Chapter 28
Rosalie
I’m able to move just enough for my eyes to break the surface again and I see Leo and Grant’s wide eyes move from Scott to me.
“Fuck!” In one swift move, Leo jumps over the bridge railing and drops into the water beside me. His arm wraps around my waist as he pulls me above the water. I suck in a deep gulp of air as he starts to pound his free arm through the ice in the direction I had been trying to move.
“That’s it, just breathe, I have you,” he gasps as he moves us through the water much quicker than I had been.
“Is she breathing?” I tilt my head and see Grant ahead of us at the shore.
“Yes!” Leo yells back. “Rosie, are you still with me?” he asks.
“Y-yes,” I say through my shivering.
“You’re cold, that’s good. It’s when you go numb that we really have to worry.”
The cold didn’t feel good, but he was a medic so I take his word for it.
“She’s conscious!” he yells as we move closer to Grant. I watch as he removes his t-shirt, shoes and jeans then starts to make a path in our direction, and within a minute he reaches us.
“I’ve got her,” he says, scooping me into his arms and walking us back towards the shore.
When we get to the snow, the two of them strip me down to just my undies so quickly I barely realize what’s going on. Grant’s dry t-shirt is pulled on me over my wet body before he picks me back up and holds me tight against his chest.
“We’ve got to get her warm.”
“W-w-where’s Asher?” I ask as I shiver against him. Nobody answers and I try to glance back at the bridge but Grant holds my head against him. “He’s fine, don’t worry. He’ll join us soon.”
I whimper in pain and Grant quickly pulse his hand back, noticing the blood on his palm. “Shit, she’s injured!”
“Let me see,” Leo says, stepping up beside me.
“We need to take her to the hospital.”
“Let’s get her home so I can take a look.”
“I’m sleepy,” I say, relaxing my head against Grant’s chest.
“Oh, no you don’t, shortcake. Don’t go to sleep yet, you might have a concussion.”
“Leo…” Grant says in warning.
“Fine, let’s take her to the hospital. Rosie, just try and stay awake, okay?”
“It’s hard,” I mumble against him.
“I know, sweetheart, just try for me. Tell me all the toys that were donated today.”
Slowly, I list each toy I remember seeing as I’m moved into a vehicle. Grant stays holding me the whole time and I start to worry about Asher.
“Are you sure Asher is okay?” I ask again as I’m lifted from the car.
“He’s fine. I promise. He’ll be here soon,” Grant tells me again as we step inside. The lights are bright and I turn my face into him, the brightness hurting my eyes. He holds a hand over my eyes, helping me as I hear Leo speaking to someone about me.
We’re moved around a lot, and there is a lot of talking before I sense the lights being dimmed and Grant’s hand lowers, letting me look around. My vision is a little blurry, but I can make out that we’re in a private room and I’m sitting on a hospital bed with a shirtless Grant.
A man in a white coat crouches a little so we’re eye level. “Hi Rosalie, I’m Doctor Stevens, I’m gonna take a look at you, alright?”
I nod and he clicks on a small penlight.
“Look right at me,” he says, and I do, though the bright beam makes me wince. He flashes it from one eye to the other, watching closely.
“Good. Now follow my finger.” He moves his hand side to side, up and down. My eyes drag after it, though the motion makes my head throb.
“Any nausea? Dizziness?”
“Dizziness,” I admit. “I was nauseous earlier, but it’s passed.”
“Did you throw up?”
“No.”
“Did you lose consciousness?”
I think for a second, my brows furrowing. I don’t seem to have any gaps in my memory, I remember every second of what happened since Scott took me from the kitchen. “I don’t think so.”
He nods then holds out his hands. “Squeeze.” I do, but he still asks me to push against his palms, lift my legs, touch my nose.
“Okay, one more thing. Do you know what day it is?”
“Saturday.”
“Good, and the date?”
“December twenty-second.”
“And do you know who these two protective men are?” he asks with a smirk, gesturing to Grant, who’s lap I’m sitting in, and a hovering Leo over his shoulder.
I tell him their names, and he nods.
