by Maya Hughes
She had to stop him from killing Jon, not wanting Liam to get in trouble or have it on his conscience.
“Liam, don’t kill him!” Her voice came out more a raspy croak than a scream. “Liam!” He was in another world, as he grabbed Jon by the collar and slammed his head into the floor. “Liam, don’t kill him!”
The room was turning sideways, half tilting and half spinning as her head lolled to the side. “Liam!” she called out before everything went black.
She called out to him, but he couldn’t stop turning Jon’s face into ground meat. He’d put his hands on Rox, had beaten her, bloodied her, choked her, hurt her! The rage burning inside of him wasn’t anything he’d ever experienced. Rox called his name again, but even then, he couldn’t stop himself from wailing on Jon until he stopped responding.
Only when he glanced up and saw that Rox was passed out could he pull himself from Jon’s listless body on the floor. He clambered onto the bed and felt for her heartbeat. Relief washed through him as a faint one pulsed under his finger. Gripping the ties on the bed and mindful of her injuries, he ripped the ties away from the metal and laid Rox down flat.
As sirens blared in the distance, he picked her up, cradling her in his arms. He carried her to the door where he was greeted with flashing red and blue lights. An ambulance pulled up behind the five or six police cars. The cops jumped out with their weapons drawn. Holding her close, but showing them his hands, he paused in the doorway.
“I’m Liam Lavery, I’m the guy that called you. Jon, the man who kidnapped her, is in there.” He nodded to inside the room. “I’m not sure if he’s still alive.” The cops rushed forward and past him. The EMTs came up with a stretcher and he gently laid her down. Holding onto her hand, he followed along with the stretcher and climbed up into the ambulance as they pushed it in. The EMTs checked her vitals while he tried to keep out of their way, but there was no way he was letting go of her hand.
When they arrived at the hospital, he had to let it go as they rushed her into a room and the cops arrived to get his statement. After what seemed like hours, they finished getting all the information he had. He sat in the waiting room until a nurse finally came to get him when they were ready to move Rox to a regular room. She looked so small and frail in the hospital bed. An IV was in the back of her hand and a blue and white hospital gown covered her to her knees. Relief and fear washed over him as he pulled the chair up to the side of the bed. Rox was safe, finally. She was safe, but what did any of this mean for them? For now, he would hold onto the fact that he’d been able to save her and maybe, just maybe, he would convince her to forgive him.
Sitting in the chair, he held her hand to the side of his face. The box sitting in his pants pocket called to him. He’d had it in his car for a week now. Not the best place to store something like this, but that was where he ended up putting it. After making so many mistakes he didn’t even know if he’d get the answer he wanted, but he knew that when she woke up, he had to ask the question.
28
Chapter
The beeping of machines woke Rox from her groggy state. Once again waking up in unfamiliar surroundings, relief coursed through her to see that it was a hospital room. She glanced down and ran her hands over the hospital blanket across her lap. Lifting the stiff sheets, her hospital gown clad legs were re-bandaged from before. There was a slight tug on the IV in the back of her hand. Not exactly comfortable, but she would take it over her previous waking up in a strange place scenario. A nurse walked in, gave her a smile and pulled the chart from the end of her bed.
“You’re awake! We’re so glad you’re up sleepy head. Your boyfriend just stepped out to make a few calls. So devoted, that one,” she said, swooning a bit. Rox couldn’t help but smile. She winced at the soreness in her cheek and lips. “They thought he was going to pull the ER apart while they were checking you over. Plus, he’s a cutie! He’s been at your bedside since you got in here.” Looking at the chart, she made a few notes and slid it back in at the end of the bed.
“How,” she rasped, pausing. Her throat sore and raw, not just on the outside, but the inside as well. Her fingers traced the gauze and tape on her neck. That would certainly explain it. The nurse walked over to the pitcher on the tray next to her bed and poured her a cup of water. She handed it to Rox and she greedily gulped it down, the cold water soothing her dry throat.
“How long have I been here?”
“About twenty hours. You came in a little worse for wear, but you’ll be fine soon. The bandages on your neck will come off in a while, the doctor’s will be in to check shortly. You’ll need to be on crutches for a while for your leg.” Rox’s mind rushed to figure out how to get around the kitchen on crutches. “The doctors just wanted to let you get your rest. You’ve been through quite an ordeal. We ran some tests and I’m sure it’s the pregnancy that knocked you out for so long. Your body needed time to make sure you and the baby were going to be just fine. And don’t worry, everything looks great,” she said, giving her foot a squeeze. Rox did a double take.
“What? What baby?”
“Your baby,” she said, gesturing to Rox’s stomach. “You’re pregnant. Didn’t you know?” The nurse gave her a confused stare, walked back to the chart, flipping it open to double check. The nurse was talking, but Rox couldn’t hear a thing through the whooshing sound that filled her ears. Her hand gripped the bedrail as the room spun. Pregnant?
“Yes, right here. You’re pregnant,” the nurse said, pointing at the chart.
