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She leaves, but not before throwing Shaw an evil glance full of warning.
He ignores her, sitting on the bed and leaning over me, completely caging me in. “Do you know the panic I felt when I got here and found this room empty and your phone left behind, only to find your wheelchair parked outside the room of the woman I hate most in this world?”
“You weren’t supposed to come back so early.”
“That’s your explanation? How about telling me why the fuck you went there?”
His jaw ticks and a vein on his forehead starts to turn red. I place my hand on his chest, feeling his heart race against my palm. “Calm down.”
“I’m pretty proud of myself right now for my level of calm. Inside, I’m scorching with rage. There isn’t a reason in the world for you to be in her presence. I’m still talking to the officers about her role in almost killing you.”
“That’s why I went. You’re going to drop your ridiculous quest to press charges.”
He jerks, his face losing color. “Not in a fucking million years. I want her to pay.”
“She is, Shaw. She’s going to pay for the rest of her life knowing she could have killed her own child.”
“And you,” he bites out.
“And me, but it’s more than that. I’m tired of this. We’ve had months of this mess, going back and forth with insults, demands, and threats. It’s time it stops. No more threats to throw her in jail or even pursue that avenue. We’re burying that hatchet. We’re doing it for Brayden.”
He drops his head, his chin resting on my hand. I give him a minute to absorb my words.
“Do you truly understand how terrified I was? The risk of losing you and him will haunt me until I die. Every time I close my eyes, I remember the way you looked right out of surgery… bandaged, bruised, and almost broken. It was almost too much for me to handle.”
“I’m fine, and I’m going to recover fully. Brayden is going to be fine. It’s all over, and we’re a family now. That little boy changes everything for us. Holding him today, with you, both of us in your arms, opened my eyes. We don’t have room for the toxic energy Sasha brings. You have the upper hand after all this time, and she knows it.”
“How do you figure that?”
“Because of the way she looked at me. It’s finally sunk in that she’s defeated. You are mine, and nothing is going to change that. She’s lost the battle. It’s done. Not to mention, I explained she’s basically got a target on her back forever. If she ever pisses you off again, I’m not stepping in. I may have also said a few other nasty things to get my point across. The only thing left is for you to move past this.”
He continues to look down, but moves a hand to mine and links our fingers. I know I’ve done my part; he’s going to do as I ask.
“I’m leaving the complaint with the Bar Association, and she’s going to pay for all your medical expenses, including your missed salary. Every single penny of it.”
“I have insurance, Shaw.”
He raises his eyes to mine, and I have no choice but to shut my mouth. There’s no room to argue.
“What about her father’s firm? Are you still going after them?”
“Probably.”
“And Brayden?”
“That’s up to the courts. Caldwell’s going after full custody, but I’m not getting my hopes up. However, I know when he’s released, he’ll be coming home with us until Sasha has a full psychiatric evaluation and is cleared as a fit parent.”
A ripple of excitement flows through me. This is a decision I agree wi
th one-hundred percent. Knowing he’s coming to our home is our reward for months of pain.
“Are you still mad?”
“You make it really hard.” He kisses my knuckles. “But don’t do anything like that again.”
“Humph! We’ll see. Depends on how stubborn you act.”
His lips twitch as he fights a grin.
