“Yeah. He made it through surgery and will be fine to give a statement, tell us everything, and then go to prison.” Aiden’s jaw hardened.
I lifted my arm, and it fell flat back onto the bed. “I had Jareth in my sights and didn’t pull the trigger.” Might as well confess all.
“Okay.” Aiden’s neck was mottled with a purple bruise.
“He got the gun back, we struggled, and he actually fired,” I murmured.
Aiden didn’t twitch, but his eyes darkened to a just-after-midnight color. “He could’ve killed you.”
“He killed himself instead,” I said softly.
Detective Pierce rounded the corner, his hair ruffled and his clothing wrinkled. “Doc said you were awake.”
“Yep,” I said, glad I wasn’t feeling much at the moment. “Here’s what happened.” I gave him the entire night from my perspective, not leaving anything out. By the end, he was staring at me, and Aiden was too still. I sighed. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t, or ratherdidn’twant to kill him in cold blood.” There was a reason people said if you aimed a gun, you should be prepared to fire that gun. But I hadn’t done it. This time, anyway.
Pierce snapped his notebook closed. “That’s all I need for now. The press is in the waiting area, and I gave orders for hospital security to keep them, or rather her, out of your way.”
I smiled my thanks. “Do you have plans for the holidays?”
“I’m headed out tomorrow to see my sister and her family,” Pierce said. “You take it easy until I get back.” He shook Aiden’s hand and then disappeared from view.
I smiled at Aiden. “Let’s have that talk now that we’ve been avoiding.” The morphine made me brave, and if it dulled the pain, then why not?
Violet ran into the room, panic on her face. “Are you okay? Tell me you’re okay.” She clutched the other side of the bed from Aiden, her eyes wide.
“I’m fine,” I said.
Aunt Yara followed at a more leisurely pace. “Doc Springfield said you’re going to be all right.” She looked slightly calmer than Violet but her gaze still raked me head to toe.
I nodded. “What are you two doing?”
“We were driving in from Silverville to get breakfast and then do some Christmas shopping.” Violet patted my good shoulder awkwardly. “The family text came through the line that you’d been shot, so we came right here instead.”
“Family text?” Aiden asked, eyeing the door.
Yara patted his arm. “Too late. We saw cars arriving. You’re stuck.”
He leaned back and shut his eyes. His sigh was long-suffering. But he didn’t let go of my hand. I took comfort in that, although I was holding his pretty tightly.
I grinned. “So, Violet. You settling in okay?”
She all but hopped in place. “Yes! In fact, I drew your name in the family lottery.” She leaned in and smoothed my hair off my face. “To be honest, there was some shuffling around since I just joined the family, and I requested you during the trading process. I hope that’s okay.” Her brow wrinkled.
“That’s great,” I said, meaning it. “Seeing you happy and safe is the best gift ever.”
Donna barreled through the doorway with Tessa on her heels.
I waved to my sisters. “Hey. I’m on morphine.”
“Can I have some?” Aiden asked.
I chuckled. He might be a badass of a hottie, but he was funny, too.
Chapter 40
The manufactured Christmas tree had burned edges on every bough, and several of my ornaments were singed, but it still looked cheerful with the new sparkling lights in the corner of Aiden’s cabin. He’d salvaged it for me, as much as possible, when he’d brought me to his home after I was discharged from the hospital.
It had been almost a week, and we’d moved in my furniture that had survived the explosion. The fire had taken out most of the living room and kitchen, but my piano and bedroom had been spared, as had my jewelry and the photographs in my bedroom. It looked like the owners of the estate weren’t going to rebuild any time soon, and I kind of figured they wanted me out of there.
