Cruel Vendetta, page 20
He pinned me with a look, and I nodded. She’d need to have her credit cards cancelled and replaced, just in case. And thankfully her license showed her mother’s address. “Phone?”
“It’s in there.”
That news was bittersweet. Even if we’d had time to try to use the GPS function to locate her phone, it wouldn’t have done us much good. But at least she had her belongings back. It was one less thing she’d have to deal with.
I better go,” I said as I pushed up from the chair. “Emery is probably ready to kill me. I've been gone for hours already.”
Gray lifted his chin. “How’s she doing?”
“Surprisingly well,” I responded slowly.
Emery had wanted to come, but I'd finally managed to talk her out of it. Instead I'd asked Izzy to sit with her until I could get back. Em didn't have anyone else around since her mother was devoted to Alan, and that motherfucker wasn't allowed to come within a hundred yards of her. I hated to leave her there all alone, but I knew Izzy would keep her occupied at least for a little while.
In theory, she could probably be discharged now. She would just need to stay off her feet for a few more days until she was fully healed. She was doing phenomenally well, handling it better than I expected. I thought after everything she'd endured that she'd be scared. But she was pushing for answers, insisting on finding the asshole who had kidnapped her, and the man who'd killed him.
I hoped to hell that we would get some answers. She was strong, more so than I ever dreamed, and I was so fucking proud of her. An ordeal like that would have done a number on anyone, even members of the police force. It was possible that she was repressing her emotions until the dust had settled, and if she was, that was okay. Everyone dealt with trauma differently and I would be there for her if and when she needed me. I was straddling a fine line, wanting to care for her without smothering her, and I didn't want to push her too hard. I wasn't completely certain of her emotional stability despite her outward attitude, and I preferred to play it safe. “I don't think it has all caught up with her yet.”
He nodded in understanding. “Go home, take your time with her. You deserve it.”
“Thanks.” I left the station, then headed back toward the hospital. Worry and doubt plagued me the whole way to the hospital, because I had a horrible feeling this was far from over.
Forty-Six
EMERY
I was ready to rip my hair out, the need for answers pressing in on me and driving me nearly to the edge of insanity. My gaze strayed toward the door again. Where the hell was Drew?
Though he'd stopped in first thing this morning to check on me, he’d been gone almost all day, and I was dying to see him. I hope they'd found the cabin and that man, Stratton, who'd abducted me. So far I hadn't heard a single peep from him, and worry churned in my stomach.
“He’ll be here soon.” Izzy’s teasing voice floated toward me, and guilt rose up as I turned to her.
“I'm sorry, I’m just... anxious.”
“You must be bored as hell listening to me all day.”
“Of course not,” I defended. “But...”
“I get it.” Izzy held up one hand. “It's different.”
I nodded. “It is. I worry all the time when he's at work, praying he'll stay safe. And when he's gone, all I want is for him to come back to me.”
A soft smile curved her mouth. “I'm glad everything worked out.”
“I was worried what you'd say,” I admitted. “About us dating.”
She laughed. “Why do you think I suggested you go live with him?”
A wave of heat swept up my cheeks. “It all felt too good to be true,” I said.
“It's not.” Izzy shook her head. “He's crazy about you. Speak of the devil,” she said, her gaze flicking toward the door.
Drew stood outlined in the space, a tiny smile on his face. My heart leaped at the sight of him. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.” He sauntered into the room and looped one arm around Izzy’s shoulders in a loose hug. “Was our patient well behaved today?”
He cocked an eyebrow my way, and my blood thudded heavily in my veins. Those deep green eyes zeroed in on mine, holding me captive, and I felt hot all over.
“Mostly,” Izzy teased. “But I'm pretty sure she's ready for you to take over. She's been watching for you for the past hour.”
My cheeks heated again as his lips curled into a knowing smirk, and I lifted my chin. “I was just curious about the case.”
“Mhmm....” He made a noncommittal sound in the back of his throat before dropping his arm. “Thanks, Iz. I owe you one.”
“Glad I got to see you.” She leaned over the bed and I returned her warm hug.
“You, too.”
“Hey, mom wants both of you to come to dinner Sunday if you can make it.”
I flicked a little look at Drew, who just stared at me. I smiled at my best friend. “I'll keep you posted.”
“Sounds good. See you later!”
Izzy gathered her things then left, and Drew and I stared at each other for a moment before he approached the bed. I was practically vibrating with the need to ask a thousand questions, and they spilled from my lips before I could stop them. “Did you find the house? Was he there? How long until they’ll be able to find who shot him?”
Drew snorted. “Is that all you care about?” That dark eyebrow went up even further as he sauntered toward the bed like a panther stalking his prey. “You didn't miss me?”
“I did,” I murmured. But I was still dying to know what happened.
Drew seemed to know instinctively that I would pester him until he told me what I wanted to know, and he relented with a soft sigh. “To answer your questions: yes, no, and I’m not sure.”
“But—”
He settled on the edge of the bed, facing me, and rested a hand on my thigh. “One step at a time.”
