“I’m worried about her too. She begged me not to call her mom yet. She doesn’t want her family to see her like this. I didn’t want to agree, but I had to because she was stressing herself out and causing herself more pain. But it doesn’t sit right with me. Frankie is my best friend, and she’ll be beside herself with worry when she finds out.”
“Gia won’t go long without telling her family, and Frankie will be reassured to know you’ve been taking care of her.”
“I’m going to stay over for a couple of nights if that’s okay?”
“Of course. I’m hoping Gia will want to stay here where I can properly protect her, but she might want to go home.”
“I’ll go wherever she goes. No one else is taking care of my future daughter-in-law.”
I don’t contest it or confirm it, but Mom smiles all the same. “How much of it does she remember?” I ask, taking Mom’s hands in mine.
“She was still quite disorientated, so it’s hard to tell yet. I hope for her sake she doesn’t remember much.”
I nod in agreement.
“We’ve taken a blood sample to test for drugs, but my guess is she was given GHB.”
I squeeze my eyes closed and count to ten as pain lashes me from all angles again.
“You love her.”
My eyes open. “I haven’t told her.” I wanted to when she said those three little words, but I couldn’t. “It’s my biggest regret.”
“You will have time to tell her.” Mom squeezes my hand. “She’s going to need all our love and support to overcome this.”
“Whatever she needs, she’s got it.” I wet my dry lips as my stomach rumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten since lunch and it’s now after three a.m. “How bad are her injuries?”
“She had mild hypothermia when we found her, but her body temperature has returned to normal now, thank God. She has two broken ribs, a concussion, lacerations, cuts, and grazes to her entire body. And…” Tears flood her eyes again. “There’s some internal tearing.”
I want to pound that motherfucker until he stops breathing, then bring him back to life, and do it all over again.
“I failed her,” I croak. “I promised to keep her safe, and I failed to protect her.”
“No, absolutely not.” Mom vigorously shakes her head. “You are not doing that. This isnotyour fault, Joshua. The only person responsible is that soon-to-be-dead Irish prick. It’s not Gia’s fault, and it’s not yours.” She squeezes my cheeks, forcing my gaze to hers. “She’s alive because of the protections you put in place that enabled you to find her in time, and it could have been a lot worse. Gia is alive, Joshua, and she will heal and get over this. That’s what you need to concentrate on. Not beating yourself up for failures that are not yours.”
“It’s easier said than done.”
“It’s as easy as you let it be. Push those thoughts from your mind, and focus on loving Gia and helping her recover.”
“I saw what he did to her arm.” I grind my teeth to the molars, like I did when I lifted her off that ledge and saw his name carved into her left arm. It was a bloody mess, and it’s going to scar.
“He will rot in hell for that.” She cups one cheek. “She can opt for a skin graft and plastic surgery to have it removed.”
“Is she in a lot of pain?”
“She was, but we’ve given her morphine, and to answer your earlier question, we can care for her here better than at a hospital. It’s safer too.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I bundle her into my arms and press a kiss to the top of her head. “Thanks for being here.”
“You know I already consider Gia a daughter. I wouldn’t have let anyone else take care of her.”
“How is Rowan doing? And did his bodyguard make it?”
“He is shaken but unharmed, and his bodyguard made it through surgery. He’ll pull through.”
“Good, I’m glad.” My stomach rumbles loudly.
“Come.” Mom loops her arm through mine. “I’ll make you a grilled cheese and hot chocolate like old times.”