“Good.” He stands up and writes something on his clipboard as he speaks. “I don’t think you have a concussion. Just take it easy for the next twenty-four hours, and come back immediately if you throw up or pass out.”
“What about her head?” Leo asks.
“I’m going to clean that up now, I don’t think she needs stitches, and it’s not bleeding anymore. But I’ll know more when I get in there.”
The nurse helps by passing him a table on wheels. On it is gauze and cleaning supplies and when I notice there are no needles or surgical instruments there I relax a bit.
Gripping Grant’s hand for support, I tilt my head and let the doctor and nurse clean my head and check the wound.
“Alright, all done.” he says, removing his gloves. He glances at Grant and Leo before asking, “Can I have one minute alone with Rosalie, please?”
“No,” Leo says, crossing his arms over his chest. “Whatever you have to say to her, you can say to me.”
“I’m sorry son, but this is just procedure, you can wait right outside the door.”
He grumbles, but after Grant makes sure I’m okay sitting upright on my own he grabs Leo’s shoulders and directs him into the hall, giving me a look that says he’s right outside if I need him.
The door shuts and the doctor pulls up a stool to sit right in front of me as he drops his voice.
“Who hurt you? Was it one of them?”
I shake my head then wince from the pain.
“It was my ex, he’s been stalking me. He threw me in the pond. T-they saved me,” I say, my lip trembling as I remember how scared I had been.
“You can tell me if it was one of them; I will protect you.”
“I promise it wasn’t them. Can I go home now, Doctor?” I ask, feeling tired and impatient. Defending the men I love, the men who saved me, is frustrating and I just want to go home and get out of these wet panties.
He looks at me a moment before nodding. “Of course.” He turns his head and says loudly, “You can come back in now.”
The door opens and they both barrel towards me as the doctor tells them, “You can take her home now. Remember what I said. Twenty-four hours.”
“Thanks, doc,” Leo says. I realize he’s in dry clothing, he must have changed in the car. They often had extra sweats lying around so they could work out whenever they felt like it. But Grant was still shirtless and I cling to him, hoping to keep us both warm as I wrap my legs around his waist.
Nobody says anything as they carry me to the car. I want to ask about Asher again, but Grant promised he’s fine. Halfway home his phone dings, and when he pulls it out, I glance at the screen and see Asher’s name, my heart jumping in my chest with relief.
Then I see the message.
It’s done. Meet you at home in five.
“What’s done?” I can’t help but ask.
Grant is quiet for a minute before he finally answers. “Scott. He’s never going to be a problem for you again.”
“Was he arrested?” I ask as I cling to him.
Again he’s slow with his response, as if weighing his words. “Grant? Please don’t lie to me.”
“I won’t. I’m just worried you’re going to be upset with us.”
“Why?” I pull back to look at him in confusion. “Why would I be mad? Asher is okay, right?”
“Yes. It’s just…” he trails off, his eyes meeting Leo’s in the rearview mirror before he sighs, looking back at me as he cups the side of my face.
“He wasn’t arrested.” I tense up, my fingers digging into his bare skin in fear.
The car pulls to a stop and Grant gets out, still holding me as we quickly move into our house. He takes off his shoes as I ask, “He got away?”
“No,” they both say in unison.
“Then…” I trail off as my mind flutters around several scenarios. Asher said it’s done.
“If he wasn’t arrested, but he’s not a threat, does that mean he’s…”
“Dead.” My head shoots around to see Asher standing in the front doorway. His dark brown eyes bore into mine as he pushes the door shut behind him and locks it.
He kicks off his shoes and slowly prowls towards me, his eyes never blinking until he’s standing right next to me.
“I killed him, does that scare you?” he asks bluntly.
My eyes widen, but not in fear, in amazement. I probably should be afraid of him, knowing he can kill someone so easily. I never thought there would be a scenario where I’d be okay with murder, but Scott had thrown me into that frozen pond to drown me. He tried to kill me.
Sure, the guys could have called the cops and had him arrested. That was probably the smart thing to do. But I’d told them about his connection with the police. Even if he was charged, he’d probably get a small sentence and be out in no time.
I’d never feel safe if that happened, always looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to come find me again.
