29 Fletcher Halfway To Whole—Matt Maeson
Fletcher
Halfway To Whole—Matt Maeson
My therapist told me to think of this chapter as a new life. Not one cut short by war or disability. Not something ethereal that’s been stolen from me by a cruel mistress of fate, never to be returned. Otherwise, all I’ll do is mourn what can never be.
Day one after that crash was my first.
And in that sense, I’ve lost nothing at all.
I’m never going to be grateful for crawling out of the flames to accept this damn second life or whatever shit he intends to lay on me next. Let’s not go too far here. But I’m sure thankful for the contents of this hospital room, safe and whole.
Without all the shit we’ve waded through, I wouldn’t know that the smirk on Sterling’s lips as he spoon-feeds Everleigh a yoghurt is genuine.
I wouldn’t know that Leo’s grouching about being the “second best boyfriend” is him releasing fear of not being good enough.
And I wouldn’t know that this brave, stupid, ridiculously fucking reckless woman .
. . is the beginning and the end for all of us.
“When can Thierry fit me in?” she asks for the third time.
Sighing, Sterling discards the yoghurt pot. “We’ve talked about this. Not until the stitches are out and any scarring has settled. Else you’ll end up with a huge mess on your arm.”
“More of a mess than I have right now?”
“It’s not that bad,” Leo emphasises.
“My tattoo is ruined.”
“Well, he missed the important parts.”
“I hate this.” She sulks, her lip jutting out through myriad bruises and cuts. “When can we go home?”
“The doc’s working on your discharge papers now.” Sterling bops underneath her chin. “It’s only been a day, love. You need to give yourself time to rest and heal.”
“What I need is to go home,” she corrects.
Leo rests a hand on her blanket-covered leg. “Soon.”
Those hollow hazel eyes flick over to me. Only the emptiness seems few and far between now. Over time, I’ve watched life bloom in the green flecks that paint her hazelnut depths, allowing flowers to blossom where a barren wasteland once lay.
When I returned home and realised she was gone, I feared I would never look into those eyes again. That dread grew when Leo’s Land Rover was discovered by the police, abandoned in a ditch with all the indications of being ran off the road.
Cashing in a favour brought her back to us, and for that, I’ll always be grateful. Everleigh handled her psychopathic ex beautifully, but she still needed a helping hand to cross the finish line.
Thanks to her, he’s been caught red handed, ending years of invisible tyranny. While none of us like her actions—Sterling has sure made that known—it has brought closure to so many. Including him. Isabel’s case will now be closed once justice is served in due course.
“I’m sorry,” she offers, holding my stare. “What I did was reckless and selfish. I scared you to death.”
“Putting it mildly,” Leo mutters.
“Your methods were a little unorthodox,” Sterling concedes. “But we’re just glad you’re okay, Everleigh. That monster is going to spend the rest of his life behind bars because of you.”
“Did you hear from the investigators?” she asks me.
Clasping the hospital bed railings, I nod.
“They found Rachel?”
Another nod. They did. Christopher Banks did a shit-poor job of discarding her body while holding Everleigh in some crummy flat he used for unspeakable things. It was easy enough to locate her in a nearby woodland close to that makeshift prison, rented cheaply under a false name.
“Thank God.” She sighs.
“We heard he isn’t talking much anymore,” Sterling reveals. “But he’s already corroborated the confession you recorded. Isabel, Rachel . . . and at least two others in his university days.”
“Two more?” Everleigh winces when she sits up.
“I’m sorry, love.”
“I can’t believe this. He’s hurt so many people.”
There’s no sense in hiding it from her. She deserves the truth more than anyone. Reaching for the newspaper folded in the pocket of my jacket, I unroll it to slide over to her on the bed.
Eminent Psychiatrist To The Stars Arrested On Multiple Counts Of Murder.
Doctor Christopher Banks—London’s Modern-Day Serial Killer?
Her head bows, dripping tears onto the aggressive ink. Not only did she survive an abusive son of a bitch . . . but a suspected serial killer, no less. The worst kind. Hidden in plain sight and utterly invisible to civil society.
Now behind bars.
All because of her.
“You brought him to justice, sweetheart.” Leo’s stare shines with pride. “Because of you, no one else will get hurt. You did it.”
“I should’ve done it sooner,” she whispers.
