Chapter 22
Penelope
We get to the hospital in the ambulance, and Cas doesn’t let go of my hand for even a second. His grip is steady but desperate, like if he loosens it, I’ll slip away all over again.
The ER smells of antiseptic and something sharp, metallic.
The fluorescent lights sting my eyes, and I flinch at the beeping machines, the shuffle of nurses’ shoes.
Cas is a storm in denim and flannel, pacing every time the doctor so much as touches me.
His eyes track her every move, narrowed, his jaw a sharp line like he’s seconds from tearing someone apart if they hurt me.
“You have a concussion, some bruised ribs, and a bruised wrist,” the doctor says after examining me. She clicks her pen against the clipboard like this is routine.
To me, it’s a life splintered in half.
“We’ll keep you here a few hours to monitor, but if all is well, you’ll be able to go home tonight.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. My throat is raw, voice shredded from screams I thought no one would ever hear. The images try to replay, but I force them down and focus on Cas. He stands in the corner like a caged animal, shoulders hunched, fists clenched, veins rising in his forearms.
“I’m okay,” I whisper, though it feels like a lie.
His head snaps toward me. “No, you’re not.” His voice is gravel, sharp with barely leashed fury.
“Cas,” I rasp, shame burning my chest. “If you don’t want me anymore after he, I mean, he didn’t, but…” The words claw their way out, jagged and broken. “If you can’t look at me the same, I…”
I don’t finish. He’s at my side in two strides, hands cradling my face like I’m glass that could shatter if he breathes wrong. His thumbs brush over my skin with such reverence it undoes me.
“Don’t you dare say that.” His voice cracks on dare.
“But I see the way you look at me now, and I…”
His expression twists, not in anger but in anguish. His breath shudders, and then, God help me, Casper Hawthorne cries. A single tear carves down his cheek, and it breaks me more than the bruises ever could.
“Sunset,” he whispers, thumb trembling against my cheek. “My anger isn’t with you. It’s with me.”
My brows knit. “What? Why?”
“I didn’t protect you.” His voice is raw, shredded from the inside out.
His chest heaves like every word costs him blood.
“I swore you’d be safe with me. That no one would ever touch you.
And look at you now…” His gaze sweeps over the bruises, the bandages, the swollen lip.
His fist tightens on his thigh until his knuckles blanch. “I failed you.”
I can’t let him believe that. My hands rise to his face, pulling his eyes back to mine. “Casper Hawthorne, you did not fail me.” My thumb wipes at the tear trailing his jaw. More of my own fall. “You gave me a home. A family. You gave me something I never thought I’d have again, hope.”
He shakes his head, but I won’t let him look away.
“You came for me, Cas. Just like I knew you would.” My chest cracks open with words too long buried. “I love you, Casper.”
For a heartbeat, the world stills. He stares at me like he’s seeing me for the first time, like he’s memorising every inch of me just in case the world tries to rip us apart again. His forehead presses to mine, his voice breaking like a prayer.
“When I thought I’d lost you… it was like the world went dark. Like every color, every sound, every piece of joy just died. Sunset, I can’t breathe without you.” His lips brush over my tears, kissing them away, reverent and trembling. “I love you. More than my own life.”
A sob bursts from me, but he swallows it with his mouth, his kiss both desperate and tender. My lips sting, but I don’t care. His tongue traces my split lip so softly it feels like worship.
“You make me happy, Casper Hawthorne,” I whisper against him, arms tight around his shoulders.
His forehead rests to mine, his breath shuddering. “You are my world now, Penny. My world, my heart, my reason.”
The kiss lingers, his warmth grounding me, until a knock rattles the door. Cas growls low, ready to tear into whoever dares interrupt.
“Penny!” Lily’s voice cracks as she bursts inside, skirts swishing, eyes already wet. Behind her floods the entire Hawthorne clan, Joshua, Grace, Dex, Ethan, Jude, all of them filling the tiny hospital room with the sheer force of their presence.
I blink, stunned. “You didn’t have to come. They’re letting me go home tonight.”
Lily stops in front of me, hands on her hips, scoffing like I’ve said the dumbest thing she’s ever heard.
“Ah, tut tut, none of that.” She cups my face, warm and trembling.
“You’re part of our family now, Penelope.
We’re here because we love you. And you’d better accept you’re never getting rid of us again. Now hush and let us take care of you.”
Tears spill before I can stop them. She kisses my forehead, her tears mixing with mine.
Joshua clears his throat, deep voice gruff. “You gave us quite a scare, Penny.” His big, calloused hand envelops mine. “Don’t do that again, eh?”
Ethan swoops in next, wrapping me in the gentlest bear hug a giant has ever given. “We almost lost you, kid. Don’t go pulling stunts like that again.” His tone tries for playful, but his voice cracks.
Dex leans against the bedrail, dark eyes softening just for a beat. “The whole town’s been dropping casseroles at the B&B. You scared the hell outta everyone.” His hand lingers on my shoulder, warm and protective, before he steps back with a smirk to mask it.
Jude hangs back until the silence tugs him forward. Arms crossed, jaw set, he mutters, “Bastard’s never touching you again.” Just six words, but they hit like steel, a vow.
Grace doesn’t wait her turn. She throws her arms around me in a fierce hug, curls brushing my face. “You’re my sister now, whether you like it or not. And if you ever scare me like that again, I’ll chain you to the porch swing myself.”
A broken laugh escapes me, shaky but real.
Then Cas’s phone buzzes. He growls, mutters, and swipes. Jace’s grinning face fills the screen, hat tipped back, crowd roaring behind him.
“There she is! My favorite girl!” he hollers over the noise. “Damn, Penny, even beat up you’re still prettier than my horse.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks. “Jace…”
Cas bristles beside me, muttering, “I’m gonna wring his neck,” which only makes Jace laugh louder. The room follows, laughter easing the weight that’s been pressing down on all of us.
I look around at their faces, worried, tear-streaked, shining with relief. All of them here for me. My chest swells with something I’ve never felt so solid, so sure.
Home.
For the first time in my life, I know I’ll never be alone again.