“No! I took a test! It came back negative.” The heart monitor started beating more wildly as her confusion mounted.
“Sometimes those can be wrong, dear. We did a blood sample and those are definite. They did an ultrasound when you were in the ER and it says here,” she said, referring to the chart again. “That you’re about eight weeks along.”
“Eight weeks,” she said, thinking back to the night in the walk-in freezer. In pitch black darkness, it seemed like there would be more chances for there to be mishaps with the condom. Holy shit, she was pregnant!
“I take it this was a surprise?”
“Yes.” The out-of-body feeling was back. It was like she was floating in a dream. She was pregnant. Oh shit! What was Liam going to think? He was going to think she was lying again. How was she going to tell him?
“A happy surprise?”
“I guess we’ll see,” she said, gulping. She shrugged her shoulders, a dull ache running through her arm. What was she going to do? Liam came bursting back into the room with a cup of coffee in his hand, sloshing onto the floor.
“You’re up! Damnit, of course the ten minutes I step out are when you wake up. How are you feeling?” he said in one breath, rushing to her bedside.
“I’ll leave you two alone.” The nurse said, beating a hasty retreat after putting her chart back.
He set his cup down and sat in the chair next to her bedside and carefully clasped her hand in his. He kissed the back of it and gazed up at her.
29
Chapter
“How are you feeling?” he said, gripping her hand. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to find you.” He adjusted the chair, never letting go of her hand and rubbed it against the side of his face.
“I’m feeling okay, a little groggy, but okay. How did you find me?” He dropped his eyes and looked away.
“I was so scared! I started by using the find my phone app you have on your phone. I added it a little while ago. I’ve never used until last night. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I completely forgot about it.” He braced himself for her wrath that he rightfully deserved. She didn’t say anything, just looked at him, waiting to hear more, so he continued. “But then your phone died and I had to have Luc get one of his buddies to hack Jon’s phone.” He continued to rub her hand against his face and she ran her hand through his hair, soothing him. He peeked up at her.
“They can do that?” she said, her brow wrinkled.
“Apparently.
I didn’t ask any questions, I just knew I had to get to you.” That helpless feeling he had experienced waiting for Luc to get back to him as the minutes ticked by was the worst of his life.
“Talk about the wonders of technology,” she said.
“You’re not pissed at me?” He held her gaze, waiting for her to let loose. At this point, he didn’t care, she was safe and that was all that mattered.
“Under the circumstances, I don’t see how I can be. You saved my life,” she said, giving him a watery smile. “If you hadn’t come after me, I don’t know what would have happened.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “I’m really glad you did. I love you,” she said, her voice cracking and tears spilling down her cheeks. It was like a dam burst as she finally said the words she’d known in her heart all along. She loved him and would never let him go.
“I love you too, Rox. I’d come after you anywhere. You have no idea how scared I was when I saw your bike out by the front gate.” He climbed up onto the bed, careful of her IV, and pulled her into his arms. “I jumped right in the car and was driving around like a madman.”
“I’m glad. And I’m sorry,” she said, sobbing. He rocked and soothed her until her cries slowed down. She hiccupped and peered up at him. “I’m sorry I ran out like that. You were right. You were right about it all.”
“It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter one bit. All that matters is that you’re safe and he’s gone.”
“Is he dead?”
“No,” he said through gritted teeth. “I sure as hell wish he was, but the cops showed up not long after you passed out. I was so scared. That was the only thing that could have gotten me to stop from killing him. I needed to get to you.” He kissed the top of her head and dragged his fingers across her arms.
“The cops have him?”
“Yes, and I’ll make sure he’s locked up and that they throw away the key. He won’t be getting out anytime soon and he won’t be coming anywhere near you again.” His possessiveness no longer scared her. If anything, it made her heart soar. He wasn’t trying to control her and her fears about that faded away as she saw firsthand how his concern was from a real threat, not some imagined slight. There was a difference between control and protection, she could see that now. It had taken almost dying to finally see the light, but she had.
“Thank you, Liam.” She squeezed and snuggled into him. “Thank you,” she said, her voice breaking.
“Shhhh, it’s okay. You’re safe now. You’re safe. I’ve got you,” he said, fiercely. “And I have something for you.” He shifted on the bed and reached into his pocket.
“I’ve wanted to give this to you for a while, but I thought that even though the timing might not be perfect, I didn’t want to wait a minute longer.” In his hand, he held a black velvet box. He flicked it open and inside was a diamond and sapphire ring that would put Kate Middleton’s to shame. He pulled the ring out and dropped the box. Taking her hand in his, he held the ring poised at the end of her finger.
“Roxanne Weller, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I have never met a woman as incredible in my entire life and I know I’ll never meet one who makes me feel the way you make me feel. It would be an honor to be your husband and cherish you for the rest of your days.”
A giddy laugh almost escaped her as she looked from the ring to Liam. She wanted this so badly, but then she thought back to the nurse and the news she’d delivered. He knew. Her heart sunk. Was he only proposing because of the baby?
