24. Chapter 24
Chapter twenty-four
Warlock
During the slow walk from the hospital to my car, I keep a close eye on Tallahassee. She’s visibly trembling and moves like every step is painful.
Fuck it.
I stop and carefully lift her into my arms, carrying her across the parking lot. She doesn’t protest, relaxing against me.
After helping her get situated and belted into the passenger seat, we drive in silence.
I can’t switch off the replay of her injuries under the bright fluorescent hospital lights.
Her battered face, the swelling around her left eye and cheekbone.
Those purple bruises darkening her pale skin.
Fingerprints forming on her biceps and around one ankle.
Cuts and scrapes on her knees and road rash on her back.
All because I was too fucking late.
If only I arrived sooner.
I was concerned and confused when I saw her jog down the stairs and out the door. When she didn’t come right back, all my instincts screamed something was wrong. Even knowing she might find my behavior overbearing, I couldn’t stop myself from following her to make sure nothing had happened to her.
My heart nearly stopped when I heard her screaming from behind the building. I took off running toward the sound.
When I saw Tallahassee going ballistic, fighting for her life like a wild animal with that bastard on top of her, I saw red.
A killing rage unlike any I’ve ever experienced consumed me.
Seeing that fucker punch her in the face while two of his friends tried to hold her down and the fourth scumbag standing by, filming the brutality with his phone—all of it ramped up my anger as I raced across the parking lot.
If I hadn’t been so terrified about Tallahassee’s injuries, I would’ve killed all four of them with my bare hands for daring to touch her. Hurt her.
When we arrive at Nash’s, I help her out of the car. I’m a little surprised when she heads toward the house instead of her motorhome.
“Darren…do you think you could stay with me?” Her voice is soft and unsure. “We could watch a movie. I mean, if you have somewhere you need to be or you need to go, I understand.” Her voice is quiet and strangled. “But I was hoping…”
With a tender touch I reach out and still her twisting hands, waiting for her to look up at me. “I have no intention of leaving you alone tonight.” My words are steel, understanding, but firm. “I’ll be here for anything you need. I’ll keep you safe, Tallahassee.”
She glances down at her hands, letting out a shaky breath. “Thank you,” she whispers.
“No need for that. I’m exactly where I want to be.”
Once we’re inside, she sets the alarm. I wonder if the high-tech security system influenced her decision to stay in the house tonight.
“If you don’t mind, I’m going to go take a shower. I…I want to wash them off me.”
My anger spikes all over again, knowing they made her feel dirty. I take her hand in mine. “Of course. Take your time. I’ll be right here when you come back.”
While she’s gone, I retrieve my go bag from my car, remove my shoes, and change into sweats.
When she returns from her shower, she’s dressed in loose sweats, an oversized sweatshirt, and thick socks covering her feet. Her bruises are more pronounced, and it’s obvious she’s been crying.
Afraid I’ll hurt her if I wrap her in my arms to comfort her, I go into the kitchen instead. When I open the freezer, I see ice packs—not surprising, considering the brutality of Nash’s profession.
Once I get her settled on the massive sectional in the living room, she tucks her legs under her. She looks so small and fragile. Seeing her this way makes me want to kick my own ass. If only I’d gone after her sooner, reached her a few minutes earlier.
“Thank you for staying with me,” she says after swallowing the meds I give her.
“If you need me, I’ll always be here for you,” I tell her truthfully, holding an ice pack out to her. “Now put this on your face, Tallahassee.”
She turns on the TV and loads her favorite streaming service. “Bossy,” she responds without heat, pressing the ice pack against her eye.
That’s when I notice the silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
She’s so bruised I don’t know where it’s safe to touch her without hurting her more. I make do with gently swiping the tears off her cheeks.
“Hey, what’s this about?”
“It hurts.”
She’s killing me.
“I know. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
I help her stretch out and arrange her carefully against my chest, covering us with the blanket off the back of the couch. “Your meds will kick in soon and make you feel a little better.”
I glance up at the TV, scrolling through the options. “Can I point out that this is an alarming number of chick flicks,” I tease, hoping to lighten the mood. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
She lets out a little chuckle that turns into a pained groan. “Don’t look at me. Those are all Nash.”
I’m unable to hide my surprise. “Really?”
She sniffles. “He’s a romance junkie. You don’t want to be around him during the holidays. I swear, he watches all those dopey hallmark movies even though he’s seen them a million times. Pick anything you want, I’m not choosy.”
“Die Hard is good. It’s a classic.”
It isn’t long after John McClane is neck deep in trouble at Nokatomi Plaza that I notice she’s nodding off. I slip the ice pack out of her hand and toss it onto the coffee table, letting it land on a magazine. She snuggles into me, using me as a pillow.
“You’re safe now, Tallahassee,” I whisper. “Try to get some rest.”
“Don’t let me go.” She says it so softly, I almost don’t hear her.
I kiss the top of her head.
Never, sweet Tallahassee. I’ll never let you go.
With that, she’s out. I’m grateful for it. As long as she’s sleeping, she’s not in pain.
It takes a long time, but with Tallahassee tucked against my chest, I finally drop off.