Chapter 15
Alec
“Where’s my right boot?” I asked.
They kept trying to shove a mask over my face, but I kept swinging.
“My. Right. Boot.” I growled.
“Sir, we need to get you into surgery.” The doctor said with a huff.
“You need to get my right fucking boot. Right fucking now, or I’m getting up and finding it my goddamned self.” I rasped out.
That was when the nurse who was reading my file stopped mid-sentence and then snapped, “He’s a soldier. Yes. But he’s still a human being, and he’s married.”
All eyes went to her, then she looked at me, and smiled softly, “I’ll get it for you.”
“Patricia, we don’t have time for this.” The doctor said.
“Hang on.” The woman, Patricia, said.
Then she came back not even five minutes later, huffing a breath, and then she showed me my right boot.
“Zipper,” I said.
She unzipped it and then reached in and pulled out what I needed the most.
Then she handed it to me.
“Don’t be a robot, Doc” Patricia said.
The doctor’s face lost the scowl, and then he nodded.
Then he looked at me, and I said, “Just let me keep this, and we will call it square.”
The doctor looked at his staff, and then he nodded.
And with that little cupcake keychain fisted in my hand, I relaxed and allowed the mask over my mouth.
But not before I heard my team burst into the room, all of them covered in blood, my blood.
They moved around the staff and then fist bumped me.
“You got this.” Smoke said.
“Fight for her,” Jekyll said.
Hyde looked at me and said, “Going to make them pay.”
Ice got right in my face, “Keep watch over her.”
Wolf smirked, “You just wanted to look like me.”
I chuckled and tasted copper.
That was when they inserted something into my IV.
Cassie
The moment I saw Duke’s name on my phone, I answered it.
“Well?” I asked.
I heard his heavy breathing, then he said, “We got him. Taking him to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Get to the tarmac, pulled some strings, get his family, and get on the plane.”
“Thank you, Duke.” Then I hung up.
I flew out of work and called Garrick.
He answered on the first ring, “Word?”
“They got him. Taking him to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.”
***
Thirteen hours later, I raced beside Garrick, Tatum, Carter, Harlee, Ethan, Talia, Dom, Bronson, Lila, Everly, Misty, and Frank into the hospital.
They were all looking for someone to talk to, but I was looking for five men.
And when I saw them sitting in the corner of the waiting room, near the exit doors, I ran towards them.
Their heads came up in unison, and they stood.
I reached Smoke first and hauled myself into his arms.
He wrapped them around me and squeezed, then he said, “We got him.”
Then I was in Wolf’s arms.
Followed by Hyde and Jekyll.
Ice winked, “Where you go, I go.”
I lifted a brow.
“Promised him. I’d watch over you while he can’t,” he said.
And that was when I saw it.
Blood.
“His?” I asked.
Hyde nodded, “Yeah.”
I swallowed.
And swallowed.
And swallowed.
Trying to keep the tears away.
They wouldn’t help Alec.
Then I looked at his family and sniffed.
“This is his team, Wolf, Smoke, Hyde, Ice, and Jekyll.”
Dom and Garrick’s mouths dropped open at the sight of Dalton. He smirked.
“The fuck?” Dom asked.
Garrick said, “Come again?”
“Wouldn’t be a part of this team if you fuckers knew,” Dalton said.
Frank was flabbergasted, “How in the hell is this possible?”
I took in his team and then Seal Team Two and smiled.
Then I walked over to Duke and hugged him, “Thank you.”
He hugged me back, then let me go, and winked.
***
A nurse came out, followed by a doctor.
And when their eyes landed on our group, they made their way over to us.
The doctor smiled, then he asked, “Is there a Cassandra Griggs here?”
I lifted my hand, “That’s me.”
He nodded, “Can we speak privately?”
I looked at his team, then his family, and shook my head, “Whatever you have to say can be said right here.”
He winced, “I think it’s best we...”
“This is his team. He’s closer to them than anyone else. And this is his family.” I said.
He looked at all of them and nodded.
And when he told us of all his injuries, I hadn’t been able to swallow the tears down.
Stabs. Electrocution. Bullet wounds. Removed spleen. Broken ribs. Broken kneecaps. Broken bones.
From his teammates' faces, I knew there was more.
But I would never know unless Alec told me.
When he finished, the nurse smiled at me and said, “We had to take this from him once he fell asleep. The operating room has to be a sterile environment. I think he would be okay if you held onto this for him.”
And when she handed me the cupcake keychain, a new wave of tears poured down my cheeks.
It was three hours later when I was brought to his room.
Seeing my Soldier Boy laid up, connected to wires and tubes, my heart broke.
I raced over to his bedside, bent, and pressed a kiss on the only part of his face that wasn’t blue and swollen.
Then I pulled up a chair, placed my hand on his side, over white bandages, then I closed my eyes and said, “Haven’t made a prayer since I met Bronson.
Haven’t made a prayer since I left and headed to Whispering Falls.
But you answered it. I just didn’t realize it.
So I’m making another prayer, please heal him, and keep him safe. ”
Hours.
That was how long I sat there and waited.
His family came in one by one to see him.
Seal Team Two came in one by one.
Then his team.
And his team.... they brought chairs with them.
The hospital staff started to argue but Hyde had a few choice words with them.
Needless to say, they were all allowed to stay.
I looked at Hyde and said, “How bad?”
He winced, “Bad.”
I nodded.
