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I swallow back bile. "It shouldn't have fuckin' happened in the first place."
"It shouldn't have," he agrees. "Our world shouldn't touch our women. But it's always them who get hurt. This wasn't on you, Reaper. This wasn't on you at fuckin' all. This asshole had her set in his sights from the get-go. She was always part of their plan. You saved her. Remember that."
"Thanks, brother," I rasp. His words mean a fucking lot, but it doesn't ease the pain of her being hurt. She deserves to be cherished. She should be treasured. But instead, those fuckers have caused her nothing but pain. The fact that they're dead doesn't change what they've done. It doesn't ease the anger I have. There's no one to take the rage out on anymore. Everyone who hurt her is dead. So what do I do to rid myself of the anger and pain?
I slide into the back of Makenna's car and close my eyes. How the fuck do I convince Esme that she's safe? What can I do to let her know that she won’t be hurt again? She was on her fucking way to work when she was taken. She was doing what she does every fucking day. It was a normal morning for her and it turned into one of the worst.
What can I do to make the memories of today vanish?
CHAPTER29
ESME
Ifeel as though I'm floating. My mind is a little fuzzy. I feel weird, not at all like myself. Opening my eyes, I realize that I'm not at home, but in hospital. The sound of a machine beeping is to my left. I swallow hard, but panic rises up my throat when I realize I can't open my mouth.
"Es, honey." I hear that rough voice, the one that I love so much, and my heartrate starts to settle. Gray's here. "It's okay, I promise you. It's going to be okay. You're in the hospital." He comes to stand in my line of vision. God, he looks so beautiful. I try to smile but can't. It feels as though my mouth is sewed up shut.
I glance down and see my leg is in a cast and is up on a stirrup of sorts. I can't see much else, but from the corner of my eyes, I can see white around my nose. Is that a bandage?
"You have a broken jaw, honey. They've had to wire it shut. It's going to take around six to eight weeks before it heals. I'm sorry, baby. I'm so fuckin' sorry."
I reach out, glad I'm able to use my arms. I grasp a hold of his hand. I want him to know that it's not his fault. Everything that happened rushes back and hits me at full force. The man who took me, then Harry's father being wild and full of rage as he beat me. I shiver as fear creeps up my spine. What's going to happen now? Will they come for me again?
"You've got a shattered kneecap that needed surgery. It's goin' to be a rough road to recovery, Es, but you're not alone. We're goin' to help you through it."
I nod, my hand squeezing his. I love that he's offering me support, but I feel so withdrawn, so numb from it all. I hate that I can't talk, that I can't do anything but lie here.
"The men who hurt you,” he says low, and I freeze at his words. My blood runs cold. "They're gone. They won't hurt you again." It's a promise. I know he's telling me they're dead, and while I shouldn't feel relief, I do. I'm so damn happy that they're gone, I could cry.
I bring my hand to his face. I can't kiss him. I can't hug him. I have to lie here. But I need some way of letting him know that I heard him. His lips curve into a tight smile and he presses a soft kiss to my hand. "Sleep, Es, let your body heal. I'll be here when you wake up. I ain't goin' anywhere."
I move my hand and point to my eye, then to my heart, then to him.
I hear his chuckle. "Fuck, Es, I fuckin' love you too. Now sleep."
If I could, I'd laugh. He's so damn bossy, but I love that he's taking care of me.
I close my eyes, hearing him take a seat beside me. His hand takes mine and he holds tight. It doesn't take long for me to fall asleep.
I know that as long as I have Grayson with me, I'm going to be fine.
CHAPTER30
REAPER
TWO WEEKS LATER
"Reaper, is Auntie Es going to be okay?" Serafina asks as she watches my woman sleep.
Today, I was finally able to bring her home from the hospital. As much as her parents wanted her to return home with them, it wasn't happening. There are more than enough people in this clubhouse who can help take care of her. She'll never be alone. Not to mention, we have Effiemia, so if anything goes wrong, we have a nurse who can help. Thankfully, her parents didn't put up much of a fight and agreed.
"She's goin' to be fine, Sera. She needs lots of rest and some company."
Sera grins. She's got that impish smile that's much like her mom's. "And hugs. Make sure you give her loads of hugs, Reaper. Mama says that makes everyone feel better."
I nod. "Then we'll make sure that's what she'll get. Now, have you done your homework?" I ask, knowing that if she hasn't, she won't be allowed to play.
She crosses her arms over her chest and glares at me. The kid is sassy as fuck. She's going to give us all gray hair before she hits the age of sixteen. "I'm going," she sneers at me. "I'll do my homework and then I'll come back and sit with Auntie Es."
