look up, seeing her peek her head through the door.
She’s dressed in a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie. I glance down, seeing the horrible hospital gown I’m in, then back up to meet her eyes.
“Are you okay?” I whisper, still running my fingers through Wren’s silky hair as he sleeps.
“Yeah. I’m fine. Really sore, but it looks like nothing was broken or cracked, according to the x-rays. My torso is bruised pretty badly, but nothing internal seems to be going on.”
Her face is bruised as well where Pete struck her cheek, and it’s swollen enough to look painful. Her lip is cut and bruised from the wreck, but we’re both fortunate to have not sustained more injuries than that.
She limps in the rest of the way, and I assume Pete probably kicked her in the leg as well as the stomach when she brought her knees up to protect her middle.
“I woke up about an hour after I passed out,” she says, smiling weakly. “The cops have taken my statement. Pete is now in an infirmary at the prison since his wounds weren’t threatening enough to keep him in the hospital they took him to after he left here.”
She points to a bag that is resting in a chair by the door. “Ash felt helpless since she couldn’t bring Trip into the hospital and risk him catching something. He has a weak immune system. She knew Melanie already had Angel, and Melanie was stressed out enough without the addition of a toddler. So she went and got clothes for everyone, including Wren and Bella. She dropped them off at the hospital entrance. Brin met her outside and brought everything up here. Brin spent the night, alternating from your room to mine.”
I smile down at Wren, wishing I could thank him. He inadvertently gave me a family.
“It was stupid for you to attack Pete,” Tria says, prompting my eyes to come up as tears waver on her eyelids. “But thank you. If you hadn’t gotten me away from him…”
Her voice trails off like she can’t continue, and I nod in understanding. There was no way in hell I was just going to run inside while she was beaten to death.
Wren squeezes my hand and stirs, but he doesn’t wake. The action draws my eyes down to his hand again, but with more light filtering through from the rising sun, I notice dark, purplish bruises on his knuckles.
“Did he get in a fight?” I ask, worried as I look up.
She smirks. “Apparently he hit Billy the day the paper went out because he thought it was him who was the ‘family source.’ But he found out it was his cousin. Billy brought Keith here last night, and Wren broke his nose with one punch. Or so I’m told. I didn’t get to witness it. Kode was mad because he wanted something or someone to hit. I feel bad for Jax—his trainer—when Kode goes to see him. I’m afraid he’s going to be subjected to the pent up frustration.”
I frown as I look back down at Wren’s hand, wishing like hell I hadn’t run off after seeing him with Erica.
“This is my fault,” I say, blowing out a breath.
Tria snorts. “Are you kidding? If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. Pete came after me, not you. If I had been alone and if your house hadn’t been proofed by Ray Capperton… I can’t even think about it.”
“It’s not your fault either,” I point out quickly, and she forces a smile.
Silence falls between us, and I resume staring down at Wren as I run lazy fingers through his dark strands.
“Does he know I saw the video?” I ask her, but my eyes stay down.
“No. I didn’t even think to mention it with all the chaos.”
His eyelids flutter like he’s dreaming, and he frowns in his sleep. He really isn’t sleeping peacefully.
“What are you doing out of bed?” Kode’s deep rumble of a sleepy voice draws my eyes toward the door as he walks in.
Tria turns around, smiling up at him. He leans down and gently presses a kiss to the side of her mouth that isn’t hurt. Then he scoops her up, cradling her to his chest.
“Don’t sneak out on me right now,” he says, nuzzling his face against hers very carefully, while holding her without strain. “I would have freaked out if Rye hadn’t been outside the room and told me where you went.”
She kisses him chastely before gesturing toward me. “I needed to check on Allie.”
He meets me with intense eyes, acting like he wants to say something, but he seems to decide against it since he looks like he’s on the edge of breaking.
“You good?” he asks instead.
“Yeah. Fine. I can’t believe Bella and Wren stayed. I was only out because of the meds, and she would have known that.”
Kode snorts out a laugh. “She said she didn’t trust some of the bitches in here anymore, so the security guard posted outside your door was only allowed to let certain ones in. She was awake until about an hour ago. Wren hasn’t even been out that long, according to Rye.”
I smile over at my best friend. Her head is drooping to her chest. She’s going to be as sore as I am.
“I need to get you back to your room so they can get us out of here.”
Tria nods, but she looks back at me. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need anything?”
My daughter—I need to hold her and feel her safe in my arms.
“I’m fine,” I say, knowing I don’t want Angel to see me in the hospital, and they’d probably bring her if I said what I needed aloud. “When will—”
Wren jerks awake, blinking as he looks around, seeing Kode holding Tria, then his eyes dart to mine. A heavy breath falls between his lips as though he’s expelling a year’s worth of stress, and he releases my hand to caress my cheek.
