Safe with Me (With Me in Seattle, #5)(71)

“Shut up,” I mutter and close my eyes, turning my head away from him, embarrassed and hurt and not ready or willing to trust him. “Go away.”

“Please,” he whispers.

“Go away!” I yell and wince as I wrench my shoulder with the movement and reduce myself to tears. “Just go.”

“I don’t want to leave you.”

“Get the hell out of here!”

“Mr. Montgomery, you need to leave,” the nurse insists as she comes in my room. “She’s in too much pain to be this upset.”

“Let me just sit with you,” he pleads, his voice rough with pain, but all I can do is cry and shake my head.

“Go,” I whisper around my tears.

“Please, Mr. Montgomery. Your family is still in the waiting room.”

“I want my mom,” I cry.

“I’ll send her in, sweetheart.” He stands and kisses my forehead. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

“Go,” I whisper again.

He leaves the room. I lay and cry in silence, trying not to jar my body too much, but unable to stop the flow of tears. Finally after several long minutes, my mom pushes through the door and hurries to my side.

“I’m so sorry, sweet girl.” She kisses my cheek and gently strokes my hand in hers. “He loves you, honey.”

“I don’t want him,” I whisper.

“Your tears say something different.”

“He left me, Mom.”

“I know. He’s just a stupid man, Brynna.”

I gingerly turn my head and look at my mom through swollen eyes.

“I can’t have him hurt my girls again, Mom,” I whisper.

“I know. Don’t worry about it now. Rest and get strong so you can go home and take care of your girls.”

“Are they really okay?” I ask her.

“They are fine. Nothing that time won’t heal.” She offers me a reassuring smile. “Your father just took them home to bed.”

“Good,” I sigh. “I’m thirsty.”

“I’ll get you some fresh water,” the nurse replies and hurries out of the room.

“Did they find him?” I ask my mom.

“Yes. He’s been arrested and from what Matt said, he’s ratting out the others in Chicago.” She squeezes my hand I am reduced to tears once again. “You’re safe, darling girl.”

The nightmare is over.

***

“I don’t see any reason that you can’t go home this morning,” the doctor remarks the next morning as he looks in my eyes with a bright light. “You’ll just need to take it easy with that shoulder for about a week. It’s going to hurt. Take your pain meds.”

“I have small children,” I remind him. “I can’t be loopy.”

“You’ll need help with them,” he tells me sternly. “And I can give you meds that won’t make you too loopy. If you take them when you’re supposed to, you should stay ahead of the pain. But if you faint, get dizzy, or have any concerns at all, come back to the hospital right away.”

“Okay,” I agree. “Can you send my mom in?” I ask the nurse.

“Oh, she left last night.”

I frown at her and then look about the room for my phone. “I guess I’ll call her.”

“You sure are a lucky woman,” she remarks as she helps me get dressed.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“That handsome guy you threw out of here? He sent the family home and camped out right by your door all night.” She grins at me and I just stare at her.

“He did what?”

“He insisted he wouldn’t leave you, so I took pity on him around midnight and got him a chair. He stayed put all night.”

“I suppose he’s still there?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“I’m right here,” Caleb responds softly behind me. The nurse has just finished helping me dress, and I close my eyes, not quite ready to face him yet.

“Will you please call my mom and ask her to come get me and take me home?” I ask him quietly.

“No,” he responds. “I’m taking you home.”

“Caleb…”

“I have some things to say, Brynna. I’m not trying to upset you. You need a ride, and I need to talk, so there you have it.”

I turn to face him and have to pull in a sharp breath when I see him. His dark blonde hair is a messy riot from his fingers combing through it over and over. He’s in a black t-shirt and faded blue jeans.

His eyes are shadowed and his chin is stubbled.

He looks like shit.

He looks amazing.

I shrug like I don’t care either way and glance around the room. “Suit yourself.”

“What are you looking for, dear?” The nurse asks.

“My purse and… things.”

“Oh, you don’t have anything with you, honey.”

“Oh.” I frown and look down at my empty hands. It feels weird.

“Can I take her home now?” Caleb asks her.

“Yes, you’re good to go,” she responds with a smile. “Remember; take your meds when you’re supposed to, and take it easy.”