Page 10 of Hurricane (Happy Hour #1)
Lucian
C olby’s delicate hand trembles in mine while we wait on this small bench in a private waiting room of the best hospital in the city.
I’m not sure what is going through her head since she hasn’t said a word to me since she called nine-one-one, and we watched as the paramedics loaded her father in the back of an ambulance.
The entire car ride here she consoled her mother, the older woman surprisingly beside herself from her husband’s state despite seeming to detest the man.
Now we’re alone, and I accept her silence due to the circumstances. She’s too fragile to push right now.
“Is it possible to love and hate someone at the same time?”
My wife’s loaded question makes me chuckle despite the grim circumstances. “Yeah, precious. It very much is.”
She snuggles into me with a new familiarity I welcome.
“I wasn’t talking about you.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Didn’t think you were, pet.”
“He’s my father and I’m supposed to feel bad he’s sick but I don’t. Not at all. That’s fucked up.”
She slowly lifts from my chest and stares at me. Almost as if she needs to see my reaction to her confession. No reason to lie. Her declaration doesn’t bother me in the least. I shrug my shoulders. “That’s life.”
Her head shakes as her small hands turn into fists. “I’ve been scared of him for as long as I can remember. He was always mad, always yelling, always so violent. Now I’m so happy I never have to worry about him hurting me again.”
Suspicion begins to brew in my gut. “What do you mean violent ?”
No answer except for her clinging to my arm tighter.
Damn it. “You told me the bruises I saw on you were from your kickboxing class. Did he hit you, Colby?”
She jumps up, as if trying to escape the memories, and paces. The struggle plays out on her exquisite face while she rubs up and down her arms.
I’m on my feet too and go to her, drawing her to me. She slams her forehead into my chest, and we stand together in silence. Her inspecting my shoes apparently and me trying to keep my shit together as I realize what I missed.
How I’ve let her down.
That I made an agreement with an abuser and didn’t rescue Colby from his mistreatment when I could have.
Motherfucker.
“I’m scared I won’t feel sad if he doesn’t make it.”
After what she just confessed, I’m happy to put him in the ground myself. If he survives, I will make him wish he didn’t. “I know I sure as hell won’t.”
“But doesn’t that make me a horrible person? Shouldn’t I feel devastated? He’s in there fighting for his life, and I feel guilty that I’m not upset.”
The door swings open, and I shove Colby behind me while grabbing my weapon with the other hand. My men are outside, but you never know when an enemy will make their move. Especially when we’re in a room with only one exit and my distraught wife is with me.
A short man in scrubs startles from my gun, which I holster once I realize he’s the doctor from earlier, only without his mask this time.
His palms flip up. “My apologies Mr. Bandoni. I didn’t mean to catch you off guard.”
Colby jumps out from behind me. I feel her tiny body stiffen and she stands tall, just like I expect from my magnificent queen. She may feel weak right now but she sure as hell won’t show him.
“How is he, Dr. Yang?”
Compared to when we were alone, her demeanor is formidable and commanding. I slide my hand to her lower back, reminding her we’re a team.
The physician drags his surgical cap off his head and squeezes the blue fabric in his hands.
“I’m sorry, Miss Sala. Your father had a coronary thrombosis causing a myocardial infarction that was too massive for his heart to survive.
We attempted numerous life-saving measures, but unfortunately even with our efforts we were unable to revive him. I’m very sorry.”
I’m not. If the heart attack wasn’t enough to kill him, I would have been. No one touches my wife and survives, especially and including her dad.
“Can I see him?”
Strong and steady, her voice nor her expression falter. He nods and his shoulders drop from bunching up, obviously relieved she’s not breaking down. “Yes, your mother is with him now. I’ll have the nurse come and take you to them in a few minutes.”
“Thank you.”
Once Dr. Yang departs, Colby sags against me. I welcome her trust to let me see her vulnerability. I wrap my arms around her and provide my strength to her rare admission of powerlessness. “I’ve got you.”
A beat of silence passes before her head bobs, accepting my assertion.
“I know it. I’m so grateful.”
Rarely do I have such intimacy with another person. I’ve never held anyone on one of the worst days of their life. The idea of doing this with her electrifies me to know I’m the person she can lean on, rely on, count on.
“There’s one more thing I need from you.”
“Anything.”
“It’s about the wedding.”
Not at all what I expected her to say. Marrying her is all I want but even I realize she might need some time to recover. I’m proactive before she even asks. “We can postpone. Whatever you need, I’ll give you.”