What Asher did… It completely eliminates the threat to me, and at a great cost to him. He now has Scott’s death on his hands, not only that, but he could go to jail if he’s caught.
I lick my lips as I whisper, “You killed him? For me?”
His face softens as his hand cups my cheek. “I’d do anything for you.”
“But…” I trail off, my hand holding his against me as I ask with worry, “Won’t you get in trouble?”
Grant’s the one to answer. “No, we will file a report about what happened tonight, but tell them Asher chased him away.”
“They won’t find—”
Asher shakes his head. “No, there’s nothing left to find.” My eyes widen in surprise. I have no idea what that means and I’m not going to think about it anymore.
“Okay,” I say, releasing a long breath as I start to really take in the fact that Scott is finally gone.
“Okay?” Leo asks, stepping up beside Asher to look at me.
“Yeah, can I go to bed now?”
“Of course,” Grant says, hoisting me up on him as he starts for the stairs.
Looking over his shoulder, I see Leo and Asher still standing where we left them, and I reach for them as I cry out, “Wait!”
“What’s wrong?” Grant asks with worry.
“Can… Would you all be able to stay with me tonight?”
His face softens and he nods. “Of course. I think we all need hot showers after what happened, so give us all time but we won’t leave you alone, not for a second.”
“Thank you, Grant.”
“Of course, sweetheart.”
Realizing I’m too tired to stand, I ask him, “Will you help me shower?”
“My pleasure,” he says, kissing the side of my head.
I’m not really sure how he’s going to clean me by himself, but when Leo joins us, the job becomes much easier. They take turns holding me while the other washes, then they tackle me together.
It’s not as passionate as one might hope a shower with these two hot hunks might be, but with my headache and fatigue, I know there’s no chance of any hanky panky tonight, anyway.
I find myself alone in the bathroom with Grant as he sets me on the counter with a towel wrapped around me. He dries himself off then wraps a towel around his waist before stepping up between my legs, his hands gripping my waist as he storm-gray eyes trail all over my face.
“When I realized you were missing, my heart froze with fear.” His fingers bend and flex on my hips as he continues.
“When I saw the small trail of blood, I was ready to tear the world apart to find you and kill whoever hurt you.” He slides one hand up to my neck, his thumb rubbing over my pulse point.
“And when I saw you in that water, my heart nearly stopped.”
“Grant, I—”
“I love you, Rosie.” I suck in a sharp breath of surprise as my hands reach for his neck to pull him close. “I don’t know what I'd do without you.” He rests his forehead against mine for a moment before tilting his head and giving me the softest gentlest kiss of my life.
“Now, let's get you nice and cozy in bed,” he says, his tone instantly becoming relaxed as he scoops me up and carries me into my bedroom.
He pulls one of his own t-shirts on me and dresses himself in only his boxers. Leo comes in, in the same attire and holds up an extra pair of boxers.
“Thought you might like to sleep in these tonight?” he asks and I nod eagerly. I knew nothing could happen between us and after being in that cold pond I was happy to be fully clothed in warm, dry clothes. Especially ones that reminded me of them.
Once dressed, Grant lifts me again, climbing on his knees until he’s in the center of the bed, then he lies on his back and adjusts me so I’m sprawled across him, and we’re chest to chest, my head tucked just below his chin and my knees spread on either side of him.
I snuggle in as Leo climbs in on one side, his hand holding mine as we lay there quietly.
A few minutes later I watch as Asher walks in, also only wearing boxers. He climbs in the empty space to my left as he watches me watching him.
“You okay, baby?”
“Mmm hmm,” I mumble, reaching a hand out for him. He takes it, kissing my fingers before holding it tightly against his heart.
I think about how he told me he loved me a couple days ago. Even if he hadn’t said it, I feel it. The way he looks at me, takes care of me, protects me. He killed for me tonight. Maybe I should be appalled but I’m not. It makes me love him that much more.
How can I possibly leave him? Leave any of them? I close my eyes tightly shut, hoping that I can prevent any tears from escaping. Gentle hands stroke my body as I tell myself to relax and go to sleep.
This might be my last chance to be with any of them. Because now Scott is finally out of the picture, they’re going to make me choose.