Chapter 48
FORTY-EIGHT
Aspen
“Where’s Fallon? Where’s Bishop?” They’re the first thoughts in my mind and the first words out of my mouth when I see my brothers in my hospital room.
Levi stands at my side, and Grant’s at the foot of the bed, looking through my chart as Ramsey watches me, hands steepled over his knees in the chair just under the window.
“I sent Fallon down to get some food with Dakota and Hazel.”
“Is someone with them? Security? They could take her again.” I try to sit up, but Levi holds me back.
“We’ve got three guys with them wherever they go, and hospital staff have been alerted to our security needs,” Grant reassures me, his brow furrowed as he studies me.
“Is she okay?”
“Other than being tired and worried about you, she’s fine.”
“And Bishop?”
“They took him back for an CT scan.”
“A CT scan? What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s just having some pain, and they want to rule out anything serious,” Ramsey chimes in from his spot on the chair. The light from the window behind him gives a halo effect, and it half makes me wonder if I’m dreaming all of this. If I am, I wish I’d wake up because everything hurts.
“He’s okay otherwise?”
“He’s okay. Just banged up. Nothing more or less than he’s used to.” Levi comforts me.
“I want to see them.”
“I’ll text Fallon,” Ramsey offers.
“No. No. Let her eat. I just want to see her after,” I explain.
“They’re bringing Bishop back up in a minute. He’s got a spot right next to you.” Grant nods to the open bed to my right. I didn’t even notice it.
Now that I look around, it’s clear we’re in some sort of private suite in the hospital.
“This looks expensive,” I murmur. “I don’t have private room insurance at the university.”
“I’ve got it covered.” Grant shakes his head, his attention moving from the chart to me.
“Why are you all here and hovering?”
“You almost died, sis.” Ramsey stands and takes my hand, squeezing it. “You had us all scared to death.”
“What?” I look between them.
“You were in that cold water too long. The hypothermia caused you to go into cardiac arrest,” Levi explains, pressing his glasses back up his nose with his middle finger as he tilts his head.
“Bishop’s team got there just in time to get you onto the helicopter. Your heart gave out on the way to the hospital. Thank fuck they had a medic and equipment on board.” Grant’s face is clouded with worry as he looks me over.
“That medic deserves an award ’cause he had you and Bishop to take care of. I did what I could, but fuck, you had me terrified.” Levi reaches forward and squeezes my shoulder.
“All’s well that ends well, though, right?” I try to bring some levity to the situation, but then it hits me. “What about Jay? He helped, you know. He showed up in the mine. He tried to rescue me.” I look between my brothers, but Grant shakes his head.
“We presume he’s dead.”
The last of my memories in the mine start to replay. The chaos and the cold. The bloodshed and the explosion. Bishop racing to get us out.
“I… I lost the sword,” I mutter. “Maybe we can still get it. We’d need more equipment. More than the team you had planned. I think the shaft caved in.”
“Half the mine caved in.” Grant raises a brow.
“Don’t worry about the sword. Don’t worry about anything.” Ramsey looks at me thoughtfully.
“The only thing that matters right now is that you’re safe. Bishop and Fallon too. Our family’s safe, and that’s the priority.”
“Jay was family,” I protest. “He died trying to save me.”
“After he handed you over.” Levi’s countenance darkens.
“I went willingly. The governor said he’d trade Fallon for me, so I did it. You can’t put that at Jay’s feet.”
“He facilitated it.”
“What choice did he have? Leave Fallon there to die? Not tell me? If that’s the case, I’m glad he did,” I argue.
“Hey. Hey. Don’t get worked up.” Ramsey squeezes my hand again. “You need rest. We’ve got it all taken care of, and you’re right. Jay helped save you. Even Bishop agreed with that. He did the best he could under the circumstances.” I see Ramsey shoot our brothers a look to silence their tempers.
I know they’ll see Jay as a villain. Maybe he was. But he sacrificed himself in the end to save us. To save me. When he could have just as easily walked away.
“What about Jay’s daughter? He has a daughter, doesn’t he? Has someone called her?”
“I’ll call her tonight. I promised Jay I would take care of her, and I will.” Grant’s furrowed brow begins to smooth as Ramsey shoots him another look.
“What about Zephyrine?” I look at Levi. “She’s supposed to return the sword.”
