Thunder.
Banshee.
Diesel.
Mama Cross.
His hand stays on Nash's back the whole time.
At the part about Marlena making it through surgery, his hand tightens on Nash's back once and then loosens.
At Thunder and the limp, he closes his eyes for a moment.
When I get to Mama Cross and the call Phantom made, his eyes come open and find mine, and they don't leave my face for the rest of it.
"That's mercy from Phantom," he says when I'm done, his voice gone rough. "She's a good woman. Garrett's people deserved to hear it from somebody who could carry it."
I turn my face toward him on the pillow. "I'm sure she wants to see Nash when everything settles down."
His eyes close for a moment. "We'll take him to see his granny, no problem."
I squeeze his hand. "I know we will."
He bends down, kisses Nash's hair, and stays there for a few moments.
When he comes back up, his eyes are wet at the lashes. He doesn't wipe them.
His thumb moves on my hand again. "It's done, baby."
"I know."
"Hartley's not comin' back. Nobody from his crew is comin' back. Bullseye and Longhorn handled the cleanup. The firm doesn't know what happened in Brady today and they won't find out."
My free hand finds the side of his face. "I know."
He turns into my palm and kisses the inside of my wrist. "It's done."
I nod into the pillow. "It's done."
I reach up.
My fingers find the stitches at my temple and then his face.
His jaw is rough.
He hasn't shaved since yesterday.
My thumb moves across the line of his beard. "Silas?"
He turns into my palm. "Yeah, baby?"
I keep my eyes on him. "I want to get married soon."
He goes very still under my hand. His eyes search mine. "Yeah?"
I nod against the pillow. "As soon as Marlena's home from this hospital and Thunder can stand at the front. I want this family to see us get married. I want Nash to see us get married. I don't want to wait."
His hand tightens on mine. "Then we won't wait."
