Page 54 of The Fear (The Hillers of Barratt County #7)

When Grady opened his eyes, someone was holding his hand—and peering down at him like he was a bug. His little sister Genny’s precious face was only a handful of inches from his. Not a bad way to wake, after being stabbed by a mad woman with a butcher knife. “Hey, kid.”

“Grady Treyton Hiller, only one of us was supposed to be impaled this lifetime. And I had already done that. You really shouldn’t copy me. How do you feel?”

“Where’s Hala?” Was there any other real question? “She okay? What about Jessica’s kids?”

He’d never forget the sight of those two innocent little kids covered in blood like that. Because of their mother’s actions.

“Hudson bodily carried his sister out of here, even with one hand. He took her to the cafeteria to feed her. She definitely did not want to leave you. So romantic, you two. Hudson and Gia are ganging up on her. She’ll be back shortly.

For some reason, she’s insisting that she is the one staying with you.

Something about you not escaping her ever again. ”

“Don’t ever want to escape her.” Grady closed his eyes for a moment. He felt cloudy, no denying that. “Love her, you know.”

“Yeah, we all kind of figured that out when you told her that right in front of the entire ER. You remember that part?”

“Of course I do. I’m the one who said it. Wake me when she’s back.”

“I will. And…Jessica’s kids are going to be okay. Greer stayed with them on the ride in. Bailey Addy drove them. Greer stayed with them until their aunt got here to be with them. Their dad…”

Grady knew…it wasn’t good. “How bad?”

“He was found in time. Barely. But he’s got a way to go. That’s all I can really say. She even attacked her own mom, Grady. Marie is in ICU. No one knows if she’s going to be okay.”

Grady nodded. He would never understand. “She smelled like booze.”

“High blood alcohol, Clay said. She was just drunk. And angry. That was all it took. People…make bad choices.” Genny rubbed her own shoulder. He knew she was remembering what had happened to her, too. Memories could torture. Grady would know that forever.

But…he wanted a future. With a woman who drew smiley faces in purple ink. Who sang songs to her nephew about puppies and clowns and big purple dinosaurs. Who was already talking about her puppy with excitement.

He was going to just get her out of that apartment of hers, move her into the ranch, and keep her forever. Have a big party wedding like Ryan and Calvin were already planning for Gia, and then have six kids of their own. He wanted that more than anything in the world.

Once his damned chest stopped hurting, anyway. “How long am I stuck here?”

“Two days, Caine said. The knife just missed your lung. And we’re watching for infection.

No one knows what was on that knife and she’d used it twice before.

Hala had to have stitches in each arm. Defensive wounds.

Hala and Aubrey and me—we all have matching slice-and-dice scars now. We’re going to compare later.”

“The little girl? Hala was holding her away from Jessica when I got there.” How could any mother do what she had done, with her little girl right there to see ? How could she have done that?

“I can’t say much, Grady. HIPAA rules. Wynnie was cut a few times. But nothing significant. At least…physically.”

“She’ll always remember.” He’d heard her crying, saying her mommy hated her. He would never forget that precious baby’s pain.

“Yes. But Janie, that’s her aunt, she works here, too.

She’s a friend. She was already making plans to take her niece to W4HAV.

They have a new counselor there for young children.

She told me that this morning, personally.

Janie is taking over the kids’ care, until their father is home, so Janie’s dad can focus on being with Marie. ”

Grady just nodded.

Then…the door opened. And there she was.

The light of his world. She wore a pair of jeans that he was almost certain were Genny’s and a t-shirt with FCU: Law that he suspected belonged to Gia.

Her hair was in a ponytail again. He loved it when she wore it like that. Tempted him to touch, every time.

Grady shifted in the bed. He wanted to hold his woman.

“Nope, big brother. No sudden movements. Trust me. You’ll regret it.” Genny worked the button for him, until he was actually sitting up. Almost. “Now, you two can make googly eyes at each other. Hala, he is all yours.”

Gia was there. She kissed Grady on the forehead. “Hey, Mister Hero, thank you. For getting to her on time.”

Hudson echoed that. He was hugging his little sister now. There was a look in his eyes—Grady understood. Hudson had taken care of Grady’s own sister, too.

He just nodded. “All of you get out now. I want my woman. Alone.”

“Behave yourselves,” Genny said, fussed over his blankets, and then shooed Gia and Hudson out.

Leaving him with the woman he wanted forever. Grady just looked at Hala after Genny pulled the door shut behind her. “You should…always wear purple.”

“Why?”

“Because I remember thinking that in the barn. When I first realized…that you meant everything to me.”

Her cheeks turned red. “I bought special lingerie. For…the cottage.”

“Purple…?”

“Some of it.”

“I can’t wait.”

“It might be a few weeks. Until you are better.”

“Don’t really want to wait. I think I’ve waited for you long enough.” Grady held out his hand to her. “Come here. I want to hold you.”

It took her a moment, but she was able to climb the foot of the bed. He scooted as much as he was able. The bed was narrow. But she was small. She fit.

“I am not staying up here long. I don’t want to get in trouble. The doctor who fixed you up is kind of scary. Her mom is the new judge that Gia really likes. The judge…came by to see you while you were sleeping. She apologized. For Jessica. Even though it wasn’t her fault.”

“It was Jessica’s. Has…anyone…said why yet?”

“The judge took her kids. Gave them to their father. Jessica was angry over that. She went to Deputy Ryce’s house.

And stabbed him in the back. He almost died.

I heard it hit his spine. They don’t know how much damage it will cause long-term.

They are waiting to see. Then she drove to her parents, and attacked her mom.

She took the kids. Jessica’s new boyfriend was going to help her get them to Mexico. ”

“How did they end up in your apartment?”

“Wynnie and little BJ ran away from Jessica when she was packing them a bag, I think. Wynnie came to me for help. They were at my door. And I let them in.”

“She knew you’d help her. She trusted you.”

“Like…I knew you were coming. I knew…I trusted…” Her breath hitched, and there were tears in those big brown eyes.

His mom had been right—this woman had one of the softest hearts of anyone he’d ever met.

Just one of the things Grady loved about her.

He held her closer. “I knew if I just held on long enough you would be there. I just… never get yourself hurt again. I just can’t stand it.

I can’t lose you, Grady Treyton Hiller. You are my darling future husband.

We established that weeks ago, remember? ”

“My mom picked you for me. I’m glad she did.” Grady kissed her gently. The moment just called for gentle. And…he really couldn’t move all that well. “I’m keeping you forever. So…did you just propose?”

“What?”

“I’m your future darling husband. You said so. So you proposed to me first.”

“Works for me. We’ll work out the details later.” She grinned up at him, never looking more beautiful. There were tears in her eyes. “I love it when you hold me, Grady Hiller. And don’t you forget it.”

“I’m going to hold you forever.”

“I’ll take you up on that.”

They were still holding each other when his mother and the rest of the family decided to butt in. Grady just stayed right where he was—not like he could really escape at the moment— and knew he had finally found where he was meant to be. Next to her.

His mother leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, and did the same to the woman dozing in his good arm.

The other arm was going to have to stay put for a while to keep pressure off his chest. “I knew she was perfect for you, years ago. I was just waiting for her to heal in her heart before I started doing what a mother needed to do.”

“Picked her out for me, didn’t you?”

“Absolutely. And you… for her. You both deserve someone to love as deeply as your father and I have always loved each other. Take care of her, Grady Treyton. And love her. I know she’ll do the same in return.”

He was going to do exactly that.

What comes next? Just what has the father of Greer’s child planned for her?