Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Gideon
Six hours. That was how long I was in the waiting room without any news on Penn—I didn’t even leave to smoke. The search for Lorcan was still ongoing, and I had to believe he would be found, but right now every bit of energy I had left in my body was focused on Penn.
“This is from Olivia.” Dean handed me a folded piece of paper.
I opened it, and there was a drawing of a rainbow with what I believed was supposed to be a unicorn (maybe) flying under it. It simply read, Love, Olivia. In very messy writing.
“And Owen made you this.”
It was a bunch of colorful circles. No name, nothing. I chuckled. “I miss them.”
“It’s going to be over soon; I know it.”
“Mr. Hendrix?”
I turned toward the sound of my name to find a doctor in clean blue scrubs. “Yes.”
“I’m told you’re Pennsylvania Garrand’s partner?”
“I am.” I wasn’t going to say it felt like so much more—this wasn’t the time.
“I’m Dr. Chen, one of the doctors caring for Mr. Garrand.”
“How is he?” Why was she talking so slowly? Why wasn’t she telling me his prognosis?
“There were a few concerns upon his arrival. The knife in his abdomen was one of them. We had to perform a laparotomy to repair a tear in his liver and see if there were other organ issues. Fortunately, he was lucky. But there is still a chance even after the surgery that bleeding, bile leaks, or infection can occur, so he has to be closely monitored.”
I swallowed and nodded. “So he’s okay?”
She carried on as if I hadn’t asked anything.
“There was some intercranial pressure that concerns us. We need that pressure to go down, and so we’ve put him in a medically induced coma.
He’s suffering from fractures to his cheekbone, nose, and ribs, and a broken leg.
He’s a mess, and no question, will be in a lot of pain. ”
“Actually, he won’t,” I interrupted. “He has a gene mutation, FAAH-OUT. It’s extremely rare, but he feels no pain and no fear.”
Her eyes went round. “That’s very important to know. Many times we assess progress by asking their level of pain. He will be unable to tell us. I’ll have to inform the other doctors.”
“Will he be okay?”
“Mr. Hendrix, we are doing everything we can. Right now it’s up to Mr. Garrand. We’re watching him closely.”
“Can I see him?”
“He’ll be going up to ICU shortly. One person at a time. I’ll have a nurse come and get you when he’s settled.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
Her chin dipped, and she walked out through the double doors. A hand on my shoulder pulled my focus to my brother.
“A fighter, like I said.” With a light squeeze, he let go. “I’m going to call Rita.”
I moved back to the seat I’d vacated and breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t out of the woods but he was still here, still fighting, and Dean was right—Penn was strong.
“Boss.” Danny sat beside me. “We got a lead on Lorcan.”
It was as if someone had hit a switch. Anger flooded my veins, and I focused all my attention on Danny. “Where is he?”
“Airport…only has two guys with him.” He grinned.
“Airport? Fucking hell, Danny. We don’t have time.”
“Wait.” He stopped me as I made to leave. “He’s going to be held up with the TSA for a while…trust me, all it took was an anonymous call. Toni has a connection to the Federal Security Director there, and he will make sure Lorcan Anders is held until we arrive.”
Fucking finally. “Get him.”
“Already on it. We’ll get him all ready for you and as a bonus, the other two fuckholes he’s with.”
I needed this to be fucking done, and as much as I wanted to end this and put it to bed, Lorcan was going to feel all the anguish Penn couldn’t.
“Let me know once he’s ready for me. I want to see Penn first.”
“You got it, Boss.”
When he got up to make the arrangements, I moved closer to Dean. “I’m going to have to leave after I see Penn. My guys found Lorcan, and I need this to be over before Penn wakes up so I can tell him it’s done.”
Dean’s gaze softened. “Of course.”
“Will you sit with him while I’m gone? I don’t want him to wake up alone.”
“Gid, he’s gonna be out for a while—they put him in a coma, but yes, of course, I’ll stay with him.”
“Thanks.”
“Mr. Hendrix.” A nurse smiled at me. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to your partner.”
I didn’t hesitate. I followed her through the doors I hadn’t been allowed through earlier. I passed stations and a few other ICU bays. She stopped in front of a large bay with no curtains—it was all glass to watch every flicker of movement he made.
His leg was in a cast and elevated. He had a bandage covering one eye, and was riddled with bruises. His chest was exposed but also wrapped up. He was more mummy than man.
“You can sit with him. His right hand is fine to hold.”
The nurse was sweet, patient. I stepped into the room and sat in the chair beside his bed. Slowly, as if I were about to touch an active bomb, I slid my hand into Penn’s.
“Oh, baby.” I leaned down and pressed my lips against the back of his hand. “I’m so sorry, Penn.”
My eyes followed all the wires, tubes, all the blinking stats. The only saving grace was that I knew he wasn’t in pain. He was asleep and I hoped dreaming of something wonderful.
I’d told Penn he wasn’t a monster, that I was.
I promised I’d be his monster, and I’d keep my word by tearing Lorcan to shreds.
I’d killed too many people to count in my life.
I was under no illusions—I wouldn’t be joining Ella in heaven.
Or Penn, for that matter. But I’d happily burn in Hell knowing that all the demons responsible for breaking my Penn had suffered and died screaming.
“I’m going to make him pay, baby. I’ll be the monster I promised to be. Just hold on, you fight. I want to see those green eyes again; I need to. So don’t you give up, you hear me?”
I sat there for half an hour just talking. I told him about the drawings Olivia and Owen had made. How Dean was here and that if he hadn’t come, Rita would have stormed the castle. Then I told him what was going to happen after this was all over.
“I want you in my life, Penn. In Owen’s and Olivia’s.
I haven’t felt this way about anyone since Ella, and my heart breaks to say this, but it’s different with you.
Stronger, I don’t know. Losing you isn’t an option for me.
I want and need you, and can’t wait to make memories with you.
I…” No, I wasn’t going to make some cheesy—well, cheesier—declaration when he wasn’t even looking at me.
I wanted to see his expression as I told him what I’d discovered. Penn had run into that burning house not realizing he’d been running into something else. My life, my family, my forever. I’d spend the rest of my life proving to him that there wasn’t a limit to what I’d do for him.