Chapter Twenty-Six
The news reporter detailed the story of the arrest of Darius Boyd, chronicling the relationship he had with Marty Warner, the plan he hatched to kill Warner and his family in cold blood, and the cover-up that followed.
Though she lived most of it, Paige sat engrossed as the story unfolded.
The news story concluded with an exclusive interview with Boyd’s son Cassius.
The presidential hopeful touted his father’s innocence, passing the blame for the crimes onto Mars, who’s background and true identity remained unknown.
Suddenly the screen went black, and Paige blinked in surprise.
She reached for the remote control on the bedside table only to realize it wasn’t there.
Ben held it in his hand, his expression disapproving.
But she didn’t care. Seeing him in front of her, tall and powerful and sexy, was something she’d never tire of.
“I told you to stop watching the news coverage.”
Her grin widened when he frowned at her. “I know, but I can’t help it. I still can’t believe Darius Boyd is going on trial for murder, and I’m free to be Paige Childers, living my life out in the open without fear.”
His frown turned into a glare, and she laughed. “I mean, Paige Childers soon-to-be Weston.”
His expression relaxed, and he placed a kiss to her cheek. “Ready to go home?”
Home. Paige’s injuries required a lengthy hospital stay.
In between surgeries, scans, IVs, and rest, she’d been questioned by law enforcement from so many agencies she stopped keeping up.
No one would tell her any details of the investigation, and she realized she didn’t care.
She’d been concerned only with her healing and having Ben at her side.
He didn’t disappoint. Once they patched up the superficial gunshot wound to his arm, he’d been with her nonstop.
She’d had to enlist the help of his brothers in getting him to leave long enough to shower and change into fresh clothes, and that only happened because one of them stayed with her during the short time he was gone.
As a result, she enjoyed getting to know Jackson, Luke, and Easton.
When she’d first come back to Fire Creek, she hadn’t spent a lot of time with them while they were checking into her case.
She’d spent more time with their wives, who had become close friends.
But getting to know the boys and their unique personalities had given her insight into the man Ben was.
He and his brothers shared a unique bond, and she was incredibly happy to see it.
She was most nervous to meet English and Becky because of how important they were to Ben.
They were a huge influence on the man he was today, the man who had stolen her heart.
But they accepted her, and she fell in love with them.
Their family insisted there wasn’t anything between English and Becky other than companionship, but Paige sensed there was something more.
Paige even asked Becky about it once when they were left alone during a visit.
Becky had blushed and patted Paige’s hand. “Honey, there’s so much history between us, I don’t know that we can ever have what you and Ben have or what the others share.”
Paige had regarded her closely. “Ben loves the two of you so much. You’ve changed his life more than you know.
It’s natural that he wants the two of you to be happy.
Now that I’ve met you both, I can see why your family is so keen on seeing you and English together. May I ask what’s holding you back?”
Becky shook her head. “You don’t want to hear this. We should focus on you and our Ben.”
“I understand if you don’t want to talk about it, but I promise you, I’m willing to listen if you want to share.”
It turns out Paige’s encouragement was all Becky needed to open up. “For English, he’s hung up on the age difference. And his first marriage didn’t work out, so he’s gun shy. Even after all these years.”
“And for you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to ruin what we have by taking a chance and have it fail.”
Paige had settled back against the pillows stacked at her back. “Fear can be a powerful and paralyzing thing. But from what Ben told me about you, I think you have the strength to kick fear in the ass.”
Becky smiled and squeezed Paige’s hand. “And you know what you speak because I hear you’ve done the same thing.”
Paige had no idea if their talk helped Becky, but Paige felt a kinship with the woman. Ben’s whole family accepted her, and for once in a long time, she was at peace.
“Paige, you okay?”
She shook off her wandering thoughts and realized she hadn’t answered Ben’s question.
“Yes, I’m fine. In fact, I’m more than ready to go home.”
He bent down, and his lips pressed against hers in a lingering kiss. A thrill started at her toes and swirled up through her body, leaving her nerve endings tingling. He pulled away, and they shared a smile full of promise.
“I’ll go check on the progress of your discharge. Be right back.”
Ben left her alone, and she sighed. She could barely remember the last time she was this elated, and if her memory was correct, the same person was responsible for her happiness then as now.
If someone had told her it was possible for a person to fall for her childhood best friend, she would have laughed, certain the idea was too fanciful to believe.
But that was her reality. And it was perfect.
Paige ran a hand through her hair, her fingers snaring in the tangles.
Frowning, she picked up the mirror a nurse left for her on the overbed table.
She’d seen her reflection several times during her hospital stay, but this time, she saw herself as Ben did.
Her hair was a mussed, tangled mess. Her skin was pale with colorful bruises marring her complexion.
Her split lip was still a bit tender but was much better than when she first came in.
Compared to the rest of her body, her face fared better than she would have thought, considering how many times Mars had punched her. The cuts, bruises, and broken bones she suffered from on the rest of her body were taking longer to heal, but she was much better.
The door to her room opened, and she looked up with a smile, expecting to see Ben. The smile faded when Cassius Boyd stepped inside.
“What are you doing here?”