I snapped my mouth shut, and a grin curled his lips.
“So that’s the only reason you wanted to see me? To see if we’d found Stratton?”
He pressed his hands to the mattress on either side of me then leaned in so close his lips almost touched mine, and my breath turned shallow as I shook my head.
“Good.” He brushed the tip of his nose along mine. “I thought about you all day.”
Light as a feather, he pressed his lips to mine. As soon as it started, the kiss was over, and Drew straightened to his full height. “So, what did the doctor have to say?”
I shrugged. “Should be able to go home soon.”
He peered down at me. “How do you feel?”
“Like I never want to see the inside of a hospital ever again,” I said honestly. I was tired of being poked and prodded, checked on every two hours. My hands and feet still felt tender, but it wasn't unmanageable. The nurses had helped me get to and from the bathroom when needed, but I figured in another day or so I would be able to do that all by myself. “I want to go home.”
Drew's face creased. “Are you sure you're ready?”
I wasn’t entirely mobile by myself yet, and it irked me to admit that I would need someone around to help with even the most basic things. Plus, I was certain the last thing Drew wanted to do was care for me like a toddler for the next couple of days. “Izzy said I could stay with her at your parents’ house—”
“Not a chance,” he cut in, a scowl on his face. “If you're leaving, you're coming home.”
I swallowed hard as my heart slammed against my ribs. He'd said home—as in, he thought I belonged there. “Are you sure? I look like a crab.”
Drew bit back a smile. “But you make a cute crab.” He wrapped his fingers around one wrist and pulled my hand toward him like he could inspect my wounds through the bandages.
“It's really not as bad as it looks,” I assured him. His head tipped to one side, a silent reprimand. “In two days I'll be back to normal.”
“Debatable,” he murmured. “We’ll talk to the nurse and see if they’re ready to release you.”
Still not fully appeased, but grateful he’d at least agreed to consider it, I settled back on the bed. I wasn’t used to being so stagnant. At the diner, I was always on my feet, and to be lying here doing nothing grated on my nerves.
Drew’s gaze canvassed the room and came to rest on the giant bouquet of pink lilies that had arrived this morning, joining the vast array that had already been sent by the Thornes and people from the diner who had wanted to express their sympathy.
“Those are new.” He jerked his head toward the vase. “Who are those from?”
I shrugged. “I don’t think the card was signed.”
His brows drew together as he rose and extracted the card from within the bright blooms. Turning it over, he inspected both sides, then gave a slow shake of his head. “Just says, ‘My sincerest apologies, and best wishes for a quick recovery.’”
“Who knows?” I shrugged. “Irene has apparently been telling everyone what happened, so it could be anyone.”
She’d stopped in this morning to see me as well, offering her condolences and assuring me that I was welcome back whenever I was ready to return to work.
Drew replaced the card and nodded slowly. “There’s just something about the phrasing that—”
Our attention was fractured when the nurse entered, and I jumped at the chance to ask if I could leave. An hour later, discharge papers in hand, Drew wheeled me out of the hospital then helped me into the passenger seat of his car. Automatically I reached for the belt, then realized I couldn't grasp it with my bandaged hands.
“I've got you.” Drew extracted it from my fingers and snapped it into place, then kissed my temple. I settled into the seat as he closed the door, a warmth surrounding my heart. It was true; I knew he would always be there for me.
Forty-Seven
DREW
The drive home was quick and relatively quiet. As soon as I pulled into the garage and parked, I turned toward Emery. “Don't move.” I rounded the car and opened the passenger door, then lifted her out. Her arms looped around my neck, and I held her close as I navigated around the car to the door.
“Anything particular you'd like to do?” I asked once we got inside.
“I'd kill for a bath,” she said. “My hair feels disgusting.”
“I can do that.”
Her face tipped up to mine. “Really?”
“Sure. But How about a shower?” I countered. “I can use the hand nozzle to rinse your hair.”
A shy smile curled her pretty lips. “If you wouldn't mind, that would be great.”
“Not at all.” I wanted her close, and if that's what she needed, I was here for it. I knew they would have cleaned her in the hospital, but it wasn't the same as having a true shower. I set her on the toilet then started the shower to let it warm up.
I returned to find Emery stripping her shirt over her head, and I helped her wiggle out of her pajama bottoms. I held up a hand when she started to remove her underwear. I only had so much restraint; it was killing me not to pull her close right now, kiss every inch of her. I was already hard and aching for her, but she was still hurt. I wasn't so much of an asshole that I’d try to initiate sex after everything she'd been though.
Leaving my clothes in place, I moved her to the shower then detached the spray handle. As gently as possible I sprayed her off, starting with the top of her head. I massaged shampoo into her scalp—twice—then watched as the bubbles ran down her back and into the tub. Her long strands of hair slipped through my fingers, and every moment of the past few days flashed before my eyes. Those hours without word of her had been excruciating.
