Chapter 6
CHAPTER
SIX
RYAN
Something ugly slides through me. It settles in my gut and curls into a ball there. Sitting there, making a home there. I jolt awake and can feel my heart pounding against my chest, but there isn’t any beeping, and nobody appears to sedate me.
I moan as my head lolls to the side, where I crack my swollen eyes open slightly and see him sitting on the sofa across from me. I thought that maybe I had dreamed him, that he was some kind of manifestation, but he wasn’t.
He’s here.
Atomic is here.
“You need some pain meds?” he asks, his voice low and gruff.
There’s an edgy gravel to it that I don’t quite understand yet. When I realize that I don’t see Adam and Rose anywhere, I try to ask him where they are, but as if he can either understand me or read my mind, he answers my question.
“I sent Rose and Adam home. Walked them out to the car and had a brother ride up from Pineville so he can guard them while they’re there.”
“Why?” I ask though I’m not sure he can understand my words. I still feel as if my tongue is heavy as I attempt to speak.
It feels like there is a wad of cotton in my mouth preventing me from saying anything at all. My head also feels heavy and just all-around foggy. I don’t want any more drugs, though. I don’t need to sleep anymore. I need answers.
I can’t remember anything that happened past Golden Joker bursting into my living room. I don’t even know how long ago it was. A day, two, a week? I have no idea. Atomic stays on the sofa, his gaze on mine as he searches my eyes.
“Atomic,” I whisper.
He clears his throat.
“I’m confused,” I exhale.
Atomic’s brow arches and his gaze searches mine. “Are you?” he asks.
Then I watch as he stands, straightening, arching his back, and I hear it make a few popping noises before he moves toward me. He stops beside my bed, but he doesn’t sit. Instead, he looks down at me, his gaze searching my own.
“You had me as an emergency contact. They called me. I came.”
When I filled out those papers, I had just had his baby.
I was worried that my sister would try to take Adam for whatever reason if something happened to me, and I knew that she would ruin his life.
Atomic would at least ensure that he was taken care of, that he had family, and that he would never want for anything.
But I’d forgotten that I had him on my file with the hospital, and now he’s looking at me like I need to explain things.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Not thanks,” he grunts. “I’m assuming that fuck you were worried about came after you?”
I wish I could nod my head without my whole body hurting because I really don’t want to answer him. “Yes,” I whisper. “He did.”
“Yeah,” he snorts. “I met his fucking ass in the parking lot.”
If Atomic were a different man and this situation wasn’t what it is, he would probably apologize for not protecting me, but that’s not who he is. I doubt the words I’m sorry are even part of his vocabulary.
“I didn’t mean for you to be called. I’m sorry they did that. Thank you for coming, but you can leave now.”
My words aren’t meant to be mean or short, but he obviously came all this way for nothing because he didn’t want to be part of this when I asked, so I doubt he does now. But then something happens that I don’t expect.
Atomic sinks down, sitting on the side of my bed.
He extends his arm, wrapping his fingers around the side of my neck, holding me there ever so gently as his eyes search my own.
His beard is short and dark, a far cry from the man I dated six years ago who only had rough stubble.
But I love it. He looks great, although he’s always looked great.
“You think I’m leaving you and a kid here alone with that fucking piece of shit who’s after you to sell your ass to pay off your sister’s debt? Well then, you’ve got another fucking thing coming.”
“It’s not your issue. You already said you couldn’t help me. I understand that I’m on my own.”
There is a moment of silence, then he slips his hand from my neck, sliding it down my throat, and stops at the center of my chest. Thankfully, although I’m bruised almost everywhere, I’m not there.
“I’m not fucking going anywhere. In fact, you two are coming with me.”
I rear back slightly, and my brows snap together.
It hurts, but I bite back the whimper at the sensation.
Sucking in a deep breath, I hold it as I try to figure out exactly what I’m going to say.
I can’t have Adam around Atomic for very long.
He will discover just who Adam is, and I don’t think I could handle that backlash.
I waited too long.
I fucked up so much in the past six years.
But this is beyond that. It’s unforgivable, and I hate myself for it. I’ve been holding my breath, praying that this moment would never come because I knew just how bad it all was. But it’s here now, and I’m going to have to live with the consequences of my actions… or rather, inactions.
“He will just keep coming,” I whisper. “He won’t stop.”
Atomic doesn’t seem too worried about that. When his lips curve up into a smirk, I know he’s actually looking forward to that. He wants Golden Joker to find me. Atomic wants him to find him. He’s not only willing, but he’s fucking ready.
“Good,” he clips. “I hope he does. Because if he doesn’t, then I’m going to look for him. I’m going to find him, and I’m going to make him pay for me having to go out of my way to look for him.”
“Atomic,” I say, my breath hitching with the word.
His thumb gently slides over my collarbone, his gaze watching the move before he shifts his attention back to meet my own. “And if I ever see your sister again, she’s going to meet the same fucking fate.”