The charismatic man she’d seen on TV wasn’t the man in front of her. Cassius looked crushed, his tailored suit replaced with jeans and a T-shirt. He held a pair of sunglasses and a ball cap in his hands. He didn’t move from his place in front of the door. His eyes were fixed on his feet.
“I don’t know.”
His voice sounded like the man she’d heard speak, but he sounded lost. Desperate.
“You should go,” she said with a little more force, straightening her posture to try and feel less vulnerable sitting in bed.
“I can’t,” he mumbled. Then he pierced her with dark, bloodshot eyes. “You have to take it back.”
Paige stiffened. “Take what back?”
He held his hands out, palms up, as if begging her to listen to him. “Everything you told the police. You have to take it back. Tell them you lied. You’re ruining everything.”
“Seems like you should be saying that to your father.”
He shook his head. “You don’t know him. He’s not the monster you told everyone he is. He gave me everything. How am I supposed to win this campaign without him coaching me? I’ve been preparing for this my entire life.”
“Mr. Boyd — Cassius. It’s not me you should be having this conversation with. I assure you, everything I said about your father is true.”
“He’s not a murderer!”
The man shouted, but Paige wasn’t afraid of him. Though she wasn’t sure why he’d come to visit her, she didn’t believe he was here to hurt her.
“He is. I saw him. He shot Marty Warner to keep him from running against you and exposing your father for the man he really is.”
Paige only repeated what the news media had pieced together. Cassius had heard it all, she was sure, but he was probably trying to reconcile it with what his father told him.
Cassius shook his head. “No! It’s not possible.”
“It is. Your father saw me there, and he came after me. He sent Mars after me too. They broke my wrist, broke my ribs, cut me, and terrorized me. I was forced to go into hiding. I gave up my business and my name. Everything that was important to me. He threatened people I care about. You love your father. You depend on him. I can see that, but I’m telling you that your faith in him is misplaced. ”
Cassius moved over to the window, and Paige almost felt sorry for him.
“Why? Why kill them? I could have won. I have what it takes to be the next president of the United States. He told me he believed in me. So why?”
“It was never about you.”
Paige’s head whipped back to the door, surprised that she hadn’t heard Ben slip inside. He moved to place his body between her bed and Cassius, ready to strike out at the man if he posed a threat to her.
Cassius eyed Ben suspiciously. “Who are you?”
“Someone you don’t want to mess with. My brothers and I took down your father. I’ll take you down, too, if you make a wrong move.”
“Don’t threaten me!”
“It’s not a threat. You should go.”
“What did you mean that it was never about me?” Cassius demanded.
“Your father is only interested in power. The more power, the more money and influence, and the more he can have whatever he wants. This was never about you getting the presidency. This was about using you to get the power he craved and about protecting what he already had. You’re a means to an end, Cassius. ”
Paige spoke softly. “He’s right, Cassius. It’s not me that ruined everything. That blame needs to be placed at your father’s feet.”
“What am I supposed to do with that?” Cassius’ tone was a mixture of despair and frustration.
Paige reached for Ben’s hand and clung to it. Ben moved his body to shield Paige from view.
“Other than leaving my fiancé alone for good? I don’t give a damn what you do.”
“Fiancé?” Cassius looked from Ben to her. “You’re…getting married?”
“Yes,” she said softly.
Cassius studied her, and she thought he looked…defeated. “It’s all true, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she repeated.
“I think I knew all along that something wasn’t right. I didn’t want to believe it. He’s my father. I believed he sacrificed, so I could have the future I was destined to have. I can’t believe it wasn’t true. I just…”
Cassius held her gaze with his. “I think I had to face you and hear you say the words. I’m sorry to disturb you. I do wish you all the best. I hope…I hope you can put this all behind you.”
Paige didn’t respond. She wasn’t sure she had the words to say that would bring him any peace. Ben shifted his weight to continue shielding her as Cassius crossed over to the door. He opened it and paused.
“I’m sorry to bother you.” Then he was gone.
Ben rushed to the door, opened it, and checked to make sure Cassius was indeed gone. Then he was back at her side. He sat on her bed and touched her face gently, mindful of her still healing injuries.
“You all right? Did he touch you?”
She shook her head. “No. He just talked.”
“Well, he’s not going to come near you again. I’m getting you out of here, and you are coming back to my place to stay.”
Paige smiled. “Sounds perfect. I have something I want to talk to you about once we get home.”
He raised a quizzical brow. “Sounds interesting.”
She sighed. “It is to me.” She nibbled her bottom lip, not sure she could wait for them to get to his house before she told him what she’d been thinking about.
“Paige?” He drawled out her name, his voice rising in a question.
“I need your help. I want to find studio space and find some suitable equipment that I can afford. I want to open my photography business again.”
“You sure?”
She could understand why he asked. It was her photography business that led her to witness a crime and live on the run under an alias.
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s my gift. Even after all that happened, I can’t turn my back on it. Not when I’m free to do what I love again.”
He kissed her, the gesture brief but exciting. “Then we’ll make it happen. Whatever it takes.”
“I love you, Ben. More than I ever thought possible.”
“I love you, too, baby. And I can’t wait to show you just how much. Ready to get out of here?”
“Oh, yeah. Let’s go home.”
“Music to my ears,” he said with a grin as the nurse stepped inside with her discharge papers.