Chapter 6
SIX
ASH
Not only do I stay with her until she falls asleep, but I also end up doing the same, my head lying on the bed next to her while her hand is clasped in mine.
When I think of the significant damage that one knife did to her, I nearly lose my shit again.
But I wasn’t lying to her; if she wants babies down the road, we’ll figure it out.
Her not being able to bear children in no way lessens how I feel about her.
In all reality, according to the doctor, it would have been challenging for her to carry a baby as it is since one of her ovaries was apparently ruptured at some point in the past. The doctor said the scar tissue was ‘horrific’ in that area, which is what made it more difficult to find all the bleeders from the stab wound.
I guess, if I’m being honest, based on the security tape, it was more of a downward slash based on the fact there were so many organs impacted.
A simple stabbing wouldn’t have wrought the devastation that Marnie’s body sustained.
While finding a surrogate isn’t off the table, I’m sure that would be a process in and of itself, especially since she’s only got one working ovary.
Still, if that’s what she wants to do, I’ll make it happen for her.
As far as I’m concerned, it can just be us, but I know from things she’s said in the past that she wants it all—husband, house, children, pets.
I know I also didn’t tell her that until her bowel heals, she’s going to be on a somewhat restricted diet that’ll start with liquids and slowly progress as healing occurs.
She’s already somewhat petite and really can’t afford to lose the weight, but I’m positive once Esther has her at her home, she’ll be fattening her back up.
Grinning, I briefly wonder if I can tell Esther that she’s welcome to add meat to those delectable hips that give way to some of the best-looking legs I’ve ever seen on a woman.
It’s probably because of all the walking she does when she’s working because she’s extremely toned for someone who is ‘allergic’ to exercise. At least, that’s what I’ve heard her tell Wendy whenever she invites Marnie to some hot yoga class she’s nuts about.
I’m so exhausted from the initial worrying when Psycho found her, that I don’t wake up until I hear the low murmur of a nurse as she goes over Marnie’s vitals.
Sitting up, I bite back a groan when I realize I’ve got a good old-fashioned crick in my neck.
That’s gonna be a bitch to work out without a hot shower and a handful of ibuprofen.
“Everything okay?” I quietly ask the nurse since Marnie is still sound asleep. I’m unsure if it’s the pain medication or if it’s a healing sleep, but at this point, if it keeps her from actively feeling the repair work the surgeon did, I’m all for letting her sleep.
“She’s doing just fine. I won’t wake her now, but I’ll need to change the dressings on her wounds before the end of my shift,” Agnes replies.
I’ve made it a point to look at everyone who comes near Marnie so I can catch their names.
Since it’s my privilege to protect her now that I’ve claimed her, I want only those who have good intentions near my woman.
“I’ll be sure to let y’all know when she wakes up,” I tell her. “Is there anything I can do for her?”
“You’re actually doing it, sir,” she says.
“I’ve found in my fifteen years of nursing that patients who have a loved one with them seem to do better.
Right now, and for the next few weeks, she’s probably going to sleep more than she usually does.
It’s a healing rest, which her body needs due to the significant trauma she sustained.
In fact, it’s going to take her months, potentially longer, to fully regain her strength. ”
I nod, understanding what she’s saying. “I’ve already got arrangements in place for when she’s released.” At her raised brow, I continue and say, “She has an upstairs apartment, but I know with the injuries she has, there’s no way she’s going to be able to handle stairs.”
“No, she won’t,” Agnes replies, throwing away the trash that’s accumulated on the rolling tray. “Let me refill her pitcher with fresh ice and water. I know an aide typically does it, but I have the time to take care of that for her.”
“Thank you.”
“I redid a background check on Marnie using the information she gave you,” Data says as he watches Marnie sleep.
Since I refused to leave, Rebel packed a duffel bag for me, and Data brought it up to the hospital.
While I took a quick shower, he kept an eye on her.
Esther dropped off some food but didn’t stay, saying that she and Paul were making sure the house was ready for their guest. I have no clue what she meant but made a mental note to have Rebel find out.
If they’re doing any kind of renovations to help my woman, I’ll be paying for them.
“What did you find out?” I reply after I finish chewing some of the meatloaf that Esther brought me.
I have no guilt about eating in front of Data; the fucker brought in a bag of Thai food to eat.
It’s not that he did that so much as he didn’t ask me if I wanted any.
I don’t eat Thai, but the chicken and pineapple fried rice he’s eating looks tasty.
“Marnie Burgess, also known as Marnie Duncan, was assaulted by Pace Jackson roughly five years ago. She suffered extensive injuries and was, in fact, found by a group of men who were passing by. She spent roughly a week in ICU followed by another two weeks in the hospital, before she went to rehab. Her mother, Morla Burgess Duncan, was on hospice, and six or so months after the attack, her mom died. I found multiple police reports where two men, Porter Jackson and Paxton Jackson, harassed and stalked her, to include vandalizing her vehicle and home. After her mother died, it looks like she liquidated all of her assets, found someone to create the credentials she needed, then she left. Outside of her bank account that we require for direct deposit purposes, she has no digital footprint under the Burgess name. Everything that was under Duncan has been closed. She even has a post office box instead of a physical address, which is why packages arrive addressed to her in care of the bar. Brother, she’s done everything she could to stay off the grid. ”
“Do you think her having a bank account for her paycheck is how they found her?” I question. I’ve been steadily eating since he started talking, my mind whirling a mile a minute.
“No, they found me because I had to go back to my hometown,” Marnie whispers from her bed. “Remember when I took a few days off? I went back when my mom’s attorney called since there was some paperwork I needed to sign.”
“What paperwork, sweetheart?” I ask.
“Mom apparently bought a life insurance policy when I was a little girl and forgot she had it. The monthly payments were made, but somehow, it was overlooked. When she died, she had some savings left which I used to have her cremated, then I sold off everything in the house outside of my sentimental things since it was a rental. At the time, I had a decent savings account as well, so with that, as well as what was left of her estate after everything was settled, I left because Pace’s brothers were making my life a living hell. ”
“And you ended up here,” I state. “How did you decide where you were going?” I question as I walk to her side and pour her a fresh glass of water which she quickly gulps down. “Esther brought you some broth, Marnie, since you can’t have solid foods yet.”
She makes a face but raises her bed slightly so she’s sitting up, wincing the whole time. “I’m sure hers will taste much better than colored water,” she teases, leaning over to smell the bowl. “God, that smells fantastic.”
“Let me guess, you just pointed your finger at a map,” Data says, chuckling.
“Actually, that’s exactly what I did,” Marnie admits.
“While I didn’t know for sure what happened to Pace, I had my suspicions based on a visit I received when I was in the hospital.
Some guy that I can’t describe because my vision was all but gone told me it was done.
When Porter and Paxton cornered me, they told me that Pace’s body had been found and they knew I was somehow involved. ”
She starts chuckling while holding her stomach as she shakes her head.
“Damn, I mean, I was so fucked up. I had one eye patched up because he caused my retina to detach, and the other one was so swollen from being hit by his fist I could hardly see. My jaw was wired shut, and I don’t think there was anywhere on my body that didn’t sport a bruise. ”
My anger rises because she may not be black and blue, but the injuries she sustained this time are far, far worse. “We need to find those fuckers,” I growl out, looking at Data.
“On it, Veep,” he replies, his fingers now flying over the keyboard. “With their info, it should be easy to track the fuckers.”
Leaning in, I kiss Marnie’s forehead as she slowly sips her broth. When she’s finished, she leans back and sighs. “I’m so damn tired,” she whispers, her eyes now at half-mast.
“Then rest, sweetheart. You’re safe now,” I promise. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”