Then, even though Sammy’s eyes were full of tears, she grinned at him. “I guess you’re not so dumb then.”
“Guess not,” he agreed, moving over to where Sammy stood, and Lia sat on the bed.
She was still pale, but they’d cleaned her up some. There was already bruising on her neck it killed him to look at. Toremember the way her eyes had been wide with fear while he’d held a gun on the guy holding her, all too close for any kind of comfort.
But she loved him. And wasn’t that a hell of a thing after all this?
So he looked at Sammy. “Are you supposed to be in here?” he asked disapprovingly. “Because I knowI’mnot.” He’d snuck in, with a little help from Deputy Morris.
“Have you seen Mom?” Sammy asked without answering his question.
Gard shook his head. “They were running some tests. We should be able to see her soon though. Sarabeth and Izzy are in the waiting room. You don’t have to see them if you’re not ready, but I know they’re both really worried about you.”
“I want to see them. I… I didn’t mean to scare them. I wish…”
Gard reached out to squeeze her shoulder and she took in a careful inhale, like she was pulling herself together.
“But it’s okay. It’s all okay. I’ll go talk to them, but you’ll stay with Lia, right?”
Gard ran a hand over Sammy’s mussed hair. “I’ll stay. Straight to the waiting room, and nowhere else, got it?”
Sammy nodded. She gave Lia one last gentle hug then gave Gard a harder more impulsive one before she left the room.
Gard let out a slow breath. Everything inside of him felt far too tight. But everything was…okay. They still didn’t know the extent of Dani’s injuries, but she was going to make it. One way or another. And since he couldn’t see her yet, he focused on the woman sitting on the bed in front of him.
Who loved him. Who’d saved Sammy, at express injury to herself. He wasn’t sure he’d ever fully be over that.
He eased himself into a sitting position next to Lia on her bed. Then with every last ounce of gentleness he had in him, verycarefully drew her to him. He pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth, his hand behind her head even more gentle.
She sighed, relaxing into him. For a few, quiet moments, they just sat there like that. Absorbing the relief that it was over, and they were all okay.
“What would we have done without you, Lia?” he asked hoarsely, because… He couldn’t imagine it. Everything that had gone right tonight had been because of her—her past, what she’d seen, done. There was no way he would have found Dani in time without her or gotten Sammy out with so few scars.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” she replied. Her voice didn’t sound right.
He pulled back a little, studying her face and worrying. “What’s the prognosis?” he asked, trying not to stare at the bruises on her neck.
“Just waiting to get the stitches in my side. No big deal. Bruised windpipe will heal on its own. I’m okay.” She met his gaze and said the rest with that quiet determination she’d had all night. “I’d have suffered through a million times worse to make sure she was okay.”
“I know,” Gard said, everything inside of him tied painfully tight. He’d have done the same. For the both of them. But it just wrecked him she’d been the one to pay the price when she’d already been through so much.
“And I wasn’t saying that just for Sammy’s sake,” he said, gently running a hand over her hair. “I do love you. I was going to tell you earlier but everything…went to hell.”
She chuckled, then winced a little. “Yeah, I was going to tell you earlier too. And about…my past. I really was.”
It meant something, he supposed. That she’d decided to tell him even before it had become necessary to save Sammy. That she’d been ready to share that, even if they hadn’t been given the chance to have that organic conversation.
Maybe it was even better that way, because now that they’d been through all this he didn’t know how to be anything but grateful she’d had the knowledge to keep Sammy safe.
And he remembered the guilt in her voice, when she’d talked about helping the FBI take down a group, considered it survival over anything noble. But Gard knew ithadbeen noble, and he’d do everything in his power to prove that to her.
A knock sounded on the door, and then a doctor peeked her head in. “Ready to get stitched up?”
Lia nodded. “Yes.” She looked at Gard. “You should go check on Sammy.”
But he turned to the doctor. “Can I stay?”
She considered, then nodded. “Sure. If Ms. Blair wants you to.”
