“Thank you,” Ash said in a low voice. “I appreciate all you’ve done for her.”
“That’s my job, Mr. McIntyre,” she said in a cheerful voice. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have other patients to attend. If you like I’ll walk you back and show you which room she’s in.”
Ash turned to Gabe and Jace. “Are you going to let Mia and Bethany know what happened? They’ll be worried about Josie.”
“We’ll let them know,” Jace said. “I’ll have Kaden drive them here and they’ll stay with us until we leave.”
Ash nodded and then turned back to follow the doctor to Josie’s room.
When he walked into the small cubicle where Josie was, he sucked in his breath and tears burned the corners of his eyes. It hurt to breathe. His chest was so tight that his hand automatically came up to rub it, trying to rid himself of the discomfort.
“Jesus,” he whispered.
It gutted him that she was lying in a hospital bed all because some asshole had an ax to grind with him and Gabe and Jace. He went to her bedside and tentatively reached out a hand to stroke her forehead. He smoothed her hair back and then leaned down to brush his lips across her brow.
“I love you,” he murmured. “I’m here. With you, just like I said I’d be. I’ll always be here, Josie. You and me are forever, baby. Not letting go of that.”
She lay perfectly still, the only sound the low hum of the machine that made oxygen flow through the mask over her face and the steady beeping of the heart monitor. She looked so fragile, bruised and swollen. The blood had been cleaned away, but the dark purpling of the bruises was already vivid against her pale skin.
He touched her neck where the collar he’d given her had rested. It looked bare. He wanted that collar back around her neck. Wanted his ring on her finger and her promise to marry him. He wanted to tie her to him in ways she’d never escape. But they’d be the most loving, silken ties in the world.
He’d pamper her, cherish her, adore her every single day of his life.
He stood at her bedside for two hours, only moving when one of the nurses came in to check on her. And then finally, they came to move her to ICU.
To his frustration they told him it would be a while before he was allowed back to see her. But that was okay because he had the problem of Charles Willis to take care of. The sooner he was out of the picture, the sooner they could all relax and not worry that Mia or Bethany would be next.
After updating Gabe, Jace, Mia and Bethany on Josie’s condition and exacting a promise from them to stay with Josie until he returned, he strode out of the hospital, determined to seek vengeance on the bastard who’d put Josie there.
chapter thirty-three
Pain. It came to her piercing like a nail being driven into her head by a hammer. She hurt everywhere. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to open her eyes.
There were voices, or at least one voice. It was hard to tell because there was a roaring in her ears she couldn’t make go away.
And then a warm, gentle hand on her forehead. A kiss. Sweet, soft words whispered over her skin. She gave a little sigh and promptly regretted it because pain speared through her chest.
“H-hurts,” she said in a pitiful voice that she wasn’t even sure was actually audible.
“I know it does, baby. The nurse is coming to give you something for pain.”
“Ash?” she whispered.
“Yes, darling, it’s me. Open those pretty eyes and you’ll see me right here.”
She tried. She really did. But her eyes wouldn’t cooperate and it hurt to try and force the issue.
“Can’t,” she managed to get past stiff, swollen lips.
Again he pressed his lips to her brow and she felt his hand in her hair. That felt nice. The only part of her that wasn’t hurting.