If I’d known the clout my woman’s family had with the hospital, I’d have pushed to stay or at least moved him into her room that night.
2017
My name is Bee.
Bella is who I was, but Bee is who I became.
And I like her.
CHAPTER 23
BEE
My entire body aches. My face feels twice its normal size from Lloyd and Samson’s punches. My ribs throb from the hits I took while tied up. I’m surprised they’re not broken. And to top it all off, a little gremlin is pounding an anvil in my head.
I wonder if I look as bad as I feel. Considering everything, I got off lightly. All I want to do is sleep, but there are too many people in my hospital room. People who care about me, but not the one person I want—no,need. The one man I know will protect me no matter what and never judge me. He’s flitted in and out of my room since I woke the first time.
We’ve been up each other’s arses for nearly a year, and now that he isn’t with me, I feel like I’ve lost a limb.
God, I’m dramatic when I’m in pain.
My mum and dad are talking quietly in the deep armchair next to my bed. Our reunion last night when I first woke up was tearful, but the memory is hazy; whatever drugs they gave me kept pulling me under. What I do remember is hating how much they’ve aged since I last saw them. I know I’m partly to blame for that.
Reaper and my brothers hover outside the door, and I know Copper is with them because I can hear the deep rumble of his voice. I want to know what happened to Lloyd and if the Cursed Skulls are still tracking him. I also need to know where Noah is. After everything he’s been through, I need to be sure he’s okay. I made him a promise.
I turn towards my dad. “Where’s Noah?”
“They took him to the children’s ward.”
“Is he okay? Has anyone checked on him? He doesn’t have anyone.”
“Your man checked on him a few hours ago, and he was sleeping. The nurse says they’ll let us know when he wakes up,” Mum tells me.
I’m slightly mollified but also a little annoyed that he’s been left alone all this time when there was no need. He should’ve been brought in here with me. I’m in the private wing of the hospital, and Noah could be with me if my family had asked.
Deciding I need to see him, I press the button to raise the head of the bed, then fight back a gasp of pain. Even with the painkillers, I can feel every bruise on my body, and my face throbs with every beat of my heart.
“What are you doing?” Dad demands.
The voices outside my room go quiet.
“Checking on that baby and letting him know he’s not alone,” I say through gritted teeth as I swing my legs over the side of the bed.
“Spice, where are you going?” Copper asks, entering the room and crouching in front of me.
Tears prick my eyes at the concern on his face, and I lift a hand to cup his cheek. “I need to check on Noah. He’s all alone, and he’s only a baby. He was so brave. He needs to know I haven’t forgotten him.”
“I checked on him earlier, and he was okay. I’ll look in on him again now for you. You can’t go anywhere at the moment. You’re tethered to the bed,” Copper says, nodding at the bag hanging on the side of the bed.
I grimace, then wince as it pulls the stitches in my face. I realise I’ve been catheterised, and judging by the contents of the bag, my kidneys are not happy about being punched repeatedly.
“Well, fuck,” I mutter unhappily.
“It’s not good, Spice. You need to get back in that bed, rest, and let the painkillers and antibiotics do their thing.” Copper tells me.
“Okay,” I agree, because he’s right. I can’t go anywhere with a catheter, and honestly, I’m not sure I’d make it ten feet without collapsing.
Copper stands, sliding his arms under my legs and around my back. He eases me back up the bed, covering me before leaning on his fists. He presses his forehead to mine as we’ve done a million times before. “I’ve never been so frightened in my entire life, Bee. I don’t think I can go through that again. Thought I’d lost you.”
