Chapter Four
Braxten
I ’ve faced down countless monsters in my short time on this earth. Some who have inflicted ever lasting scars on my body when I was too young and defenseless to do anything about it. Memories I’ll never be able to forget that still haunt me on the darkest nights.
That terrified little boy who had no one though is long gone, and in his place is a man who exacts vengeance, sending every single one of them straight to hell where they belong.
As I sit next to the sleeping beauty, assessing her fading bruises while she rests and heals, I’m left wondering again what kind of monster is capable of doing this. To hurt someone as fragile and innocent as her.
It’s been over a week and we are still no closer to finding out who the beautiful stranger is.
I’m a firm believer in fate, it stems from the string of life changing events that brought my brothers and me together when we needed each other the most. I have no doubt I was meant to find this woman just like my father found us on his land all those years ago.
How or why I don’t know, but like my father, I will protect her and keep her safe.
The vibration of my phone cuts off my thoughts. Shifting in my chair, I dig it out of my pocket and find Craig’s number flashing on the screen.
Standing, I move to the corner of the room, keeping my voice low as I answer. “Yeah.”
“By the way you’re talking, I’m going to assume you’re at the hospital again?”
He should know better than to ask this considering I’ve been here every day since I brought her here.
“What’s your point, Clemson?”
“Nothing,” he grumbles, but it’s obvious he wants to say more. “She awake?”
“No. You got anything concrete for me yet?”
His huff of defeat fills the line. “No, and it’s a complete mind fuck, man. I can’t find anything on her. No missing persons reports on anyone with the name Alice either. I’m starting to wonder if it’s even her real name.”
I’ve wondered the same thing, but it’s about the only thing she feels strongly about and right now her instinct is all we have to go on.
“I also ran her DNA in the system and got no match. Which isn’t a surprise since I didn’t take her for a criminal.”
I grunt at the understatement. No way is this girl capable of anything illegal or corrupt. She’s way too innocent. What the doctor discovered in his internal exam only proves it.
“I know you’re not going to like this,” he continues cautiously, “but I think our next step is going to have to be putting her face out there for the world to see and hope someone recognizes her.”
Dread pools in my gut. “Not yet.”
“Brax, man. I don’t have a choice. I need something to go on here.”
“I don’t care what you have to do, Craig, just find another way.”
“How the hell do you expect me to do that when you don’t even let me talk to her, for christ’s sake? Any time I even begin to question her, you stop me.”
“Because she can’t answer any of your questions and you’re causing her distress,” I snap.
“What is it with you and this girl? I’ve never seen you act this way before.”
How can I explain it when I don’t even understand it myself?
There’s just something about her, something that raises every single one of my protective instincts.
Maybe it’s because of the way I found her: broken, alone, and wounded.
Maybe it’s because I can relate to being thrown aside like yesterday’s trash or beaten within an inch of my life.
Or maybe it’s something else, something more…
“Look, just hold off a little longer,” I say, refusing to acknowledge his question. “Give her time to heal. She could regain her memory at anytime. The safer she feels, the more of a chance we have of that happening. She’s not going to feel safe if her face is plastered all over the fucking place.”
Silence spans the other end of the line for only a second. “Fine, but I’m not waiting much longer. I have a bad feeling about this, Brax.”
“You and me both.”
“All right. Keep in touch,” he says, bringing the call to an end.
“I will. Talk soon.” Hanging up, I drop my phone back in my pocket and link my hands behind my head, feeling tension mount in my shoulders.
“Braxten?”
I spin around at the soft, sleepy sound of my name and come face-to-face with an angel. A wounded one, but an angel nonetheless.
“Hey,” I greet, coming to sit by her bed again. “How are you feeling today?”
“Mmm,” she muses sleepily, her dark lashes sweeping across her bruised cheeks. “Okay, just more tired than anything. Have you been here long?”
I shrug instead of revealing that I’ve been here for three hours already. I come every day to sit with her, not wanting her to be alone, much to nurse bitch’s dismay.
“I’m sorry,” she says, seeing the answer on my face regardless of my silence. “It seems I’m always asleep when you’re here.”
“Don’t worry about it. The more you rest, the faster you will heal. You getting better is all that matters right now.”
