Chapter 46 West
“How’s she doing?” my brother asks two days later when he stops by the house to update me on Garrett.
“She hasn’t left bed.” I shake my head and swallow back the pain of seeing her like this. “He had her for a fucking week, Cade. You got her statement. You know the conditions she was left in.”
Giving me a reassuring squeeze, he pulls me in for a hug. “He’ll get his payback.”
“You should see her wrists, Cade. They were rubbed raw. I had to apply ointment the doctor gave us and wrap them up.” My voice cracks, and I itch to punch something.
“All you can do is continue to take care of her.”
My head shakes, and I feel tears cloud my vision. “She won’t talk about it. And the fucking light in her eyes is just gone.”
“Just give her time, man.”
“Nick’s going to come by later. I hope seeing him heals a part of her.”
“I never really got the full story there. Who exactly is Nick?”
I point my thumb towards the kitchen. “Beer?”
“Sure.”
After popping our caps, we take a seat at the island.
“Nick is the officer that helped Jade change her identity and go into hiding,” I explain. He already knows the rest of Jade’s story.
“Ahh. Okay. And have you spoken to Ian at all?”
I sigh. “He asked if he could speak with Jade and apologize. I haven’t told her it was him that had been emailing her.
I didn’t want to add more to her plate right now.
I’m pissed she didn’t think she could tell me about all of this, though.
If I would have known about her past, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. ”
“You can’t beat yourself up over it, man. All that matters is that she’s here, you got her back.”
The sound of a shower turning on above us has my eyes raising.
This is the first time she’s gotten out of bed since we got back home.
Cade and I finish our beers, and not long after he leaves, Jade makes her way downstairs.
The colour in her cheeks has returned, and she looks much better than she has, but her eyes still look haunted.
“How you feeling?” I ask, helping her off the last stair.
“I’m okay. I was so scared this was all a dream and I was still stuck in that stuffy cabin, but I’m actually here.” She smiles softly. And fuck. I missed that smile.
“Here, let’s go take care of those wrists and then I’ll get you some soup.”
Getting her all bandaged up and heating her up some soup, I sit next to her at the island. “So, are you feeling up for a visitor?”
“West, I was alone for an entire week. I would love nothing more than a visitor.”
I still. This is the first she’s spoken about the cabin since she gave her statement to Cade.
I haven’t mentioned Nick at all. I wanted to wait till she was feeling better.
I also haven’t told her about the fake documents we found in Garrett’s car or the red hair dye.
I’m not sure when he planned to leave with her, but I thank the stars every day that we caught him in time.
“It’s Nick,” I tell her.
Her hand freezes halfway to her mouth, and she sets down the spoon. “Nick?”
“I hope it’s okay. But I called him for help when you were missing. He was actually the one to confirm Garrett’s identity.”
“He’s here?”
“He is.” I watch a bit of that light shine back in her eyes as I confirm that Nick is here in town.
“I haven’t seen him since I was twenty-two.” she says in shock.
“He’s excited to see you,” I tell her. But I don’t tell her I also offered him a job. I’ll let him be the one to tell her if he accepts the offer.
A half hour later, there’s a knock at the door.
“That’ll be him,” I say. “Why don’t you head to the living room and I’ll bring him in.”
“Thank you, West.”
I kiss her softly and then go answer the door.
“Nick.”
“Sheriff.”
“Please, just call me West,” I say, stepping back so he can come inside.
“How is she?”
“She’s doing okay. Better now that you’re here.”
I lead him to the living room, where we find Jade curled up on the couch with Pumpkin. The cat hasn’t left her side since she returned. Can’t blame the thing.
“Jade.” Nick smiles, walking over to her. “It’s so good to see you.”
Rising from the couch, Jade places Pumpkin down and runs into Nick’s arms. “I can’t believe you’re really here,” she says and laughs. Fucking laughs. It’s music to my goddamn ears. I didn’t think I’d ever hear that beautiful sound again.
“You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman,” Nick tells her, and she starts to cry. I fight the urge to go comfort her, and let them have their moment.
“How long are you here for?” she asks between tears.
His head swivels to me, and I know my offer is on his mind. I tip my head, letting him know he can tell her.
“Actually, I’m thinking about staying. West offered me a job.”
She pulls back from his arms and looks at me. “You did?” Her lip wobbles, and I smile, letting her know it’s true.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“So, you’d be okay with that?” he asks her, and her face splits into a grin.
“I would love that!”
“Then I guess I’m staying.”
For the next couple hours, we discuss what we’re doing about Adam.
We know he’s still out there. Waiting and watching.
Nick suggested baiting him, but I shut that the fuck down.
I will not put Jade in anymore danger after the trauma she’s already been through.
All we can do is keep an eye out and make sure his picture remains on every billboard up and down the river.
Later that night when we’re curled up in bed, Jade turns to me. “Thank you for giving Nick a job.”
“I’d give you the world if I could, Jade.”
“West?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I love you.”
My heart is pounding so hard I feel like it’s going to jump from my chest. Nothing could ever compare to this moment, to knowing what it feels like to have the girl I’ve been infatuated with for so long tell me she loves me.
I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.
Words have never sounded so melodic or beautiful.
“I love you too. So fucking much.” I smash my mouth to hers and spend the rest of night showing her just how much loving her means.