Chapter 23 Autumn
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
AUTUMN
Afew hours later, Finn stood and held out his hand to Una. “The patient and her protector are looking very tired. We should go and let them both sleep.”
She stood and bent to kiss me. “I’m glad you’re awake. I’ll be back tomorrow, and I’ll bring lunch.”
“Thank you.”
They had brought food, fresh clothing, and their comforting presence. The girls fussed over me, helping me get clean and change into soft lounge-type clothing instead of a hospital gown.
They stayed with me while Sully showered and changed.
Anna sat behind me, brushing out my hair, while Una chatted.
The men sat on the other side of the room, talking while Sully ate.
The conversation looked intense, and I had a feeling they were filling him in on what had happened after he left with me.
Later, when I tried to express my thanks, Finn had held up his hand.
“Family,” he said. “We take care of family. And you are part of ours now.”
Sully tucked me close to his side and dropped a kiss on my head. “Forever.”
After they left, Niall and Anna said their goodnights, and finally, Sully and I were alone. He helped me get ready, then back into the bed.
He sat beside me, taking my hand. “Was that too much, love?”
“No. I enjoyed the company.”
“You were quiet.”
“I have a lot of questions. I wasn’t sure I should ask.”
“You can ask me anything.”
“Anna told me Lynn thinks I was in a car accident.”
“Yes. We needed an explanation about the bruising on your face and neck. We couldn’t really explain the marks on your wrists, so long sleeves might be the answer. She was very upset, but the girls have been visiting, and I called her earlier and said you were awake. We can call her in the morning.”
“Okay.”
I picked at the blanket on my bed. It was soft and warm—another gift from Anna. “How did you find me? Was it the watch?”
“Yes. It worked well. Evan’s tweaks were what we needed. It gave it longer range and strength. And you were so brave and smart to use it.”
“Al—ah, he destroyed it.”
“Evan already had another one he’d worked on in case one got lost. It’s at The Haven, waiting for Lynn.”
“He broke my necklace.” Instinctively, my hand flew to my neck, and my voice trembled. “He tore it off.”
“It’s being fixed. I’ll have it in the next couple days.”
“I broke his nose.”
A grin spread across his face. “I noticed that. Nice job.”
“I kicked him in the nuts too. Called him a wanker and told him he was an idiot.”
Sully chuckled and leaned close, pressing a kiss to my mouth. “My good, brave girl.”
“I made him angry,” I whispered, sudden tears forming in my eyes. “You were right about him, Sully. How dangerous he was. I should have listened to you.”
“Hush. That doesn’t matter now. It’s over.” He sighed. “He was even more devious than any of us thought.”
I looked down to where our hands were joined. “He said awful things. Threatened me. He was going to lock me in a cold root cellar. There—there were spiders. I hate spiders.”
Sully moved closer, cupping my face. Using his thumbs, he wiped away the tears running down my cheeks. “Try not to think about it, love. He’s gone. He can’t hurt you, and I won’t allow anyone else to hurt you either. He’s never coming back.”
I drew in a deep breath. “Did you—” I couldn’t finish my thought.
“No. You were more important. I left it to the boys, and it is done. I got one good kick in, though.”
“Oh.”
“Could you have forgiven me if I had?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.” I tightened my grip on the blanket. “Is that what you were discussing earlier?”
“Yes.”
“Will you tell me?”
He shook his head. “No. Suffice it to say, it’s in the past now. You’re safe.”
“Okay,” I murmured, somehow relieved.
“Has this changed your mind, Autumn?”
“About what?”
“Us,” he answered simply. “Another glimpse into my world. Has it changed your mind?”
I lifted my hand and touched his cheek. I traced the jawline I loved to nuzzle.
The eyes I loved to stare into. “Anna said something that makes so much sense now. She told me she knew she couldn’t survive her world without the one Niall lived in.
It was my world that brought him into my life, Sully.
Your world let me live. So, no, I haven’t changed my mind. I am grateful for your world.”
He drew me into his arms, holding me close. I sighed in contentment, snuggling close.
