I turned to her with a small smile. “Ipromise I am. I was just reckless and he worries about me,” I assured her. “Ihave no doubt I’d be safe to confide in you, but there’s no need.” I smiled andgave her hand a small squeeze. She studied me for a moment before noddingbriefly. I couldn’t tell if she believed me or not. If Iwasher I probably wouldn’t given the circumstances.
After that, Cole never left my side.He kept a forced lid on his anger when the doctor discussed how to care for theterrible road rash that I sustained on my left side, but he didn’t lose it. Iknew he wanted to, but he didn’t. Even after everything Jake had done to me, Istill couldn’t believe that the boy I’d lost my virginity to was capable ofsuch violence against me. He had no compassion, no remorse, and no soul. It wastrue that I was never in love with him, but I certainly felt something for him– we’d known each other our entire lives. And now I was just a vessel ofvengeance in his sick mind. He wanted to hurt me badly, but even worse, hewanted to hurt the people I cared about. I was grateful when they got me into ahospital bed, administering pain medication that quickly knocked me out. Ineeded a mental and physical break from it all.
Chapter Nine
I was awoken from an incessant beeping,and for a brief moment I thought it was my alarm clock. Then it all came rushingback that I was in the hospital.
“Cole,” I murmured, my voice soundinghoarse.
“Right here, baby,” his soft voicesounded in my ear.
“Do you realize this is only like ourthird date?” I mumbled.
“Wouldn’t classify this as a datedarlin’,” his deep voice replied, and I felt his handstroke my hair back from my forehead.
“Bet you miss the days of, what’s hername again?” I searched my muddled mind for her name. “Daisy, that’s it.Daisy,” I continued to mumble. “So much easier with a girl like her,” I said asI began to drift off.
“Didn’t cross my mind for a second,sweetheart. Nowhere else I’d rather be,” he assured me.
I made a scoffing sound and driftedback to sleep.
When I woke up a second time, I wasmore lucid. It was very dark in the room and I assumed it was the middle of thenight. I took a moment to take in my surroundings. Cole wasasleep,his large form slumped over in the chair by the window. My heart immediatelylurched that this man who’d known me for such a short period of time was so clearlydevoted to me. I had so few people to depend on, so few people that I couldtrust in the last eight years. Before my father died, he was always at my back,ready to protect me. And before things went south, I had the club. I’d knownthose men and their families since I was a little girl. After losing everythingI had to keep myself closely guarded, the only person I truly let in was Kat.But now this man was knocking away at all my armor after just a few weeks. Iwas already hopelessly in love with him, something I’d never experienced in mylife. I couldn’t stand the thought of him getting hurt, of him losing anyoneclose to him because of me. He already suffered because of my history. I felttears prick the back of my eyes as I realized that the very best thing I coulddo for him was let him go.
When I woke up again, sunlight wasstreaming in through the windows. The chair that Cole had occupied the nightbefore was empty. I sat up assessing my pain level. My joints were sore,especially my wrists-- I had been lucky to avoid a break. My left side wasincredibly tender, but I could manage with the help of some pain medication.
A new morning shift nurse came in totake my blood pressure. “Do you know where my boyfriend went?” I asked her, theterm sounding silly when spoken aloud. Cole was far more than a boy and theterm seemed so…casual.
“He wanted me to tell you that he wentto meet with his father for a short while. He was reluctant to leave you,” shesaid as she smiled. “Quite a looker that one,” she added.
“I know,” I sighed, my throat feelingtight with what I planned to do.
She finished taking my vitals and leftme to the quiet of my hospital room. I realized that if I didn’t go now, I’dnever have the gumption to do it at all. The thought of not being with Colefelt like being thrown from the SUV all over again – except this timethere would be scars.
I swung myself out of the bed andquickly dressed in the clean clothes someone had brought me. Whoever it hadbeen, they thoughtfully brought me a dress so there would be minimal rubbingagainst my sore and bandaged side. I didn’t know how much time I had before hegot back, and I knew if I had one look at him I’d lose my nerve. I didn’t knowwhere I was going or what I’d do but the fierce desire to protect him and toprotect Kat was all I could think about. I knew I was making myself vulnerableby heading out on my own, but I’d done it successfully before and I could do itagain.
I asked a nurse for Kat’s room number,and after peering inside to make sure the coast was clear, I quietly opened herdoor. She was propped up watching TV, looking small and pale in her bed. Myeyes welled up at the sight.
“Hi,” I said softly when she lookedover at me in surprise.
“Hi, are they discharging youalready?” she asked with raised brows seeing me fully clothed. She muted thetelevision and turned her knowing blue eyes to me.
I simply looked at her with tears inmy eyes and shook my head.
“Scarlet, what the hell?” she demanded,immediately understanding my expression. “We’ve been over this. Don’t you daredo something stupid!”
“I’m sorry, Kat. I love you so much,you’ve been my family. You’ve been everything to me, and I can’t stand what mypast has done to you, or could do to you,” I tried to explain, my voice hoarse.
She huffed with impatience, “Scar, youneed to forget all of that. None of it is your fault. The only thing you coulddo to hurt me is to leave,” she said fiercely.
“I don’t know what else to do,” I saidquietly. “And now Cole’s involved. And…I love him, Kat,” I choked out. “Ifsomething happens to him because of me I couldn’t live with that. I know youcan’t understand right now, but this is the only way I can see Jake backingoff,” I pleaded.
“Scarlet Malone, that is bullshit!He’s going to come at them regardless. This is about more than just you –you have to understand that. You leave, and it will make everything worse!” sheargued.
Well at least I put some color back inher cheeks.
“Don’t you dare walk out that door,Scar,” she warned as I shot her a small smile and backed my way toward thedoor.
“Love you, Kat,” I told her.