Kode and Tria slip out, and Wren leans up to brush his lips over the uninjured side of my forehead, pressing a sweet kiss there. I have to look as bad as I feel, and I want to get out of this stupid gown. I’ve never liked these damn things.
“You okay?” he asks, and I nod, trying not to cry. Why am I suddenly emotional?
He frowns as he stares down at me, running his eyes down the length of my body. He studies the sheet that starts at my waist, and he pulls my hand up to his lips to kiss my knuckles.
“I’ll go get the doctor, then I’ll take you to see Angel.”
It’s as if he knows exactly what I need, and it just cements the truth of what I feel for him. I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting to cry and worry him, and not wanting to blurt out I love him the first time in the middle of a hospital bed, looking my worst, and wearing this damn gown. It’s supposed to be the right moment, even though I’ve wasted a lot of those “right moments” by worrying about the future.
Wren walks over to Bella, and he gently shakes her shoulder. She practically jumps out of the chair, and I bite back a laugh when she goes wide-eyed and wild.
“Easy,” Wren says in his sexy sleep rasp, chuckling at her. “It’s just me. Allie’s awake, and I’m going to find a doctor.”
“Don’t ask how I’m feeling,” I tell her, smiling, and she grins down at me knowingly. Wren walks out, looking uncertain as he leaves.
“I take it you’ve already been asked how you feel hundreds of times?” she asks.
“Not that many, but I’m sure it will be soon enough. Angel okay?”
She nods. “She just thinks she was having a sleepover at her grandmother’s for a couple of days. Your cell phone was cracked in the wreck, so Wren is having someone replace it. But Angel called worried because you weren’t answering, so I told her you broke your phone and that you’d call when you got a new one. It worked.”
I lean back, staring at the sterile white ceiling with drop tiles.
“And I got my job back,” she says with a grin.
“What?”
She nods. “Corbin Freaking Sterling told them I was to be reinstated immediately, and they could go fuck themselves if they had a problem with it. No one objected, obviously. His dad is pissed about what happened, because he’s close with the Prize family. In case you haven’t noticed, you’re definitely in the family.”
Her eyes widen, and she starts talking faster. “Speaking of which, I forgot to tell you the most important part. What you saw at the restaurant wasn’t—”
“Well, Ms. Thrash, nice to see you awake,” Dr. Luther says as he comes in. Thank God it’s not Zimmerman again.
He pushes his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, and he glances down at Bella’s cleavage—twice—before finally looking over my chart. Wren stands behind him, cocking an eyebrow when the man checks out Bella’s cleavage one more time.
“Well, I’ll run a few quick checks, and try to get you out of here.”
He starts running over the typical questions that I answer robotically, anticipating each one as it comes. Finally, he finishes up, and Wren walks out of the room with him, probably giving me privacy.
“Let’s get you changed and back home.”
I nod, as I stand, wincing at how tender my hand is now that the IV has been removed. After I dress hurriedly, Wren returns, and ignores the woman who has brought in a wheelchair as he scoops me into his arms and carries me bridal style through the door.
“Mr. Prize! You can’t… Ah, hell. Never mind,” the nurse I don’t know says.
Wren smirks while carrying me onto the waiting elevator, but he doesn’t say anything. I don’t know what to say. He’s not acting like himself. I don’t know if he’s stressed out, pissed, or what.
“Will you go pick up Angel and bring her to my house?” Wren asks Bella.
“Yeah,” Bella says, curious. “Why?”
“Because that’s where you’ll all be staying until your house is fixed back up.”
Her eyes bug out, and she starts to speak, but the doors of the elevator open. Wren carries me toward the exit. Bella looks questioningly at me. I just shrug as I lean against him. He tenses—which confuses me—so I lift my head back up to see his jaw straining.
“Are you okay?” I ask him softly.
He nods, but he still doesn’t speak before he puts me in the front seat of his car that is definitely parked illegally. He jogs to his side, and his phone starts ringing as soon as he sits down.
With a harsh sigh and an apologetic glance toward me, he answers and starts talking fervently with the police, I assume.
***
ALLIE
Wren is walking around and talking on his phone, just as he’s been doing since we left the hospital. I assume he’s slacked off on work since he’s been dealing with our drama.
A pang of guilt strikes, but it’s eased by Angel’s touch as she stays curled up at my side. She’s doing her make-up work for school after missing a couple of days, letting the hell die down.
Melanie brought her over instead of Bella, and Bella is at our house with Corbin and Maverick Sterling—Oh boy. They’ve been packing up the things we’ll need for a few days, but it’s taking a surprisingly long amount of time. Which has me worried… I mean, I’ve met Maverick and Corbin, after all.
As if she knows I’m worried, she sends me a text on cue—to my brand new phone that I’m still learning to use. I need to find out how much he spent on this so I can pay him back—whenever he talks to me.
BELLA: Corbin and Maverick are brushing your things. I’m staying at Trial’s house until the repairs are finished on ours. xoxo
My eyebrows lift, and I grin. Bella is the world’s worst at texting.
