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Chapter Twenty-Four

CAMILA

“ C an you lean back?” Evelyn carefully helps support my neck as I sit in the shower chair.

The nurses wanted to bathe me, but I just couldn’t.

“Get out. Unless you are coming to give her more of those good drugs, she doesn’t need you. She has me.” My best friend knowing that I don’t want anyone else seeing me vulnerable without me saying a word is why I love her so much.

Kit, my other shadow, has been standing guard by my door after carrying me into the bathroom before letting Eve take over.

“There. All clean. Let’s get you dried and dressed. Then I’ll braid your hair so it doesn’t get in your face.” She smiles at me, but I know what I look like.

I’d closed my eyes when we approached the sink, but what I wasn’t counting on was the full-length mirror behind the door when Kit closed us in. It took me thirty minutes to stop crying.

I looked like someone had shot me with a paintball gun at close range, but I knew what they really were.

Fingerprints.

“I hope Red shoves dynamite up their asses and launches them into space.” It’s graphic yet comical enough to make me half smile.

“You’re ruining my favorite cartoon bitch.” I let out a chuckle at the face she makes.

“Whatever, they deserve all the pain.” She helped me wash and told me what the doctors had shared since I arrived.

There was clear evidence of rape, so they performed a kit and pregnancy test. Unfortunately, the results have not been shared. So I tell her about me missing my pills, and she just blinks at me.

Slowly.

“Are you dumb or stupid? No wait. His dick is so good you went temporarily insane.” I groan as she brushes out my tangled hair.

“Sorry, that was harsh.” She gentles the brush strokes as the door opens.

“Everything okay in here?” Kit smiles at us on the hospital bed.

“Oh, just discussing my bestie here failing at Womanhood 101.” I roll my eyes at her dramatics but appreciate its normalcy.

I do not want to be treated as a victim.

“I know I’m not the gay brother, but I will happily fill Clayton’s shoes in his absence if it gets me all the juicy tea.” He flops down in the chair and places his face in his hands, propping his arms up by his elbows on the edge of the bed.

“Christopher Justice! Are you a gossip?” I mock, and he flutters his eyelashes, making us both laugh.

And that’s how Red finds us when the door opens.

He walks in with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a gift bag. Red and yellow roses overflowing the vase, and he sets it down on the side table with the bag.

“I feel like I just walked into a hen house.” He pecks me on the lips, and the brief touch leaves me wanting more.

“Well, I was about to get all the dirty secrets, but I guess it’ll have to wait. Visiting hours are almost over.” Kit points at the clock, and Eve curses.

“I’ll leave when you do,” she says firmly.

“As long as Red stays with me, I’ll be fine. Thanks for helping me.” She smiles with a wink.

“When have I ever turned down seeing you naked?” Red’s jaw drops, and I snicker.

“What? Too soon?” Kit rolls his eyes and pulls Evelyn away.

“Will see you tomorrow. Promise.” Eve says as Kit waves goodbye.

“The roses are gorgeous,” I comment once we’re alone.

“Red for me and yellow for you. They reminded me of your hair in the sunlight.” He picks up my braid and twirls it around his fingers.

“What’s in the bag?” His lips tilt into a half smile.

“What I promised you,” he says it so simply that it takes me a moment to comprehend.

“Oh.” I stare at the black bag until he climbs on the bed with me.

“No rush on that one. I want to talk about something else first.” He lifts my left hand and twirls the ring I found on it when I woke.

I’ve been ignoring its strange weight, not bothering to bring it up since no one else has. We both watch him play with the diamond for a few moments.

“I have no idea where it came from,” I say, using the first thing that comes to mind because that’s what I thought when I noticed it.

“It was my grandmother’s. Ma gave it to me when I was at my lowest while searching for you.

I felt hopeless, and she said it was my motivation to find you.

I got the news you were found moments after opening the box and swearing to God if I was lucky enough to have you in my life again, I wouldn’t take another moment for granted. ” I look up at him.

“Red.” He shakes his head.

“No, wait. Let me get it all out. I know damn well this is the worst possible time, but when you promise the good Lord something, and he follows through, then you have to do the same.” He stands and drops to one knee.

“I swear to Christ above if you let me love you the rest of our lives, you will want for nothing.” A tear runs down my cheek.

“No, Darlin’, don’t cry. You’ve done enough of that to last a lifetime.” He kisses my tears away, then pulls back to stare into my eyes.

“Camila Victoria Greystone, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” I’m nodding before he even has my full name out.

“Can we maybe wait until I’m not looking like a clown threw up on me?” He tries not to laugh at my description but nods.

“I love you so fucking much.” He places his forehead against mine and sighs.

It’s the first time he’s ever said it, and I’m unable to speak.

“It’s okay if you’re not ready to say it back. I feel it.” I swallow hard and grab him by his cheeks.

“I love you, too,” I whisper the words, afraid that the universe may take this from me.

“I really wanna kiss you, but I’m not sure if you’re ready.” I slam my mouth on him to shut him up.

We’re on the bed making out like a bunch of teenagers when my doctor walks in.

“Mr. Justice, it is well past visiting hours, and this is unacceptable behavior!” I hide my face so he doesn’t see my giggle.

“Try to throw me out. This woman just consented to be my wife. Satan himself couldn’t tear me away from her.” The doctor sighs and slams my chart on the counter.

“Can you please refrain from consummating your engagement on hospital time then? I have some lab reports to go over with you, Ms. Greystone. I’m assuming it’s fine if your fiance hears them? Congratulations, by the way.” He tacks on the last part with a flourish of his hand in the air.

“Yes, go ahead, Doc,” I mumble.

“All your labs are good. The pregnancy test was negative. You’ll need to rest while your bruises heal, but I don’t see any reason why you can’t go home tomorrow.

I’ve also taken the liberty of informing the sheriff’s office that they may interview you at home once you are ready to talk.

” He swings the chart closed and picks it up, knocking it into the gift bag that Red brought in with my flowers.

“SHIT!” Red tries to catch it before it hits the floor but doesn’t have the right angle.

“Got it,” Doc calls out then lifting the bag in one hand and a jar of liquid in the other.

“Mr. Justice, are these a pair of testicles?” I cover my gasp with my mouth.

“Um,” I turn to my fiance and see him turn beet red.

“Am I safe to assume that they belong to the man that hurt your soon-to-be wife?” The doc’s eyebrow arches as Red nods.

The doctor puts the jar back in the bag and steps to the door. Before he leaves the room, he pauses and turns back around to look at the bag.

“Those won’t keep in alcohol. I’ll get you some formaldehyde.” Then he’s gone.