by J. A. Owenby
None of it mattered, though. I’d done my best to make up for all the shit I’d done. Guilt had haunted me until the day I laid eyes on Vaughn Reddington. He’d touched the most-broken part of my soul and fused it together. He had loved me back to life. And in the end I’d sacrificed myself for him. The ultimate act of love. Now I was finally at peace.
A soft, warm light surrounded me and lifted me off my feet. I’d never experienced anything so wonderful in my life. I’d returned to my origin. I was now full of understanding, and my regrets no longer existed.
“Claire.” The gentle voice glided over my skin, and I turned to see who had spoken to me.
“Yes?” I asked, my gaze landing on a brilliant ball of gold light.
“This is your choice. Do you want to stay or return to your family?”
“I don’t ever want to leave here. There’s so much peace.” I smiled, reveling in the completeness I finally felt.
“They’re calling you. Vaughn, Sutton, and Pierce. The EMTs are performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while you and I speak. Now is your chance.”
Vaughn. My heart skipped a beat. Although I now understood that he would be all right … that Sutton, Mom, and Dad would be okay. A small twinge inside my chest pulled me toward him. The longer I hesitated, the stronger the pull became.
“There’s no wrong or right decision. Follow your heart, Claire.”
I closed my eyes briefly. “I love him,” I said, laying my hand on my lap. “I finally found him, and we were beginning to plan a life together. Can I still have that if I return? Will I ever be able to dance again? Did the bullet paralyze me?”
“You will heal in time. You will dance again, and you can have the life you want. I gave you the same power to create worlds as I have. Go create the life you’ve dreamed of. I have so much love for you, Claire. Now go to Vaughn and your family, and remember, I’m always with you.”
My body jerked backward, and I struggled to maintain the warmth I’d experienced. Then, once again, everything around me faded to black.
“We have a pulse!” a loud voice yelled near my ear.
I tried to swat it away, but I was too exhausted to lift my arm.
“I’m right here, babe. Hold on.” Vaughn was speaking to me.
A calm descended over me. I was with the people I loved most in the world.
A steady beep filled my ears, and I tried to raise my hand. I groaned with the effort.
“Claire. You’re in the hospital. It’s okay.” Vaughn smoothed my hair, and I nodded.
I felt like I’d been run over by a semi-truck. There was nothing else that I wanted more than to talk to Vaughn, but my head was all muddled. After a few attempts to shake off the fog, I gave in to the exhaustion and slipped back under.
I’d lost track of how many times I’d woken up, unable to speak. Each time I sank into the darkness, I took another piece of information with me. I had a tube shoved down my throat, which told me I needed help breathing. At some point, my lungs had failed me. Mom and Dad were there. I’d not seen them, but I felt their presence. Zayne, Sutton, and Pierce were also with me. I still didn’t know what had happened. I’d taken a bullet for Vaughn, but I wasn’t clear on the shooter. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that someone else had been at the park. I needed to tell Vaughn. What if everyone was still in danger? I had to wake up, but as hard as I fought against the deep sleep, I lost the battle.
The sound of the television woke me, and I blinked rapidly, trying to focus on the screen. The hospital room was mostly dark, with only a single soft white light glowing in the corner. Dryness seized my throat, and I attempted to swallow. My lips were so chapped that I could feel the skin rip from them while I opened my mouth.
“Vaughn.” I forced my voice to work and tried again. “Vaughn.” It came out as a harsh whisper, but I would take it. “Vaughn.” My voice cracked horribly, but it had worked.
“Claire, I’m here.” Soft lips brushed the back of my hand.
Forcing my eyes open, I finally saw the man I’d returned for. The love of my life.
“Let me get you an ice chip.” He leaned over, grabbing a cup off the table next to me. “I just filled it. I’ve been sucking on it today. I think it’s just a distraction. Sorry, I’m rambling. I just want you to stay with me. Every time you woke up, you were gone within seconds again. At least you’re off the ventilator. They took it out a few days ago. I’m sure your throat hurts like a motherfucker.” The sound of the ice chips reached my ears while Vaughn dug one out of the cup. “Here ya go, babe.”
