She opened her eyes.
Ouch. Light hammered into her head.
Then it came back to her…the breeze from Lock’s bedroom. The hand over her mouth.
Someone had tried tokidnapher. But he hadn’t succeeded. He couldn’t have. Because she was here, in the hospital, with Lock and her dad.
“With all due respect, sir, you couldn’t say anything to make me angrier than I already am at myself.”
She squinted through the light and forced her gaze to focus on Lock and her dad.
Her father stepped into Lock’s space. “I—”
“Dad.” She pulled the oxygen mask off her face as both men looked at her. “It’s not his fault.”
Lock rushed to her side and took her hand. “Callie! How do you feel?”
“My head hurts, and I feel a bit sick, but that’s all.” She squeezed his hand before turning to her father, who was now at the end of the bed. “The person who broke into his house,that’swho’s to blame.”
Her father’s hands wrapped around the bed railing. “I hate seeing you like this.”
“But I’m okay.” She turned to Lock. “I am okay, aren’t I?”
“The doctor said you’ll be fine, you might just be a bit light-headed and nauseous.”
Oh, she was definitely those things. “What happened after he grabbed me?”
A muscle in Lock’s jaw twitched. “Elle screamed, and Jace and I ran in there. The guy had already carried you out the window, so I went after you. I grabbed him, we fought, but he got away.”
He got away. So he was still out there. “Did you see him? Do you know what he looks like?”
“No. He was wearing a balaclava. But Eastern’s looking into a couple of people.”
She opened her mouth to ask who but stopped when a wave of dizziness washed over her.
Lock’s fingers tightened around her hand. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She wasn’t. She felt terrible. But guilt already played over Lock’s features, and her father was giving off the most intense worried vibes. There was no part of her that wanted to make them feel worse.
Lock’s phone rang and he pulled it out, frowning at the screen. “Is it okay if I—”
“Answer it.” She gave him a small smile, and he stepped back from the bed. She turned back to her father. “It’s late. You should be at home, in bed.” She had no idea what the time was,but by the darkness outside, it was either really late or really early.
“I’m exactly where I should be.” He moved around the bed and touched her hand. “I’m glad you’re safe, baby. You scared the hell out of me.”
“I’m safe with Lock.” She tilted her head and lowered her voice. “Please don’t blame him.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Fear makes me need someone to blame, and he was all I had.”
She squeezed his hand. “Lock’s on our side. And if there’s anyone we want on our side, it’s him and his brothers.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Oh, Dad.” She forced herself up into a sitting position, closing her eyes against the pain in her head, ignoring her father urging her to remain lying down. Then she looked her dad in the eye. “I’m not going anywhere. Okay?”
He blinked back visible tears. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“I’d expect nothing less.” She looked down to see the slight shake in his hands. “You need to go home and get some sleep.”
