“They are getting rooms ready now,” Edmund said.
“Good. And we can stay?” I asked.
“Yes. I already let them know that Theo and Toll are going to have guests.”
“And security,” I said.
“You think that is necessary?” he asked, tensing.
“I don’t know. But I’m not taking chances with her.”
“If you can’t find anyone, I will hire someone.”
“It’s already set up. I also have someone on the way to your guest house to take the piglet and kitten to take care of them while Theo is in here.”
“Okay. Good to know. I will call my aide,” he said, getting up, and moving out into the hallway to make the call.
The rest of the night was much the same.
Theo and Toll moved upstairs.
Edmund and I took turns making calls and sitting at her bedside while she slept.
Danny and Fallon did the same for Toll.
Edmund was passed out on the armchair they’d brought in, and I was dozing in and out of sleep in the uncomfortable chair beside the bed when Theo’s hand landed on my head, fingers scrubbing at my scalp.
“Hey you,” I said, sitting up to look at her.
“You’re still here.”
“Of course I am. So is your dad. But the night caught up with him,” I told her, gesturing over toward the window where he was asleep under a paper-thin blanket.
“Let him sleep. He needs it,” she said, reaching to turn her hand under mine, then slipping her fingers between.
“I didn’t know who else to call,” she admitted.
“Glad it was me,” I told her, pulling her hand up so I could press a kiss there. “You know, a wise man told me that when you were awake, I should probably let you know that I’ve got more than casual feelings toward you.”
“That does sound like a wise man,” she agreed, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Did he also tell you to be the kind of guy who is going to bring me some baked goods to help me feel better?”
“Baby, when would I ever need someone to tell me to pick up some food?”
The little smile she gave me then told me that while shit wasn’t great yet, that it was all going to be okay eventually.
Especially after I found the fucker who did this to her.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Theo
The overprotective men in my life wanted me to stay a second day, leaving me to marvel over the fact that I could even say that I had such kind of men in my life.
I mean, I was the woman who’d once dated a man who’d broken up with me because I’d gotten my period and was crampy and didn’t want to fuck him anyway.
But there I was, having two men trying to tell me that I needed to rest and let myself recover.
“I can recover just fine at home,” I insisted. “Better, even, since no one would be waking me up with slamming doors or crying out for meds. Besides, I want to see Rosita and Marie.”
I knew they were in good hands, better ones even, since Andi was a vet, but I couldn’t help but worry about them.
“Theodora, I really don’t think that going back to the guest house is wise,” my father insisted. “The doctor did say you could be a bit unsteady for a while. You should not be sleeping up in that loft without a wall to keep you safe.”
“Kinda gotta agree with your old man here,” Dezi said, nodding.
“Come up to the house,” my father insisted. “Before you object, there is an entire wing that is not being used, that hasn’t been used in years. You will have all the privacy you could want. It even has it’s own kitchenette, so Dezi can easily get you anything you could need.”
“Dezi?” I asked, looking over at him, sure I’d misinterpreted what he was saying.
“We’re all adults here,” my father said, shaking his head like I was being silly. “You will need someone to take care of you for a few days still. And as much as I would like to offer the services, I have been needing my own care as well. So Dezi can take over. And if he is busy, I will hire another nurse.”
“I got it,” Dezi said immediately, not a second of hesitation. Seeming almost, well, eager.
“But what about—“ I started.
“The pig and cat are, of course, welcome as well,” my father cut me off.
“See? He’s got it all figured out,” Dezi said, reaching to grab my bottle of water off the nightstand because, apparently, I was incapable of a task as simple as reaching.
I’d have been annoyed if I didn’t find it so sweet.
“I will go get the doctor to draw up the discharge papers,” my father said, looking pleased that I wasn’t putting up more of a fight.
“Can I go see Toll while they figure that out?” I asked, more concerned about him than I was about myself.