After a moment, he drew back. “You need to sleep.”
I shifted over. “If I lie here, you could fit beside me.”
He frowned, then bent and lifted me. He lay back and tucked me under his chin. I was draped over his chest and snuggled into his side. It was a tight fit, but perfect. I was surrounded by him.
Exactly where I wanted to be.
Forever.
SULLY
Autumn fell asleep, finally relaxing into my arms. I gazed down at her, brushing her hair away from her face, frowning at the bruises. Wishing I could have inflicted more pain on the man who’d put them there. Caused him the fear that she experienced.
But she had been my priority, and I knew she always would be. I worried about the implications of what had occurred. Her mental health. Her bruises would fade, her injuries gradually heal, but would she be able to get over what had happened?
I knew Finn had a therapist that both Una and Anna had seen after their ordeals. I would talk to him and find out if she had a colleague she could recommend in Scotland. I would do anything to help Autumn heal from this.
I mulled over what Finn and Niall had told me earlier. I wasn’t sure I was ready to share with her what they had confided in me. I wasn’t certain she was ready to hear it. I would one day, when she was stronger—removed from all of this. And if she asked.
The girls sat with Autumn, Anna brushing out her hair and Una rubbing some lotion on her bruises. They chatted and fussed, Autumn happy to let them. I wolfed down some food, starving, then sat back, looking at my cousins.
“You have something to tell me. I can see it.”
Finn glanced over at the girls, then slid his chair closer.
“Is he dead?” I asked.
“Very,” Niall confirmed. “We made sure of it. Satan was waiting to greet him long before the night was over.”
“You both look…rattled.”
Finn and Niall shared a look then Finn spoke. “After you left, we let the bastard roll around moaning and whimpering for a while. It seemed odd he’d have a cabin but not keep it updated, if you know what I mean. He inherited it years ago. He could have sold it. So we poked around.”
“What did you find?” I asked, knowing it was something big.
“A box hidden in the kitchen. With treasures.”
I swallowed. “Treasures?”
“Mementos of, ah, other women. We knew Autumn wasn’t the first woman he’d kidnapped. The one who got away wasn’t either. There were others.”
“Jesus,” I muttered, the food I’d eaten suddenly feeling like cement in my stomach. “A serial killer, then? Not just a stalker?”
Niall nodded. “Three others. We checked out their names from the IDs he’d kept. All listed as missing.”
I scrubbed my face. “Holy feck. It could have been four.”
Finn grabbed my shoulder, pressing down. “It wasn’t. She is fine.”
“What did you do?”
“Questioned the bastard until he talked,” Niall said. “Me and my bullets. By the time we were finished, there wasn’t much left of his toes.” He smiled coldly. “Or his voice.”
“Ouch,” I muttered. “That would have hurt, but if anyone deserved it, it was him.”
“Aye. I was going to use his prick as target practice, but there wasn’t much to it.”
“What?” I asked. “How the feck did you know that?”
“I made him strip before he went into the root cellar. Hard not to notice. Barely enough to grab onto to piss.”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” I muttered.
“We added his DNA to the box for the cops to do testing.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “DNA? As in…”
“A couple of fingers. He wasn’t going to need them where he was going.”
Finn shook his head. “Enough, Niall.” He met my gaze.
“We took the evidence and his information to our guy at the police. He said it was going to solve some cold cases. Bring the families some closure. I asked him to get me the names. We’ll help with some sort of funding.
A scholarship in the women’s names. Aid the families with something they need. ”
I nodded. “I’ll contribute.”
Finn grinned. “Fecking right you will.”
“So you left him to die in the root cellar?”
“Hell no,” Finn said. “I finished him off. I was tired of his whining. A final bullet to the head shut him up. Then we closed the trapdoor. The cold will preserve the body nicely until someone shows up to investigate. And don’t worry, Autumn will never be involved or questioned. That was part of the deal.”
“Good. Thanks.”
Finn nodded and Niall grinned. “It was fun to turn loose on someone so deserving,” he said with a chuckle. “Been a long time.”
Finn sat back and rubbed his eyes. “Let’s hope it’s the last time.”
