Chapter Twenty-Two #2
“Luckily, your nose only has a hairline fracture, but the skin was opened up pretty bad. You have stitches on the bridge of your nose, but they should heal with minimal scarring. Your right thigh has deep tissue bruising, but that will heal on its own. However, you’ll be pretty damn sore for a little while.
You are lucky it’s not broken. But you do have two broken ribs on your left and one on your right, but again, they’re only small breaks, nothing that some time won’t heal.
You swallowed a hell of a lot of blood when they socked your nose, so then you started to throw it all up.
The doctor said you aspirated some of the blood, so they are keeping an eye on that.
We thought you might have had some internal injuries, but it turns out it’s just some hardcore bruising.
You hit your head pretty hard when you fell, though, and it caused a concussion.
You’re pretty doped up on morphine right now, which I’m sure is helping with the pain.
You were lucky, Kaden. It could have been much, much worse. ”
She delivers it all steadily, like she’s had time to memorize the doctor’s explanation, like she’s replayed every word in her head while she sat here waiting for me to wake up.
As she talks, I take inventory of my body.
The dull throb in my ribs when I breathe too deeply. The tight pull across my nose. The heavy, floaty disconnect in my skull.
Yeah. That checks out.
Sighing carefully so I don’t aggravate the pain, I shake my head slightly. “I’m sorry I put you in that situation. It must have been terrifying.”
Her face falls immediately, the bravado slipping. She winces like she’s being dragged back into the alley, as if she’s hearing the crack of bat against bone all over again.
“Seeing the man you’re deeply in love with being beaten nearly to death…” She clears her throat, blinking rapidly. “I’m just glad you’re awake.”
The words hit deeper than any broken rib.
I reach out for her hand without thinking, and she threads her fingers with mine instantly, squeezing tight, and it feels as if she needs the reassurance just as much as I do.
Up close, I notice she’s still in her leather dress and boots, still wearing my jacket draped around her shoulders like armor.
The fabric looks oversized on her, but she’s clinging to it like it’s the only thing holding her together.
I furrow my brows. “Have you been back to the hotel yet?”
She shakes her head, brushing her hair behind her ear. “No, I haven’t left your side.” There’s no drama in the way she says it, no expectation, just fact.
“What time is it?” I ask, and she glances above my head, obviously at a clock on the wall.
“About eleven.”
I squint toward the window. The sun is shining through the thin hospital blinds, pale and sterile. “Morning?”
“Yeah. Morning.”
Which means she’s been here all damn night.
“Have you slept at all?”
She shakes her head again, and this time I see how exhausted she really is. “No, I was so worried you might vomit blood again. Plus, I wanted to be awake when you woke up. And I needed to tell you the story in case the police came in.”
Of course she did.
She sat here rehearsing lies to protect my sister while I was unconscious.
“Jesus, Eff.” I drag a slow breath into my bruised lungs and immediately regret it. “I’ve put you through so much damn shit. Fuck! I put you and Kiera in danger.”
She sighs softly, but there’s a steadiness in her eyes now.
“I don’t think I was ever in danger, really.
Vex seemed only out for you. Raoul did well in keeping me back.
He’s taking it tough, though. I think hearing that they wanted to go after Kiera has him on edge.
He wanted to go back to Ligonier straight away to keep her safe, but of course, we wouldn’t let him.
We need him here with us. But we sent a security detail to the hospital in Pittsburgh to make sure everything is fine.
They’re keeping a low profile, and Gran and Kiera don’t even know they’re there.
So far, there are no reports of anything since Vex has been paid out. ”
Paid out.
Fucking hell, those words sit heavy in my gut.
“Raoul really cares about Kiera that much?” I ask, studying her expression.
Effa shrugs lightly, but there’s a faint smile tugging at her lips.
“Seems so. They’ve bonded quite a lot. It’s cute.
He rang and told Kiera and Gran you’re in the hospital and that you had an accident, but didn’t tell them what.
Just that you’d be fine and not to worry.
