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He looks me in the eye and smiles sleepily.
“I love you.” That’s all he says before he falls back asleep, now a bit less agitated than before.
I let out a sob and nearly collapse on the floor with relief. Donovan is quick to catch me, and Kasey brings a chair to me so I can sit next to Aiden. She knows I need to be next to him. I need the connection right now.
Several hours pass as I sit holding his hand, and Aiden is resting much more peacefully. He wakes two more times and looks at me with a smile on his face before passing back out. I don’t know if he thinks he’s dreaming, but I like to think my presence is comforting him, whether or not he knows I’m actually here.
Donovan rented a villa for us. They haven’t asked me if I’d like to leave and take a rest or shower yet, knowing I want nothing more than to stay next to Aiden. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away. I need to be here the moment he wakes back up, hopefully fully conscious.
Kasey, Donovan, and Liam drift in and out checking on us. The girl they rescued, Isobel, is in the hospital as well. She sustained minor injuries in the blast, Aiden having taken the brunt. Thank God he was carrying her. God only knows how much worse it could have been for her.
I’m sitting in a chair with my head lying next to Aiden’s arm, so damn tired from everything that’s happened in just the past twenty-four hours. I need to rest my eyes, but I’m not willing to leave, so this will have to do until they can discharge him.
The door opens and a beautiful woman in her mid-thirties and a man probably about the same age enter the room. I sit up on alert and look at them as they stare at Aiden. The woman has tears in her eyes as she clutches the man’s hand.
“He saved her. My daughter. He saved her from that awful place,” the woman croaks out as the man puts his arm around her, holding her tightly to his side as she sobs into his shoulder.
Isobel’s parents.
“He saved me too.” My eyes well with tears again. He saved me in so many ways. From the clutches of a kidnapper is just the tip of the iceberg.
“I know he has to rest. I just wanted to see the man’s face who saved my little girl. As long as I live, I will never be more grateful to another person.” Isobel’s mother can barely get the words out through her tears.
Me neither.
“Please tell him when he wakes. Tell him thank you. Thank him for us for risking his life for hers,” her father says as a tear makes its way down his cheek. He bats it away, trying desperately to show strength in the aftermath of one of the worst things that could ever happen to a parent.
“I will. I’m so glad she’s safe again with you. Truly.” I smile as I look at them. I’ve never seen two people more grateful in my life. It makes me realize what Aiden was trying to get me to see before he left.
Isobel’s parents smile at me as they leave the room.
I gaze at his sleeping face and run my hand gently across his cheek. I was so terrified of what could happen to him if he went on this mission with Liam that I didn’t give enough thought to the poor girl or her parents. What if it hadn’t been Aiden who was the one carrying her when the car bomb went off? What if anyone else decided it would be faster if she ran on her own? Any little difference could have changed the fact that everyone got out alive. It could have been the difference between the girl’s parents crying tears of joy or heartbreak. He made it possible for them to see their baby again.
“Seems you’re everyone’s hero, Aiden,” I murmur.
His eyes blink open, and I fully expect him to fall right back asleep, so when he speaks, I can hardly contain my smile.
“That include you, Sunshine?” His voice is soft and raspy, but goddamn, it’s the best sound in the entire world to me right now.
“Of course it does, in so many ways.” I bring his hand to my mouth and kiss it as the tears pour down my face.
“How long have I been out?” he asks.
“According to the doctors, just over twenty-four hours. I’ve been here for about half that time. You had some internal bleeding from the blast, so they had to do surgery to stop it.”
“What about Isobel?” Concern mars his brows.
“Her parents were just here. She’s fine, just a bit banged up. You saved her, Aiden.” Relief washes over him at the news.
“You still mad?” He peers at me, his nerves apparent as he asks the question.
“I’m too relieved that you’re okay to be mad. Let’s maybe not make this a habit, though, yeah? I think we’ve seen enough hospitals to last us a while,” I tell him as I try to wipe away these damn tears.
He chuckles a little and the pain from the movement immediately shows on his face.
“I’ll go get the doctor.” Knowing Aiden, he isn’t going to want any more pain meds, but that’s just too damn bad.
“No, wait,” he tells me when I start to get up. “I need something first.”
