His eyes meet mine again and this time, there’s no shield.“Because I didn’t think I deserved what you were offering,” he candidly shares.“And by the time I realized how wrong I was, I was too damn late.”
I stare at him, heart pounding.There’s a pain behind his eyes that feels too deep, too personal for him to be lying.
“You’re scaring me less than you should,” I admit.“Because somehow I feel like this should be terrifying to me and it’s not.Your words give me an odd comfort, Ledger.”
One corner of his mouth twitches not a smile, but the ghost of one.“Good.Means your instincts still work.”
He stands and steps closer again, hands at his sides like he’s forcing himself not to reach for me.
“They may have taken your memories,” he says in a low voice that sends shivers down my spine, “but they didn’t touch your instincts.Or mine.”
My pulse skitters.
“Ledger…”
“You’re safe,” he reminds again, firmer this time.“I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
A knock interrupts us, and Ally bursts into the room, eyes wild, hair a mess, still wearing her bakery apron.“Oh my God, Kelly!”She lunges forward and hugs me so hard I see stars.
Ledger stiffens, stepping aside but not far hovering like a silent guard.
Ally pulls back, wiping tears.“I was terrified.You didn’t come home, and then the hospital called.”
“I’m okay,” I whisper, though I’m not sure it’s true.
Ally’s gaze flicks to Ledger, narrowing.“You.Sit.And don’t make her panic more than she already is.”
Ledger raises his brows.“I’m not?—”
“You exist,” Ally snaps.“That’s panicky enough.”
Despite everything, a small laugh escapes me.Ledger mutters something under his breath that sounds likesweet baby Jesus, she’s so bossy,and sits.
Ally talks fast rambling about the bakery, about calling my family, about someone covering my shift and Ledger quietly watches every person who enters the hallway like he’s memorizing faces.
After several minutes, Ally leans close to me.“Good news.The doctor said you can go home tomorrow morning.”
Before I can respond, Ledger cuts in.“She’s not going home alone.”
Ally straightens.“Obviously not.She’s staying with me.”
Ledger’s expression is unreadable.“No.”
“No?”Ally echoes, eyebrows shooting up.
“She’s stayin’ under King protection,” Ledger states calmly.“Closer to the clubhouse.Where we can keep eyes on her until we sort out who did this.”
Ally sputters.“She’s not a prisoner, and Chux will keep her safe if she’s with me.That’s King protection.”
“She might be a target,” Ledger snaps.
Silence freezes the room.
Ally’s face drains of color.Ledger’s jaw hardens.I grip the blanket, breath quickening.“A target?”I whisper.
Riot meets my gaze.“Yeah, sunshine.Someone hit your car on purpose.”
A tremor races through me.
