42. Chapter Forty-three
Chapter Forty-three
Alec
“I brought you a coffee.” Officer Brentley hands me a hot cup before dragging a chair beside me. “It’s from the cafeteria. Not the greatest concoction.”
I stifle a slight chuckle, bringing the Styrofoam cup to my mouth. We sit in silence for a few minutes, watching as Summer sleeps peacefully in the hospital bed.
“How long has she been out?” Brentley asks.
I shrug. “A couple of hours. They stitched her up and took her for an X-ray. It wasn’t long after that that she drifted to sleep.”
He presses his lips together and nods. “She’s a tough girl.”
I barely smile. “She’s a warrior. I don’t know who could go through everything she has and come out even remotely alright.”
Even I’m still trying to wrap my head around how her father could clock her in the face and not be apologetic one bit.The room falls quiet, the only sound being the monitor beeping steadily. I sip my coffee for a few minutes, thinking to myself.
“Officer,” I start.
“I think we’ve reached a point where you can call me Allen.”
I wet my lips, nodding. “Allen, you don’t think the judge will let him off the hook, do you? She’s handled everything thus far, but if they let him go, that’ll destroy her.”
Allen sighs, shifting in his seat. “The judge holds all the cards. Do I think they will completely let him get away with what he did? Not a chance. But, there is a chance he’ll have a smaller sentence.”
“And what happens if he’s released?”
“I can set her up with protection, a restraining order.”
He watches me carefully, my insides screaming at me. They can’t let him walk away. I know a lot about restraining orders; but, those who are determined to get to who they want will find a way. I’m solid proof.
Allen rises, patting me on the shoulder. “Keep positive. She needs you to be.” He goes to walk out of the room but stops at the door, turning back to me. “Oh, when she wakes. Let her know I have everything covered for testimonies. The lawyer is taking care of everything. She doesn’t have to be there if it’s too much.”
When he leaves, I finish off my coffee and toss it into the small bin underneath the sink. My lips drift upward when I turn back around and see Summer’s gentle eyes flutter open.
“I want to be there.” Her voice is hoarse. Her tongue runs along her dry lips as she stares over at me.
I shuffle over to the table cart, pour her some ice water, and put a straw into the cup so she can sip it. “You heard that?”
“Some of it.” She leans forward just enough to take a drink. Her plump lips formed the perfect ‘o’ before clamping around the straw. When she’s done, she lays her head back down on the pillow and sighs. “It may be silly, but I need to see for myself. I need to hear the words come from the judge. I just… I need to be there.”
Pressing my lips into a thin line, I nod in agreement and place the cup back on the table before climbing into the bed with her. She snuggles into my chest, breathing in softly as I hold her close.
“How’s your foot?” I ask, drawing lines across her arm.
“It’s good. They said it wasn’t broken. It’s a small sprain. I should have come sooner.”
I chuckle quietly. “If you weren’t so stubborn.”
“My mother was very stubborn, too. I must get it from her.” There’s a long pause before she adds, “Alec, I know you hate when I say it, but thank you. Thank you for protecting me and for being there before Allen showed up. I don’t know what else he would have done to me if you hadn’t.”
I let out a long sigh. “Thank Chloe. She’s the one who got Allen there.”
“How exactly did you get a hold of her?”
“Tyler.” I smile. “There is a perk to having friends that are coincidentally dating, you know.”
Summer giggles. “I’ve come to accept that, thank you very much.”
She nestles closer, not wanting a centimeter of space between us. I lean down, breathing her in. “I’m never letting you go, pretty girl.”
She hums. “I love you,” she whispers against my chest.
My mouth parts, my lip twitching further up. A rush of tranquility hits me at the sound of those words falling off the tip of her tongue. “Oh, sunshine. You have no idea how badly I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”
***
“Whoa, hold on there, little killer.” I scurry over to Summer and help her out of the car. The doctor cleared her a couple of hours ago, but it took a little longer for them to make sure she was sent home with something to keep her ankle sturdy.
“I’m fine. I have a boot on.” She waves it in the air as if reminding me that she’s able to walk with it.
“I’m not taking any chances.” My need to protect her has increased tremendously over the past couple of days, and I refuse to let anything else happen to her.
