Chapter 127
Madison was clean and dressed in scrubs—probably her mother’s—and sound asleep in the bed when Dom was finally finished with the TSP and allowed in with her.
He had tried to go in with her, but he’d been stopped by the fire-breathing dragon who looked just like an older version of the woman he loved.
Bonnie was staying with Miriam, so the girl wouldn’t be there alone. Bonnie was hovering over that girl, too. Miriam had no one else, but Heather and Hope’s family. They were pulling together to take care of her now.
He’d gotten an update from his own father a few minutes ago. He’d been keeping Dom posted on what they had said about Madison. After Dom had been told to take a shower and not be a contamination hazard. He wore borrowed clothing from Lake’s twin brother now.
Madison had six broken ribs, two broken bones in her right hand and a vicious sprain of her ankle that had been trapped. She had a black eye, bruises on her face, and scrapes everywhere—including up her entire left arm.
But she was alive, and she was sleeping.
With the lights on.
She probably always would. The nightmares…they’d both have them forever.
“Hey.” He looked at her mother. “Is she…is she okay?”
“She’s going to be okay, sweetie.” Cherise came to him and hugged him, as Bonnie slipped out.
There were guards watching over Heather’s entire family now.
Including Heather. Madison had said a few things to indicate that Newcomb had been responsible for the sustained harassment of Heather—because she had birthed his granddaughters.
Supposedly, it had been as simple as that.
Dom wasn’t so sure he believed it. But that was a task for tomorrow. Tonight, Madison was his entire focus.
With Wilson’s father out of the equation, maybe it would get easier for Heather.
Newcomb wasn’t a threat to her or her daughters now, and never would be again.
He was upstairs, undergoing brain surgery.
Dom had been told that the man most likely would live, but the chances Newcomb would ever recover fully were slim.
“She told me you came for her. And she’s captured you now.
You aren’t getting away or anything like that.
I’m supposed to keep you here for her while she sleeps.
You are her major pain and no one else’s; I think she said.
Madison is never letting you escape. She was a bit out of it at the time but seemed pretty determined that you weren’t going to get away from her again.
Finally, I might add. I have been waiting for this for a long time. ”
“No need to force me. I’m never letting her out of my sight again.”
“I am going to hold him to that,” a quiet voice said from the bed.
Dom looked over. And there she was. The shrew of his dreams. “Hey…”
She had the dazed look that told him she was still under sedation.
They’d given her something for the pain and were just keeping her overnight since she was so battered.
Bonnie had said they were watching for a collapsed lung, because of the location of the broken ribs.
But…she’d be out of there tomorrow. He would take her back to the Barratts. And take care of her forever.
“You aren’t getting away.”
“I don’t plan to.”
“I am tired of the night. The dark, and…we aren’t going to live like that anymore.
I want—” She drifted for a moment. Someone came in.
Dom looked up, into eyes the same shape and color as his own.
His father stood there. Then Madison was blinking up at him again, a bandage over her left eye.
“I think I want babies, Dominic Vincent. Someday rather soon. Just so you know.”
“I’m good with that.” Dom just leaned over. Pressed his lips to her forehead. There were stitches there. But she was beautiful. Amazing. “However many you want.”
The only woman he had ever wanted. The only one he would ever love.
“I am thinking three...or five, maybe.”
Dom looked over. Her mother had tears in her eyes. And it looked like his father’s allergies were kicking in, too. “I am thinking three or four will work. We’ll work on that…soon. I promise.”
“I was thinking we do the courthouse, once I don’t look like a patchwork quilt. Then…big party…next year. I have plans for you, Dominic. You can count on it. And I know you—I am capturing you before you have time to escape.”
“I am looking forward to it.” He had something he had to say now. Something he had been holding back for a very long time. “I love you, Madison McAlister. And I have for a very long time.”
“Gee, like I hadn’t figured that out long ago.”
They stared at each other for a long moment, as his father led her mother from the room. Dom wrapped his hand around her left, very, very gently. Around the scrapes and bruises. He just needed to touch her. “Go to sleep, sweetheart. I have you now. And I am never letting you go.”
“I knew you would come, and you did. Now…I am never letting you go.”
Dom was good with that. That was exactly what he had always wanted but been too afraid to go after. Well, no more. No more fighting it, no more watching her walk away.
No more letting her go. Life was too short to not have every moment with the woman he loved. He fully understood that now.
He just stayed right where he was. By her side. Where he belonged.