Moretti opens the door for me. “The nearest hospital is fifteen minutes from here. I have a connection there. I’ll let them know we’re coming and to have a room ready, no questions asked. I’ll drive.”
I follow him out to his car, draping Maisie carefully in my lap. I’ll come back for my truck later. “I owe you one. I mean it. You ask, and it’s done,” I tell him, stroking Maisie’s hair as he speeds off.
“I just might take you up on that,” he replies, a dark look on his face in the mirror.
Maisie whimpers again, her eyes scrunching tight, like she’s lost in a bad dream. “Help is coming, Mais.” I plant a kiss on herforehead and whisper the three words I’ve been dying to tell her but been too much of a coward to say. I’m a selfish man. Just this once, I have to say it before I have to set my butterfly free.
“I love you,” I promise against her skin, cradling her tight, like I can protect her from the unjust world I laid at her feet.
maisie
. . .
FORTY
Every inchof my body aches. I groan, curling up against a hard wall. The wall shifts, and pain shoots through my body.
“You’re alright.”
Hearing his familiar voice wakes something inside me, or whatever weird spaced out state I’m in. I moan, trying to speak, but my tongue feels like sandpaper stuck to the roof of my mouth.
“I’ve got you, honey.”
Something sweeps tenderly down my cheek, wiping away wetness. I instinctively press closer. I feel it again—a sweep of a knuckle, maybe.
“Can you open your pretty eyes for me?”
I want to obey, but it feels like I’m swaying on a ship. Everything feels extra hard to complete. I try for him, though.
“That’s it. Let me see those fiery honey eyes,” he encourages.
Light streams in and blinds me. I shield my eyes into his chest, groaning from the movement. “G-gray…son.” My voice is rough.
A warm kiss is placed on my forehead. “I’m right here. Fuck, it’s so good to hear your voice. Hold on just a little longer.”
“It hurts,” Iwhimper.
He tenses beneath me, his fist tightening on my lap. His voice remains soft when he responds. He brings his other hand around my wrist, holding onto my pulse point. “I’m so sorry, Maisie. Help is almost here. I promise.”
“So tired,” I mumble, snuggling back into his chest.
“Stay awake for me. Can you do that for a little longer? Keep those big, beautiful eyes on me.” There’s panic underlying his tone. I’ve never heard him sound so defeated. “Step on it,” he yells to someone.
The car jerks around a curve, and pain explodes from my side. I let out a little moan. Gentle hands begin to slowly feel around my body, pressing and moving around my clothing.
“What hurts the most?”
“My r-ribs,” I mumble. My shirt is lifted, a curse following.
“Stay as still as you can. Your ribs are badly bruised. One might be broken. Does it hurt to breathe?” I nod shakily. He curses again, gripping his hair tight, tugging at it.
“I’m okay,” I say, trying to ease his worries.
“None of this is okay. This is all my fucking fault. You…you could have… Fuck, I could have lost you, Maisie. I can’t even put into words how sorry I am for involving you in this. They hurt you because ofme.”
They. An assault of memories hit me.
I rouse when my head slams into the side of the van. My tied and gagged body rolls with the turn. I’m out of it from the drugs. It must have been a low dose if I’m awake already. That can only mean one thing.
