by Jodi Kae
“It’s good to see that you can follow some suggestions. There may be hope for you yet. If you tell anyone, I’ll deny any involvement.”
She clicks on her pen light, lifts up Tori’s right eyelid and immediately Tori’s eye rolls back in her socket as if escaping from the light. Kara smiles and then takes Tori’s index finger between her finger and thumb and squeezes lightly causing Tori to pull her hand away.
“I would have to say that you are right. She is finally starting to come around. Congratulations Mr. Wilson, your wife will be with you soon.”
I want to jump around and do my happy dance, but I have to wait for Kara to leave. “How do those tests prove she is coming around?”
“Patients in a coma do not respond to noxious stimuli. Tori shrinks away from anything uncomfortable so it won’t be long before she is back to her old self. You really ought to get a ring on that finger, though.”
She winks at me and walks out. Shit! I wonder if she is the only one who has figured it out. Damn! She’s right, though. I need to marry Tori as soon as I can or as soon as she’ll have me. I climb back into bed, pull her tight to my body, tuck my face in her neck and whisper myself in her ear. If she has been listening, she knows more about me than anyone who knows me, including my sister. “I love you, Tori. I need you to see me.”
∞∞∞
Day 4
Heat. There is so much heat. My right side is toasty warm and soft touches stroke up and down my arm. Little puffs of minty air caress my cheek and that annoying beeping sound is still a constant. I will my eyes to open but they just flutter a little, so I try harder. A tiny crack of light pierces my left eye, so I close it tight. The stroking on my right arm continues down to my wrist, and it tickles a little. My hand twitches and I struggle to make it move, causing my fingers to curl. Instantly a warm, calloused hand slides into mine, causing my fingers to relax and thread through his. Jax. I would know his touch, his minty breath, and whispers anywhere.
“Love......Are you with me?”
He squeezes my hand lightly, and I try to squeeze back, but I’m so weak it just feels like a flutter.
“Good. Tori, I need you, Love. Your family needs you. They will be here soon to see you. I’m sure Serenity and your dad will cry, and Derek will just stand there like a sentry guarding your sister. We all have a lot to tell you and a lot to celebrate; please come back to me.
“Light,” I whisper, hoping he can hear and understand. The bed shifts and my warmth disappears, but I hear a swooshing sound and clicks that I think are curtains closing and light switches being flicked off.
“Can you try to open your eyes?”
I will them to open and once again, only the left one flutters. Finally, I see through a tiny crack, and the first thing I see is the blurry face of my Viking God. I think I smile, but I’m not sure, and then I feel the soft press of lips on mine, melting my body into the mattress. I am home.
∞∞∞
“Is this a form of necrophilia?”
I hate Derek right now. Derek laughs and Serenity gasps. Could their timing be any shittier? Nick is looking at me with concern, I’m sure, wondering if I’ve finally gone off the deep end. “You always have the best timing,” I mutter quietly. Maybe only Derek will pick up on the sarcastic-ness of that comment. “She is coming to and has been, little by little, since last night after you left.”
“Oh my God, Tori. Can you hear me?”
Serenity rushes to the other side of the bed and places her hand on Tori’s arm. Nick soon follows, and Derek stands back by the door. I wonder if he is thinking of another time when Serenity was in this position, and he’s trying to block out that memory. Maybe he, like I, has a hard time with the fact that Sully survived, and we let our guard down, only to put our women in danger again.
I look down to see Tori try to smile. Her hand twitches so I raise it up, unwind our fingers, and she forms a half thumbs up.
“Oh, Tori, I’m so sorry. We thought he was dead. We should have made sure before we left him in that house. PleasepleasepleaseforgivemeI’msosorry.”
I don’t know how she expected Tori to understand that last part because I sure as hell didn’t. She should become an auctioneer. Derek moves to stand behind Serenity and offers silent comfort. He laughs a little and rubs her shoulders.
