“I should have been there sooner.”
“No, you shouldn’t have been there at all. I put you at risk—”
“No, you put me right where I should have been. Trying to protect you. The only thing I regret is failing you.”
“You didn’t fail me, Chase. Do you even remember? You saved Anna’s life. Those bullets were meant for her. You pushed her away and took them for yourself.”
The memory of that night is still foggy. Only bits and pieces are coming back to me. What I don’t know is what happened after that. “What happened afterwards? Were you hurt? Did she…?” I scan her for bandages or visible wounds and I cuss when I see a bandage on the side of her head.
“It’s not as bad as it looks. Minor concussion. A nice gash in the side of my—”
“I’m going to fucking—”
“She’s dead.”
There’s an ache inside my chest, worse than the bullet holes. God, what did she go through? I cup her cheek again. “Angel, what happened?” It guts me to watch her eyes dull. There’s fear, uncertainty, guilt written all over her beautiful face.
“I…can’t talk about it right now. It’s too—”
“Don’t. I don’t need to know. Just that you’re safe.”
“Look who’s awake.” Bridget shifts to face the man entering the room. “Chase, how are you feeling?”
“Better if I weren’t wearing a dress.” Bridget turns, giving me the behave look. “I feel like I’ve been shot.”
“Well, you have been. You’re tough, though.”
I look at Bridge and wink. “Hear that? Tough.”
“Would you knock it off?” If it gets me that beautiful smile, never.
The doctor approaches, looking at my chart. “It’s a great thing to see you awake, but I do have to ask the young lady to step out. I’ll need to do a full exam.”
I grab at her hand, not wanting her to leave.
She turns and pats mine. “It’s okay. I’ll be right outside. Plus, I think there’s a group of sappy boys out there who would love to know you’re awake.”
“Maybe wait it out a bit, so they’re extra nice to me. Maybe tell them to take care of all my unpaid bar tabs and—”
“Chase.”
“Or not. But don’t go far. As soon as I get clearance from the doc over here, I’m going to need you to do the real exam.”
Her cheeks flush as the doc chuckles. She gets up, trying not to look embarrassed. “He’s all yours. Good luck with him. He’s a pain.” Then she turns to me. “And for the record, when you get cleared, you’re playing the bad patient this time.” I feel like I haven’t smiled in ages. It almost hurts, but damn does she make me happy.
I keep my eye on her until she disappears out of the room.
“Okay, Doc. Let’s get to the important stuff. When can you clear me to have sex?”
Chapter 29
Bridget
“Will you at least bathe me?”
“Chase, knock it off.”
“What? If the doc said I can’t let you ravish me for two to three weeks, which I find stupid since my dick wasn’t shot?”
“Chase!”
“I’m serious, how am I supposed to be near you and keep to myself? I want to bend you over this hospital bed as we speak. Should we try it?” He winks at me, and I’m almost tempted to give in. I miss him so much, there’s nothing I want more than him inside me again.
“This whole bad patient thing is going to a whole new level.”
“Then make me better.”
I roll my eyes. This guy never quits. His hospital room door opens, and we both gaze in that direction. My stomach drops when Jonathon walks in.
“You’re looking well,” he begins, looking at Chase.
“Yeah, finally getting released today. Don’t plan on seeing this place again anytime soon. Well, unless they add beer and burgers to the menu. That Jell-O shit is for the birds.”
Jonathon barely smiles at his banter. His attention turns to me. “How are you?”
I lick my lips, suddenly nervous. I haven’t seen or spoken to him since the first day in the hospital. I know Anna is still refusing to speak. I’ve gone to see her a few times, but she’s supervised like a hawk, so it’s been hard to talk with her in private. I told her everything was going to be okay. That I would always protect her. But I’m not sure if her little mind comprehends. I’m even less sure the police aren’t going to barge through this door and arrest me for tampering with evidence, not to mention lying. But I did what I thought needed to be done. It was self-defense no matter who pulled the trigger. I refuse to put that burden on her. She saved both our lives.
“I’m…good.”
He stares at me, trying to break me down. And through the cracks, he knows I’m holding back. But the way his gaze holds mine, he doesn’t need a confession to know the truth. Did I do the right thing? Would he want his daughter holding on to such a dark secret? I promised him I would keep her safe, and that’s what I’m doing.