Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
GUS
G us stepped into the hospital room where Brittany was waiting to be released, two cups of tea in his hands. She dressed in the clothes she had been wearing when they got there, staring at the floor. When she heard him, she looked up, the ghost of a smile on her face.
“I was wondering where you got off to.”
“Heard the café had a secret stash of tea. Thought we’d indulge.”
She smiled, wincing slightly, and Gus felt rage all over again for what that asshole had done. He gave her a searching glance.
“What did the doctor say?”
Brittany grimaced. “Cracked ribs. Some bruises and scrapes. Nothing that won’t heal with some patience and TLC.”
Relief rushed through Gus, even as his eyes landed on the bruising on her neck, his thoughts dwelling on what could’ve happened if he didn’t get to Brittany in time. His blood running cold.
Brittany’s hand landed on his, gently squeezing. “Doc says I’m good to go.”
“Then let’s get out of here.”
Brittany had refused the ambulance ride but agreed to let Gus take her to the emergency department. Kyle, the stalker, had been taken into custody, and was already confessing to everything, from spoofing his number to trick Gus, to breaking into his condo and attacking Brittany. Apparently, Brittany wasn’t the first woman he had done this to, but she was the first he had become physically violent with. And now he was going to prison for as long as the prosecutor could manage.
Gus couldn’t remember the last time he had felt such terror than coming home to find his door busted open, and a man on top of Brittany, his hands choking her. When Brittany told him Kyle had pretended to be Curtis, the flames of anger had entered Gus’s brain and still hadn’t let him go. If she hadn’t already met Curtis, Gus couldn’t imagine how this night would be ending. After the police had taken away Kyle in handcuffs, a quick search of the building had found Curtis in the parking garage, knocked out with a head wound and stuffed into his car. Kyle had apparently been very thorough in his plan to kidnap Brittany.
The thought made Gus shudder as they walked out of the hospital.
“How’s your door looking?” she asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.
“I’ve got a replacement coming tomorrow, along with some new fancy locks.”
She nodded, and his mind raced.
“Are you okay with going back to the condo? If not, I can get us a hotel room somewhere without the memories.”
Gus didn’t want to think what it would mean to him if she didn’t want to go back to his place. He’d have to sell it, find somewhere new, maybe somewhere closer to Los Angeles.
“I’d prefer the condo. All my stuff is there. That asshole doesn’t get to ruin your home.”
Relief flooded him, and they fell into silence as they stepped outside, Gus leading her to where he had parked. He helped her in, buckling her seat belt for her in a way that had her smirking at him.
“I’m not an invalid.”
“No, you’re not. You’re a strong, resourceful, powerful woman that I consider a privilege to take care of. And since you scared twenty years off my life tonight, you’re going to indulge me in my helicoptering for a few days.”
Brittany nodded, still smiling, and he climbed in the driver’s seat, taking her hand as he drove them out of the parking lot.
“I called Min to tell her what happened,” he told her. “Fair warning, I convinced her not to come over tonight, but you will absolutely be bombarded tomorrow.”
“Fuck. She’s an early riser, too.”
“I told her to bring breakfast.”
They rode in silence until he parked in his building’s garage. He shut off the engine, not making a move to leave, and Brittany must have sensed his mood.
“What is it?”
“I almost lost you. Because I was an idiot. I can’t stand that I let you down.”
Her brow furrowed. “You didn’t let me down. You left me in the safest place you knew and were gone less than an hour. You did everything. I’m grateful to you, Gus. Don’t you dare beat yourself up.”
“A little late for that, killer.”
He stepped out of the car before she could answer, walking around it to the passenger side to open her door and help her out. They made it all the way to the door, where the locksmith had rigged up a solution until Gus could get a new door installed.
Gus paused, wanting to take this slow.
“Hey, look at me.” He cupped Brittany’s chin and waited for her eyes to meet his. “I’m here with you. I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to do this together. And if at any point you change your mind and want to go somewhere else, you say the word. Got me?”
She took a deep breath and nodded.
“I’m good. Let’s do this.”
He took her hand again, and pulled out his key, unlocking the makeshift lock.
Inside was still a mess from both the attack and from the police presence afterward. The interior door to the bedroom was still broken, but the locksmith had clearly done what he could to clean it up.
Gus watched Brittany closely for any sign of distress. But so far, she was taking in the scene, studying the wreckage from the attack with a clinical air. She moved toward the bedroom and looked in, surveying the damage.
“It’s crazy,” she said. “At the time it felt like the entire world was falling apart. But aside from the doors and some of your things, it’s like nothing happened.”
“You good?”
She took a deep breath before nodding. “I’m good. I’ll help you clean.”
“No. You’ll sit on the couch under a blanket with a fresh cup of tea, watching whatever dumb dating show you want while I clean.”
Her lips twitched. “Yes, boss.”
And that’s exactly what she did. Gus tucked the blanket around her, made her tea with honey to help her throat, and went to work righting the condo. Soon, the only evidence that something had happened were the doors. When he was finally done, he sat on the couch, pulling Brittany into his lap, draping her legs over his and tucking her into his side.
“This is nice,” she said. And it was there, with her in his lap, her warmth slowly sinking into him, her body loose with relaxation, that it hit Gus exactly how close he had come to losing her.
He attempted levity. “Not to be dramatic, but I’m going to be attached to your hip from now on. To an annoying degree. Better get used to it.”
“Okay, but Theo’s never going to let us use the restroom again.”
He couldn’t bring himself to laugh, just held Brittany tighter, and she seemed to realize something was going on.
“Hey,” she said softly. “I’m okay. You made it in time.”
“I almost lost you.” His voice broke, but Gus couldn’t find it in himself to care. This woman had become so important, had become everything good in his life, and he almost lost her. He couldn’t stand the thought, couldn’t think of what this day would’ve looked like if he had shown up five minutes later than he did.
“But you didn’t.” She sat up, curling her hand around his neck. “You showed up when I needed you.”
“Brittany, I don’t know where this leaves us. I don’t know what’s going to happen after today, or after the convention, or anything. But I need you in my life. You’re essential.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “Is this the adrenaline talking?”
“No, this is me. Terrified at how bleak my life almost became because the woman I love was attacked and almost killed. Adrenaline is just a nice bonus.”
She kept staring at him, her eyes darting from one eye to the other.
“Say it again.”
“What?”
“That you love me.”
Gus didn’t hesitate.
“Brittany, I love you. And it may seem fast, but I’m suspecting that I’ve loved you since I met you. And I know you love me too, but you don’t have to say it yet if you don’t want to. It’s enough that you’re here, in my arms, letting me hold you after this terrible fucking day.”
She smiled then, big and wide in a way that made Gus’s heart turn over.
“I might love you, too,” she whispered.
He kissed her, keeping it soft, sweet. Letting her know through the kiss how much he cherished her, adored her, worshipped her, and could feel the tension leave his body the longer it went on. He was home, right where he was supposed to be, with the woman he loved, and he was going to enjoy it for as long as he could.