19. Stella
Chapter 19
Stella
Pain tore its way up my leg every time one of these jokers tried to “help” me place it in the right position for X-rays.
I wanted to kick them all, but as word would have it, if I did, then the Sheriff or a deputy would handcuff my ass to a bed. I was taking that warning to heart. I ain’t got time for that today. The doc had already said the shot was a through and through. Which meant the bullet went straight through. They needed to check the bone to make sure it wasn’t damaged before they’d go to the next thing, which was stitching me up so I could freaking get out of this hospital johnny.
More importantly, I needed them to hurry up so I could go check on Carter. My poor little man was in bad shape. He was so weak, he couldn’t keep his eyes open or stand on his own before he was loaded up into that ambulance. I wasn’t a hundred percent sure what they’d done to him in that barn, other than use him as a punching bag—but I knew one thing for sure, I wanted them both dead. I wouldn’t get that wish, for now. Maybe ever. I wasn’t alone in that assessment. Daddy had lost his marbles at the barn and gone into Rambo-mode. It was scary when he lost it like that. One, because it took a lot for Wayne Malone to legit lose his marbles. And two, he was a stickler for the law when it’s warranted.
Today pushed him right over that line and straight into crazy town. The last time that had happened was when he, Gabe, and Robert were attacked in the woods by the crazy tree fuckers. That time had landed three of the men in the hospital before they’d gone to jail. Hopefully, they’d all rot there.
Carter—my heart hurt for him. Daddy was with him, making sure the doctors did all they could to get him better. I kept reminding myself of that. Daddy was with him. He’d be okay. But it didn’t help the raging mama bear within me.
My hands rubbed over my belly as I lay there waiting for the “don’t move” order the tech would call out as she put herself behind the protective wall while the X-ray took. The vest that lay there, covering the baby, keeping him or her safe, felt super heavy right now. It wasn’t a feeling I liked. Being held down, even in this manner, made me nervous.
Plus, this was a waste of time. I was fine, really. The doctors had already checked the baby; he or she was fine. My vitals were good. BP was a little high, but all things considered, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. So I was fine. What’s a little hole in my leg? I’d done worse to myself.
“All right, Ms. Malone, we’re all done. The doctor will let the ER doctor know what we find as soon as the image is looked at. Jen will take you back now.” I nodded. She removed that weighted covering, and I let out a deep breath. With their help, I was able to shift from the X-ray table to the gurney. I bit back a curse as fire shot through my leg, then laid back panting for air and cursing that fucking Kurt for making me shoot myself.
If I’d have shot him in the head—nope, I’d be in jail. I couldn’t do that to Trace or my babies. He wasn’t worth it.
Okay, so yeah, maybe it was a little worse than I was wanting to admit to. Sue me.
On the way to my spot in the ER, I got a glimpse in at Carter. He was slightly elevated, talking to Gabe. The purplish bruises covering his face made me want to punch someone. My poor boy, he was going to be feeling this for weeks. Trace came in and moved to the bedside, concern and a little anger written on his face. I didn’t want to deal with that angry bear just yet. I gave the nurse a glance when she turned to leave the bay.
Trace was poised, ready to bite my head off. That made him a good distraction from my own pain and anger. I punched him in the bicep, hard, and snarled, “Don’t you even yell at me!”
A snort came from the other side of the curtain. Chip was peeking in at us. “Well, I was going to ask if you’re alright, but that answers my question. The FBI has men on both Davenport and Bohlen. Y’all won’t be seeing them for quite a while.”
My lips curled up in another snarl at the mention of those two assholes. I hoped they both rotted under the damn jail. The sting of tears pressed against my eyes; I almost lost the battle to stay dry-eyed.
I closed my eyes, taking in some air—breathing through the sudden surge of pure, unfiltered rage that swamped me. Its closest friend was fear. That one made my stomach flip. A hand pressed against my cheek. I opened my eyes and met the stunning, speedy heartrate inducing eyes of my fiancé. Trace leaned over me, his eyes studying mine.
“It’s over. Everyone is going to be okay. Breathe, let it out.” His words were a soft command. I hadn’t even realized I had been holding my breath. I blinked hard, pushing a few stray tears from my eyes.
“Knock, knock. Can we come in?” My head came up, and I saw my Daddy and the Sheriff at the curtain. I nodded and sat up, wincing when I moved my leg.
“Daddy—”
“No, you don’t need to explain yourself to me. Not this time. I get it. You reacted, as Tracey and I did when we found out what was happening.”
“I’m not questioning why you did it. I am however inclined, as Sheriff, to tell you how dangerous it was for you to get into a situation without a full scope of what you were up against.”
“I know that. It didn’t matter. They had Carter. I was going to get him back.”
“We know, princess, but you put yourself in more danger than you should have.” Daddy gave me an assessing look. “It’s not just you to worry over anymore.”
I had to fight back an eye roll. I didn’t need to be reminded of being pregnant every five minutes. “What’s going to happen to them?” I asked, to get them off the subject of what I’d done.
“The FBI has guards on them right now. Two in each room. They’re both facing a slew of charges which now include kidnapping. They’re going to go away for a long time. You and Trace, along with Chip, will most likely be called in as witnesses to previous charges and, of course, for today’s events. Carter has already talked with me and the FBI. He’ll be brought in for more questioning and then possibly called as a witness.”
“Hasn’t he been through enough? Wait!” I sat up further, pushing Trace’s hands back from stopping me. “Who’s with Carter? Is he okay?”
