Page 87 of Loving Bad

When I began to stir, I felt stiff and sore. I groaned as I opened my eyes. I felt disoriented and was trying to piece together where I was.

The dark memories from my kidnapping rushed back. It was then I remembered getting away and the stranger who had helped me.

I was in the hospital, the beeping monitor and bed confirmed it.

"Taylor," I heard a familiar voice whisper and then I felt a hand hold mine.

My eyes settled on the familiar face of Connor looking at me with happiness mixed with concern. One of my eyes was swollen shut. I was safe and I felt the tears begin to run down my face.

"It's okay," he soothed, his voice hoarse with emotion. "You're safe."

He leaned forward and I closed my eye as his lips feathered a kiss to my forehead.

"I love you," he whispered like he was scared he wouldn't be able to say it to me again.

"I love you too," I whispered hoarsely. My throat was sore.

There had been a few times when I'd been sitting in the basement wondering if I would ever see the people I loved again. He helped me sit up and tried to make me comfortable.

"I'm sorry," I murmured hoarsely, my throat burned with pain.

"What are you sorry for?" he asked, looking at me.

"For everything," I managed to say before a sob tore from my chest.

"Shh," he soothed, pulling me into a gentle hug. My body was sore, but he was gentle.

"Eric is in custody."

I tried to remember if I'd told the stranger who had attacked me. Then something dawned on me.

"How did you know I was here?" I asked, missing that piece of the puzzle.

"The guy who brought you in knew who you were."

Had I told the stranger my name? As much as I tried to remember telling him, I didn't. Had I forgotten that I'd told him? There seemed to be no other explanation. I tried to keep my fear under control. Eric’s uncle's actions had taken years from my life and I refused to allow my fear of Eric to do the same to me again.

"You really hit him hard with that lamp. He had to have stitches," he informed me. I couldn't help but smile at the satisfaction that I'd given him a taste of his own medicine.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," I stated.

"I'm your older brother. It’s my job to look after you."

"You did everything you could," I assured him. He'd hired a bodyguard. Then I remembered Matthew and the accident.

"Is Matthew okay?" I asked, fearing the worst.

"He is fine. He took your kidnapping pretty hard," my brother revealed. "I still can't believe the guy was Sin's roommate."

"Eric has been after me for years. It’s no one's fault. He would have done anything to get me."

I was just glad that he hadn't killed anyone trying to get me. I had enough to deal with as it was. I didn't need the added guilt. I shrugged.

"I don't understand," he asked, sitting down in a chair beside the hospital bed.

"He is the nephew of one of the guys who killed Mom and Dad." I dropped my gaze to my hands as I heard the sharp intake of breath.