Chapter 29 - Delaney
DELANEY
I looked into his eyes and saw my future shining back in mine.
—Delaney’s Secret Thoughts
My eyes are dry and scratchy when I open them, much like my throat. Like they don’t remember what it feels like to be used. Like it’s been . . . days.
My gaze darts around the dark room, not quite focusing until I see him. Ryker. His face pressed to my hand as he holds it between his. Dark scruff growing along his jaw and his hair disheveled.
“Ryker,” I croak, but little sound comes out as my throat burns.
He doesn’t hear me. With or without hearing aids, I’m not surprised. I’m not sure if I even heard me.
I drag my hand out from under his handsome face and run my fingers through his hair as realization dawns.
I’m in a hospital room.
The pieces begin to flash across my fuzzy thoughts, but they don’t make sense.
The apartment.
Brooks.
Tori . . .
“Lane?” My gorgeous husband lifts his head, and haunted blue eyes stare back at me. “Am I dreaming?”
I drag my thumb along his cheek. “I don’t think so,” I croak, my words barely above a whisper, and yet, they still require every ounce of energy I think I’ve ever had. “Water,” I beg and close my eyes as Ryker moves a glass to my lips, pressing a straw in.
“Little sips, baby.”
Ice-cold water stings my sore throat like ocean waves lapping against an open cut.
“You’re really awake,” he murmurs as he pulls the cup back, so much love shining in his eyes, I’m overwhelmed by it. “Do you remember what happened?”
“No,” I say quietly, grateful he can read my lips as the first wave of emotion sweeps over me, heavy and exhausting. Tears sting my eyes, and I pull him closer. “Tell me.”
“It was Brooks. He hurt you and set fire to the shop.” Ryker drops his face down and kisses my hand. “You scared me so bad, baby. You weren’t breathing. Wouldn’t breathe. And I thought . . . Fuck, I don’t want to live in a world you’re not in, Delaney.”
“Come . . . Here . . .” I force from my lips and slowly move over. “Lie with me.”
“I’m too big.” He holds the straw back to my lips. “I won’t fit.”
I sip for another minute, then push it away. “I need to feel you next to me, Ryker. Please.”
His shoulders drop as he stands and carefully maneuvers himself into my bed.
I turn on my side and rest my head on his chest, closing my eyes as the heavy beating of his heart lulls me into a peaceful sleep.
“Should you really be in bed with her?” a voice asks. Hendrix maybe?
“You gonna make me get out?” That one’s Ryker’s. Even asleep, I’d recognize it anywhere.
“He’s not, but I should.” Wait . . . I know that one too.
“Fuck off, Finn. You’re not her doctor.” Ryker presses his lips to the top of my head, and I burrow back in deeper, letting the scent of sandalwood and sage fill my nose and push away the smell of smoke that’s been stuck there for days.
“Open your eyes, Bambi.”
As if they have no choice but to open, I find myself face-to-face with the love of my life. “Hi.”
It’s a quiet whisper, but it doesn’t hurt as much as it did yesterday.
“You’ve been crying in your sleep, mia moglie.”
“I had a nightmare. Only I think it was real. Is Tori okay?” How have I not asked before now? And as if that one question somehow opened the dam, a million others come rushing out. “What happened? Did they catch Brooks? Did he start the fire? Was anyone else hurt? When can I go home?”
“There’s my girl,” Ryker whispers against my skin. “They did catch Brooks. They also tied him to the fire and had been looking for him anyway because your father named him as part of a group of people who had been on his payroll. He’s going away for a long time. He’ll never touch you again.”
“No one else was hurt. Although I’d feel better about that if you hadn’t been either.
” He sweeps a kiss along my brow. “And my brother has Tori. Rosie assured me they’re taking good care of our girl.
Although she may want to keep her for sleepovers after this.
Apparently, Tori and Mav’s bulldog, Butters, have become best friends, according to Rosie. ”
I press my lips to his heart and close my eyes before bringing my face back to his, making sure this incredible man can see my mouth.
“I love you, Ryker. I went to the apartment that day for pots and pans. I wanted to make you dinner. I wanted to feed you the way you always feed me. I wanted to use your love language to tell you how much I love you. I don’t know why I never said it before.
” Ryker gently wipes the tears from my eyes.
“All I kept thinking as Brooks got closer was that I was going to die and I never told you how much I love you. I never told you how happy you’ve made me or that my life is so much better because you’re in it. ”
“I thought I lost you, Lane. I only just found you, and I thought I lost you.” His big hand wraps gently around my face, careful not to touch the back of my head and the massive number of stitches holding my skull together.
“You are my life, baby. You’re the reason it makes sense.
You’re everything. And you left me. You stopped breathing.
Your heart stopped beating. You can’t do that again.
You can’t leave me here without you. I don’t think I’d survive. ”
“I’m so sorry I did that to you. So sorry,” I cry, the vibrations hurting my throat and my head. “Until we’re old and gray with beautiful grandbabies, right?”
“Yeah, Bambi. Until we’re old and gray with beautiful grandbabies.”