Long Road Home(3)

Chapter Three

Grand Junction, Colorado

Jules became aware of horrific pain, and her first thought was that she couldn’t possibly be dead and feel so much hurt. She pried her eyes open and winced when white, hot light poured into her vision. Her eyes slammed shut once more.

She lay still, trying to take stock of her situation. The smell told her she was in a hospital. That nauseating, sterile odor could only come from a medical setting. Her head pounded, and her chest was on fire.

Her nose felt dry and raw. Then she realized it was because oxygen blew a steady stream into her nostrils. She attempted to open her eyes again, squinting against the inevitable onslaught of light.

A blurred figure stood at the foot of her bed. She blinked a few times, wincing at the pain that shot through her head with the slight movement.

As the figure came into focus, her heart constricted, robbing her of precious breath. Manny. Even with his back to her, she recognized him instantly. She swallowed hard, trying desperately to rid herself of the knot in her throat.

He was big. Much bigger than she remembered. His well-muscled arms strained at the sleeves of the polo shirt he wore. Dark slacks molded solid thighs. He towered over the bed, filling the room with his indomitable presence. And suddenly she was afraid.

She closed her eyes again, not wanting to alert him to the fact she was awake. He would hate her for what she’d done.

Mom and Pop. God. She choked as the knot grew larger in her throat. She took several deep gulps of air in through her nose, praying the oxygen did its job.

Full-scale panic threatened to overcome her. She’d killed her parents. People Manny loved dearly. She’d sworn that she’d never allow them to come to harm. It was why she had stayed away for three long years. And now her worst fears had been realized. All because she’d called Northstar’s bluff. And lost.

If Manny found out, he would despise her. The Trehans were everything to him. How could she live with herself after what she’d done? How could she have hurt everyone she ever loved?

Pain flashed through her head, and nausea rolled in her stomach. The explosion registered in her mind over and over. She opened her eyes in an attempt to make it all go away.

A ragged moan tore from her lips before she could call it back.

Manny jerked around, concern etched in every facet of his face. “Jules!” He rushed to her side, his hand reaching out to touch her cheek. “Are you in pain?”

She squeezed her eyes shut, weakened by the joy that flooded through her at the sound of his voice.

His rough thumb smoothed gently over her cheek. “Should I call the nurse?”

Her eyes fluttered open again. “No,” she croaked. She swallowed and tried to speak. For a long moment, she stared into his familiar green eyes. Love and concern, two things she was unworthy of, reflected in their depths.

He left her side and poured water from the pitcher by the sink into a plastic cup. Returning, he held the cup to her lips. She sipped gratefully at the cool liquid, a soothing balm to her raw throat.

When she was finished, he set the cup aside and pulled a chair up to the bed. He settled down and curled his warm hand around her limp one. Heat spread comfortingly up her arm.

He picked up her hand and kissed it. “Thank God you’re alive.”

She choked as a sob mounted. She breathed frantically, willing her iron control not to desert her. It was too much. Her lips slipped open, and a raw sound of agony burst from her chest.

Her breaths came jerkily and tears burned a fiery trail down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”

“What are you sorry for, baby?” His worried gaze swept over her.

She took in a huge breath. “Mom, Pop.”

Pain contorted his brow. He glanced briefly away as if to compose himself. When he looked back at her, only his eyes held a shadow of sadness. “Try not to think about that now,” he murmured. “You need to rest and get better so I can take you home.”

Home. The word sent shards of pain racing through her. She no longer had a home. No longer had a family. Manny was all she had left, and he would die just like the Trehans.

His hand cupped her cheek, soothing the hurt away with gentle fingers. What she wouldn’t give to let him solve all her problems, just like she had done so many times in her youth. He had always been there when she had fallen, her protector. Only now, she had to be the one to protect him.

She inhaled deeply, allowing his spicy scent to curl over her. It provided her comfort, if only for a few moments. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to her forehead as his hand stroked her hair. “Do you hurt? Do I need to call the nurse?”

She hurt all over, but even the strongest narcotic wasn’t going to take away her pain. And she couldn’t allow her mind to be dulled. She was a sitting duck in this hospital, both she and Manny targets.

Slowly, she shook her head. “I’m okay.”

Manuel watched the battle play out over her face, his gut clenching at her obvious pain. Her injuries weren’t life-threatening, thank God, but her ribs had taken a hell of a beating.

He had to work to keep his hands off her. He needed to touch her, hold her. Convince himself that she was lying here in front of him, very much alive. In his darkest hours, he’d allowed himself a brief moment to believe that she really might be dead. Might never come back. Yet here she was. Changed. Very different from the starry-eyed girl who had left for France three years ago. But still, it was her. What horrors had she endured?