by E. L. Todd
“You’re already doing it.”
He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “I’m glad you’re okay, sis.”
“Yeah, bro.”
He moved away and Cortland immediately grabbed me and hugged me. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Me too.”
“I practically had a heart attack when Mike called me.”
“There’s nothing to be upset about now.”
He pulled away but he looked at me closely. “I’m glad you beat the shit out of her.”
“Actually, Sean’s economics book from college beat the shit out of her.”
He smirked. “Maybe she learned something about money.”
“Doubtful.” I laughed.
He kissed my cheek. “Monnique and I are at your beck and call. If you need anything, just let us know. If you want Chinese food at three in the morning, just call me.”
Mike rubbed his chin. “Can I get in on that…?”
Cortland glared at him. “Get shot and we’ll talk about it.”
Mike shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”
I laughed, finally feeling like we were getting back to normal. Monnique hugged me and sobbed while she held me, more emotional than anyone else. Cassandra couldn’t stop crying. I put on a smile and pretended everything was fine to calm them down, but the girls struggled with it. I knew Cassandra was particularly sensitive because of what happened to her.
When Janice came to my side, she was calm. Actually, she was smiling. “I’m glad you taught that bitch a lesson.”
I smirked. “Yeah, I think I did.”
“But you should have killed her. No mercy, Scarlet.”
“You’re such a tough ass, Janice.”
“Well, no one hurts my girls and gets away with it. If I ever see her, believe me, that economics book will feel like a feather.”
I laughed. “I definitely wouldn’t want to cross you.”
“No, you wouldn’t. Just ask Ryan how it feels to be slapped.”
Ryan’s cheeks tinted. “My baby has a good arm.”
“You’ll have to show me your moves,” I said with a laugh.
“Sure. But I have a feeling you won’t need them.” She glanced at Sean then turned back to me. Her face grew serious. “You okay?”
“Yes. I am.”
“Okay.” She gave me a hug then pulled away.
My father-in-law came next, a smirk on his face.
This is what I needed, the calmest, most rational man in the world.
“I’m glad you’re okay, darling.” He kissed my forehead then gave me a fond look.
“I am too.”
“You’re a fighter. My daughter is stronger than both of my sons.”
“Wow…hey now,” Mike said. “She can’t bench two-hundred pounds.”
“How do you know?” Andrew asked. “Have you asked her?”
“Well…no,” Mike said. “But she couldn’t.”
“Maybe I can,” I teased.
Andrew held my hand. “If you need anything, you know where to find me and Diane.”
“I know, Dad.”
“And I promise, I will use all my resources to keep Sarah behind bars and away from you and your daughter.”
I liked that he referred to her by her name, not by my familial relationship to her. “I know you will.”
“If the Prestons are known for something besides their money, it’s their protectiveness of their women. My son will take good care of you.”
“Sons,” Mike added.
“My apologies,” Andrew said. He gave me another kiss then gave room for Diane.
She didn’t have much to say. She hugged me for a long time and held me, crying into my shoulder. It was nice not to say anything, just to be held by someone who loved me. She was the closest thing to a mother I ever had. We had our differences, but she eventually came around. And now I knew she loved me.
After everyone had their time with me, they crowded in the room and stared at me. I was a little self-conscious about it. I knew I looked like hell and I had to pee, but I was too rude to say anything.
But my husband could read me like a book. “Everyone, out.”
“What?” Mike asked.
“My wife needs to rest. You can come to visiting hours tomorrow.”
“What about you?” Mike asked.
“I sleep with my wife,” Sean said.
“They let you?” he asked incredulously.
‘They don’t have enough security guards to get rid of me,” Sean said darkly. “Now get out.”
They all waved to me and said their goodbyes before they walked out. Sean shut the door and it suddenly became silent. I could listen to the sound of my own breathing again. I couldn’t believe how tired I was. All I did was lay in a bed for days, but yet, I was too exhausted to move.
“You doing okay?” Sean asked as he sat at the edge of the bed.
“I’m just tired. And I have to pee.”
“Okay.” He opened the bathroom door then came back to me, putting one arm under my knees and the other under my shoulders.
“What are you doing?”
“Carrying you to the bathroom.”
“I can manage.”
He ignored me then lifted me. He carried me inside the bathroom, taking the IV pole along. Then he placed me on my feet then pulled my underwear down. After taking my hands, he guided me to the toilet.
“This is romantic,” I said sarcastically.
He smirked. “I’m taking care of you. It is romantic.”
I looked at him, waiting for him to leave.
He stayed put.
“Um…can you wait outside?”
“Oh. Sorry.” He stepped out and closed the door, leaving a crack.
Finally alone, I relieved myself and did my business.
“Are you done?” he asked.
“Yeah.” I wiped myself then rose to my feet, feeling weak.
Sean was back inside, holding me by the waist. Then he picked me up and carried me back to the bed.
“Now that you listened to me pee, is the romance over?”
