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"Can we visit? Can you guys come out to wherever I live?"
"No contact is allowed, Celia. Not while you're still in danger."
"But that may mean a year or longer…"
"I'm sorry, but I agree that it's for your own protection."
I closed my eyes and cried.
Chapter 10
Hunter
"You know I'm right."
Celia's Aunt Diane stood in front of me, her hands on her hips. She had this expression in her eyes that said she wouldn't accept no from me. Of course, she was right. I'd been nothing but bad news for Celia since she had come to me and begged me to save Graham's life. If I had been a man instead of a big piece of suck, I would have paid off the debt and walked away.
But I hadn’t.
I would be a man now, when Celia needed me.
"You're right."
She nodded and pointed to the exit. "Leave now, and don’t come back. I’ll let you know how she is, but if you care about her, Hunter, you'll leave her for good."
I turned and left, my eyes blurring at the truth of it.
I had to leave her.
She'd have to leave Boston.
I'd talk to Millar and get him to make the arrangements. Then, I'd extract myself from Celia's life for good. She'd probably be upset, but in the end, she'd thank me when she restarted her life free from the danger that still existed for her here in Boston.
A few days later, I went to the hospital to check on George.
"How is Celia?" George asked, sitting up on the edge of his b
ed, dangling his feet to improve his circulation. He was slowly recovering. If he kept improving, getting stronger every day, he would be released in a week. Maybe ten days.
"She's much better, I hear."
"You are not seeing?"
I shook my head, a catch in my throat at the thought I wouldn't see her again.
"Is for best," George said and squeezed my shoulder as I helped him stand. "You know."
"I know, but I still don't like it."
I walked George to his bathroom and waited outside while he took a piss, listening to make sure he didn’t fall. I heard the flush that signalled he was done and then the water running in the sink. The door opened and he came out once more.
"Should I walk? Get exercise?"
"Yes, you should. Come on, old man. Get your ass moving or you'll never get out of here."
We got his walker, and together we walked the hallways, his pace a bit faster today than it had been. He truly was on the mend but his docs said he'd still need to use a cane. The bullet had damaged nerves in his spine and he'd probably be weak on one side for the rest of his life.
Despite it all, he was happy to be getting up and walking. I was happy to have him back with me, although he would never be the same soldier he had been before the attack.