The cold stung my lips while he eased it between my teeth. “Mm. More.” I wanted to add, “please,” but I was doing well speaking the little I had. Vaughn fed me more ice, talking quietly to me.
“I sent everyone home, babe. You’ve been in and out of consciousness for seven days. They needed a break. Some sleep.”
“Seven?” I rasped.
“Yeah. You took a bullet through your stomach. It nicked your kidney.” Vaughn choked on his words as tears clung to his eyelashes. “It’s been the longest week of my life.”
“Saved you.”
Vaughn lifted my fingers to his mouth and kissed them. “You saved me, baby. But I almost died with you. You … you died in my arms.” Vaughn’s shoulders shook with his words. “I thought I’d lost you for good when the EMTs performed CPR and brought you back. Please, Claire …” Vaughn’s tears continued to fall as his voice failed him. “Don’t leave me again. Promise me.”
I wanted to run my fingers through his hair and down his cheek. I wanted to taste his lips and run my hands over his chest. I longed to listen to the soft beat of his heart, knowing that it beat for me. “Dillon.”
“We got him. He’s been detained, and so has Coen.” Vaughn rubbed my arm gently.
I closed my eyes, my brain scrambling to tell him something, but I couldn’t remember what it was. It danced around the edge of my mind, just out of my reach.
“The FBI arrested Saul and the majority of the MC club, too. You’re finally safe. It’s over.”
My brows knitted together as fear bloomed to life inside my chest, and I struggled to control my breathing.
“Claire, what’s happening? This isn’t right.” Vaughn stood. “Help! Something’s wrong.”
Footsteps slapped against the tiled floor, and female voices filled the room.
“Sir, step to the side, please.”
I tried to grasp the words that were flying around me while the nurses assessed the situation. Heartrate. Lungs. I couldn’t make out what they were saying. All I knew was something was terribly wrong, and I couldn’t put my finger on it in order to tell Vaughn.
28
My fucking back hurt like a son of a bitch from lying in the bed. Bright sunlight filtered through the window and filled the room. I lifted my arm, squinting, and covered my face.
“Hey, sis.” The chair squeaked, and I assumed Sutton had sat down on the other side of me. “You should stay with us this time. You’ve been in and out of consciousness for a while. Your incision got infected, but you’re fine now.” Sutton paused and kissed my hand. “Claire, I need you here with us. Mom and Dad are sick with worry. They’re at the house now. We all take turns being with you … except for Vaughn. He won’t leave your side no matter what.” She sighed. “You went into organ failure again, but the doctors don’t know why. So, let’s just stop all the nonsense and get better.” A sad smile eased across her exhausted face.
“Told you,” I managed to say.
“About?” Sutton leaned forward, her ear closer to my mouth.
“Vaughn. Good man.”
“Thanks, babe,” Vaughn said.
I smiled—or tried to. My guy was next to me every time I woke up.
“I always knew he was a good person. I just had my doubts that he was good enough for you. Vaughn had the art of seduction down to a science.”
I could visualize Sutton rolling her eyes at her best friend.
�
�He definitely seduced my heart,” I whispered right before my eyes fluttered closed, then I drifted off again.
Cold fingers wrapped around my throat, choking the life out of me. I clawed at the hand and gasped for air. My stomach dipped as though I were on a rollercoaster, and I fell into a bottomless black pit. The sound of gunfire filled my ears, and my body jerked uncontrollably. I stared at my belly in disbelief while blood spurted out of me. I clamped my hands over the wound, searching for Vaughn. Sutton. Pierce. But no one was there. The loud click of a gun trigger echoed in my mind. Dillon Montgomery’s face sneered at me as I dropped to the hard, unforgiving ground. Coen laughed and flickered in and out of existence like a hologram. I reached out to him, silently pleading for help.
