I can’t do what Brecken said. He knows it can’t happen yet. But things do need to change. And I know exactly what I need to do.
I get out of the shower, dry off, and look over at the bedroom. I slip on a pair of boxers and then crawl into bed next to her. She lets out a little whimper as she shifts in her sleep.
“Taylor, baby?” I ask, gently touching her warm arm. I watch her chest rise and fall through one of my t-shirts I dressed her in and I sigh heavily. This is all my fault. And I don’t know how to apologize for it.
She moves again, and I know that her pain meds from Doc earlier are starting to wear off. “Case?” her voice rasps.
I feel my heart break as I look at the handprint mark on her neck, and I wish I would have killed the guy I let Brecken turn over to the cops. The bastard is now in the hospital on pain meds himself. And that thought pisses me off; he deserves to feel every broken bone I gave him. “I’m right here, sweetheart.” I place a soft kiss on her cheek, making sure not to touch the bruise from where one of them slapped her. I hope it was the guy I killed.
She tilts her head to me and her eyes slowly open. Closing and reopening them a few times. “Where am I?” she whispers.
“You’re at my place.”Where you’re going to stay.
“I need … to go home.” She lets out a little moan as she shifts, trying to get comfortable.
I shake my head. “You need to stay here, Taylor. I have a doctor in the other room, and he’s going to take care of you.”
She sighs heavily, and I know I’ve won. She’s too tired to argue with me. “Are you in any pain?” I ask
She swallows and shifts on her back. “No. Just tired.”
I lean over and give her a soft kiss on her lips, but she doesn’t act on it. “Get some sleep, baby.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
TAYLOR
I wake to darkness. And the first thing I notice is how my body aches and my head pounds. I’ve only ever been hungover three times since I’ve turned twenty-one, and one of those times was just days ago after Case and I went to that club. This feels kind of like that but worse.
I sit up and place my hand on my forehead. Did I drink last night? I think back to what I remember and my fight with Case comes to mind. Then snapping at Rachel. My brother showing up. Another fight with Case. Then me walking out the back door …
I shove the covers off me and try to run to the bathroom, but I gasp at the pain that shoots through my body. I quickly look over at the bed where Case sleeps and let out a shaky breath when I see I didn’t wake him. I quietly and slowly finish making my way to the bathroom. I turn on the light as I shove the door shut. I gasp when I get a look at myself in the mirror. I have a bruise under my right eye and a white bandage on my neck. I pull up an overly large shirt that I know must be Case’s and my eyes widen as I take in the bruise on my side. That’s where the guy kicked me. I drop the shirt and my hands start to shake. I remember Case showing up and lifting a gun … did he shoot that guy? The man had asked where his friend was. Case had said dead … Did he kill him too?
I reach up and softly touch the handprint mark of the man who wrapped his hand around my throat. I swallow thickly. For as bad as I look, I don’t feel that bad. I’m lucky. I’m very lucky Case saved me.
“Taylor?”
I look over to my right and hiss in a breath at the pain that shoots up my neck. I moved too fast.
“Taylor?” Case’s voice is frantic. “Where the hell did she go?” he demands.
“I’m in here,” I say, reaching up to touch the white bandage on my neck as it pulls at my skin.
He comes barging into the bathroom making the door bang against the wall. I flinch. “Jesus Christ,” he hisses, jaw tight and standing there in his boxers. “You scared the fuck out of me.” He walks over to me. “What happened?” he asks as he watches me grab my neck.
“I’m fine.” He pulls my hand away and examines it. “I just moved it too fast,” I inform him softly.
He lets out a heavy sigh as he stares down at me, his eyes softening. “Why are you out of bed? You need to rest.”
“I had to use the restroom,” I lie softly.
His dark blue eyes look into mine, and I look away. For some reason, I feel ashamed of last night. He saw me shirtless with another man. He stood there, staring at me with hatred in his eyes. He had lifted a gun …? “Case.” I lick my lips nervously. “Did you shoot that guy?” I need to know what happened because for some reason I don’t remember.
“Yes,” he says with no hesitation.
I lower my eyes to look down at my hands. “Is he dead?” I whisper.
“Yes.” No hesitation again.
