I clocked back in to the doc when he started asking me questions that had fuck all to do with why my wife was lying there broken. "How long have you two been married sir, if you don't mind me asking?"
"A little less than a week; why?" What the fuck is it to you asshole?
"Well it's just that she's so young..." I gave him a fuck you look and had him backtracking fast.
With his hands out in front of him he was quick to explain. The way I felt right now I wouldn't mind planting my fist in his face for being stupid. Since when is it a doctor's place, to ask questions like that? "You got something to say to me you fuck?"
"No, no, don't get me wrong, it's just that she's very early in her pregnancy..."
I bit my fist and fell back as his words pummeled me like blows. Pregnant, fuck I hadn't even thought...I went to her side, tears blinding me as I checked her over.
"Is the baby safe?"
"For now it looks that way, sometimes it happens like this, the fetus is too small to suffer. Sometimes it's too small to survive, since he or she is only a few days we'll monitor but it looks good.
"Are you sure she's pregnant, I mean how can you tell you just said she's only a few days, doesn't she need to be weeks or months at least?"
"No we've made progress there in the last few years, we're now able to tell in less than a week after the fact in some cases."
"Leave us." I waited until he left the room before taking my seat in the chair next to her bed. With my hand on her flat stomach and my lips next to her ear I made the three of us a promise.
"Nothing like this will ever happen again. I will never allow anyone to harm us again, I stake my life on that."
Chapter 15
My blood ran cold as I listened to the latest tapes my guys had brought me before I'd boarded the plane.
My wife was laying in a coma, bruised and battered as I listened through the headphones, her hand clasped tightly in mine.
‘I could give a fuck about your little slut of a daughter, I just want her out of Gideon's life, but since you don't seem to care one way or the other either, I think I'll just go ahead and make it permanent.'
‘Kill the little bitch for all I care, she's damaged goods now anyway, she has no reason to live, doesn't serve a purpose anymore, does that answer your question Miss. Halston?'
To say I was pissed would be a vast understatement there was no limit to what I would do to make them pay. My men were already on the hunt but now I had new orders for them. I squeezed her hand in mine reassuring myself that she was here and she was safe from them. If I had to take her everywhere with me for the rest of her fucking life no one would touch her unless they went through me.
I sat next to her hospital bed, her hand in mine as I prayed. I prayed for her, our unborn child, and for forgiveness for what I was about to do.
"Ashley baby please wake up." I kissed her cold lips, my heart hurting. It had been hours and still nothing. The stupid fuck doctor said it was just her body's way of protecting itself whatever the fuck that meant, but I didn't like it. "Come on baby I need to see your pretty eyes." I felt helpless just sitting there doing nothing when I wanted to be out there hunting the fuckers myself. Instead I had to wait for word from my men. I couldn't leave her, wouldn't leave her here like this unprotected even though I had men outside her door. I was afraid to even take my eyes off of her for a second.
How the fuck had I let this happen? How had I not sensed the threat from Lynn? I was so busy focusing on the danger from Sanders that I hadn't given thought to what I might be bringing into her life and it had almost cost her, cost us both. A baby, I can't even get my mind around that, two innocents to protect. I cleared my mind and settled into the chair with my head back. I was suddenly very tired. I needed to shut my mind off for now, there was nothing more I could do tonight except wait for my Blossom to wake up and tell me she was going to be okay.
I felt her fingers twitch in mine and was up and over her in a flash.
"Blossom...come on baby, come back to your Gideon." I kissed her face so she would feel me, so my touch would be the first thing she felt when she came to. She came to slowly, her face scrunching up in pain.
" Gideon? It hurts."
"I know baby, I'll get the doctor." I used the call button instead of running out the door screaming the place down like I wanted to.
"I love you baby, you scared the shit outta me, you with me now?"
"My head hurts, everything hurts."
"No don't move your doctor should be here any minute."
The medical team came in, not just the nurse because I'd made it very clear to the doctor that she was to get the best attention and care. Nothing against nurses, but a young girl in the extreme early stages of pregnancy coming out of a coma needed the attention of a doctor.
The first one that even hinted at me leaving the room while they did their thing got a look that pretty much set the precedent for the others.
No fucking way.
I held her hand as they prodded and poked her studying her eyes and responses. She cried for pain but they could only give her the lightest dosage because of the fetus.
Seeing her in that much pain was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I held my peace though and never once did I let on to the rage that was growing hotter inside me.
When they were done and the last one had left I climbed up on to the bed with her being extra careful not to jostle her. Maneuvering her so that her head was on my chest I sang to her until she fell asleep. She was in too much pain to stay awake and I guess whatever they'd dosed her up with was putting her out. I wanted her to stay awake and talk to me. I needed to hear her voice to hear her laugh. Now that I knew she was okay it seems my mind and my heart let go. I felt the fear I hadn't been aware of engulf me, the fear of never seeing her beautiful face again. Never waking up next to her holding her loving her.
The tear tracks on her cheeks was the last straw, as soon as I was sure she was asleep I placed the call.
"Did you find her yet?"
"We've got her in our sights, just waiting for the right time to move."
"I want both her legs and wrists broken then throw her on the sidewalk outside Sanders' house."
"Breathing?"
"For now yes, I want her to suffer and I want her to know why she's suffering.
"Do we leave a note?"
"No, he'll get the message."
I hung up the phone without an ounce of remorse. The only thing left was Sanders and Starks. I had to get them in a way that wouldn't come back on my wife. I didn't want her name in anyway associated with this, of course there was bound to be hoopla following the whole Lynn thing. She's from a well-to-do family, to be found on the streets bloody and broken wouldn't go unnoticed unless the cop was clever enough to hide her before anyone saw her lying in front of his house.
I wanted to expose her for the monster she was but there was no way to do that without getting Blossom's name involved and that I wouldn't do so I have to find another way. I'm going to totally destroy her before I finish her off. She'd almost killed my wife and my fucking kid I want to look her in the eye while I choke the fucking life out of her.
There were voices outside before the door was gently opened and mom and dad came in. I'd forgotten to call them after asking dad for the information earlier but I should've known they'd show. I figure Ashley could use a mother's touch poor baby so it was good they were here.
"Hi son how is she?" Mom whispered from the door her eyes glued to her new daughter in law.
"Come in mom, dad, thanks for coming...this is my Blossom."
Mom and dad stood next to her bed gazing down at her.
"Oh Gideon, she's beautiful." Mom brushed Blossom's hair gently with her fingers as dad and I looked on.
"Thank you." I smiled my first smile since I'd kissed her goodbye this morning.
"Your sister will be here tomorrow."
"She doesn't have to do that mom."
"Of course she does, we're family that's what family does in times like these."
"Okay mom, thanks." I walked around the bed so I could kiss her in gratitude.
"Mom, dad, there is something you should know...Blossom's pregnant."
"Oh dear, is the baby okay isn't it too soon to tell, or did you...?"
"No mom the doctor says she's just a few days. I thought it was too soon to tell too but he assures me that she is. He says the baby's okay so far but they'll keep monitoring just to be on the safe side."