Page 53

An emotion that feels an awful lot like hate barrels through me—hatred for all the assholes around the world who abuse their partners, claiming they do it out of love.

“I’m sorry.”

He uses the back of his good hand to wipe away his tears. My eyes are full of tears too, my chest so heavy, I can’t take a full breath.

“When I was beating that fucker today, all I could see was my aunt’s husband.” His eyes flash to me, and an unspoken understanding passes between us. “If not for your neighbor, I would’ve killed Miller, and I wouldn’t have even been sorry.”

Agony like I’ve never felt hits me like a battering ram.

“After he tried to force himself on her last year, all I wanted was to see him locked up, to get him away from her. But she was worried he’d retaliate and file his own assault charges against me.

She was worried about my career; I tried to change her mind, but I didn’t try hard enough.

” I wet my lips. “And yeah, I often worried about the consequences. It bothered me that he’d been so violent, that he wasn’t punished.

I was afraid he’d do something one day, and he fucking did. It’s my fucking fault.”

“Take it as a lesson,” Kaden says. “It’s disturbing and gut-wrenching, but it’s still a lesson.

Now you have a chance to make things right.

You can make sure he pays for what he did, and you can guarantee your woman remains safe.

” He pats me on the shoulder, smiling weakly.

“Izzy is a strong girl, but I’m afraid of what this could do to her.

You can show her what real love means. She never stopped loving you, even despite it all, and she deserves that same love back. ”

“If you only knew how much I love her.” I bury my head in my hands, my heart aching. “I know what I need to do. When the time comes, though, I may need your help.”

“You can count on me. I mean it.”

We sit side by side, quiet for a long time, until a loud, feminine voice down the hall startles us.

I stand and step out of the waiting area, heading straight to Marco and Meg. When she notices me, she runs up and hugs me tightly.

“How is she? Where is she? Where is that fucking prick? Where is?—”

“Baby, if you want him to answer you, give him a chance to take a breath.” Marco stops behind her and gives me a reassuring smile. “I couldn’t stop her, man, but in all honesty, I didn’t really want to. We love Izzy. We want to be here for her.”

“That fucking asshole!” Meg shouts, tears streaming down her cheeks. “If he’s in this hospital, I’ll go and strangle him myself!”

“Meg.” Marco pulls her into his chest.

“What? He deserves to fucking d?—”

He covers her mouth and shakes his head, as if apologizing for her behavior. In reality, her desire to get retribution for her best friend only fills me with warmth. Bella and I have amazing friends, and I could be?—

“Alex!”

My breath catches. What the fuck? Are all our friends planning to descend on us?

Jess storms down the hall with Bowman in tow.

“Where is Izzy?” she demands.

“How is she?” Josh asks as they approach.

Drew and his wife appear down the hall and hustle over before I can answer.

“There you are,” Drew says.

My heart thumps heavily, and tears sting my eyes. They’re all here for Bella. For me.

“We had to wait for the babysitter, but we got here as soon as we could.” Drew stops in front of me.

We’ve drawn a crowd of hospital staff. Three pro football players make the hall feel exceptionally small, plus one ridiculously loud best friend who’s still rambling about murdering Miller. Not to mention the hotshot basketball star. Makes sense we’d garner attention.

With a sigh, I turn and shuffle back to the waiting room. They all follow, and once everyone is seated, Kaden and I tell them what we know without getting into too much detail.

The girls cry while their men sit rigidly, teeth clenched and eyes murderous. They love Bella, and they only want what’s best for her.

Jess and Meg insist they won’t leave until Bella is awake.

The guys swear I’m an idiot if I think they’ll leave me here waiting.

It feels good knowing we have so much support.

While we wait, Kaden and Bowman talk basketball and quickly bicker about who’s better: Boston or New York.

After a while, I find my muscles easing a fraction, my heart knitting itself back together, just a little.

Mom and Dad wanted to come, but I asked them to hold off. The waiting room is already too crowded.

Ryan called to ask how he could help and promised he’d find the best lawyer he can. Miller needs to go to jail, and I need the best of the best to make sure it happens.

I didn’t pick up Audrey’s phone call, but she left a voicemail. Maybe I could look past her antics if she’d apologized to Bella, but at this point, I worry it’s too late. She’s shown no remorse.

I’m coming back from taking yet another call when a young woman steps out from the nurses’ station and calls my name.

I pull up short, my heart suddenly pounding again. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” She gives me a reassuring smile. “Your girlfriend is awake, and she wants to see you.”

“Thank you.” I bolt straight to Bella’s room, but at the closed door, I force myself to stop and take a few deep breaths. I knock, then ease it open and find her sitting up, looking out the window. She looks so peaceful and calm, even with all the bruises and the swelling.

I have to blink away my tears as I frantically catalog every injury: a bandage on her head, another on her swollen nose, a huge dark blue bruise on her right cheek, the split lip, the bandage on her wrist.

Damn, baby. I would’ve traded places with you in a heartbeat if it meant you’d never have to experience something like that .

“Hey you.” I crawl into bed with her, gently wrapping my arm around her shoulder.

“Hey,” she says quietly, the tiniest smile playing on her lips. She wiggles closer and slots her head beneath my chin.

“How are you?”

“The doctor said I’m fine, but they want to keep me overnight. I have a mild concussion, but?—”

“But nothing. You’re staying,” I whisper, hiding my nose in her hair. “And I’m staying too.”

“I figured as much.” Her voice is raspy. I can only imagine it has something to do with the fingerlike bruises on her neck.

“I’m so sorry, baby.” My voice is thick with emotion, and I’m struggling to breathe. “I should’ve been there.”

She hums. “It’s not your fault. How could you have known he’d show up today?”

“Still. It kills me to know what?—”

“Xander.” She turns her head and nuzzles my throat. “I’ll be okay, I promise. Just be with me, please. There’s nothing I want more than you.”

“I’ll never leave you. Ever.”

“Good.” She sighs, her body sagging. “The nurse said there’s a crowd out there waiting. Are our friends still here?”

“Yeah. They wanted to stick around until you woke up, and I don’t think Kaden has any intention of leaving until you do.”

She stiffens a little in my hold and clutches my shirt at the small of my back. “I-I want to see them, but at the same time, I don’t. At least, not right now. For now, I want it to just be me and you.”

“Whatever you want.” I hug her closer.

My love for her is my weakness, but at the same time, it’s my strength. I’d do anything for her.