Something in me settled the moment my hand slid over Tess’s. I hoped somewhere deep down she knew I was there with her.
“Thanks, Elena.” I took the seat at the same time Ashton walked over, the question clear in his eyes. I handed over the keys.
“It’s partially handled.” Elena knew what our family did and there was no doubt she understood that whoever hurt Tess had paid dearly.
“Do you need anything?”
I shook my head. The only thing I wanted at the moment he couldn’t give me. I’d worry about all of the other shit when I knew Tess was okay.
He laid a hand on my shoulder. “Call if you need me for any reason. We’ll stop by Mom and Dad’s on the way home.”
“Thank you.”
And I was thankful that he understood. That I wouldn’t have to explain everything we’d learned from Ray. No doubt Dad was already arranging security for Mom, Elena, and Tess. All I wanted was to stay and take care of the woman who held my heart.
CHAPTER 28
Theresa
The pain was incessant. Intense. Unrelenting. It radiated from my toes to the ends of my hair and I would have given anything to make it stop. The sounds around me weren’t familiar, but fear kept my eyes shut tight. The last thing I remembered was walking into my kitchen to get another beed and something connecting with the back of my head.
“Hello Tess.”
If whoever had done it was still there, I didn’t want to give them any reason to hit me again.
The pain was becoming too much and I couldn’t stop the movement of my body as I braced against the onslaught of pain.
“Tess?” The voice was one I recognized. But it was soft, sweet. I had never heard that tone in his voice before.
Fingers slid across my face in a gentle caress. “Tess, if you can hear me, please open your eyes.”
The command in his request had me feeling safe for the first time since I’d gone home.
Miller.
Slowly, I complied. The room was bright, lit by garish strip lights, and I had to wait for my eyes to adjust before I could see the haggard look that graced Miller’s face. Large dark circles sat under his eyes, his brow furrowed. The five o’clock shadow he sported told me it had been at least a few days since he had last shaved. But that didn’t make sense because I’d only seen him earlier.
Hadn’t I?
“Where—” My voice was rough, almost hoarse, and I couldn’t finish my sentence. Miller knew what I was asking, though, and his eyes were trained on my face as he spoke, waiting for some kind of reaction.
“St. Luke’s. You’ve been out for three days.”
Three days?
“I rem—”
He covered my lips with his finger. “Don’t speak. I want the doctor to check you out first. Then we’ll figure out what the fuck happened.”
Before another word could leave my mouth, he walked over to the door and demanded the nurse get the doctor. She scowled at him when he wouldn’t move from the doorway. Finally, she pushed past him to enter the room.
“Miss Carner, how are you feeling?” the nurse asked, throwing a glare over her shoulder.
I had a feeling Miller had caused more than a little trouble for the staff. I’d give him shit for his behavior, but the shooting pains that were racing through my body were taking most of my focus.
Glancing down I saw a white cast, covering my arm all the way up to my elbow. My legs were covered by the sheet so I couldn’t see what was causing the heavy, dead feeling in them. Given the state of my arm, I was slightly grateful. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to take everything in all at once. I was already starting to feel lightheaded. I tilted my head to one side to look under the sheet but the movement was too much. I could feel something tight wrapped around my chest, though.
“Like someone threw me down a flight of stairs.” My voice was still weak, but at least I could get the words out.
“This is no time to joke,” Miller snapped, walking over to the other side of the bed and taking my good hand in his.
“Mr. Hawes, tone it down. You’re not helping the situation.”
A man with graying hair walked through the door. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Miller’s shoulders relax, if only slightly. While stereotypical, the white lab coat was a pretty good indication that this was the doctor in charge of my care.
“Miss Carner, glad to have you back with us. Can you tell me where you are having pain?”
“Everywhere,” I said, unsure where to start.
“Can you be more specific?”
I paused for a second. “Answer, the goddamn question, Tess,” Miller snapped.
There were lines of strain around his eyes. I knew he was upset, that didn’t give him a right to be an asshole to anyone, especially me.