She rolls her eyes, wrapping her arm around my waist anyway, and lets me take control and guide her through the door. When we get to the bottom of the stairs, she lets go, and I immediately miss her arm there.
“I can take it from here,” she says, ready to climb the stairs without help.
“No.”
“Alec, you can’t baby me forever,” she scoffs. “I need to learn to walk with this thing, seeing as I’m stuck with it for the next two months.”
“That’s if everything heals the way it should,” I point out.
She rolls her eyes, turning around and taking it upon herself to climb the stairs without my guidance. I groan with aggravation. She’s so fucking stubborn.
When we reach the top step, she smiles and claps her hands together. “Ha, see. Easy peasy.”
“Whatever you say.” I reach into my pocket to grab the key and unlock the door but make a brief pause when I see the bullet hole. I look at Summer, who is staring at the door worriedly. “Let’s get settled, and I’ll get that fixed.”
I place my hand on her back. She flinches for a second before leaning into my touch and letting out a long sigh. “I’m sorry. Seeing it there is very unsettling. I know he’s currently behind bars, but it doesn’t ease the memories of what he’s done.”
I grab her face in my hands, staring into her beautiful round eyes. “Stop apologizing to me. Everything will be better from here. Do you believe that?”
Her bottom lip slips between her teeth. “Yes.”
“Good,” I press a kiss on her mouth. “Let’s get you comfortable.”
When we get inside the apartment, I close the door and immediately go to the junk drawer while Summer enters the bathroom. The first thing I grab is a sticky note, then a tiny piece of scotch tape. The last thing I want is for Summer to walk into the kitchen and see the reminder.
I press the sticky part firmly to cover the bullet hole and tape the bottom, so it doesn’t move. Then I pull out my phone to send James a message.
Have a minute to grab me a new door?
Why the fuck do you need a new door?
It’s not shocking that Tyler never informed James about the inconvenience I had here. Everything happened so quickly it’s hard to keep anyone updated. I type out my response and hit send.
Let’s just say the dime-sized hole in my door isn’t pretty.
Shit… let me get in the truck, and I’ll swing by. Give me an hour.
Thanks, man.
I stuff my phone in my pocket and drag my fingers through my hair, leaning over the counter. My attention shifts when I hear Summer make her way back into the kitchen. She wraps her arms around me, resting her head against my chest.
We stay like this for a few minutes before she says, “Your mind is wandering.”
My eyebrows pinch together, and I pull back to look at her. “What?”
“When you’re overthinking, your heart beats differently. You hold your breath, and sometimes your muscles tighten.” She shrugs.
I smile at the slight accuracy. “Impressive.” Placing my hands on her hips, I turn her, so her back is against the counter. “So, tell me. What else have you picked up on?”
“Hmm. When you’re turned on, one of your eyes twitch.”
My head tilts. “Bullshit.”
She laughs, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I’m dead serious.” She proceeds to kiss the crook of my neck, and my cock jerks as she nips at my earlobe. I groan, leaning into her stomach. When she pulls away to look at me, her lips curve. “Told you. Your eye just twitched.
I growl, lifting her up and placing her on the counter. I lean in, leaving a trail of kisses along her cheek and neck.
“Alec,” she says softly. “Can we talk for a minute?”
I stop what I’m doing and take her in for a moment. “What is it?”
She moves the small piece of hair that slipped out of her low bun behind her ear. “You might not like it, but I think we should talk to your aunt.”
That was not what I was expecting.
I laugh. It’s loud, and I don’t mean to. “You think talking to my aunt is going to go over well?”
Summer shrugs. “It might not, but with my father out of the picture. I think it’s worth trying. I mean, he did tamper with your case, and as far as I’m aware, he’s lost his badge for good. And I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m pretty damn good at getting what I want.”
I take a few minutes to think about what she’s saying. There is a very good chance that my aunt Jules will drop the restraining order if she’s aware of the crimes Raleigh has done. If she refuses, I can easily take her to court. The charges against me and the restraining order can be dropped.
And I’d give anything to see my baby sister whenever I want to again.
“What do you say?” Summer asks.
I smile. “It’s certainly worth trying.”