“No,” he said with a laugh. “It’s just getting started.” He lifted up my gown then kissed my stomach. Then he held my hand and sat in the chair at my bedside.
“Sean, I’m tired.”
“Then go to sleep.”
I rolled my eyes. “Go home and shower then get some sleep. I’ll be out the whole time anyway.”
“Nope.”
“You stink.”
He smirked. “I don’t care.”
Mike knocked then came back inside. “I forgot my sunglasses.” He grabbed them from the chair in the corner.
“Do you have plans?” I blurted.
“Plans?” he asked. “No, not really. Just sitting around and worrying about you.”
“Can you stay with me so Sean can go home and shower?”
Sean glared at me. “I’m not leaving.”
I ignored him. “He stinks.”
“And he hasn’t slept,” Mike said with a grin. He patted Sean on the shoulder. “Do what your wife said. Basic hygiene is important.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Mike sat in the chair beside me. “I’ll be here the whole time. I won’t move.”
“See?” I said. “Now go. I’m just going to sleep the whole time.”
Sean looked torn.
“Please?” I gave him a soft look. “You’ll feel a lot better.”
“I don’t care how I feel,” Sean said.
I sighed. “Just go or I’ll smack you. That’s an order.”
“Bossy…” Mike wiggled his eyebrows. “I like it.”
Sean ran his fingers through his oily hair. The lines around his eyes and mouth told me he hadn’t slept in days. He must be extremely uncomfortable.
“Sean, go,” I said firmly.
“Fine.” He stood up. “I’ll only be gone for a few hours.”
“Take all the time you n
eed,” I said gently.
Sean looked at his brother. “You don’t move until I get back. No napping.”
“Got it,” Mike said with a nod. “I’m on guard duty.”
“Protecting me from what?” I asked incredulously.
“Everything.” Sean gave me a serious look.
If I thought he was protective before, I knew it was going to be a million times worse from this point forward. “Get some rest.”
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Okay.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He kissed my stomach before he finally left my room.
Mike smirked. “Now you can get some real peace and quiet without him hovering around like a gargoyle.”
I laughed. “He means well.”
“I know he does.”
The silence stretched for a while.
I leaned back and felt my eyelids grow heavy. “Thanks for staying.”
“No problem. Just let me know if you need anything, especially a sponge bath.” He winked at me.
“Cassandra would slap you hard.”
“It’d be worth it,” he teased.
I rolled my eyes then felt myself drift into sleep.
When I woke up, Mike was gone.
Sean was standing by the window, looking outside. His face was etched with lines of worry. He looked tired, but clean and refreshed. He wore jeans and a gray t-shirt, highlighting the lines of his body and his hard muscle. I was just attacked days ago, a gun pointed to my head, but my husband still turned me on. It was pretty impressive.
Sean noticed me staring at him. “Sleep well?”
“Hmm…” I stretched slightly, careful not to move my shoulder. “How long did I sleep?”
“Eighteen hours.”
“What?” How was that possible?
“It’s good. I’m glad you’re resting.”
“Did you get some sleep?”
“Yeah. And now I don’t stink.”
“That’s good for both of us,” I teased.
He came to the bed then grabbed a Styrofoam box. “I got you some food. It’s still warm.”
“I’m not hungry…”
He gave me a firm look. “I let you get away with it for a few days, but now you need to eat something solid. That IV isn’t going to sustain both of you forever.”
“You’re right. What did you get?”
He opened the box, showing me a hamburger, fries, and a cup of fruit.
“That does look good.”
He pulled the table to me and set the food down. Then he watched me from his seat by my bedside. After I took a few bites, I realized how hungry I was. My stomach growled and I ate everything.
“Did you eat?” I asked.
“Here and there,” he said vaguely. He was still stressed out.
I wiped my mouth then leaned back. “That was good.”
He took the garbage away then sat down. “I brought a few books to read to you and Skye.”
“You did?” I loved it when he read to me.
“Yep. What do you want to hear?” He opened the bag on the floor. “I have The Hobbit, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, and Frankenstein.”
“The Count of Monte Cristo,” I answered.
“Excellent choice.” He leaned back and started to read.
I closed my eyes and listened to him, feeling relaxed for the first time in a week. It was nice to do something normal, something Sean and I would do if we were at home.
When the nurse came in, Sean stopped reading.
“I’m here to give you a sponge bath.” He carried the buckets and towels inside. “Or I can get you into the shower. It’s your choice.” He was young, probably my age, and he was handsome.
Sean’s eyes looked like they might pop out of his head. “I can take care of my wife. Your services aren’t needed.” His voice dripped with complete disdain. He looked at the nurse like he wanted to chop his head off.
The nurse took it in stride. “I’m certified to bathe her and make sure she doesn’t fall. The last thing we need is for Mrs. Preston to receive more damage. It’s completely professional, sir.”
I knew Sean was about to explode. “Sean, it’s fine.”
Sean stood up. “I will bathe my wife. Now. Get. Out.”
God, I was mortified. “Calm down.”