A pair of booted feet came into my line of sight. “This isn’t over, bitch. It’s just begun.”
Screaming filled my ears, and I jerked myself awake.
“Babe! Babe! You’re safe. I’m here.” Vaughn nearly crawled into my hospital bed.
“No.” For the first time since I was shot, I shook my head. “Someone else.” My sobs choked off my words.
Vaughn lowered the rail of the bed and wedged his body next to mine the best he could. “I’ve not left your side since you’ve been here, Claire. I’ve not seen Dillon or Coen, Saul … no one that would hurt you. I think your brain is processing all the shit you’ve been through. Just know that I’m here every second of every day.” He nuzzled my ear while he spoke.
Pain speared my stomach, and I cried out. “I hurt so fucking bad,” I whimpered.
“I’ll get the nurse.”
More tears flowed as he got out of the bed; my body craved his heat.
His voice carried through the room, and within minutes, a wave of peace washed over me. Once again, I slipped into a deep sleep.
29
“You should listen to your instincts, Claire. They are incredibly reliable.”
I cocked my eyebrow at the lady behind the large wooden desk. She’d propped her feet on top of a stack of papers. Her blue top was a welcome pop of color in the otherwise-stark white room.
“What makes you think so?” I walked around the desk, eyeing her silver-blonde hair and beautifully arched eyebrows. “And who the hell are you anyway?”
She giggled and flashed me a mischievous grin. “Should I be offended that you don’t know? I’m Betty White.”
“Oh, you’re in the movie The Proposal with Sandra Bullock. I love you in that. I laughed so fucking hard when you and Sandra danced and chanted.” I pointed at her while a giggle bubbled up inside me.
“Ding, ding, ding. You win, Claire.” She smiled, her eyes sparking with mischievousness. “But listen, we need to talk.”
Intrigued, I sat down on the desk next to her feet, glancing at her new, hot-pink, fluffy house shoes. “What’s up? Why am I seeing you? Did I die again?”
“I’m your subconscious. I’ve been trying to get your attention for a while now, and I finally have it, so I’d better make this quick.”
Her image flickered in and out, and I reached toward her. “What is it?” I asked, desperation in my words. “What’s wrong?”
Her full image reappeared. “You need to fight, Claire. You chose to come back for Vaughn and your family. Fight. You can do this.”
I shook my head. “I don’t understand. I am.”
Betty set her feet on the floor and stood, her face lowering closer to mine. “You’re still in grave danger.” She flickered in and out of existence again.
“Wait! I don’t know who it is. I only saw a pair of boots.” I reached toward Betty, but she’d already vanished.
“Hey, do you think you could stick around long enough to answer me?” I peered around the little room, but I was the only one left.
Dammit. “This isn’t funny!” I yelled, clenching my hands into fists. What kind of help was that?
“Jell-O.” Had I just said that? My attention darted around me. Ten faces stared at me, hope written all over their expressions. “I’m fucking starving.” I attempted to sit up in bed.
“Carefully, honey,” Mom said, rushing to my side and helping me. Dark circles had nested below her tired blue eyes.
“Mom?” I asked, staring up at her.
“Hi, sweetheart.” She leaned over and kissed my forehead.
“Mom,” I said, grabbing her grey sweatshirt and pulling her in for a hug. “I love you so much. You’re the best mom a kid could have.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks. I was back, and I knew it.
“Oh, honey. I’ve missed you so much.” She kissed me on the top of the head, then pulled away.
“Claire Bear.”
“Daddy?”
“I’m right here.” He sat on the opposite side of my bed. “Hi there, love bug.” Dad had aged another seven years. Stubble lined his jaw, and he appeared as wrung-out as Mom.
He leaned over and gave me a gentle hug. “I sure have missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. I guess I was busy falling in love.” The corner of my mouth crooked up in a smile.
“We’ve had a long talk with Vaughn.” Dad patted my hand.