“No.” Sterling takes the paper from her and tosses it aside. “Don’t think like that.”
“You suffered through not knowing for four years, Sterl.”
“And I’d suffer it again if it meant everything would turn out like this in the end,” he assures. “Only if I got to have you and see that monster on trial where he belongs.”
Head bowing, he buries his face in her blanketed stomach. Everleigh wipes her tears, then strokes his messy caramel hair, gently soothing the man who never lets himself be weak. Not for us. Not for anyone. But there’s nothing to be strong for anymore—he finally has the truth.
And Isabel’s ghost can rest.
Softly kissing her cheek, avoiding the slices from her car accident, Leo steps outside to make a few calls.
Cassidy has been waiting for her hourly update.
She wanted to be here, but we’ve put her off for now.
Besides, she’s handling the police who now have to remove Andy from their list of arson suspects.
Another twist.
Despite Everleigh’s insistence that Christopher never intended to kill her, it would seem he resolved to “save” his wife from sin by scaring her. She’s lucky to have survived the blaze. The shit he’s confessed to is downright heinous, but in his mind, it all made sense.
At a tap on the door, I move to answer and greet Maverick with a backslap. His uncle lingers behind him, clasping Piper’s good arm, while the other lies bandaged in a sling to stop her from pulling the shoulder stitches.
“She up for a visitor?” Maverick asks.
I gesture for him to enter.
“Thanks, man.”
Elias claps my arm as they pass, helping his niece despite the sour look she shoots at him. I wouldn’t help her even with a bulletproof vest on. That kitten’s got claws and a huge chip on her shoulder.
“How’s the superhero?” Maverick calls cheerfully. “Special Agent Coles, reporting for duty.”
“Mav,” Sterling groans.
“What? I heard our girl here kicked some serious, murderous ass.”
Even my mouth falls open. Way to put a foot in his mouth.
“Too soon?” Maverick winces.
Elias clears his throat. “A little.”
“Alright, I gotcha. There’s another ninja here to see you, Eden. She’s been nagging us all day.”
“Nagging?” Piper sniffs. “Fuck you, bro.”
“Hey!” Elias cries. “Language.”
“You too,” she hurls at him. “Get off. I can walk on my own.”
Trying not to laugh so as not to disturb her bruises, Everleigh accepts their hugs and kisses. Sterling vacates the empty chair so Piper can sit down, despite her grumbling about being fine and Elias’s continued hovering.
“Um.” Everleigh worries her lip, causing a sore gash to pull taut. “I guess it’s safe to tell you now. My name isn’t Eden Coles.”
“Excuse me?” Maverick gawps at her.
“It’s Everleigh. Nice to meet you, I guess.”
“Well, shit.” Piper titters in amusement. “People actually have secret identities in real life?”
“Sorry,” she offers. “I don’t have any more secrets.”
Standing at the end of the bed, Elias meets her eyes. She smiles at him until his stern expression cracks and he eventually smiles back.
“Everleigh,” he rumbles.
“Hey. It’s good to see you.”
“Even better to see you. Good work, kid.”
“Thank you.”
“The investigators have already approached me to testify at trial alongside Piper here. You told them to find me?”
She nods, adjusting herself on the pillows. “I did.”
“Then I’ll be happy to help you nail that bastard,” Elias vows. “With great pleasure.”
In the high-backed chair, Piper rolls her eyes. “Okay, uncle. Enough of the action man, James Bond crap. Go get a cup of tea or something, you old man.”
He sighs, then grumbles something about kids before stepping outside with Sterling to chat. I linger in the corner while Maverick and Piper have their time, keeping a watchful eye over Everleigh. Just in case. She wanted a protector, but she has no idea what she bargained for with me.
I’m never letting her out of my sight again.
Not for a damn second.
When Piper gets tired, her brother escorts her from the room with a promise to return later.
The little spitfire scowls at me. “Sit, guard dog.”
In retaliation, I offer Piper a cheeky wink. She can cut the shit. I used to change her nappies, and if that dickhead wasn’t behind bars for hurting my girl, he’d be dead for getting to her too.
Piper blows me a kiss as they leave, then we’re left alone.
Suddenly, the room feels too silent. Achingly so.
I move to the hospital bed and perch on the edge, close enough to take Everleigh’s hand in mine.