“Baby, calm down. This was in no way your fault; that blame falls to me. The guys and I were cocky and overconfident. Please relax, she can’t understand you anyway.”
Tori manages to lift her hand for another half thumbs up, and I chuckle. Was that for, she doesn’t understand Ren or she does? Serenity laughs out loud and leans over to hug her sister. Nicks leans in next and tears run down her face from the side of her left eye. Her right eye is less swollen today and tears pool in the corner by her nose. She lightly squeezes my hand, asking for silent comfort and I squeeze back letting her know I am not going anywhere.
“I’m so sorry, Sweetheart. I feel like I have failed both you and Ren, your mother would be so disappointed in me.”
That statement has me tearing up. Shit! Tori’s trying to shake her head no, but it only moves a fraction of an inch. Serenity wraps her arms around her dad pleading with him not to feel that way.
“Dad, you couldn’t have done anything to stop what happened to us. They had been watching us for a while and would have taken us eventually. You are the best father any girl could ask for, and I’m sure Mom is smiling down on us right now.”
Tori gives another thumbs up and we all chuckle. The nurse chooses that moment to interrupt, telling us that she needs to give Tori a sponge bath, and we can wait in the hall. “I’m not leaving.” I give her my best dominant stare.
“Of course, you aren’t, Mr. Wilson. We didn’t expect anything less from you.”
“You might want to watch this guy.” Derek whispers. “He may take over, preventing you from doing your job.”
He points in my direction while speaking to the nurse. I knew he was going to make some smart ass comment. I still hate Derek right now.
“Oh, we all know about Mr. Wilson. He is very determined to wake up his wife and take her home. He has done everything possible to speed up the process.”
Melissa, today’s nurse, glances my way and winks at me. I really like the staff here.
Chapter Twenty-four
Release:
*allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free. *surrender. *allow something or someone to move, act, or flow freely. *remit or discharge. *the action or process of releasing or being released
7:00 a.m.
Today I get to go home. For eight days, only four of those fully conscious, I have been stuck in a sterile room with only a view out the window of the tops of trees. There are also flowers and stuffed animals on a table, and letters from Costa Rica taped to the wall that occupies the room. The best view, of course, is the man lying beside me on this twin-size hospital bed. The bed is not big enough for two, but Jax was determined to make it work. He has laid on his side, pressed to my body for the last eight days. My own personal guard determined not to leave my side. I can honestly say that without tensing or feeling anxiety now. He has been my guard but not the same as the ones in The House. He has been my one constant for the last five weeks. He has been with me through the worst trial of my life and helped me to rise above it. He has whispered to me the best and worst parts of his life for the last five weeks, just begging me to see him. Finally, I have. I love this man and need this man and will want this man forever.
9:00 a.m.
I can now open both of my eyes, and my vision is clearer than it’s ever been. I now see Jax. The boy he was, the teenager he became and the man is. He steps out of the bathroom, slightly damp from his shower, and smiles at me. I smile back, a little crooked because it still hurts a little on the right side by my eye. The sight of him makes my heart beat faster, my breathing shallower, and my body flush with heat.
“Good morning, Love.”
“Good m
orning, My Love,” I whisper. He smiles the biggest smile I’ve seen yet, and his eyes sparkle with happiness.
“You know I’m going to make you my wife, right? I don’t want to live without you and the village people won’t let me keep living in sin.” He winks and slides into bed beside me. “They have demanded that I bring you home for a wedding ceremony or don’t come home at all. You know I really like the village.”
I laugh whisper because right now that’s all I can do. This man is forever maneuvering me where he wants me, but this is one maneuver I don’t mind. “Yes.” I try to say it in my strongest voice, but it still comes out as a crackly whisper, this time with frog-like sound.
“Yes, you know I like the village, or yes, you will marry me?”