Then I looked back at Alec.
“Not going to ask anything more?” Smoke asked.
I shook my head, “No. He’s here. He’s breathing. Y’all are safe. That’s the end of it.”
Smoke nodded.
But I did have one more question, “The man who ordered this. Is he dead?”
Ice smiled, “Fuckin’ A.”
I grinned, then I nodded.
I got what he meant.
Fuckin’ A indeed.
***
It was closing in on three in the morning before Alec started to stir.
I leaned forward and smiled, wanting it to be the one thing he saw when he woke up.
His team, who hadn’t left, not even to change, all leaned forward too.
Then I heard Alec murmur, “Fuck me.”
I giggled.
Then his head snapped in my direction, and he winced.
I winced.
Then I whispered, “Hey, Soldier Boy.”
He tried to wink, but his face was too swollen.
Then I stood up and bent, then pressed my lips to his.
I felt his casted arm come up and he tried to grip the back of my neck.
Against his lips, I whispered, “Give it time. I’ll let you play in my hair any time you want.”
I was referring to the nights that he ran his fingers through my hair when he couldn’t fall asleep.
But as soon as he started doing that, his eyes would close, his fingers would slow, and then he’d tangle his hand in my hair, and fall asleep.
I pulled my lips from his and then winked down at him, “Love you.”
He said, “Love you too.”
Then I stepped back, but didn’t go far, as his team all got their moment with him.
Then Smoke went and told the doctor that he was awake.
“If all of you could please leave the room?” The doctor asked.
His team nodded and stood up.
I made a move to stand up but was stopped.
Alec
Seeing her, fuck, breathing her in, I was home.
Because my home had her hand on me.
Wherever she was... was my home.
And that motherfucker who thought he could make my woman leave?
“You move her from this room, and I’ll kill you,” I growled.
She giggled.
They all nodded.
They were looking me over, and then a nurse moved the blanket, so the doctor could check the stab wound to the inside of my thigh.
I grimaced.
Cassie chuckled.
I glared the best I could at her, “Don’t feel right that she’s touching it.”
I watched as the nurse smiled, then winked at Cassie.
Once they were done, they left.
And finally, I was alone with my girl.
“Sit by my thigh,” I told her.
She nodded then carefully sat down.
Then she smiled, “Missed you.”
I winked, “Missed you too.”
Then she bit her lip and said, “I was at your parents’ house for family dinner night when they came and told me you had been captured.”
I nodded. Figured that.
Then I asked, “Did you tell them?”
She winced, then she nodded, “I had to. They saw the men in uniforms. I told them you were in the military and that you had been for sixteen years. Told them that when you were gone, you were out on missions. I also told them that you were captured.”
I nodded, “You didn’t tell them everything. Why?”
She bit her lip, “You’ve kept this from them. It wasn’t my place. Besides, you're first in my life, they aren’t.”
I growled, “I wish I could fuck you right now.”
She giggled, “Trouble.”
I winked, “Takes one to know one.”
I knew there was something she wasn’t telling me, but I would let her have that, for now.
Around 0800 hours, I was moved from the ICU and into another room.
My family walked in and hugs, kisses on the cheek were given to me.
I frowned as I saw something.
Only Garrick and Tatum were standing near Cassie.
Everyone else was off to the side.
I growled, “Yeah, I don’t fucking think so.”
My dad lifted a brow at me, “What?”
“Are y’all pissed at her?” I asked.
They didn’t have to say anything; their faces said it all.
I nodded.
“Then get the fuck out and don’t come back,” I bit out.
“Alec?” My mom asked.
I shook my head, “I know there’s something she didn’t tell me.”
My mom winced, then she shot her gaze to Cassie.
My woman, being my woman, shook her head, “It’s fine.”
I growled, “No, Cupcake. It ain’t fine.”
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Then my team filed in. They had all changed and gotten showers.
And if I had been able to, I would have gotten out of bed and kissed them all on their cheeks.
Because they eyed my family, then they looked at Cassie, then at Garrick and Tatum and moved to stand by her side.
They all crossed their arms over their chests and glared.
Carter sighed, “We’re all hurt. Okay?”
I shook my head, “Not fucking good enough.”
My mom snapped, “Alec.”
I glared at her. “Don’t. Don’t you dare get onto me about my language when for the first time in my life, I’m ashamed of all of you.”
Then I bit out, “She didn’t tell y’all because I asked her not to.”
Then my mother snapped, “She told us that you always felt like the black sheep of the family. That you didn’t think we had any faith in you.”
I nodded, “She told you the truth.”
My mother’s face went slack.
Then Cassie stepped forward and placed her hand on my shoulder.
I breathed in as deeply as I could and then let it go.
“He’s been through something traumatic and horrible. Wait until he’s out of here and we are home before y’all start.”
Harlee wrapped her hand around Carter’s and squeezed.
Dom did the same for Talia.
They all headed back home.
Cassie
Seal Team Two came in and fist bumped him, then they left.
His team stayed.
They stayed for another week, until they were called away.
Alec stayed in the hospital for eight weeks.
And then we were given the all clear to fly him home.
I got permission from his doctor once we landed and met with him to start his therapy.
And I’ve never been more grateful for all the years I spent in college.
Alec had bombarded me with what his mother had done or said to me.
I had refused to tell him.
And then, I was so tired when he asked that I told him what she did.
The rage on his face, I never wanted to see it directed at me.