Sean acted like he hadn’t heard me. He stared the nurse down, waiting for him to leave.
“Okay,” he said as he backed off. “But I’m not liable for any damages and neither is the hospital.”
“Fine.” Sean’s jaw was tight.
The nurse walked out and closed the door.
“He’s already seen me naked, Sean.”
He turned his heated gaze on me.
That was a stupid thing to say.
“Well, he’s not going to see you again.” He walked into the bathroom and got the shower running. When he took off his clothes then came back to me, I was even more confused.
“What are you doing?”
“It’ll be easier for me to make sure you don’t fall.”
I wasn’t going to bother arguing with him.
Naked, he came to me and pulled me to the edge of the bed. I was a little distracted at the sight of his perfectly toned and muscled body.
Man, I wish we were at home.
He smirked while he watched me. “Like what you see?” He untied the gown and it fell to the bed. His eyes went to my breasts.
“Do you like what you see?” I countered.
His eyes turned heated but he didn’t act on it. He grabbed a plastic bag and placed it over my arm, making sure water wouldn’t get inside. Then he helped me up and walked me to the shower.
Once I was under the water, I felt better. I hadn’t showered in almost a week and it felt nice to be clean again. Sean stood behind me, his arm hooked around my waist. I felt his hard-on against my backside, but he didn’t act on it. It was far too cramped in there anyway.
I only had one arm to cleanse myself, so Sean washed my hair and lathered my body in soap. He was gentle over the cuts and bruises. When he looked at me, the heat disappeared from his eyes. I saw the pain and sorrow, and more noticeable, the guilt.
“It wasn’t your fault,” I reminded him.
He clenched his jaw then rinsed my hair. Then he moisturized it and washed it away. The warm water felt so nice. I closed my eyes most of the time, enjoying the sound of the falling water.
When he turned off the water, I was sad it was over.
Sean dried me off then patted my hair dry. He was careful when he touched my stomach, never applying too much pressure. Once we were out, he placed a new gown on me then tied it in the back, and pulled on a new white thong from home.
It felt so nice to be in clean clothes.
“Feel better?” he asked.
“Very much so.”
He set me down in the chair while he dried himself and put his clothes back on. Then he carried me back to the bed and tucked me in. My hair was slightly damp so he dried it with a blow dryer then ran his fingers through it. He removed the plastic bag from my arm and I was comfortable once again.
“Now where were we?” He picked up the book and started to read.
After the first paragraph, I fell asleep.
16
Sean
After being at the hospital for over a week, they finally let me take my wife home. We had her medication and the directions for her physical therapy. Everything was ready to go. I knew I should be thankful nothing worse happened, but I still felt like shit that my wife had been through the ordeal at all.
The bullet had done through completely, so they didn’t need to remove it. The surgery left a scar on each side, but they said it wouldn’t be too noticeable. It didn’t matter to me. She was still beautiful in either case. But the doctor stressed how important it was that I got Scarlet to move her arm and be active. If she di
dn’t use the muscles and rebuild them, the use of her arm would never be the same. Even if she was in pain, I had to get her to be active. Knowing Scarlet, it wouldn’t be a problem.
When we finally came home, she breathed a sigh of relief. I knew she hated hospitals, so being at home was a joy to her. On the doorstep, there were flowers and balloons from everyone. I carried them inside then helped her to the bedroom. She was doing much better, but she still needed to rest as much as possible.
When she got into bed, I lay beside her and held her close to me. It was nice to be able to snuggle with her. The small bed at the hospital made it impossible. And I didn’t want to accidentally hurt her shoulder.
Once the covers were over her, she was in a much better mood. “I miss this bed.”
“I do too.” Sleeping in a metal chair killed my back. But I didn’t care. There was no way I was leaving my wife alone.
She cuddled into me, not moving her right arm, and then closed her eyes. “It’s nice to be home.”
“Yeah.” I ran my fingers through her hair and stared at her face. I was so glad she was okay and that our daughter would be fine. The last week had been a horrible blur. I’d never been in so much pain in my life. If I lost her, I would have taken my own life without blinking an eye. Almost losing her made me realize I loved her even more than I thought possible. Without her, I had no purpose. Life was meaningless to me. And I couldn’t live with what I did to her. If I had been by her side, that bitch wouldn’t have touched her. I probably would have been shot and killed after I gave her the money, but if my family was safe that was irrelevant.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No. Everything I need is right here.” She closed her eyes and rested her hand on my arm.
I wanted to fall asleep because I hadn’t slept much lately, but I was too afraid to. What if she needed something? I stayed awake and watched her sleep. At this point, that was all I could do.
A week later, I finally took her to physical therapy. She was up and about, her cast still on, but only a few hours a day. I stayed in the lobby while she had her session. When she came out with her trainer, she looked okay.
I stood up. “How’d it go?” I asked him.
“She did a great job,” he said. “Just use it as long as she can endure it and everything will be back to normal. I knew she was tired but she pushed through it.”