“You protect me,” I croaked. “I protect you. That’s how a relationship works, right?”
Killian’s jaw locked and he shook his head sharply. “No, Julianna. You can’t. I fucking died a thousand deaths watching you lay so helplessly in this bed for the last five days, not knowing if you were going to make it or not.”
“I’m alive,” I breathed, trying to pacify my husband.
“Barely,” he gritted out. “While the bullet missed your heart, it punctured a lung. You barely survived that wound, Princess.” Killian squeezed his eyes shut, before scrubbing a hand over his face. “I almost lost you. Again.”
I laced my fingers through his, firmly squeezing his hand. “I’m sorry I made you go through that. But I’m not sorry for taking that bullet. My chest hurts, but I’m fine.”
Even as I said the words, my other hand cupped my still-flat stomach. For a moment, panic and horror washed through me. Tears welled up in my eyes. My baby.
Oh God.
Killian’s hand slid over mine. My chin trembled as I choked back a cry. But it was the look of tenderness on my husband’s face that kept me from panicking even more.
“You were showing early signs of a miscarriage after your surgery, but our baby is fine now. Nestled safely inside your womb,” Killian confirmed.
He said our baby.
I could see the look of pure relief on his face as he spoke those words, as if he hadn’t only been worrying about me – but he also feared losing our baby.
“You knew?”
He nodded. “I found the pregnancy test on the bathroom counter.”
“I never even got a chance to look at it before Simon…” I snapped my jaw shut and swallowed down a cry. “What happened to Simon?”
“He’s dead,” Killian deadpanned.
I nodded, figuring as much, without him having to tell me. But I wanted to hear the words. My heart pained for Simon; he was just another casualty in Bishop Romano’s scheme.
“Killian, there’s something I need to tell you about my father.”
His eyes darkened and he worked his jaw back and forth, grounding his teeth together. But he, otherwise, stayed quiet as I began to tell him what Bishop revealed to me.
I didn’t spare any details. I told my husband everything, including Bishop’s illegal business. “Now that I know his truth, he won’t let me live. I will always be in danger unless–”
A dangerous sound rumbled through Killian’s chest. “He will never harm you again.”
“But–”
“The world knows his truth now,” Killian said.
I blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”
His hand squeezed mine. “Though you didn’t get a chance to tell me the truth before, you did say that your father wanted you dead. I was able to investigate further, to dig deeper into Bishop’s life. I found the truth two days ago.”
“You were able to find evidence about his illegal businesses?” I gasped. “How?”
His lips twitched. “You seem to forget that my father used to be the President of the United States. The Spencer family has a lot of connections, Princess,” Killian said. “My father was able to pull a few strings and we enlisted all the help at our disposal to get Bishop’s truth out in front of the world.”
“What does that mean for Bishop? Has he been arrested?” I asked, scared to be hopeful.
“An arrest warrant has been issued for Bishop Romano,” Killian confirmed, his voice growing rough. “But he went into hiding. He’s one of the most wanted fugitives in America right now. The FBI is on him and it doesn’t matter where he hides, the whole country is looking for him.”
I nodded slowly, trying to process all of what he just told me.
Though my wound burned fiercely, my chest ached for a whole other reason. I thought of the cruel death that my mother and sister suffered… only because Bishop’s ego had been bruised. My mother might have cheated, but the penalty of that should have never been death.
I licked my dry lips, focusing on Killian again. “If Bishop isn’t my father…then who is?” I questioned hoarsely. “He said that my mother had an affair with her bodyguard, but where will I find him? I don’t know if he is even alive. Knowing Bishop now for who he truly is, he would have already hunted my real father down.”
Killian leaned forward, brushing his lips over my furrowed brow. He kissed my forehead with such tenderness that it brought tears to my eyes. “He was closer than you would think. Always has been,” he muttered. “Your father is here, waiting for you to wake up.”
“What?” I breathed shakily. “You found my father?”
“Well, not exactly. He found you, Princess.”
“You’re not making any sense,” I whispered, my heart pounding and blood rushing between my ears.
Instead of responding, Killian quickly sent out a text.
A moment later, the door to my hospital room opened. A man walked in, dressed in a suit. Tall, strong hands and a familiar face, eyes that I recognized and a smile I knew so well.