She offers me a weak smile, and despite it’s lack of strength, it has the power to knock me on my ass. “Thank you for being here. Even if I am always sleeping, it makes me feel less alone.”
“I told you that first day I wouldn’t leave you and I meant it.”
Those blue irises search mine, a force pulling me into their crystal depths until she breaks the connection. “Was that Sheriff Clemson on the phone?”
“Yes.”
“Has he found anything?” Hope edges her soft voice.
“Not yet, but he’s working on it.”
She nods, but there’s no denying the disappointment on her face. “It’s been so long I’m starting to wonder if anyone is out there looking for me. Maybe I have no one in my life who cares.”
The loss in her voice has me reaching for her hand, the need to comfort her overriding all else. “I care.”
A sad smile claims her face. “You’re ridiculously sweet, Braxten Creed. Anyone ever tell you that?”
“Nope, but I’ll be sure to tell my brothers you said so. It can just be one more thing those bastards are jealous about when it comes to me.”
A giggle floats past her lips like I hoped it would, the melody infiltrating my chest. It’s a sound I suddenly ache to hear again.
She rests her head back on the pillow, her eyes never leaving mine. “How many siblings do you have?”
“Two brothers and a sister-in-law. I also have a really kickass niece. She takes after me.”
The smile on her face never falters. “Well, if they are anything like you then I’m sure they are wonderful.
” Her gaze suddenly drops from mine. “You know, I don’t think I have ever thanked you for saving my life.
I might not know who I am, but I’m grateful I’m alive to find out and that is all because of you. Thank you, Braxten.”
I think back to the moment I found her lying there. Battered and helpless. It’s an image that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
“You don’t need to thank me, Alice. I’m just glad I’m the one who found you.”
Her eyes lift back to mine, suspending time, the connection between us pulsating like a live wire.
“A social worker came to see me this morning,” she blurts out.
The revelation has my back straightening. I don’t like hearing anyone was in this room without me. “What did she want?”
“To talk.” She begins fidgeting with her blanket, her delicate fingers plucking at the fraying thread.
“She offered counseling and support groups for me to join. She also gave me the name of a women’s shelter that is willing to take me in while the police continue to work on finding out more answers about my past.”
Over my dead fucking body.
No way am I letting her be a part of the same system that failed my brothers and me.
“Dr. Carver says I’ve healed a lot faster than expected,” she continues softly. “Sounds like I could be getting out of here in just a few days.”
“You don’t sound very happy about that.”
“I am,” she rushes to say. “I appreciate all of the help people have given me, the nursing staff have been amazing and so has Dr. Carver. Even Sheriff Clemson and of course… you.” Her gaze drifts to her tangled fingers before shrugging. “I don’t know, I’m just scared, I guess.”
“Of what?”
Her eyes lift back to mine, fear radiating in the clear blue depths. “Of what awaits me when I leave here,” she whispers. “How am I supposed to walk outside these walls knowing someone out there possibly wants me dead?”
“No one is going to hurt you, Alice.”
A tear slips down her bruised cheek, the sight of it gutting me from the inside out.
“Come home with me.” The words leave my mouth without hesitation.
Surprise adopts her face. “With you?”
I nod. “My father’s farm is the perfect place for you to heal. It’s also safe. My brothers and I have that place rigged tighter than Fort fucking Knox, but even if we didn’t, no one would ever make it past us to get to you.”
The need to accept is written all over her face, yet she hesitates before shaking her head altogether. “I appreciate the offer, but…I can’t. I can’t do that to you, not after everything you have already done for me.”
“This isn’t up for debate, Alice.” I want to curse myself when she flinches at my hard tone. “Look, something brought you to me. Whether it’s by coincidence or more, doesn’t matter. I can protect you. I can also help find out who you are.”
Her eyes wander my face. “Why?” she whispers. “Why would you do all this? You don’t even know me.”
“Maybe not, but I know what it’s like to have no one.” The confession escapes me without thought. “I know what it’s like to be alone and scared.” I take her cold, fragile hand in mine as I helplessly watch tears slip down her battered face. “You can trust me, Alice. Let me help you.”
Her lashes sweep closed for the briefest second as she swallows hard. When she reopens her eyes, I see the answer before she even speaks it. “Okay. I’ll come home with you.”