Chapter 28
Aspen
The incessant beeping of a monitor,the smell of antiseptic, and the hard as a rock bed beneath me were great indicators that I was still trapped in my nightmare.
The pain radiating and burning in my chest, the sensation of an elephant sitting on it, and the sharpness of each breath were all telling me I was alive, and I’d never been more grateful.
The last thing I remembered was seeing Cade’s face, but I wasn’t certain if I’d been dreaming after having spotted him outside of the cottage and losing my mind over the fact he was walking into danger.
I took a shallow breath and licked my dry lips, aware there was someone in the room with me, but I simply couldn’t make my eyes open just yet. “Please tell me,” I inhaled once more, “it’s over.”
“I have half a mind to lock you up and throw away the key with how you scared us,” I heard Rex say. “How’re you feeling, honey?”
“Rex?”
“Last I checked.” His laugh was deep, low, and smooth. I liked the sound coming from such a rough-looking man.
“Where…where’s Cade?”
“Went home for a shower,” he explained, then I felt his hand wrap around mine. “He’s been here for nearly forty-eight hours. I sent him home to freshen up. Doubt he’ll be away for much longer.”
“Mmm,” I croaked. “I have a jackhammer in my head.”
“Need meds?”
“Please.”
“Let me get the doc. They’ll want to know that you woke on your own for once.”
Staying still, I waited no more than thirty seconds before I heard Rex’s steps return to my bedside, another twenty or so before another set made their way toward me.
“Ms. Ridge?” I felt a dainty hand barely touch my shoulder. “I’m Dr. Reina Boudreaux.”
“Hi,” I mumbled.
“I know you’re hurting, but can you open your eyes for me?”
I did as she asked, wincing, closing my eyes momentarily, and it was as if someone had read my mind, because behind my eyelids I felt the lights dim then heard the curtains close at the windows.
I tried again.
“Good. Can you tell me your name, age, and what got you here?” the doctor asked. I gave her what she asked, and over the next few minutes, she proceeded to ask me where it hurt most, checked my vitals, then came the hard part.
“Oh shit,” I cursed, as she helped me sit up a bit.
“Now that you’re properly conscious, we need to get you started on your breathing exercises to ensure your lungs and ribs heal correctly,” she explained. “It’s not going to feel great, but it’ll get easier with time. I want you to repeat these deep breathing exercises every hour. Just a few deep breaths. The pain meds should help with making them bearable.”
“‘kay,” I said, and started my first set of two.
“So I’ve been out for two days?” I asked Rex when the doctor had at long last left, and the nurse had popped by for a dose of painkillers that only took the edge off.
He nodded. “You woke up, but you’d mumble something, then fall right back to sleep.”
“I don’t remember any of that,” I paused. “Is everyone okay?”
“They’re all worried about you, especially Cade, but we’re all good,” he assured me. “Do me a favor, though.” He didn’t wait for me to agree. “Keep out of fucking trouble from here on out. Not sure my man Cade’s heart can take it.”
For the first time since I’d woken up next to Cade, then seen that video on his phone, I smiled. “Promise.”
Cade
It took far too fucking long to get back to Aspen. For what should have been a trip home to shower, change, and get refreshed, packing a few items of my girl’s for when she woke up, I should have known that something would pop up.
When Shane called to let me know he was sitting on the coroner’s report for the man who’d plummeted to his death during that skip retrieval gone wrong, which had led me to the love of my life, I knew I needed to see it.
As it was, we now knew the John Doe’s case linked with what had happened to Aspen, as Willow had finally broken and told the investigators what she’d done and why she’d done it all.
Jealousy.
Love.
Loyalty.
Grief.
I also discovered that Abe—or Abraham—Grennich, had priors relating to attempted child abduction and a few misdemeanor charges. He was one of those one-percenters—a survivalist—living off the grid, in a bunker of his own making. It explains a hell of a lot as to why Willow had never been located. After multiple attempts, we knew the exact location where his bunker’s entrance was—it so happens to have been thirty or so feet from where the burned-out shack once stood. Who knew if Grennich had abducted more kids after he’d been incarcerated, whether it had been before or after he’d taken Willow Ridge. And if he had, where the hell were they? If they’d perished, why hadn’t anyone found bodies? She certainly hadn’t indicated if she’d been the only one or not, but Shane and his crew would be investigating things starting today, and I looked forward to putting the rest of this nightmare in the past.
By the time I made it back to the hospital, I’d stopped at one of my favorite delis to pick up some lunch for Rex and myself. I’d even picked up a little something for Aspen, in the event she woke up. I hated the fact she hadn’t been coherent over the last two days, and honestly, I was worrying myself sick, wondering what kind of mental state she would be in when she finally did. Brain injuries weren’t out of the realm of possibilities where severe concussions were concerned.
Hurrying toward Aspen’s room, I found myself smiling when I heard Rex’s voice. They’d kept visitors to one at a time until further notice, but if he was conversing, that only meant?—
“Promise,” I heard Aspen’s soft voice as my hand met her room’s door, which was open a slight crack. I pushed it inward.
“The only promise I want to hear is you’re hurrying your ass up to heal and get out of here so you can come back home to me,” I ordered, but I couldn’t hide the joy from my expression. “Sandwiches all ‘round.” I lifted my bag of goodies, handed it to Rex and headed for Aspen’s side, kissing her lightly on the forehead. “Got you a little something too if you’re feeling up to it.”
“I love you,” she blurted. As soon as she realized she’d said it in front of company, her face flushed that beautiful crimson I’d missed over these last few days.
“Good to know,” Rex mumbled, as he busied himself with his food container.
Leaning down so our eyes were level, I gave it to her honest. “I love you too, sweetheart, but don’t kid yourself, when you’re feeling better, we’ll be having a discussion about you leaving our bed without my knowing.”
She smirked, grabbed on to the front of my shirt and pulled me closer. “Sounds deliciously devious,” she whispered, right before she laid a fast one on me, then pushed me away with horror on her face. “Sorry! My breath is probably horrendous right now.”
“You think I give a shit about that?” To prove it, I slammed my mouth down on hers, taking my time until Rex cleared his throat.
“Guys, I’m famished, but you keep at it, and I’ll be losing my lunch shortly.”
Pulling away, I press my head to her forehead. “Fuck me, but I missed that mouth,” I said.
“Again…still here,” Rex whispered loudly. “Or did you forget I hear almost every damn fucking thing?”
“Fucking owl,” I mumbled, but went in for another swift kiss, nonetheless, before pulling back and reaching for both our food containers. “Sweetheart, you want to try sitting up a bit more?”
On a “yes” that was mixed with an anticipatory wince, I grabbed the bed’s controller and handed it to her.
“You control how fast and far you go,” I said.
“Is that what you told her the first time too?” Rex asked through a mouthful of food.
Aspen hissed out as she tried not to laugh.
“Fucker,” I growled. “Don’t make her laugh.”
“S’okay,” Aspen whispered as she lay limp, her eyes closed, breathing through pursed lips. “Feels nice to have some humor. Not so much on expressing it just yet, though.”
Tough as nails, my girl.