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Cameron nodded, again choked up with emotion and afraid to speak. There was nowhere he’d rather be than at Rylan’s side. He knew he would feel like that throughout their lives together.

“Why didn’t you crawl in with me?”

“I don’t want to hurt you or cause the concussion to worsen.”

He melted when Rylan’s lower lip jutted out in a pout. “I need you to hold me.”

“I would do anything for you, Ry, anything.” Slowly, as not to jostle him too much, he slid underneath the sheets Rylan held up for him. He sighed aloud when Rylan snuggled against his side, relieved because he was holding the one man he loved more than anyone in the world.

“I should have figured out how much my rejection drove him to become violent,” Rylan whispered.

“Hecould have stopped being obsessed. He went across the country to go to college, so you couldn’t have known he would escalate his behavior.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Is Ruby okay, he didn’t strike out at her, did he?”

“No, she kept me from losing my mind. She rode in the ambulance with me and she wants to offer you a contract. What do you think? Do you think you’ll enjoy working with Ruby?”

“It’s a great opportunity and I can stay in the background while doing what I love, so yeah, I think it’ll be great. What about you?”

“Ruby is a great person and if it’s what you want out of a business relationship, I think it’s great. I’m proud of you, angel.”

“Thank you,” Rylan slurred his words.

Cameron eased his hand up and down on Rylan’s back and listened for the moment his breathing deepened, letting him know he’d fallen asleep. With his arms around Rylan and holding him close, only then did Cameron allow himself to relax, and he fell asleep soon after.

***

Cameron sensed there was someone else in the room with them and tightened his hold on Rylan as he blinked open his eyes. He relaxed when he spotted the badge hanging from the front pocket of a suit jacket belonging to a female detective. His eyes moved to the two others in the room. One, most likely the detective’s partner and their lawyer, Thomas Sanchez.

“Mr. Ellis-Hayes?”

“Yes, this is my husband Rylan and I’m Cameron.”

Cameron looked over to see Rylan’s eyes, well his left eye, blink open. Tears welled at the sight of the damage.

“Oh, god, Ry. Are you okay?”

“I hurt.”

Gently, Cameron moved off the bed despite Rylan’s whimper of protest and pressed the button to call the nurse. After he did, he tucked the blanket around Rylan and kissed his forehead.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Over the next few minutes, he watched as the nurse checked his concussion symptoms again before providing painkillers.

“While your bruises look bad this morning, your concussion symptoms have abated. Dr. Evan’s will be in later to clear you to go home, but things look good.”

“Thank you,” Cameron said as the nurse headed for the door.

“I’m Detective Callan and this is Detective Arnold. We’ve talked to the Fort Collins police about the other incidents regarding Tristan Scott. Is it okay if we record this conversation?”

“Yes,” Cameron and Rylan said at the same time.

They watched as she clicked two buttons on the recorder she pulled from her jacket.

“Saturday, September twenty-first, time fourteen hundred hours. Statement with Rylan Ellis-Hayes and Cameron Ellis-Hayes by Detective Elizabeth Callan and Detective Tim Arnold. Rylan, can you tell us in your own words what happened…”

Cameron listened as Rylan recounted his assault at the hands of Tristan and flinched whenever Rylan spoke about Tristan touching him, or hitting him, but he felt the tears flood his eyes as Rylan told them how Tristan had both of his hands around his throat and the look of hatred in his eyes.