Chapter 17
Vanna
A scream rips from me as I startle awake, and even as disoriented as I am, I can tell I’m in a hospital by the sounds of machines beeping and the smell of antiseptic.
“Lawson,” I call out for him, and I can feel tears pour down my cheeks.
“It’s okay.” A small hand takes mine, and I know right away it’s not his. “Lawson is okay, everything is going to be okay.”
The woman beside me is so tender, and when I look into her eyes, they are as familiar as my own. “You’re his mom.”
“Yes.” She gives me a sweet smile before grabbing a tissue to wipe away my tears. I try to take it from her, but she’s not having it. “It’s all right, I’ve got you.”
“He’s okay? Really?” I try to get up but realize there is an IV in my arm.
“I promise you he’s fine. He’s talking to the police and wrapping a few things up.”
“Oh god. Are they going to arrest him? I’m sure Lilith has a team of lawyers spinning this.” Tears start to form in my eyes again.
“You love him, don’t you?” Lawson’s mom keeps on smiling, not answering my question. She doesn’t seem worried in the least, and it actually makes me relax.
“I do love him,” I say without hesitation.
“How is she?” An older man walks into the room, and he looks just like Lawson except with some gray in his hair.
“She’s perfect,” Lawson’s mom tells him. “Vanna, this is my husband, Frank.” I give him the best smile I can muster.
“Are you Jisa?” I recall Lawson telling me when we were at the lake house.
“I am. You can call me that for now.” What does she mean by for now? “How’s your head? When they examined you, they found a pretty big bruise.”
I reach back and touch the spot, and thankfully it’s not as tender as before. “It’s fine. Why am I here?”
“You passed out, so the ambulance took both you and Nick to the hospital.”
“Oh.” I gasp. “Is he…”
“Dead?” Frank supplies, and I nod.
“Don’t scare her.” Jisa smacks Frank's chest. “He’s alive.”
I worry my bottom lip between my teeth, not sure how I feel about that.
“They can’t get to you. I think the Chambers underestimated our family's reach. In our line of work, we know everyone, and their games won't work. Ari is already digging up piles of dirt on them. They’ll be going down for more than this.”
“Is this her?” Another man walks into the hospital room.
“Yes, but you can introduce yourself properly,” Jisa scolds him.
“Mack?” I guess before he can.
“Correct.” He walks to the other side of the bed. “How did Lawson land you? Did he kidnap you or something?” Mack teases.
Lawson told me Mack’s the joker in the family, but he’s also the one that is quickest to lose his temper. As I glance around the room, I realize this is the first time I’ve met them, but Lawson told me so many things about them it doesn’t feel that way.
“It’s really sweet you guys came to check on me.”
“Check on you?” Mack drops down into the chair beside the bed. “You’re like our sister now. Of course we’re going to be here. Is Mom annoying you yet?”
“Don’t be a brat.” Jisa rolls her eyes at her son but doesn’t deny that she might become annoying. A giant ball of emotion forms in my throat because this is a family. A real one.
“Oh shit. Are you going to cry?” Mack jumps up from his chair.
“I…ah,” I sniffle, and Jisa grabs another tissue for me. “I won’t cry.” I hold it back, but being a part of this is surreal.
“Good. I don’t need Law losing his shit again.” Mack lets out a breath.
“Why am I losing my shit?” Lawson appears in the hospital doorway, and now I can stop the tears.
His name comes out of me in a sob as I reach for him, and he doesn’t hesitate to come to me. His big hands cup my face as he looks me over, and all of my panic from before evaporates.
“You okay?” He brushes his mouth against mine as he asks the question.
“I’m okay if you’re okay. I don’t need to be in the hospital.” I want to get out of here and be with him.
“They only wanted to check you over. Mom, can you see about getting Vanna released?”
“Already did. They are about finished with her paperwork.”
“Thanks,” he tells her, never letting go of my face.
“You’re really okay? You’re not in trouble?” I ask, and he nods.
“They kidnapped me. Why would I be in trouble?”
“I’m sorry. I pulled you into this whole mess.”
“Don’t apologize, babe. You’re my girl. I will always do what I need to do to protect you. I love you.”
“I love you too. You’re the only person I’ve ever loved,” I admit, and Lawson kisses me. When I wrap my arms around him and try to pull him closer, I hear Mack groan.
“God. They’re going to be as bad as you two.” Mack motions to his parents, and I grin.
“I’m just happy I’ll have a girl around for once. All these men…” Jisa huffs.
“You like it when I’m around.” Her husband tucks her under his arm, and she winks at him.
While they talk, I sit back and listen, and eventually Ari shows up. Not too long after that, a nurse comes in to discharge me, and I’m out of the hospital. Outside, I give everyone hugs and Jisa makes us agree to dinner in a few days before Lawson helps me get in his car.
“They’re all really nice,” I tell Lawson when he takes my hand.
“Give it time. They’ll start to work on your nerves.” He gives me a playful smile.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“I was going to take you home, but if you want to go back to the lake house, we can.”
“You were going to take me home?” I start to pull my hand from his, but he doesn’t let me.
“My home. Our home,” he clarifies. “You’re mine, Vanna, and I can’t let you go. Does that make me as bad as him?”
“No.” I’m quick to defend. “You’re nothing like my ex. You truly love me, and when I told you what I wanted most in life, you didn’t hesitate to try and give it to me.”
“Try.” He glances over at me and to my stomach. “It might be too early for a test, but I’m sure your dream is about to come true.”
“Dreams,” I correct.
Lawson didn’t only give me a baby. He gave me a whole family along with his love.