61. Millie
Millie
Millie groaned and squeezed her eyes tighter. Sheets scratched her skin, and her pillow was like lead.
Bright lights penetrated her eyelids. What fresh hell was this? She opened one eye, then the other. There was no mistaking that she was in a hospital, but each one was so generic that she couldn’t tell which.
She touched her throbbing forehead, hissing as the bandage caught on her cuticles.
“Stop touching it, then,” Strike grumbled. Beside the bed sat her beautiful man. His mouth was tight, which highlighted his perfect cheekbones, and stubble lined his jaw. With his red hoodie and grey joggers, he was sex personified.
He locked her stare, but focusing on his face was too much, and soon, she had to close her eyes. She attempted to ask where she was, but her voice was barely a rasp.
His shadow hid the bright lights trying to burn through her eyelids. “Sip this.”
A straw touched her lips, and she sucked. She opened one of her eyes and stared back at him. His spare hand twisted and twiddled a fidget tool while he held the cup close to her. He offered her a pair of her glasses.
“Are you angry with me?” she croaked as she put them on.
He crouched beside the hospital bed. Tears brimmed his dark-ringed eyes. “No, Sunset. I’m out of control, and it terrifies me, but not as much as seeing you nearly killed. Never do that again.”
“I promise never to be kidnapped by the Deputy Prime Minister after getting his son arrested for stabbing a drug dealer,” she replied hoarsely, but she couldn’t smile. Strike’s suffering brought more agony than nearly dying at the hands of a megalomaniac.
He shook his head. “Fucking smart-arse even now.”
“You love my smart arse,” she said tearily.
“Don’t cry.” He pressed his lips softly against hers. “I love you, you fucking danger seeker. I thought I’d lost you.”
“I’m too strong for that.” Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Strike closed his eyes, and his forehead touched hers. He smelt of lavender and coffee.
“What happened to Randolph and Hugo?”
“They’re both going to jail for a long time. You’re safe. It’s all over.”
The nurse bustled in. “Can you give us a minute, Mr. Moorcroft? I need to check Millie now she’s awake.”
Strike stood by the side of the bed. His brow furrowed.
Millie’s heart went out to him. It must be unbearable to be a man who was always in control when faced with this kind of uncertainty. “Can he stay? It will help him.”
“I’ve never seen anything like you two. He’s not left your bed in the last twenty-four hours. He hasn’t been to the bathroom.”
“Strike!”
He shrugged and folded his arms. “I’ve faced worse situations than this.”
“If you don’t go to the bathroom, I’ll ban you from my room,” Millie said, although, with her hoarse voice, it lost its threat.
“Fine and I’ll update everyone in the waiting room with your progress, but then I’m returning to be your private nurse,” he grumbled. She flared her nostrils. “Not like that.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t need to,” he added from the doorway as he left.
“He didn’t sleep all night,” her nurse said as a doctor joined them.
“Hello, Millie, how are you feeling?”
“Sore. My head hurts, and I ache everywhere.”
“I’m not surprised. Nurse Mackle and I will check you over. Hopefully, we can get you home in a few days.” The doctor helped Millie move her limbs as she answered questions about her vision and pain.
“What did Strike mean when he said everyone in the waiting room?”
“There are three very confident women from the town,” the nurse commented. “Strike’s parents, a group of huge men, and a woman who keeps telling them what to do are there as well.”
Liss.
“One of the massive men, the Irish guy, is cradling a baby. My ovaries exploded when he sang her a lullaby,” the doctor added.
“We’ll keep you here a couple of nights. Mr. Moorcroft paid for the best private care in Cornwall. It will give you time to recover away from everyone,” the doctor said. “You’ve got a head injury, and we suspect your left hand is broken.”
Millie stared at her hand.
“We waited for you to wake before X-raying it and putting it in plaster. Nurse Mackle will accompany you for your scan.” A cheer sounded from out the door. “I guess he’s told your visitors you’re awake.”
Millie’s mouth lifted tentatively.
Strike peeked around the door. “Can I come back?” He carried balloons and several bouquets. A teddy was tucked under his arm.
Millie nodded. “You didn’t have to buy all that. I won’t be here long.”
“These are from your friends. I’ve sent them away with a promise they can see you when you get home.”
“Do my family know?”
Strike winced.
“We’ll leave you two to it. I’ll be back in an hour to take you for your X-ray,” the nurse said. “Come on, Doctor. let’s get one last look at the hot dad before he goes. He’s single.”
“And young enough to be your son.” Their voices faded into the sounds of the hospital.
“Your brother’s flying in tomorrow, and your parents are returning from their cruise.
I tried to keep it quiet, but you’re all over the news.
” Strike sat on the edge of the bed. “I can handle your dad, but I’m not sure I’m ready for your mum.
During our brief phone call, she blamed everything on me. She scares the shit out of me.”
“I got you, baby,” Millie said with a wink.
“Thank you, beautiful.” He stared at the bed.
“Do you want to join me under the blanket?”
“I won’t fit.”
“We’ll make you fit.”
Strike clumsily climbed in beside her, and she rested against his chest.
“Why do you smell of lavender?”
“I borrowed Stal’s lotion. I didn’t smell great, and my hands were busted up from carrying a squirming Randolph down the hill to the police. He tried to bite me the whole way.”
Millie kissed his knuckles and forearms, which were covered in bruises. “How did you know I was under attack?”
Strike explained the messages he’d received from Rylee.
“She’s a genius.” Millie smiled.
“Don’t you dare let your mum tell you online friends aren’t real friends again. She saved your life. It would have been too late if…” His voice wobbled.
“Don’t, Strike. Don’t let those thoughts in.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t realise sooner. I’m better than this. I’m never letting you out of my sight again. You’ll never leave the house. I’m doing all the food shopping. We’ll never eat out, and when we get a dog, I’ll always walk them alone.”
“Of course you will.” She chuckled.
“I’m serious.”
She kissed the beauty spot near his ear.
“As soon as I realised where Randolph had grabbed you, I ran there. I bumped into your gang of ladies, who were checking on you after they heard a man was in town looking for you. I explained what happened. Word went out to search for you. And then you screamed. They found the best path for us to get to you.”
“So you barely did anything, and all these women saved me. What’s the point of dating a bodyguard?”
“I presume your cheekiness is due to your busted head,” he sassed. “When you’re discharged, I’ll take you somewhere special to recuperate. I’ve found us a house.”
She leant up and eyeballed him. “And…?”
“It’s a surprise. You’ll love it.” With a smug grin, he pecked her on her lips and threaded his fingers with hers.