Page 105 of Protected from Torment

“I dropped my phone when Oscar was dragging me. Or I would have called for help.”

“Of course.” Tyler pats his pocket. “I’ve got it. That’s how I found you.”

As he starts working his way down the hill, the sun comes back out. A ray filters through the canopy of trees and glints off the sleek metal of his prosthetic. It reminds me of how easily he could fall, too, and I quickly call out, “Wait. It’s too steep. Maybe just get a rope⁠—”

But he pays me no mind. “I’m fine,” he insists. “I’ll be there in a second.”

Then, in a descent a mountain goat would envy, Tyler practically bounds down the hill, using the trees as handholds to slingshot himself along. As soon as he hits level ground, he races over to me and crouches by my side.

He winces as his gaze roves across my face and body. “Ah, baby.”

“I’m okay,” I insist.

Tyler shoots me an incredulous look. He touches my forehead, then pulls away fingers wet with blood. “You’re bleeding.” If possible, he looks even more worried. “Did you lose consciousness? Are you dizzy? Nauseous? Seeing double?”

“No, I just felt dizzy for a second. But it’s gone now.” I also have a throbbing headache. But I’m not mentioning that.

He carefully takes my hands in his and inspects them. “Oh, Mel. Your hands.”

“The trees.” I angle my head in the direction of the hill. “I tried to grab onto them to slow myself down. But it didn’t work.”

Pain twists Tyler’s features. He cups my cheek with his hand, and I instinctively lean into it. “I’m sorry. So damn sorry.”

I blink at him, surprised by his apology. “For what?”

“I shouldn’t—” He stops. “I need to call the guys. Tell them I found you. I’ll have Indy meet us here, then we’ll get you to the doctor…” His focus turns to my obviously swollen ankle, which is dark red and twice its usual size. “Oh, Mel. Shit. Your ankle.”

Before I can respond, he yanks his phone from his pocket and jabs at the screen. A second later, he barks, “I found her. At the bottom of a hill in the northeast quadrant. I’ll send you my pin. Tell Indy we need the medi-kit. Injured ankle, she’s all cut up—” His voice breaks. “Just hurry.”

As soon as he ends the call, Tyler turns his attention back to me. “I don’t want to move you in case you have injuries I can’t see. But once Indy gets here, he can check you out. See if I can carry you, or if we need to get a stretcher out here.”

He strokes my cheek. His expression is anguished. “I’m so sorry, Mel. I never should have let you go off like that. I should have gone with you. I was all in my head, and I acted like such an idiot.”

“An idiot?” I parrot.

“Yes.” He grimaces. “Everything I said. About South Carolina. And New York. And finding a damn job on the East Coast. I didn’t mean any of it.”

In spite of the pain I’m in, and the fear for the baby, a faint spark of hope ignites. “You didn’t?”

“I didn’t,” Tyler affirms. His gaze burns into mine. “I know it’s the worst possible time to tell you. But… Shit, Mel. I didn’t know where you were. Eden called Rafe because she was worried about you. And Rafe told me you were upset. I rushed home to check on you, but you weren’t there. I just knew something was wrong. I knew it.”

My heart leaps to my throat. “Eden called?”

“She said you were crying. I know it was my fault. I should have told you the truth.”

“The truth?” I ask faintly. “About?”

“That I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay here. At my cabin. Our cabin. We can put up a fence for Oscar, and turn the guest room into an office for you, and build an addition for when our parents visit, and…” He stops. Swallows hard. “I love you, Mel. I should have told you before. I guess… I was scared. But losing you is even scarier.”

“Tyler.” Tears fill my eyes. “I love you, too.”

“Mel.” He gently kisses me. “Oh, baby. I love you.” A beat, and then, “You don’t have to decide about staying now. I know it’s not a good time. But whenever you want to talk about it, we can.”

I so badly want to say yes.

But there’s something he still doesn’t know. And it could change everything.

“Tyler.” My heart flutters madly. “I need to tell you something.”