Page 51 of Broken Love

“You keep asking me that, Lux, and I’m going to think you lied to Windsor, and I’m worse than you believe.” Her eyes stay glued to my vitals before she answers me.

“No, not worse. I just… I can’t be wrong, you know?” She looks at me then, and I see the fear in her eyes. Fear that if I die, her sister won’t forgive her.

Reaching for Lux’s hand, I grip her tightly and say, “You know she’s never letting you go, right? Before she met you, she was so nervous but elated to have family. Whatever happens, Lux, it’s not your fault, and your sister will know that.” She nods her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Thank you for saying that, Tucker. I need her too, you know?” I keep hold of her hand until we arrive at the hospital, only letting go because I’m forced to. When asked how we know each other, I tell the staff that she’s my sister. She will be, so it’s not a complete lie, but I refuse to let them shut her out. These James sisters are strong but vulnerable in ways that deserve to be protected.

Luckily the exam, which was painful as fuck, only proved what Lux said was true. No vital organs were hit. I have to go in for surgery to clean the wound out and get stitched up, but I’ll be able to leave in the morning.

As I’m rolled into my room after recovery, I find Tanner in a chair in the corner with Windsor curled up in his lap fast asleep.

Once the nurses have my bed settled, I tell Tanner, “Bring her over here.” He gives me a dubious look. “I’m fucking fine, man. Bring me our girl and go find Lux; she’s been stressing about shit unnecessarily.”

“Yeah, we saw her earlier, but she seemed a little skittish.” I’m not surprised. I figured she’d keep some distance until I was in recovery.

“How’s our girl?” I ask as Tanner places Windsor on the bed with me. It’s not until I glance out the window and notice it’s past dark that I realize how late it is. Shit really changes when you’re shot and unconscious.

“Terrified and enraged. I’ll explain what Beau said when I get back. You want anything?” Glancing at the cup full of ice chips on the table, I shake my head. Windsor cuddles into me as Tanner leaves, and my world settles.

“You’re alright?” Her husky voice is music to my ears.

“Yeah, sweetheart. Now that I’ve got you, I’m perfect.” She gives me the same look Tanner did earlier—neither believes me. But honestly, no one’s dead. We can move on with our lives, and I’m ready to get a start on that now. “Tell me something.” I lean away so I can see her clearly.

“What?”

“I want you to carry our babies sooner rather than later. You ready for that?” She gives me a teary smile filled with regret and happiness. A feeling I can match because I understand the reason behind it.

“Is anyone ever ready for children?” She chuckles a little, and I bask in the soft sound. “Yeah, Tuck, nothing would make me happier than tying our lives together so intricately.”

“Good, because I say we get working on it when I get out of here.” Nuzzling her neck, I kiss up her jaw, only stopping because Tanner returns.

“You’re okay.” Lux blows out a sigh of relief. She must have snuck in behind my brother.

“Told you I would be.” She nods and shuffles over, hugging Windsor and me at the same time. Beau trickles in a few minutes later, asking if I’ve been filled in yet.

After listening to what Samantha is being charged with, thanks to my recording—two counts of attempted murder—I feel better knowing she won’t be able to target Windsor or our family again. The possibility of twenty years is less than she deserves but more than I thought she might get. The truly shocking part is that she is related to Joe, Windsor's old neighbor. It explains a lot about how they knew things about us they shouldn’t have.

Now, all we need to do is get out of this fucking hospital and work on the baby-making and wedding plans because there is nothing I want more than to tie this incredible woman to us, and I know Tanner feels the exact same way.

Epilogue 1

WINDSOR

One Year Later.

“Mrs. Graham, did you hear me?” I don’t know what to say as I stare numbly at the doctor.

A comforting hand on my arm draws my attention to where Lux sits next to me. “It’ll be okay, Windy.” Tears well up in my eyes, and I struggle to hold them at bay. “What are her options, doc?” Lux asks what I can’t seem to vocalize.

“Well, there’s IVF, of course. Artificial insemination and surrogacy. Or possibly adoption. There are medical advances every day and many options to explore. And you have time. You are so young, Windsor. This isn’t the end of creating a family for you and your husbands.”

Husbands.

They don’t know that I came to see a fertility specialist a month ago for testing and then again today when I received the staggering phone call yesterday that my results were abnormal.

A hostile uterus, she said.

The mucus in my uterus is killing their sperm with no explanation as to why the first time we had sex, I was able to get pregnant, and now, I can’t seem to.

---