My throat protests as I swallow, working through the exercises my new speech therapist has me doing daily.
“H-H-Hi,” I rasp, almost nonexistent.
A brilliant, soul-affirming smile rewards my effort.
“Hey.”
I can’t say much more, but I hope she can see all the words I’d offer if I could.
How she scared the living death out of me.
Far more than any scan or prognosis ever has.
How I would’ve gone back into those woods to finish what I started if she didn’t come back to us, because I don’t want to see a world without her in it.
How I love her.
How I’ll always protect her.
And how I want forever by her side.
Eyes shining, Everleigh twists her fingers in mine. “I know.”
I heave a breath. Lips moving. I love you.
Her thumb strokes over my veins. “I love you too.”
Sucking in, I slowly recite another plea. One she’ll understand. Stay.
“I’m not going anywhere but home, Fletch. I don’t intend to leave ever again.”
My chest flames with all the emotions I can’t express. Not least of all, relief. We’re a band of fucked-up, broken brothers, but with her there to stitch those pieces back together . . . this cruel world makes a bit more sense to me.
“Can you help me into the shower?” she requests. “I want to go home clean.”
Nodding, I help peel the covers back and ease her from the hospital bed. She’s safe to leave once the doctors have signed it off, but I’m still careful with her. Her arm is stitched and bandaged, plus she isn’t allowed to shower or rest without being monitored while her head injury heals.
Adjacent to the hospital room, there’s a small en suite. Everleigh lets me unfasten the hospital gown and ease it off so she can bathe. I guide her into the waterproof shower seat, ensuring her bandaged arm is kept out of the spray.
“Ouch,” she mutters.
Freezing, I cock a brow at her. Stop?
“No, no. I need to wash. Just be gentle.”
Seeing her skin stained black and blue from various assaults challenges my self-control. I wonder if Warner will cash in another favour and let me beat the shit out of his prisoner. I didn’t know the man for long before he was discharged from the army, but he’s a decent friend.
Lathering her bare legs, then using the adjustable hose to wash the soap off, I crouch next to the shower tray to remain dry, working my way down to her feet. She stiffens up as I lift the soles to clean every inch of her. The scars I know live there are hard to look at.
Rather than judge her, I take my time to stroke over the layers of silvery lines. They’re thin and horizontal, an immortalisation of the razor she swiped over her skin to cope with that man’s abuse. I hate that she’ll carry his mark forever, no matter how beautiful her courage is.
“It’s okay, Fletch.” She smiles sadly at me. “I survived. Just like you did.”
And thank fuck for that.
Lowering my lips to the soles of her feet, I take my time kissing each mark. Every single time she had to hurt herself to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I can’t erase her scars. But I can sure as hell love them.
Once she’s clean and dried off, we snuggle up in the hospital bed together. Everleigh curls up in my arms, her head tucked beneath my chin, ear resting over where my heart pounds. Each beat just for her.
I know she’s dropped off when her breaths become long and peaceful. She doesn’t even startle when the guys return, food and snacks in hand. Sterling stoops to kiss her shoulder, while Leo takes the empty chair and steals her hand for his safekeeping.
“I thought we’d lost her,” Leo admits roughly.
Sitting on the end of the bed, Sterling shakes his head. “Not our girl.”
“I never want to feel that way again.”
“You won’t have to.”
“How do you know?” He shudders at the thought.
When Sterling meets my eyes, I blink in agreement. Her husband will never lay hands on her again. All we need to worry about now is the rest of the world. But something tells me Everleigh is ready to face it all on her own.
“Because she belongs to us,” Sterling proclaims. “That means we keep her safe.”
“And love her like she deserves to be loved,” Leo adds.
“We’re all in. All of us.”
“You even need to ask?” He laughs flatly. “I’ve been head over heels for her since I walked into that pub and watched her wolf down a sandwich without coming up for air.”
When Sterling looks at me, I simply frown back. Stupid ass. I’m either disinterested or worryingly obsessed when it comes to women, and it certainly isn’t the former. I wouldn’t step aside even if my best friend begged me to.
We can share.
This . . . this feels right.
“Then we’re on the same page,” Sterling decides, his shoulders relaxing. “Let’s take our girl home.”
I huff at the fool.
A-fucking-men to that.