ME: Who is Trial? And why are they brushing my things?
BELLA: Damn autocorrect. TRIA’S house. And they’re BRINGING your things.
ME: You didn’t… with one of them did you?
BELLA: Seriously? It’s Corbin Freaking Sterling. No I did not touch him, besides, he didn’t seem in crested. And Maverick might be hot, but I’m over the bad boys who love one-night stands. So… no.
I laugh when I read her text, but before I can send another, she beats me to it.
BELLA: INTERESTED not IN CRESTED!! I hate autocorrect.
Wren doesn’t seem too interested in me right now, considering he’s avoided me like the plague since we got here. He carried me in, but put me down and put distance between us. It has me worried.
ME: I may just come there with you.
BELLA: NO! Wren wants you there, and I think you should stay. Bow chica wow wow. (No idea if that is spelled right, but it’s code for get your freak on.)
“Yeah,” Wren says over the phone, his voice drawing closer as Angel finishes her math work, “that sounds great. Just send me the bill… Thanks.”
I put my new phone in my lap as he makes his way toward us. He hangs up, putting his phone away for the first time since we’ve been here—for over an hour—and drops down beside Angel who quickly goes to his lap.
“I’m done with all my homework,” she says proudly, and he smiles down at her before kissing her head.
“Good. Want to go check out all the changes to your room? It’s been a while since you’ve been here, and Grandma has made some drastic improvements.”
Her eyes widen, and she jumps off his lap, racing down the long hallway. Wren tenses the second we’re alone. I’ve brushed my teeth, taken a shower, put on some stretchy pants and a sweatshirt, but I don’t feel comfortable at all because of how tense he seems.
“If you’re uncomfortable with me being here, I can go to Tria’s. It’s just for a few days, anyway.”
He frowns while looking over at me, finally making eye contact.
“We need to talk,” he says, confusing me.
“Yeah… I guess so. I mean, a lot has happened.” I’m rambling. Great.
He starts to speak, but suddenly the door swings open, and Corbin and Maverick come traipsing through the house, both of them carrying tons of bags. Why so much stuff?
“Got it all, I think,” Maverick says through a labored breath. “Bella packed it, so I have no idea what is where. We were just the muscle. Any furniture needed over here?”
Wren shakes his head. “I’ll let you know,” he says, avoiding my gaze.
“Your room?” Corbin asks.
“Yeah. Did you leave Angel’s clothes there?” Wren asks them.
“Yeah. Bella said she’d need some because she’s still getting Angel as much as possible,” Maverick answers, and my stomach tightens. What the…
“Wren?” I prompt, watching his shoulders stiffen at the sound of his name.
“I guess you haven’t told her yet, judging by the look on her face,” Corbin says with a taunting grin that is directed at Wren.
“I’ve been… busy. It’s been hectic getting everything sorted out, and my lawyers served the slander suit on the paper this morning. I’ll fill you in later.”
Maverick and Corbin disappear with my bags, and Wren turns to face me.
“Wren?” I prompt again. “Why did they bring that many bags? And what did any of
that mean?”
He looks… worried. Ah, hell. What now?
“Good luck!” Maverick calls out, chuckling with Corbin as they escape through the door once again.
Wren doesn’t acknowledge them as he stands up.
“I’m moving you in with me. Permanently. Angel, too. But she has more clothes than she can wear, so her other stuff is staying there—per Bella’s request.”
He turns and walks away as though this conversation is finished, while I’m left reeling and feeling dizzy.
“Wren, I can’t move in with you,” I hiss while standing up, but he’s suddenly spinning and lifting me, keeping me off my feet like I’m broken instead of bruised.
He cradles me to him, and I wrap my arms around his neck to help support my weight. His lips tilt on one side in a cocky sort of grin.
“It’s too late. You’re already moved in. I’ll tie you to the bed if that’s what I have to do to keep you here.” His grin broadens. “In fact, that sounds like a damn good idea.”
I fight hard not to smile, but it’s impossible not to give in when he’s grinning like that.
“You know what I mean.”
His smile falls. “Did you see the video?”
I nod, unable to speak as the video replays in my mind. Wren told the world he loves me, but he hasn’t told me. Maybe… Maybe that was to shut everyone up and make them feel guilty for what they said.
“Then you know everything. You know that lunch with Erica was a ruse. You know why I didn’t answer your call. And you know… how I feel. Now I’m kidnapping you until you feel the same way. It’s that simple.”
I laugh even though he’s trying to look serious. But he doesn’t crack a smile. Oh shit. He is serious.
“You can’t seriously expect me to live here. We just started dating.”
“We’ve spent weeks dating, and even longer wanting to date. I can’t sleep without you anymore. If you’re at home, I’m right beside you. This will just make it easier on me.”
His grin spreads again. “Besides,” he goes on, “Angel knows we’re together, and she really loves it.”