I followed his gaze to where our women sat together.
“I agree.”
I looked down at Autumn, asleep and safe where she belonged. In my arms. Where she always would be.
Autumn was released the next morning, and she insisted on going to see Lynn. She wore a high-necked sweater, and the sleeves had thumb holes so she didn’t worry about them riding up and Lynn seeing those bruises.
She became anxious as we pulled up to the building, even though we were going in a different door. I leaned over, stilling her wringing hands.
“He’s gone,” I reassured her. “You’re safe.”
“I know.”
“The other unit is empty and vacant. You never have to go back there. Lynn’s new spot is on the opposite side of the building. He was never there.”
She nodded and took a deep breath. “Okay.”
“I’ll be right with you.”
“I know.”
Then my brave girl drew back her shoulders and took my hand. “I’m ready.”
Upstairs, Lynn was delighted to see her. She tutted over the bruises, fussing over Autumn as she sat across from her.
“Thank God you weren’t seriously injured! Anna says someone pushed you out of the way, so you only glanced off the car.” She clucked her tongue. “Careless arse.”
Autumn shook her head in amusement. “You’re spending too much time with the Irishmen.”
“Never. The four of them are keeping me young. Oh, how the girls and I laugh.” She beamed at Autumn.
“You don’t have to worry about me being lonely when you go.
Anna is coming to teach a class on knitting.
I’ve always wanted to learn to knit. And Una is going to come and sing next month.
They found a place where I can go and play cards every week.
They want to learn how to play bridge, so they’re going to come with me.
And I get to have Carrie as a personal care aide. I am so pleased.”
Autumn met my eyes, hers filled with gratitude. “How lovely.”
“And Niall’s man—Evan, I think? He’s hooking me up with a new computer and something called Whats up so I can talk to you anytime!”
“WhatsApp,” I corrected her. “But yes, you can talk to Autumn anytime. And I’ll bring her back as soon as her visa clears for a visit.”
“I would love that.”
I stood. “You chat. I’ll go get us tea and cookies from the kitchen.”
Lynn smiled, knowing I was giving them privacy.
I knew Autumn wanted some time with her alone.
To let her know, if all went well, we would be leaving next week.
I had called my firm and taken a personal leave of absence, wanting to give Autumn a chance to recover before leaving her on her own too much.
Her office was informed of her “accident,” and she was also on leave for a few weeks.
Whatever she needed, she would get.
Including, if she wanted it, a wedding.
That night, Autumn stared out at the night sky, her silhouette highlighted by the glow behind her. I walked up, looping my arms around her waist.
“All right there, mo fhiadh beag?”
“I’m fine.”
I dropped a kiss to her neck. “Finn and Niall have both informed me when your wife says, ‘I’m fine,’ it’s time to run or figure out what you have done wrong.”
She laughed. “I’m not your wife.”
I pulled her close, meeting her eyes in the glass.
“You could be. On Friday, if you wanted.”
“What?”
I turned her around. “If we sign the papers now, Finn will help us have it rubber-stamped right away. We can get married Friday here in the hotel. Just a small wedding. Lynn can come. Anyone else you want. Have a nice dinner. Una and Anna have it all planned. We can be married here then go to Scotland as husband and wife.”
“But Roisin—”
“Is ready to get on a plane if you say yes.” I slipped the small box I’d been carrying around into her hand. “Please say yes, my love. Be mine in every way.”
She blinked, not looking in the box. Not caring what the ring looked like. She only looked at me. “Sully, are you sure?”
“I have never been more sure of anything in my life. When you were taken from me, I vowed when I got you back, I would protect you with everything I had, including my name. Autumn Black has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
Tears filled her eyes. “Yes, it does.”
I took the box and flipped open the lid. Her eyes widened at the sight of the glowing diamonds. “I met you because of snow. This ring looks like a perfect snowflake. A reminder of our start.” I suddenly felt nervous. “Will you wear it to remind you every day of our beginning, Autumn?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I will.”
I pulled her into my arms and kissed her.
Mine now—forever.