He sensually runs his finger down my breastbone to my navel and paints circles there to tease me. He knows where I want him, but he has used this form of manipulation to get what he wants for the last four days. Who knows what he did to me the first four days I’ve been here as he tried to rouse me awake. The thought of him being so desperate for me is quite a turn on. “Both,” I whisper. His lips are on mine, and his tongue makes love to my mouth. I am extremely warm, and if it weren’t for the staff coming in unannounced, I would let him climb on and take me to heaven. He has a different plan in mind when he sinks his hands between my legs and his seeking fingers find their mark. This is the best drug I have ever experienced, and I am an addict.
∞∞∞
“I wanted to give you a proper.... release.... from the hospital,” I whisper in her ear. She just rolls her eyes at me with a satisfied smile on her face.
“Knock, knock, is it safe to come in now?”
“Seriously Derek, what is it with you and shitty timing?” I slide my hands from between her legs. Good thing we were covered.
“Sorry. How are we supposed to know what your horny schedule is?”
Looking down at Tori, I see her face is bright red, and I want to kick his ass for his crude comment. Sav must be wearing off on him. Where is Sav anyway? When we left Costa Rica, he flew commercial from Fort Walton Beach to Boston. I think he was going to file more reports and check in on the women from The House. Derek said yesterday that Sav was coming out to see Tori today. “Ya, ya, Sav wannabe. I thought he was coming in today?”
“He was, but I received an emergency phone call from a woman that we helped when we were in hiding, and I had to send him to check on her. I didn’t want to leave Serenity or you guys, so I asked him to look into it.”
11:30 am
The whole family sits around waiting for Tori’s discharge. We trade more stories and laugh until our ribs hurt. Tori even whisper laughs and then winces when her expressions pull on her stitches. Finally, Kara comes in and removes the stitches that are near her eye and the ones in her arm. She reads through care instructions and has us sign paperwork stating everything she already told us. They said her voice would come back little by little, leaving no permanent damage. As Kara leaves the room, I see tears in her eyes. She said she would miss us but is glad we are doing well enough to go home.
“You had better send me a wedding invitation.” She winks and walks out.
We are all going to stay at the cottage tonight and then Derek, Serenity and Nick are going back to Boston to organize The Safe House start up. Tori and Serenity plan to sit on the deck all night talking and sharing horror stories. I don’t think it’s a good idea, even though they said it would offer them closure. How do you ever get closure from your worst nightmare come true?
∞∞∞
Sitting on the back deck, Serenity and I share our tragic stories that, luckily for us, ended in a happy ending. I am so devastated about the abuse she suffered from the two guards and happy that they are dead. If Derek hadn’t found her when he did, she could be too. I owe him everything for saving my sister.
“So when are you two getting married?” I point to her left hand and her face pales. I thought I overheard them talking about getting married, maybe I misunderstood.
“Um.......Tori, we were married at the courthouse in Boston over two weeks ago. I’m so sorry. I wanted to wait for Jax to bring you back, but Derek was impatient and with the baby and all.........”
She reads the shock on my face for the second time in twenty seconds and goes into her rapid-fire speech.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry about that too.” She cries.
Derek steps out onto the porch with Jax. He places both hands on her shoulders and massages to ease her tension.
“Baby, it’s okay, calm down.”
Jax settles into the chair next to me and slides his hand into mine. Once Ren has calmed down, she explains what I have missed out on.
“We have been talking about it in your room for the last eight days, and I assumed Jax would have told you by now. Derek promised me a huge reception when you came home so you could be a part of it and celebrate with us. We will even renew our vows, so it’s like a real wedding. Please don’t hate me.”
I whisper talk because that’s all I can do. “Ren, it’s okay. I am happy for you and thrilled that I’m going to be an aunt. Please don’t be sad; it’s happy news.” Jax squeezes my hand and looks at me as if asking if he can disclose his own happy news. I nod my head.
“With the discussion of weddings, Tori’s agreed to marry me as well. We will have the ceremony in Costa Rica and would like everyone to be there. It might take a week or so for Tori to be able to travel, but we will let you know on the date.”
