The Billionaire Babe

42. AJ

My body feels heavy, and I groan as I move my head to the side.

“Don’t move too much,” I hear Val say softly from next to me. Her voice is like an angel, and my body, although sore, immediately relaxes having her with me.

“I feel like I have been hit by a truck,” I murmur, trying to get a gauge on what’s wrong with me.

“Not a truck, but you did just get out of surgery,” she says, and I open my eyes. I squint, looking at her perched on a chair that she has pulled right up to the bed. Her hands hold one of mine. The room is white, stark. The bed linen is scratchy. I am in the hospital, that much is clear.

“No wonder I can’t move my arm,” I say, looking across to my other arm that is wrapped from shoulder to wrist and in a sling across my body. I wiggle my toes and move my legs. They feel heavy, but otherwise, they move okay.

“No other injuries.”

I turn my head back and look at her. I let my eyes wander from her head, down her body, and back again. She looks tired, like she has been crying, but she is still beautiful to me.

“You alright?” I ask, praying she didn’t take a hit.

“I’m fine. My bodyguard jumped right in front of the gun and took two bullets for me.” Lowering her eyes, she takes a big, shaky breath in. I squeeze her hands, and her eyes shoot back to mine.

“Just doing my job.” Watching her, she huffs out a laugh as a tear runs down her cheek.

“Don’t cry, sweetheart. We are okay,” I tell her, trying to comfort her, the stress of the entire situation now overflowing.

“I just saw you lying there, blood coming from your chest. I was so scared,” she whispers as another tear falls. I reach up with my good hand and cup her face, wiping the tears away with my thumb. “I just didn’t know what else to do. We got the police involved; we took helicopters to Wilmington…”

“Come here,” I tell her as I move to the side a little.

“AJ. Stop, you shouldn’t move.” Standing up, she looks worried.

“Come here, Val. Lie with me.”

“Lie with you?” she asks, taking in my injury as she bites her lip.

“Come here,” I growl, and she finally lets go of a breath and climbs onto the bed. It isn’t big enough for us both, but I pull her in tight, our bodies sandwiched against each other, and I feel her body relax into mine.

“Just don’t ever jump in front of a gun for me again, okay?” she says, trying to pull herself together.

“That’s a promise I am not making to you, sweetheart,” I tell her honestly. “What happened to my mom?” I ask her, even though I already know the answer. Val’s head buries into my chest, and my lips immediately find the top of her head. Her rose scent wraps up my nose, and I take a deep breath, her hair tickling my chin. I feel my throat getting a little tight, my heart thudding hard. I close my eyes, still picturing her sitting in the armchair, and I swallow roughly, trying to push the sadness down. I wait for the words from Val, needing the confirmation.

“She passed away. I’m so sorry, AJ. She had an overdose.” I feel her tears seep through my shirt, so I pull her tighter. “Brady and I organized a funeral home to look after things, and they are waiting for you to make some decisions.”

I don”t have words. I feel heartbroken since it was my mom. But I also feel relieved. She is finally at peace and no longer chased by her demons. I kiss Val’s head again, feeling grateful to have her by my side, knowing that as sad and low as we feel now, we still have each other.

“Brady, Cody, and I have been talking with the police. They want to interview you.”

I don’t know how long I have been here, but I’d assume they would want to speak to me at some point.

“And your father?” I ask, my nostrils flaring, thinking about that man and all that he has taken from me and tried to take from his daughter. My shoulders stiffen, but I slowly relax again as I feel Val’s fingers run up my bare chest. I trail my hand up and down her arm, and I can see her hand shake a little.

“He, ahh…” She pauses as she weeps. Again, I pull her even tighter, wishing I could take away all her pain. She clears her throat and continues. “He died at the scene. Police shot him twice in the chest after he shot two bullets into you. There will be a private burial later this week. George is helping me manage it.”

I don’t know George well, but I am extremely grateful for him and everything he has done for Val.

“It will be okay, sweetheart. I got you,” I tell her, needing her to know that I will always be by her side and there for her whenever she needs me. Losing a parent is hard. Couple that with the past few months that Val has experienced, and it is a wonder she is still standing.

“And Van Cleef Corp?” I ask, the words she was saying at the trailer park now coming back to me. “You got a trust fund?”

She slowly explains everything that she and George found out and talks to me about Dennis.

“The board has agreed to meet in sixty days to talk over the change of leadership. They will take care of the business for me now as I get my life together. I am confident by then things will be a little more sorted.” There is obviously a lot we need to do between now and then, but I like her optimism.

“So you want me to move in, then?” I smile against her.

“I never want you to leave me again.” My reaction is instant as I pull her even closer to my side. My shoulder aches, the throbbing increasing, but I don’t care. All I care about is this woman. Everything else is a distant second.

“I can promise you something else, Val,” I tell her, and she takes a breath.

“What’s that?” she asks in anticipation.

“Whether in your penthouse or a shitty apartment on the other side of town, I promise that wherever you are is where I will be,” I say firmly, leaving no room for questions.

“I love you, AJ.” She looks up at me, and I see all that love shining in her eyes.

“I love you, sweetheart,” I tell her, then I take her lips with mine.