“Easy, princess, he’s over in the X-ray department. He’s okay. I promise,” Daddy assured me, shifting closer to take my hand. “Don’t hurt yourself moving around like that.”
“Ms. Malone…” The doctor came back in. “Oh, hello. Sheriff, if you don’t mind, I need to speak to Ms. Malone.”
“They’re family, they can hear. Can I go home now?” I was getting—impatient.
“Soon. We’ve examined your X-rays; the bone has no damage. You got very lucky.”
“I shot myself. I knew what I was doing.”
He blinked, his gaze going up to meet my father’s as he spoke. “If a psych eval?—”
“Dude, I’m not in need of a fucking evaluation!” I hissed.
He took a step back. Trace sat on the bed beside me and put a meaty arm around my upper body.
“Stella Grace, please be nice to the kind doctor.”
Daddy looked at the doctor and said, “No psych visit is necessary. She shot an assailant, thereby striking herself. It was a calculated risk. My daughter is a bit reckless, but she knows what she’s doing.”
I snorted. “It was either shoot him and myself or possibly die. I know my own strengths, and with him as drugged out as he was, I went with the easier of those choices. That’s not being reckless.”
“It is. You put yourself in danger.” Trace eyed me. I wanted to hit him, but he tightened his hold, his nose almost touching mine.
“I did it to save my brother,” I gritted out between clenched teeth.
“You did it to prove a point. I get it. You can do your job. Pregnant or not. It was still stupid. Reckless.”
“Don’t make me nut-punch you!” I warned.
He grimaced.
“Stella Grace, being violent right now may just end you up on the third floor…” Daddy chuckled.
Ah, everyone’s a comedian today. “I’m not a weak, helpless girl. Those dickheads had my brother.” My voice dropped.
“No one said you were weak!” Trace was still scowling.
“No one thought AJ needed a psych eval when she stabbed herself with a fucking screwdriver! She did it to keep from dying. No different than what I did.”
“There is a difference; I know why you did it. I still don’t have to be happy about any of it.” His face was turning red. Bringing up what happened to AJ…that was a low blow. He and Chip still blamed themselves for her being hurt.
He was big mad and worried right now. I needed to remember that, but I was right to have done what I did. He was just beating a dead horse.
The images that I’d seen on my phone made my stomach churn. “You didn’t see the video they sent me.” He tightened his arm around me, and I pushed back. I wasn’t going to cry, not here, not again. “I was ready to do whatever I could to get him free when I went in. I knew I’d walk away, somehow. The baby and I would kick ass and come out on the other side.” My bravado was back. “I walked away...more or less. I’ll heal.”
“Stel…” His voice wrapped around me, and just like that, I was fucking crying. Again. What in the hell was wrong with me? Had someone attached a water bag to me and I’d missed it? Was this what being pregnant did to you?
“Princess,” Daddy’s voice pulled my gaze up.
He and Trace exchanged places, and the bear hug he locked me in made me grunt. Comfort washed through me, so I clung to him. Time to admit I’d made a mistake. I could do that. They all knew this was just how I reacted to things.
“I love you. Your brother…” Daddy tensed but took a deep breath to calm his raging temper. See, I wasn’t the only violent one here. “Your brother is your weakness. They took advantage of that. I understand your need to jump in and fix it. I would have done the same. I just wish I had gotten there a few minutes earlier.” His words promised pain.
“You got there when you should have,” Gabe said. I sat back, brushing my face clean of tears and winced. Jesus. A hiss of pain slipped through my gritted teeth. “Your face is bruised, be careful.”
“Five minutes. Just five minutes,” I pleaded.
“Not a chance.”
“Not today, Stella.”
“No!”
The three men around me all spoke at once. I sank back against the bed and crossed my arms over my chest. Rude. What was a girl supposed to do to get her anger out? Well, I could think of a few things. My thoughts were interrupted when the curtain to my bay was flung open. Carter stood there, half hunched over, wobbling, breathing heavily. He looked like something out of The Walking Dead . Jesus H. Christ.
“Carter.” I tried to get up, yelping when my leg whacked against the railing. “Son of a bitch.”
“Dammit, Stel, stay still, crazy. Don’t make me tie you to the bed.” I looked up at Trace.
Now was not the time to fuck with me. Our glare-off was interrupted when arms went around me. He and I both grunted as the snot was squeezed out of me. Carter had grown into a big boy. He engulfed me in his arms, and I just held him. My eyes closed as tears leaked through them. I heard voices, a nurse I was sure, fussing about him being up and too many people being in my bay. None of it mattered. He was right where he needed to be. I brushed the hair from his face. It looked as bad as I felt. His head was resting on my shoulder now.
“You okay?” I asked in a whisper.
He nodded. “I will be.”
“I love you. I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”
“No, it’s not.” He shifted, sucking in a pained breath. I held him a little tighter.
“Not so tight, princess, he’s got a few cracked ribs and extensive bruising,” Daddy commented. My eyes closed again.
“I’m going to skin them and tack their hides to the side of the barn.”
“Seems someone hasn’t lost her loving side.” I lifted one hand and gave Chip the finger. He must have come in with Carter. He thought he was a comedian.
“I’m okay.” Carter sat up slowly, his face pinching with anger and pain. He looked a little green. I felt a little green. The urge to vomit slowly moved through me.
“Not now...” Thankfully, before I could utter anything else, a pail was shoved under my face. The body wracking started. My fuzzy stomach and adrenaline crash finally butted heads. The baby was not a fan of today’s events. He or she was going to be like their daddy.