Chapter Twenty-Nine
He didn’t remember much after the bullet struck his flesh.
Derek standing there.
Francie rushing through the door.
Was Miranda there, too?
Ian wracked his brain, but everything was still so foggy. He blamed it on the morphine, or whatever the fuck they were pumping into his veins. With heavy eyelids, his gaze traveled up the tubing to the bag dripping the drug into a chamber.
He tried counting the drops.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
“Sinjin. Baby, wake up.”
“Princess?” His eyes focusing, he squinted. “Oh…Mom…where’s Breanna?”
“I told you, dear.” Pamela leaned over the bedrail to kiss his brow. “She went to the airport to pick up her folks.”
“But I need her.” He did. Every minute of every day for the rest of his life.
“Breanna’s been with you the whole time, baby. She hasn’t left your side,” his mother said, her fingers combing through his hair. “Let’s raise your head and sit you up a little, yeah?”
“Ah, fuck.” It felt like his insides were ripping apart.
“I’m going to ring for the nurse.”
“No, don’t.” He gritted his teeth, snatching Pamela’s hand so she wouldn’t press the call light. “They’ll just shoot me up with some more shit I don’t want.”
“A bullet blasted through your liver. Take the damn medicine.”
Ian glanced down at the bandage covering his chest and snickered. “That’s going to leave a good scar, isn’t it?”
“It isn’t funny. Do you have any idea how lucky you are?” She squeezed his hand to emphasize the point. “You almost died.”
“But I didn’t.”
Mother and son. She looked at him and he looked at her. Neither one of them said it, but Ian was sure they were both thinking about Derek.
“Sinjin, don’t.”
He let out a breath. “What?”
“There’s nothing you could have done. Your cousin put himself on a path of self-destruction.” She glanced out the window, diverting her gaze for a moment. “Francie even tried to stop him and couldn’t.”
“Maybe I could have.”
“I doubt that. Valerie wanted you at Dalton House, but Raymond and Derek allowed it for a reason.” Pamela caressed his cheek. “The blame rests with my brother. He’s the one who started this all those years ago.”
No, they all shared the blame—Lawrence and Sharon, Valerie, Sarah Benjamin, Aunt Francie, his mom, and himself. Any of them might have prevented this tragedy from ever happening.
“What day is it?”
“Sunday.” God, it’d been three days already.
“When can I go home?”
“Your surgeon said you need to stay a few more days,” Pamela informed him, adjusting his pillow. Unlike her sister, his mother wasn’t usually a hoverer, but considering the circumstances, Ian figured her hovering was justified.
“So, Wednesday?”
“Maybe. If they’re done clearing the pass by, then.” She shrugged. “They’ve got six feet up there already, I heard, and it’s still coming down heavy.”
Snowmageddon.
“Ted’s going to need help.”
“Already taken care of. Don’t worry.”
Jordy saw to it, he was sure.
“Why don’t we comb your hair and wash your face, hm? I wouldn’t want you to scare off Breanna’s family when they get here.”
“That bad?”
She made a face, her head tipping to the side while she scrunched her shoulders.
Too late, Mother.
“Hey, princess.” His lips curved into a smirk, but as she tiptoed into the room, Ian couldn’t contain it. He grinned so widely it hurt his face.
Breanna smiled back, and it was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.
She hurried to his side and, combing her fingers through his hair, softly kissed his lips. “Finally. You’re awake for real this time.”
“I wasn’t before?” He chuckled.
“You opened your eyes now and then. Otherwise, you’ve been out of it.”
“Come here.” Ian patted the narrow space beside him.
Pamela winked, and smiling, she said, “I think you two need some time alone.”
He looked on as she went to the doorway to greet Breanna’s parents, who were standing with a blonde twenty-something girl.
He waved. The trio waved back.
“Is that Kayleigh?”
“Yeah, she insisted on coming when I told her what happened, but I think she just wants to check you out. Their flights were only fifteen minutes apart, too.”
“How convenient.” He smirked. “This is not how I planned on meeting your folks.”
“You saved me, so you’re their hero.”
He didn’t, though. Breanna saved herself.
“That’s pretty fucking good the way I see it.”
His fiery princess. He was lucky, and not just because he was alive. Ian got to be the man who loved her.
“Potty mouth.”
“You love it.”
“I do.” He smirked, waggling his brows. “Now, come here.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Don’t care. I need you next to me.” Careful not to pull on his IV, Breanna climbed onto the bed. He kissed her, soft and sweet. “I love you, princess.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
Caressing her cheek, Ian gazed into fairytale eyes. “Let’s get married.”
“Are you proposing?”
It’s now how he planned to do it, but then life is too short to wait, right? “Yeah.”
“You haven’t even asked me out on a date yet.”
“I think we’re past that part, aren’t we?” Ian raised his brow.
Breanna grinned, her forehead touching his. “Never.”
“So, if I buy you flowers and take you to dinner, then will you marry me?”
“There’s a very good chance I will.” She giggled.
I know you will, princess.
“I’m going to take that as a yes.”