“The nurse told you, didn’t she?” she said, glancing from the ring to his face.
“Told me what?” The look on his face had her second-guessing her assumption.
“She told you I was pregnant.”
He dropped the ring from his hand and onto her lap.
“You’re pregnant! But…but...you said you took the test and it was negative.”
“I did take the test and it was negative. Apparently, those things aren’t one hundred percent accurate. They did some bloodwork when I came in and did an ultrasound to confirm it.”
“Holy shit!” he said, hopping up from the bed and pacing the room. He ran his hands through his hair and Rox bit her lip. Was he going to hate her? Think she’d tried to trap him? Her empty stomach rolled as she waited for him to say something. Anything. Then he turned back to her and rushed to her side. “That’s amazing, Rox. So amazing!” he said, kissing her hand and picking up the ring again.
“So, you weren’t only asking because you knew I was pregnant?”
“No! I’ve had this ring for a week. How far along are you?”
“Eight weeks.”
“Eight weeks…the night in the walk-in,” he said, a smile spread across his face.
“Yup.”
“That will definitely be a story for the kids.”
“I don’t think we need to give them all the details,” she said, smiling up at him.
“No, maybe not all of them,” he said, kissing her hand. He put the ring at the end of her finger, ready to slide it on. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?” Happy tears pooled in her eyes. Nodding her head because she didn’t trust her voice, Rox pushed her finger forward to allow him to slide the ring onto her finger.
“Yes,” she said, holding her hand over her mouth. Weepy pregnant woman, she was going to have to work to keep up her hard-ass reputation throughout this whole thing. The hospital room door burst open and Jen and Mark came spilling into the room.
“Rox! We were so worried.” They both skidded to a stop as they took in the scene in front of them.
“You’re getting married?!” Jen shrieked, bouncing up and down.
“You’re getting married?” Mark looked like he’d walked into some alternate reality.
“And I’m pregnant.” Rox couldn’t help but add to Mark’s already ashen face.
“But…but…you two hate each other. And what do you mean, pregnant?” Jen slid a chair up behind him.
“Honey, why don’t you sit down?” Jen said as Mark practically fell into the chair.
“I don’t understand. What the hell have you two been up to since I left?!” Mark said, trying to stand up. Jen perched on his lap to keep him in the seat.
“Honey, when a man and a woman love each other very much…” Jen teased, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“It’s a long story.” Rox said, holding back a laugh.
“We’ve got time.”
“What kind of wedding are you going to have? Can you please have the puppy corral like your brother had at his?” Jen begged Liam.
“Puppy corral?” Rox said to Liam.
“Also a long story.”
“Can we dress up in costumes again too?”
“Costumes?” she asked, turning to him again. What kind of wedding had Luc had? He didn’t seem like the puppies and costumes kind of guy. It must have been Anna’s influence.
“You’ll have to talk about that with Luc and Anna, but you can have whatever you want at our wedding,” he said, kissing her on the lips. Rox sank into the kiss and pulled him in closer. Jen cleared her throat as Mark called out.
“Come on guys, get a room.”
“We have a room. This is mine,” Rox said, laughing at him. “I didn’t think you’d go all protective older brother on me, Mark.”
“Of course I will, Rox. You’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister and it ripped me up inside hearing what happened. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help.”
“It’s okay. Liam took care of me.” And he had. She’d fought him the entire way, but he’d taken care of her despite herself.
“I’m glad he did,” Mark said.
“Me too,” she said, running her hand down the side of his face, scruffy with his stubble. He ran his thumb along her bottom lip and kissed her gently.
“I can’t wait to make you Mrs. Roxanne Lavery.”
“I can’t wait to be Mrs. Roxanne Lavery. What if we just head to Vegas and get married this weekend?”
&n
bsp; Jen stood then. “Oh, no you don’t! I am not getting screwed out of the wedding of the century because you two don’t feel like planning it. There will be a wedding. I’ll make a special commission just for the two of you and there will be aerial silk artists,” Jen said with a pointed stare.
“Sounds like someone’s getting a bit itchy to plan a wedding. Maybe you should be doing your own?” Rox said, smirking at the stricken look on Mark and Jen’s faces. That ought to shut them up.
“We can do it however you want. It doesn’t have to be big or flashy. I’m good with whatever,” he said, holding her hand in his. Rox tilted her hand letting the light catch her ring. After everything she’d been through, all the heartache and pain, she’d ended up here in this moment. Great friends and an even better man who would be her husband. How did she ever get this lucky?
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading, Blinded: Breaking Free Book 3, I hope you enjoyed Rox and Liam’s story.
The Breaking Free is a series of standalones with cameos by some of your favorite couples. This will continue with Played: Breaking Free Book 4, Keira’s story. Who was that singer on stage at the Bramble?
If you enjoyed the book, I’d love to hear what you have to say via a review, email, Facebook message, or carrier pigeon :)
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