He looks so happy at that moment that I don’t know how I ever thought this man wasn’t genuinely good. He may have hidden the truth from me on many occasions but in his actions was the truth, I was just too confused to see it.
Ren has tears running down her face as she leans over and hugs me. We finish our tales with our men by our sides giving us strength and comfort. My dad joins us on the deck, and we watch the sun go down as a family.
Chapter Twenty-five
Pleasure:
*a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment. *sensual gratification. *give sexual enjoyment or satisfaction to. *an event or activity from which one derives enjoyment.
Everyone left today so they can get their affairs in order before traveling to Costa Rica in a week, leaving the cottage to just Tori and I. The cottage is really amazing. The location on the water with the beach and ocean in your backyard is paradise. It reminds me of Jana and Rick’s home only just a little smaller. I still have only gotten Tori in the water no deeper than her knees, but we have sat on the surfboard after everyone on the beach has gone home for the night. Then and only then does she forget where she is and let go of her fear. She still keeps her feet out of the water and wrapped tightly around my waist, fusing our bodies together from groin to lips. Seven more days and this amazing woman will be my wife.
The last three days have been pure heaven having Tori all to myself. There are still daily phone calls from family and friends checking in, but I’m enjoying this peace. We are flying back to Costa Rica in three days to get married with our village family and immediate family by our side. Ina and the women are planning the destination wedding on the beach and have already reserved a Priest. They have also committed to making all the food for the huge celebration afterward.
Tomorrow, I’m taking Tori dress shopping along with my sister and the rug rats. I don’t get to see the dress, but she will not be going anywhere without me for a long time, if ever. I still have flashbacks of seeing her in the back of that sedan bleeding out so she can expect me to be a little overprotective for a while.
Last week before Serenity, Derek and Nicholas left, Tori told us about Sully. He told her he escaped The House explosion by being propelled out of the back windows of the house suffering extensive injuries. I still blame myself for being cocky enough to leave him breathing and expecting the fire to steal his last breath. Apparently, he crawled to the water and passed out in a boat until he had strength to make his way to his home and bandage
himself up. It was then that he started plotting his revenge. His buyers were still after him to recover the women but the only ones he cared about recapturing were Serenity and Victoria. Their escape is what started the domino effect and toppled his organization. I don’t know that the threat to Tori will ever be over and I will never let my guard down again.
∞∞∞
Four weeks, five days, and I don’t know how many hours since my fairy tale began. My watch stopped working and it was probably a blessing to not have to dwell on time. Some people might wonder why I consider part of my time in The House to be part of my fairy tale, but in all reality, it began when Jax walked into my life. I didn’t know at first that this Viking God would be my savior. He had to work really hard to get me to believe him but his persistent whispers paid off.
In six days twelve hours and twenty-three minutes I will become Mrs. Victoria Wilson. With our family, new and old, by our side, we will vow to love each other for the rest of our days. I have agreed to live in Costa Rica for most of the year as long as Jax will fly me home whenever I want, within reason, or fly my family to me.
Jax is going to retire from the FBI soon and go to work for Derek and Ren on their new project, The Safe House. Jax and his Seal team will be working side by side to research and investigate more organizations like The House and rescue women and young girls. His promise to never leave me home alone is the only thing that keeps the nightmares at bay. If I had known what he was going to do when he left me in Costa Rica two weeks ago, I would have lost my mind. I had just realized that I was willing to wipe the slate clean and get to know this man for who everyone else said he was. I still think he left out a lot of detail about what went on in The House the night they blew it up.
“Love, what is the scowl for?”
I blink out of my trance to stare up at the most beautiful man in the world. I don’t think he even knows how beautiful he is and that just makes him more of the whole package. “I didn’t realize I was scowling but I was thinking about the time you left me in Costa Rica to find closure. I now know why you went and that still upsets me that you put yourself in danger, even if it was to avenge me. Also, I was thinking of all the different scenarios that played in my head about where you went and why.”