I don’t argue with him because my sister caused all of this. She couldn’t keep her shit to herself. Which isn’t anything new. She never could. I just didn’t allow myself to truly see it earlier in my life.
Maybe it’s because I have my own child now. Maybe it’s because I grew up and she never did. I don’t know the case, but what I do know is that my sister is toxic as hell, and I am done with her in every way whatsoever.
Still, I’m not sure if I want her to die.
ATOMIC
There is an internal struggle happening inside of this woman, but I don’t understand it all. It appears to be more than just her sister being a piece of shit.
Ryan knows that Ellen is fucking garbage. She always has been. But that’s what makes Ryan a good person and a fucking enabler at the same time. She wants to see the best in her sister, even if it means she’s shit on.
I open my mouth to ask her what is bothering her, but I’m cut off when the door swings open. Turning my head, I look over my shoulder as a nurse appears. They must have switched shifts because it’s not the bitch from earlier.
“Hey,” she calls out before introducing herself.
What she doesn’t do is give me a sideways glance or tell me that I shouldn’t be here.
I already like her a hell of a lot more than the nurse from the night shift.
Standing from the bed, I walk over to the window and look down at the parking lot.
I scan the area now that the sun is up and look for that asshole.
He’s not there.
Being the pussy he is, he probably won’t show up here again. Plus, now that I know what kind of man I’m dealing with, what he did to an innocent woman, and what he plans on doing to her, I will not hesitate even a millisecond before ending him.
“Everything is looking really good,” the nurse says, interrupting my thoughts.
Turning my head, I look back at the two of them. She’s smiling down at Ryan as she moves around her bed. Just as it seems she’s about to leave the room, the doctor waltzes in, likely for his morning rounds.
Wordlessly, I lean against the wall next to the window and watch the exchanges between the three of them. It surprises me when the doctor announces that Ryan’s catheter comes out today and that she’ll be going home tomorrow as long as she continues improving the way she has.
Just yesterday, they were sedating her because she was too worked up, and now, they’re going to send her home?
I don’t like the way that sounds. It seems dangerous. The doctor turns to leave, but I don’t let him get too far. Hurrying after him, I curl my fingers around his shoulder before I turn him around to face me.
He tips his head backward, his wide eyes finding mine as he looks up at me. “Sir?”
“She ain’t ready to go home. You seen her face?” I demand.
The doctor’s wide expression of shock relaxes slightly, but I can tell he’s on edge still. Probably because I’m dressed in leather and boots while he’s in a white lab coat. He gulps, and I watch his neck move as he does.
“Yes,” he begins. “I have seen her face, but I believe that the permanent damage is nonexistent, or rather very little. I cannot know for sure until her swelling goes down, but I’ve gone over her X-rays and her ultrasounds. She is internally unharmed from what I can see.”
“So, you’re just going to send her home to do what?”
His lips curve up into a small smile, and I know he’s trying to give me the most reassuring facial expressions he can. I’m not sure it works, but I search his gaze anyway and wait for his answer.
“Rest,” he states simply. “Miss Turner must rest.”
My hand falls to my side, and I watch as he takes a step backward, then turns and walks away. I don’t move for a moment, then I turn and make my way toward some coffee. I’m grabbing a cup of shit coffee in a Styrofoam cup when the elevator doors open.
Shifting my attention to the elevator, I see Rose and Adam come walking out. Giving them a smile, I watch as they move toward Ryan’s room. I don’t know if they see me or not, but I don’t care. I am watching them. I can’t keep my eyes off Adam.
There is something familiar about him, something that I can’t quite put my finger on, but I feel like I know him. He’s only about five, so I couldn’t know him. It’s fucking weird. After giving Rose and Adam a few moments to greet and check on Ryan, I make my way back to her hospital room.
I still can’t shake the feeling that I know the kid as I make my way into the room and see him sitting beside Ryan. As I glance between them, I wonder if it’s the fact that she’s his mother. He looks like her. Maybe that’s it.
“They’re going to release her tomorrow?” Rose asks from beside me.
I’d forgotten that she was in the room, too mesmerized by Adam and Ryan together, maybe more by Ryan. Even all fucked up, she’s still absolutely fucking beautiful.
“That’s what the doctor claims,” I grunt.
Rose is quiet for a moment, then she reaches out and wraps her fingers around my forearm. “Thank you for sending that man to look after us.”
“Nobody will ever hurt them again,” I grind out.
There is a moment of silence, then I hear Rose clear her throat. I know she’s attempting to gain my attention, so I turn my head and look down at her, giving it to her. Watching, my eyes connected to hers as I wait for whatever it is that’s on her mind.
“It goes against everything that I personally want, but I can’t be selfish in this,” she says, her voice soft as she looks up at me. “Take them away from here and protect them. She needs to get away from that toxic sister. She needs to go back to the life she loves.”
I have a million questions to ask, especially about the life she loves part, but I’m interrupted from asking Rose when I hear Ryan’s voice call out and ask if there is anything to eat. My girl is hungry, and I’m more than happy to feed her… now.