That can’t happen.
“This isn’t your fault, Ty.” If there’s one thing that I know, it’s that right now, Ty is beating himself up because he thinks that this is his fault.
“Cariño,” he starts to say, but Asher walks in with a pharmacy bag.
“Hey slugger,” Asher says with a small, warm smile before looking down into the bag. “I got some things to help your ribs, some more painkillers, too. Did Ty tell you…” He stops talking when he sees Ty and I’s face and probably feels the tension. “Everything okay?”
“No, everything’s not okay. She was attacked,” Ty snaps. “Attacked inour house.Our home. He sent someone here to hurt her. All because I went too far.”
“No, Ty,” I try to sit up, but there’s no way I can without help.
“It’s the truth, baby. But I’m going to fix it, I promise.” Ty’s always been quieter, more intrinsic and observational. But right now, he's determined and very angry. A lethal combination for someone with as much power as he has.
“What do you mean ‘you’re going to fix it’?” I snap worriedly.
“I’m going to make sure he doesn’t come to you for anything else. Ever again.”
I turn my neck to try and see him clearly, to show him how stupid that thought was, but I cry out in pain.
“Oh no, don’t move!” Asher says quickly, reaching towards me quickly as Ty does too. “Did you tell her?”
“Tell me what?” I say through a wince, settling my head against the pillows as gently as I can.
“You’ve got two broken ribs on this side,” Asher gestures to my left, “and one on that side. Broken fingers. Now that your eyes are open I can see that your one eye looks like it’s been dipped in blood. What did he do–choke you out?” Asher lists off my injuries and the more he speaks, the more I feel the pain seep into my bones. Then, he mentions the choking and I jolt.
“He did,” I whisper. “He got me pinned, and then I… I stabbed him.” I close my eyes tightly, trying to fight off the memory of Cory’s fat-fucking-fingers pressing against my windpipe so tightly I was sure I was done for. I’d rightly pissed him off and I was pretty sure he wasn’t going to play by Mickey’s rules anymore.
But there was one thing I wasn’t going to let happen. I wasn’t going to let him kill me in Ty and Asher’s house so that they had to come home to my broken, bloody body. Not after everything. I twisted my arm out from his grasp and stabbed him in the shoulder. I fell to the ground, hitting my head on the counter, and the next thing I remember is Ty calling my name.
“I’m so proud of you, Roxie,” Ty says softly, brushing my hair off my shoulder gently. His praise makes me want to cry because… I fought like hell, and he knows it.
“You did good, Roxie.” Asher stands back, nodding in approval, but then steps closer, his eyes turning apologetic. “The ribs are going to really fucking suck to wrap, okay? But what has me worried is the concussion. Do you remember him getting you in the head?”
I try to search my adrenaline-filled memories but just thinking hurts.
“I hit the counter…” I say, scrunching my eyes together to try to remember more, but it hurts.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay,” Ty says sincerely as he puts his hand on my thigh reassuringly before looking to Asher. “Right?”
“Did he hit you in the head?” Asher presses, and I can’t…
“I don’t think so. Maybe, but I can’t remember right now.” I bite my lip nervously. Ty moves closer, brushing my hair back from my face gently.
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” he murmurs softly.
“Here’s what we’ll do.” Asher sits on the side of the bed, looking at me, “You’re not to be alone again. Okay? And all through the night we’re going to be waking you up and asking you questions. If your head starts to hurt more, we can’t wake you up, or your speech starts to worsen, we’re taking you to the hospital. No arguments.”
“But–” I start to argue, but they both pin me with a ‘don’t-fucking-try-it’ look.
“Say okay, Roxie,” Ty growls.
“But–”
“No, baby. Say you understand.” There’s an interesting combination of emotions that I can see cross his face. Dark determination mixed with fear with a bit of helpless desperation. Ty wears his heart on his sleeve for me.
And I love it. I lovehim.
I don’t know what I did to deserve it, but I’m never taking it for granted.