Grasping her hair in a loose ponytail, I turned her head toward me. It took a second for her eyes to meet mine, and I cradled her face in my hands. I just stared at her for a second, thanking God she was okay. She seemed to understand, because she offered a tremulous little smile. I leaned in and kissed her. Not like I had in the hospital, a bare brush of our lips. This kiss was hot and feral, a declaration of things to come. All the worry and love I felt for her poured from my heart in that moment, and I knew she was the one for me. I'd never felt this way about a woman before.
Breaking the kiss, I brushed the damp strands away from her face. “I can't begin to tell you what was going through my mind that night,” I said. “I knew something was wrong. I just knew it.”
I hadn't told her about going to her mother’s place the night she was abducted, but I did now. “I thought for sure Alan was involved. But then we heard about the crash. Christ, Em...” I touched my forehead to hers. “I thought of you alone and hurt, and it fucking gutted me. I thought I would lose my mind without you. I couldn't breathe, couldn't focus... All I could think about was bringing you back to me.”
A watery smile curved her mouth. “I knew you would come for me.”
“I wish it'd been sooner,” I apologized. “I wish we'd found out about him sooner so you never had to go through that. I would give anything to take back what happened.”
“I know.” She pressed her palms to my chest. “Nothing happened. What I said was the truth. He didn't...” Her gaze darted away for a second. “He didn't hurt me. Well, aside from this.”
She lifted her hand to the cut along her eyebrow. “Most of these scratches and bruises are from the car accident.”
I still couldn't believe that. “You're so damn incredible. Most people would have been terrified.”
“I was,” she admitted, “but I didn't have a choice. He would most likely have killed me if we'd made it to wherever he planned to go. I don't think the cabin was his place,” she said.
We didn't think so either, but I was curious why she thought so. “What makes you say that?”
“Just in the way he was acting—not that I’m an expert or anything. But… the place was nearly empty, and I heard him complaining. He only used a piece of rope to bind my hands. If it'd been his place, I think it would have been better planned.”
“By causing the accident, you forced him to change his plans.”
She nodded. “I think he called the second man for help. Either to take us somewhere else or to kill me there, I'm not sure. But he had to be fast, because someone would notice the car and eventually come looking.”
My blood ran cold at the thought. She was damn lucky she'd managed to escape. “I never would have stopped looking for you,” I said fiercely. “I would have torn this whole town apart looking for you.”
“I know.” The look she gave me was so pure, so honest, it made me want to throw myself at her feet.
Shit. I had to get out of here before I did something I’d regret. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get dried off.”
I helped her from the shower, then took her to the bedroom where she slipped on a pair of dry sweats and a tank top. While she changed, I quickly toweled off and dressed. I'd been so focused on her the last couple of days that I'd forgotten all about her project downstairs. “Hey, I want to show you something. You up for a trip to the basement?”
She shrugged, a curious expression on her face. “Sure.”
“Good.” I grinned. “Come on.”
I scooped her up, carefully carrying her down the narrow stairwell, cautious not to bump her feet against the wall. Once we were down, I settled her in a chair and grabbed up the hardware I'd selected nearly a week ago. “I have a surprise for you. You said you wanted vintage knobs, so...” I pulled one from the bag and held it up for her inspection. “What do you think?”
Her mouth fell open a fraction. “Drew, that's...” She swallowed hard and plucked it from my grasp, tracing the intricate carvings. “These are beautiful. Where do you find them?”
The sheer awe in her expression made pleasure flare to life in my chest. “At a little specialty store. I saw them and thought of you.”
Her eyes misted over and she lifted her hands my way. I met her halfway, pulling her against me as she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Her legs wound around my waist as I lifted her from the chair, and the heat of her core pressed against me. She arched into me with a sweet little sigh of pleasure as my erection swelled. Damn. I bit down on my tongue and willed my arousal away. I couldn’t allow myself to get this turned on right now. I carried her easily back up the stairs toward the living room, then deposited her in the corner of the couch.
“Why don’t you relax for a bit? It’s been a long couple of days.” I dropped a kiss on her forehead, a fierce protectiveness welling up inside me. Those moments of worrying I’d never see her in this house again, never feel her by my side, had turned me inside out. I would do anything to protect her and keep her safe, no matter what it took.
Forty-Eight
EMERY
My heart beat nervously in my chest as we pulled up to the brick ranch, and Drew laid one hand over mine where it rested on the console. “You good?”
This was the first time Drew and I were visiting his family as an official couple. Though I'd been friends with Izzy for ten years and was practically part of the family, this put an entirely different spin on things. “Just nervous.”
Drew lightly squeezed my fingers, then lifted them to his mouth and pressed a soft kiss to the tips. Most of the bandages had come off a couple of days ago, but the skin was still tender in some places. “There's nothing to be nervous about. You know my mom loves you.”
“Yeah, but…”
He shook his head. “Look at Gray and Claire. Did she hold a grudge against Claire?”
“No.” I rolled my eyes. “But that was an entirely different situation. They were best friends for years before they started dating. Plus they're only a couple of years apart. I don't want them to think…”