I think he wanted to check on Kiera as well… you know, make sure she was okay.”
I let out a long breath, some of the tension bleeding from my shoulders. “I should call them.”
“You should,” she agrees gently. “But first, I need to let the doctors know you’re awake again so they can check you out.
” She presses the call button beside the bed, and I ease back against the pillows as carefully as I can, staring up at the sterile white ceiling tiles while the beeping machine resumes its steady rhythm beside me.
Beep… beep… beep…
This time it doesn’t feel quite as ominous.
It feels like I’m still here.
Still breathing.
Still lucky.
And I have a hell of a lot to fix.
***
After the doctors checked me over, the police followed in right behind them like clockwork, clipboards and measured expressions replacing stethoscopes and sympathetic nods.
I gave them my statement as Effa told me to, repeating the story we had rehearsed in low voices between morphine doses and drifting consciousness.
They seemed satisfied with my version of events, nodding along as I described masked men, random violence, and a senseless alley attack.
I’m honestly impressed that, with the morphine haze I’m floating in, I remembered everything Effa told me to say. The details didn’t blur, the lies didn’t tangle, and I delivered it clean, calm, and controlled.
At least I got that right.
After they left, I sent Effa back to the hotel to get some much-deserved rest. It took more convincing than I expected because she didn’t want to go.
She hovered, adjusting blankets that didn’t need adjusting, refilling water that was already full, brushing her fingers over my arm like she was checking to make sure I was still solid.
Putting her through that much stress in her already weakened state has me twisted up inside. She’s barely back on her feet after everything she’s been through, and instead of me being her shield, she’s sitting in a hospital chair all night guarding mine.
I should be the one looking after her.
Not the other way around.
And Effa keeping vigil by my bedside all night, refusing to sleep, watching to make sure I didn’t vomit blood again, makes me feel like absolute fucking shit. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, she asked if I wanted her to cancel the show at Madison Square Garden tonight.
Madison Square Garden.
I told her that would be ridiculous.
We’re only three weeks back into the tour.
The band has only just regained momentum.
For her to cancel another show now because of my stupidity would be reckless.
The fans would understand, sure, but that doesn’t mean we do it.
Tank’s stepping up to take the lead while I recover, and that’s how it has to be.
The show must go on.
Even if I’m not above the stage tonight.
Even if it kills me a little to know I’m not there.
I’m not exactly looking forward to Luke visiting. Hell, I don’t even know if I have a job waiting for me once I’m back on my feet. I know how he operates… efficient, ruthless, and business first. Emotions are somewhere down at the bottom of the list.
But whether I’m lighting that stage or lying in this hospital bed, the machine doesn’t stop turning.
They can’t stop for me.
Right now, though, I have a call to make before Luke steps in here and rips me apart with his eyes alone. Grabbing my cell from the portable table beside my bed, I dial Kiera’s number at the hospital in Pittsburgh. It only rings twice before she answers.
“Kaden?” Her voice comes down the line bright and immediate, but I can hear the strain under it.
“Hey, booger-butt…”
“Oh… my… God, it’s so good to hear your voice. What the hell happened? Raoul was not helpful at all and would only tell me you’re in the hospital with broken ribs and a banged-up nose. What the fuck, Kaden?”
I can’t help the smile her voice brings to my face, and sink back into the bed at the sound of her.
Just hearing her steadies something in me.
A part of me expected, despite Effa handling Vex, that something would still happen.
That he’d circle back. That he’d decide Effa’s money wasn’t enough and go after the one person he knew would crush me.
But apparently, the bastard kept his word.
For now.
“It is so good to hear your voice, Kiera.”
She snorts. “Are you high on morphine? You’re never nice to me.”
“High on morphine, yes,” I admit. “But this bullshit has shown me what I really care about… you, Gran, and Effa mean everything. I love you. Don’t ever forget that.”
There’s a pause on the other end of the line.
“Kaden… you’re scaring me. Are you more hurt than you’re letting on?”