“I’m not worried about that right now. She and Charlotte are talking to someone at the abbey now, and they’ll let the Vatican’s curators know about the circumstances.
I’m sure—” Levi stops short when I grab his hand and squeeze tightly.
The rush of the knowledge the governor gave me flooding back into my memory.
“The abbey. There’s a mole.”
“A mole?” Levi looks at me in confusion.
“The governor told me it was how he found out about the mine and the sword. It was the reason he knew to kidnap me. Someone there was reporting everything back to him and he was monitoring our communications. You have to tell Zephyrine and Charlotte.”
Levi and Grant exchange looks.
“Okay. I’ll call her now.” Levi nods, running his hand over my shoulder one last time before he disappears from the room.
“I assume they’re all dead as well. The governor and his sons?” I look at Grant.
“They are. First responders arrived at the scene, but they left after a couple of hours. The mine collapse was catastrophic. They’ll have to decide whether they want to try to search for the bodies. It’ll be dangerous and expensive.”
“And they’ll need a fucking warrant if they think they’re gonna tear my ranch apart looking for a piece of shit that should stay buried.” Ramsey glares into the distance.
“Don’t get upset.” I look at my baby brother and shake my head. “It’s not worth it.”
“They gonna find anything if they decide to look?” Grant’s lashes lift, and I know what he’s asking.
“I dropped the sword when I was climbing the ladder. It was dark and loud. Couldn’t see. Couldn’t hear. I have no idea what happened to it.”
Ramsey smirks and Grant nods, his lips flattening for a moment as he confirms it.
“Very dark, I imagine. I’d guess you and Bishop didn’t see much of anything once the chaos started.”
“Impossible really,” I answer him.
“I’ll make sure the lawyers get your story and are on call just in case the police want to hear about the death trap the governor dragged you into on some wild goose chase for an alleged relic.
I assume he was desperate for money to help pay for all of the trial preparation he was having to undergo for his corruption. ”
“I imagine that was his motivation.”
Grant nods. “Glad we agree. Unfortunate that he was losing his mind along with everything else.”
“And Zephyrine? Is she upset? Is that why she’s not here? I didn’t want to ask in front of Levi. I know that’s got to be complicated.”
“Not complicated at all. No love lost between her and her father and half brothers. They were cruel to her over the years. Despicably so. I think there was some initial shock.”
“Understandably.”
“But she was okay otherwise. She was more worried about you than anything else. She sat through the night holding Fallon’s hand and apologizing for everything she went through.”
“Fallon’s okay though? Truly? I didn’t get to talk to her much before they took me away. I want to be sure they didn’t hurt her.”
“She insists she’s fine, and they didn’t hurt her. Just tied her up. She was a little banged up from that and thirsty. I don’t think they gave her much water or food while they had her. But otherwise, we had her checked out, and she’s okay,” Grant insists.
“And the guy who took her to him? He was part of the MC. Have you dealt with that?”
“I told Ledger that either he deals with it or I will. He gave me reason to believe it’s been taken care of.”
“He’ll never bother Fallon again? I don’t want her to ever have to even see him on the street.”
“His ticket was one-way.” Grant’s eyes meet mine.
“Good.” I look between Grant and Ramsey. “And thank you for making that Ledger’s problem and not yours. This family needs a break from heartache. We’re overdue.”
“I think we all agree on that, sis.” Ramsey offers me a sympathetic smile, and I squeeze his hand tight.
“I love you. You know?”
“We love you too.” Ramsey runs his palm over the back of my hand.
“God… I’m so tired.” I let out a deep sigh.
“Nearly dying will do that to you,” Grant deadpans.
“I might close my eyes until Fallon and Bishop are back, if it’s all the same to you.”
“Yes. Sleep. You need it.” Grant nods, and Ramsey shakes his head in agreement before he settles back into the chair.
“Might take a quick nap with you.”
“I’m gonna head down to the cafeteria and check on them.”
“Tell Fallon I love her and to finish eating first.”
“I will. Don’t know if she’ll listen, but I’ll try.”
“Thank you for trying.” I smile at my brother as he leaves the room, glancing back at Ramsey and nodding to tell him he’s on deck to keep watch.
I close my eyes. I’m desperate to see Bishop and Fallon, but I’m relieved to know they’re safe. The rest of my worries can wait until tomorrow.