“What happened to me?” Becks asked, keeping her voice low so she didn’t wake Ghost. It was rare that she got to see her husband asleep like this, and she didn’t want to disturb him.
Her mom leaned forward on her chair. The rail on that side of Becks’ bed was down, allowing her mom to lean on the mattress to speak to her.
“You were hemorrhaging in your brain, baby. They had to drill a hole into your skull to relieve the pressure and allow it to drain. Beyond that, you have numerous scrapes and cuts. Several of them in your feet needed stitches. You broke two fingers,” she nodded down to Becks’ left hand, where two of her fingers were in metal splints. “They were worried about your spleen too, but thankfully the swelling on that went down and they did not need to remove it. They kept you sedated to help your brain heal and to keep you calm after your trauma.”
Her trauma? It seemed minimal in comparison. “And Liam?”
“Your brother’s quiet right now. Reserved. I think he’s still coming to grips with everything. They released him after he detoxed, and the club is helping to keep a close eye on him. So far he’s just concentrating on healing.” Her chin quivered as she added, “He’s a walking bruise. But your brother’s strong. He’ll get through this.”
“I’m so sorry, Ma. All this is my fault. I brought Ritchie into our lives.”
“Don’t you dare.” It was rare that she heard such a stern tone from her mother, and yet suddenly Becks was a child again about to say or do something stupid. “You want to blame someone, blame Grandma Bertha. She’s the one who hired that law firm to take charge of her Will.”
Becks stiffened. “Grandma did nothing wrong!” She couldn’t believe her mom had just said that!
Her mom leaned closer and looked Becks directly in the eye. “And neither did you,” she pressed. “Put the blame where it deserves to go, on Ritchie and Cameron, and concentrate on getting better, baby.” She lifted Becks’ hand to gently kiss the back, careful of the IV still connected there. “Now, I’m going to go see why the nurse isn’t here yet.”
Becks watched her mom get up and exit the room. It was sunny out, but the shades were closed. The other bed in the room was empty, because its occupant was apparently very clingy. Not that she minded. Having him break the hospital rules repeatedly so he could be beside her was hot, which made her wonder just how messed up in the head she was.
“She’s right, you know.”
Becks gasped at Ghost’s grumbled voice. “You’re awake!”
“Woke slightly after you did,” he admitted, not moving and not opening his eyes. “Was afraid it was a dream, and then I didn’t want to interrupt your time with your mom.”
That was both sad and sweet. “It’s not a dream. I wouldn’t hurt this much in a dream.”
Ghost sat up, careful not to jostle her. “You’re hurting. Where?”
“It’s more like a full-body ache,” she confessed. She reached her hand up to touch his face. “How’re you?”
“Fucking terrified.” He covered her hand with his own, turning his face to kiss her palm before pressing it back onto hischeek. “I authorized them to do a rape kit. They found no vaginal trauma. Were you…?”
She shook her head. Tears filled her eyes as she recalled that awful day in the cells. “They didn’t touch me, not until they failed to get the money. Liam…” Her voice cracked. “Did he tell you what they did to him?”
Ghost nodded. “His injuries were extensive, including the effects of the repeated heroin injections.”
Becks opened her mouth, only to close it again. Did Liam not remember? Or was he keeping the assault a secret out of shame? Was it her place to tell? If he truly didn’t remember, would she be making his trauma worse by revealing it?
But in the end, she couldn’t keep the secret from Ghost. She’d discover later what Liam knew or didn’t know, but she had to share with Ghost. Just as she opened her mouth, though, her mom returned with the nurse and the doctor. Apparently there had been a Code Blue further down the hall, and it had prevented them from answering her mom’s earlier summons.
Ghost was kicked out of the bed so they could examine Becks, though he didn’t go far. Liam and Libby came back into the room as the doctor was finishing up. They wanted to keep her a few more days for observation. While they were in the room, the doctor also checked over Ghost’s incision, and informed Ghost that he was ready to be discharged.
But Ghost shook his head. “I don’t go home until she does.”
The nurse put her hands on her hips. “This isn’t a hotel, Mr. Keir.”
“I don’t give a damn if I’m a patient or a visitor,” Ghost told her sternly. “But for her safety, no one else will share this room. So you can either bill me for its use or let it go empty. I don’t give a fuck.”
Libby let out a snort of laughter from the doorway. It was really good to see her, but Becks really wanted everyone out ofher room so she could talk to Ghost in private. Liam looked… haunted. There was no other word to describe the dead look in his eyes. Like he was still back in those cells.
Finally the doctor and nurse left.
Libby approached the bed. “So Ritchie turned out to be not so rich, huh?”
Becks laughed, and then winced as her head throbbed. “Ow. Don’t make me laugh right now.”
Libby touched her arm. “I’m sorry, babes. How about I kick everyone out of here so you can get some rest with your sexy as fuck husband? Because I didn’t thinkanyonecould pull off a hospital gown, butdamn,” she added, looking Ghost up and down.
