Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 114647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
“Room please.” I instructed Sam, turning my face away from James sprawled body and into Sam’s chest. The burst of pain at my jaw hitting his chest was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.
He carried me away, and I took one last glance at the perfect muscles of James’ arms, the ripped sculpture of his chest, and the white bandage that bisected his midsection. “What had happened to him?”
I was in the hall before Sam answered the question that I wasn’t aware I’d voiced. “He got shot on the way to work two days ago. Right about the time you were taken by Glen.”
At the mention of Glen’s name, I shuttered. “Is he dead?”
The hope in my voice must have registered with Sam, but his grimace shot that hope to hell. “Sorry, Shiloh.”
The smooth cadence of his voice, followed by the rhythmic walking made my eyes heavy, and it was all I could do to stay awake. Sam placed me gently on the bed, adjusting all the lines and covers before he started to back away.
“Don’t leave.” I pleaded.
“Okay.” He agreed, and then I was asleep.
My dreams were anything but happy. They were filled with a crazed Glen trying to re-break my jaw, James and another woman holding their child, as well as Janie in the peripheral, mad that I never came back again.
“What are you doing out of bed?” The nasty nurse from earlier asked.
My eyes blinked open, and I turned my head until I got a face full of chest.
It wasn’t the same chest that I’d cried myself to sleep against earlier, either. No this one was the one I loved. The one that had a huge bandage across his chest.
He was on his side lying next to me. One of James’ dog tags was caught haphazardly in the gauze, while the other dangled free against his pec.
His large arm was slung across my body, holding me in my sleep.
“Are you awake yet, sleepy head?” James’ chest rumbled.
“No.” I snapped, or tried to, anyway.
It came out more like ‘non’ and spit dribbled down my chin, which inevitably ran down his chest shortly after. I’d forgotten about my wired jaw for a split second, but it didn’t let me forget it. His laughter startled me out of my mortification, and I looked up as he raised his arm, wiping the slobber off his chest, and then on the bed sheet before bringing his hand up to my hair.
“Where’d you go earlier?” He asked softly, ignoring the crabby nurse at our backs.
“When?” I asked.
“Shin?” He asked, pulling back, confused in my answer.
His hand went down towards the bottom of the bed, lifting the covers from my feet. His body remained in place, the cords of his neck straining with the effort to remain as still as possible
My off-white cast poked free, followed by my hospital-issued faded blue non-slip sock.
“James.” I called, wanting his eyes.
“Mr. Allen, I’ve got a chair for you.” The nurse urged tightly.
The pain was evident in his face as he moved, and I knew the movement to check on me was causing him discomfort, but he was too worried about something that was wrong with me rather than being worried about what he was doing to himself.
When he finally looked up and caught my eyes, I reached for his hand.
He gave me his hand, and I pulled it up until my head rested on our clasped hands.
His eyes went soft, and he smiled at me. “Are you okay?”
Knowing that we just needed to get the elephant out of the closet, I asked. “Baby?”
I think he purposefully misheard, because his eyes left mine, focusing on something above my head. “Janie’s fine. Shaken up, and understandably so, but she’s staying with Grammy and Grampy Todd.”
“I’m going to get an orderly to help you back in bed, Mr. Allen.” The nurse said quickly before leaving the room after she made her third attempt to get James off the bed and into the waiting wheelchair.
I snickered at the emphasis on Grampy, but didn’t give him a chance to retreat. My hand untangled from his, and I took a hold of his beard, holding on tightly so he couldn’t look away when I asked my next question.
“James...baby?” I asked again.
He sighed. “Fuck me.”
I didn’t let him go, and he didn’t try to turn his head again. “Please?”
“You’re hungry for peas?” He asked with a smile turning up the corners of his mouth.
I yanked hard on the beard and he winced, but his smile didn’t wane. “Did your brother ever really tell you what we do?”
I thought about what my brother did as a mechanic and custom bike designer. “Bikes?” I asked, confused.
He shook his head.
“Alright, let me tell you, but don’t interrupt me until I get it all out, okay? Please?” He asked softly.
At my nod, he continued.
“We’re motorcycle mechanics, builders, and designers. Although, that’s our day business. On the side, we help battered women escape dangerous and volatile situations. We’ve relocated thirty-five women. Teal, the woman you overheard the phone call about earlier, was one of those women. With me so far?” He asked.
I nodded.
“Teal knew she was pregnant before she was relocated. For all intents and purposes, though, that child is mine. I made that promise to her before she left that if something happened to her, I would take over custody of the child and do everything in my power to keep the child out of the hands of her ex-husband, and I’ll stick by it. I know the situation isn’t ideal, but there isn’t one single thing I can do about it. Nor would I want to. If it keeps an innocent child out of the clutches of a monster, then that’s the way it’s going to be.” James rasped.
Well, shit. Isn’t that part of who I am as well? To make sure that children are always put first? Why would this be any different? Then the truth hit me. If he had another baby, he wouldn’t want another one to deal with...would he?