I chuckle softly, careful not to jolt my ribs. “No, I’m fine. I promise. I’ll be good as new in no time. How are you feeling?”
She sniffs lightly. “This phone call is not about me, Kades. We are solely focusing on you and how you’re feeling.”
“I just need a little recovery time, and then I’ll be good as new,” I repeat, hoping I sound convincing enough.
“Will you be home before Christmas?” she asks.
That question hits me strange.
She already knows the tour schedule.
She knows when the band breaks.
“Of course, I’ll come home as soon as the band breaks for Christmas.”
She goes quiet again, and that silence makes my stomach tighten more than any pain in my ribs.
“Kiera, are you okay?”
She exhales and laughs lightly. “Fine, just processing. I hate the idea of you being hurt. I want to make sure you’re home for Christmas so I can see you.”
Something’s off. I can feel it. There is a subtle shift in Kiera’s tone, like she’s weighing something she’s not telling me.
But I don’t push. Not right now.
“I’ll be home. You don’t have to worry about that, booger-butt. I promise.”
“So, you gonna tell me what the hell happened to you?” she presses.
Clearing my throat, I grimace. “I was attacked in an alley after getting a tatt with Effa—”
“Oh my God, is Effa okay?”
“She’s fine. They only went after me. Raoul got Effa the hell out of there while I distracted them. They were junkies looking for some cash.” The lie sits heavy on my tongue.
I hate lying to her.
But the fewer people who know about Vex, the better. I don’t want Kiera tangled up in that world. She doesn’t need to carry that weight. Let her believe what the cops believe. Let Gran believe it too.
Keep the truth contained.
“Did they get away with much?” she asks.
“Enough,” I say carefully. “But we don’t have to worry about them, Kiera. They were just thugs. They won’t bother us again. The police have made sure of it.”
She releases a slow breath. “And are you okay? Physically, I mean? Are you in a lot of pain?”
“I’ll be fine. Give me a couple of days of healing, and I should be good to go. How’s Gran?”
“Worried as hell. She’s gone down for a coffee at the café, but I’ll get her to call you when she gets back.”
I nod, even though she can’t see it. “Okay. And how are you? Really?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about little old me.
I just want you to look after yourself and make sure you look after Effa.
I know you and she are meant to be together.
She’s the best thing that’s happened to you, Kaden.
So please keep her around. No matter what.
” Her voice shifts into a more serious tone, and something in my chest tightens. “Promise me you’ll marry that girl…”
“Of course, I’m not letting Effa out of my grasp. She’s the one for me, Kiera. I can feel it. So yes, I promise you.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it. Because she’s perfect for you. And I love her too. So that’s what really matters, right?” Her tone lifts again, lighter, but the seriousness lingers underneath.
I smirk. “Right.”
The door to my hospital room swings open.
I glance up and immediately spot Luke.
He doesn’t look concerned.
He doesn’t look relieved.
He looks fucking furious.
His face is cold, hard, and controlled in that terrifying way that means he’s holding everything in.
I draw in a slow breath. “Well, booger-butt, I better go. But I want you to know that I love you, and next time I call, I want to hear all about how well you’re doing.”
She laughs, and it steadies me again. “I love you too, Kaden. So much. You have no idea what you have done for me. You’ve been the best brother a girl could ask for. I can’t wait to see you, and if you can, bring Effa with you too. I’d love to see her again, even if it’s just for Christmas.”
“I’m sure she’ll be there for Christmas, but I’ll be there as soon as I can. I promise.”
“Talk soon.”
“Will do. Love you.”
“You said that already. I’m hanging up now.”
I chuckle as the line clicks dead and lower the phone slowly back onto the table. For a moment, I sit there staring at the screen until it dims.
Then I lift my gaze.
Luke is standing at the edge of my bed, arms crossed tightly over his chest, jaw set, eyes locked on me like I’m a liability. The scowl on his face would scare small children.
Hell, it’s fucking intimidating me.
And I’ve just survived a baseball bat to the ribs.