He looked up at me again, his eyes roving over my face. “How do you feel?”
“Like I got hit by a truck,” I admitted. “But that’s an improvement.”
I was trying to make a joke, but it obviously fell short if his tortured expression said anything about it. “He will never touch you again. Nothing will,” he vowed.
“Is he….” I trailed off.
“Not yet, but he will be.” He knew exactly what I was asking.
“Have you slept enough? Have you eaten?” I demanded, worried by how red his eyes were.
“Always trying to take care of me,” he smiled tenderly. “Your mom made sure I ate something. She went and picked up some groceries and has been cooking more food than we’ll ever be able to eat.”
It was something she’d always done when danger came for one of her own. “It comforts her.” I blinked back tears, overwhelmed by what had happened and suddenly feeling like a little girl who wanted her mom.
But more than anyone, I needed the man right in front of me.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” he rasped, rubbing a hand over his face. “I’ll never forgive myself for what happened to you.”
“Hey.” I wrapped my hand around his forearm and squeezed. “This is not your fault. You moved heaven and earth to protect me. He was never going to stop. I’m just glad it’s over. Now we can move on with our lives.”
“I’ll always want to protect you.” It was both a warning and a promise.
“And I’ll always want you to,” I assured him, knowing his emotions were running close to the surface. What had happened might very well haunt him more than it had me. “Luckily, I know something about managing overprotective men and can pass those skills down to our daughter.”
“You give me daughters, then you have to give me a boy so he can protect his sisters.”
I smiled, thinking of my own brother. Though Tatum and I hadn’t been the closest of siblings—he’d been a pain in my ass a lot of the time growing up—he’d always had my back. Always.
“Not sure I can control that part, honey,” I pointed out with a smile.
“It’ll be a hell of a lot of fun trying.” His gaze was tender with the same hope I felt nearly bursting out of my chest. I could look toward the future now without the weight of dread I’d been carrying around knowing Pike was waiting for his opportunity to kill those dreams.
“You sure you’re ready to get up?” he demanded when I began to rise.
“I’ve been either in a chair or horizontal for days. I want to move around,” I explained gently.
At my mention of the chair, his expression darkened with fury. “He will suffer, Grace.”
“I know.” I nodded simply, knowing there would be no talking him out of it; not that I wanted to. It was a world I’d lived in all my life, a world I was comfortable in. Vengeance would be served.
When we made our way out to the living room, we found my parents sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. Both stood when they saw me, matching expressions of concern on their faces.
“Hi, Gracie girl,” Pop greeted quietly.
“Hi Pop, Mom,” I replied softly as I stepped into an embrace from both of them.
“How do you feel? What can I get you?” my mom asked.
“Coffee would be great,” I replied before turning to Ruston. “Did someone feed the dogs?”
“I fed them. And Reid took care of the dogs at the club. They’re good, baby,” Ruston assured me.
“And Joanie and Lanie? Are they okay?” Now that I was becoming more alert by the minute, I wanted to know every detail.
“They’re fine. Joanie’s at home with Vic. And Cason insisted Lanie stay with him.”
My mood lightened considerably at this news. “Did he, now?”
