Page 86 of Camden

“When I got there,” she continued, glaring at Ash. “He was on top of her. Choking her. She was almost unconscious, so I did the only thing I could think of. I grabbed a frying pan and whacked him on the back of the head. Noel and another guy showed up right after that.”

I walked over and pulled her from Grayson’s hold. “What is this, musical hugs for Haley?” She joked. Her form of deflection. I saw the fear and pain written all over her face. She was scared, but she didn’t want to show it.

“You put yourself in danger to save her?” I asked.

“Of course, I did. She’s like a sister to me. I love her.”

My eyes burned as I crushed her against my body. “You have no idea how much she means to me.Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” I mumbled into her hair and kissed the top of her head.

She broke away from the hug and chuckled. “If you think that was great, you’ll love what your girl did. She’s a badass.”

I could feel my cheek tug. Of course, my girl was a badass. “His nose was broken and bleeding all over the place. She didn’t go down without a fight.”

“He had more wounds than Stephanie did when we got there,” Noel added with a sad smile.

Alice walked over with a smile and looked at Grayson. “Would you like an update?”

“Fuck yes,” he said, impatiently

“Everyone okay to hear it?” she asked, and he nodded. “She’s awake and asking for Cam.”

My eyes shuttered closed as my chin fell to my chest. Relief like I’ve never known threatened to crush me. My knees felt like they were going to buckle.

Thank you, God.

“Take me to her,” I said, ignoring the fact that she was technically talking to Gray.

“Is that okay?” Alice asked, just for clarification.

“Yeah. Let me know how she’s doing.” He slapped my shoulder. I nodded and followed Alice, leaving them behind.

“They put her in her own room,” Alice said.

We passed two security officers stationed outside of a door. If my girl wasn’t sitting in a hospital bed asking for me, I’d go in there and beat the bastard myself. He’s fucking lucky I didn’t get hold of him. “Here you go.” Alice smiled and left me alone.

“Thanks.” I pushed the door open and my gaze locked on my beautiful, perfect girl sitting in the hospital bed. An IV tapped on her hand. Machines beeped in the background. I stood in the doorway, just staring at her.

She smiled, her lips lopsided. One side of her face was swollen. A small cut on the apple of her cheek. “Hi.” Her sweet voice kicked me into gear and I rushed to the side of her bed.

“Stephanie.” My voice cracked. I dropped into the chair next to her bed and placed my head on her lap and cried. For the first time in my adult life, I cried. Her fingers combed through my hair gently, comforting me when I should have been comforting her.

Taking a deep breath, I focused on her smiling face. “I love you so much,” I said as I brought our joined hands to my lips. “So fucking much.”

“I love you too.” She ran her palm over the beard growing on my cheek. “I fought back.” Her voice was strong and my chest expanded with pride.God, she was amazing.

“I heard. I’m so damn proud of you.” I ran my rough hand up and down her forearm.

“I wasn’t going to let him take me from you. I wasn’t going to be the same girl I was with him.”

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers. One sweet kiss on her lips. “Sweetness.” I pressed my forehead against hers. “You’re so damn strong.”

“It’s because of you, you know?”

“No.” I shook my head. “You’re a fighter, Steph. I just showed you a few moves.”

“A few moves that might have saved my life.”

My eyes raked over her face, looking for any other sign of trauma. “He looks worse, I promise.” She chuckled.

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