Shit. My attention darted around the hospital room until it landed on the gorgeous blonde with one blue and one brown eye.
“I hope you like him, because I’m keeping him. He’s the reason I came back.” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I hope like hell I haven’t hurt anyone’s feelings.”
“What do you mean, honey?” Mom asked.
“I know I died. Heaven was beautiful. There was so much love and warmth. I didn’t want to return, but … I was given a choice, and I returned for Vaughn. I love him, Mom and Dad. He’s everything I’d ever dared hope for.” A messy lump of emotion clogged my throat.
“We know, Claire Bear. He’s a good man,” Dad said.
Vaughn’s gaze never left mine as I spoke. I couldn’t wait to have a few minutes alone with him and kiss him until my lips were sore.
“Hi there,” Sutton said, joining Mom. “Welcome back.” A relieved smile eased across her beautiful face.
Exhaustion consumed Sutton’s expression even though I suspected she was doing everything in her power to hide it. Some things you just couldn’t hide from your sister.
“I love you,” I said, consumed with affection and admiration for Sutton. “I can’t imagine being on this earth without you. I’m sorry you were scared.” My voice cracked with the reality of my comment. If she’d been in this bed, it would have fucking wrecked me.
“You have no idea, kiddo. I’d give my life for you in a heartbeat and never think twice.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“Now you don’t have to.” I reached for her hand and squeezed it.
“Hey, Claire.” Pierce approached the bed, smiling so big I thought his face would split open.
“Hey, brother of mine. I’ve decided after everything we’ve been through together that you’re past the in-law reference.”
“I feel the same. You’re just my younger sister, who I love and adore.”
Mom stood and allowed Pierce to have a seat. He took my hand, his expression growing more serious. “You scared the shit out of me.” He swallowed hard. “There’s a part of me that wants to lock you away and protect you from the world.” He chuckled. “For some reason, I don’t think you’d have it, though.”
“Mm, no.” I smiled at him. “If I’ve not thanked you for keeping me safe and loving me as your own blood family, then I suck.”
Pierce’s eyes misted over. “I didn’t keep you safe. I’m so sorry.” Tears spilled down his cheeks. He clamped my hand between his two large ones.
“Bullshit.” My voice cracked, heavy with gratitude. “If it weren’t for you, I’d be a sex slave overseas. If it weren’t for you, the MC would have killed me by now. If it weren’t for your house and security system, Coen would have reached me a hell of a lot sooner. We all thought I was safe when I left the house to find Vaughn, even the FBI. D
on’t give me a bunch of crap that you didn’t protect me. You’re the only reason I’ve lived this long.”
“She’s right,” Sutton said, approaching my bed. She rubbed her husband’s neck and massaged his broad shoulders.
Pierce wiped his damp face and smiled. “The important thing is that you’re going to be okay. It was a lot of hit and miss the last few weeks. We weren’t sure you were going to make it, but the doctors said you’ve pulled through. In a few months, you’ll be back to normal.”
I inhaled deeply, relaxing with the news. I would be all right. The second the thought formed in my mind, a jolt of fear traveled down my spine. “Pierce.” I tugged at his hand.
“Yeah?” He pinned me with troubled eyes.
“Something is off. I just can’t remember what it is. Please, you have to believe me.”
Pierce stared at me, then he glanced up at Sutton.
“Hon, you’ve had a large number of drugs pumped into your system. Do you think you’re still trying to process?” Sutton stepped forward and patted my leg.
My attention scanned everyone in the room and settled on Vaughn. Not once had he ever doubted me. “Vaughn, you need to tell them. This isn’t over.”
“I believe her,” he said, his gaze never wavering from mine. “She must have seen something we didn’t. Whatever it is, we need continued security for everyone, Pierce.”
A chair scraped across the tiled floor. Pierce stood, then crossed the room to Vaughn. “I believe you both. I’ll contact Franklin Harrington and tell him to keep it tight. He should keep his men on.”