Page 35 of Wicked Vengeance

Before I can even attempt to process what that means, Royal pushes me back down gently on the bed and Alek tucks the blanket around my exposed body. “Take it easy, Baby Girl.”

“Alek,” I croak, tears filling my eyes as I stare into his golden ones. Oh, how I’ve missed those eyes. Those eyes feel like comfort and safety– like coming home.

“I’m here. We’re all here. Maddox and Royal. Snow. We’ve got you. We’re not going anywhere. Just relax. The doctor is going to check you out.”

“You’re here. You’re all here.” I take his hand in mine, relaxing back against the pillows as my voice breaks. “My daughter, too? She’s here? I want to see her.”

They look at each other, hesitation lingering in their looks before Alek sits on one side of the bed and Royal sits on the other, with Maddox next to him. Alek interlaces our fingers together while Maddox gently grabs my thigh, rubbing soothing circles through the blanket.

Royal takes my face in his hands, lifting my face to look at him.

“Don’t panic. She’s not here.” Regret laces his soothing deep tone as my breath turns to harsh pants. Don’t panic? She’s not here. King has her. Again. “Hey. She’s okay. She’s safe. Jasper and Ella are with her. She’s just not here.”

“You could have led with that, smartass. You’re making her panic.” Snow says, slipping around the bed and slapping the back of Royal’s head. “She’s perfect, Red. We sent her to the Sanctuary. Jasper and Ella are taking very good care of her.”

“She’s okay?” My voice breaks as what she’s saying sinks in. “I want to see her. Please. Call them. Let me look at her.”

“We will. I promise. But right now, you look like you stepped out of a horror movie. You’ll scare the shit out of her like this. Let the doctor look you over and we’ll get you cleaned up first.”

“O-okay,” I say, closing my eyes and trying to rein my emotions back in.

My daughter is alive. She is safe. King doesn’t have her.

“Raena, My name is Dr. Sterling. I’m a friend of Mrs. Stone. I’m just going to check you out, make sure none of this blood belongs to you. Does that sound okay?”

A man steps up behind Alek. Momentarily, I’m taken aback. He’s obviously older– and very handsome and distinguished looking. I bet Ella is having a field day if this man is her mother’s ‘friend’. For another moment, I stare at him, waiting for the panic to set in. Another man. Another doctor, probing at my body. But it never comes. I don’t feel threatened by him.

Maybe it’s because my trusty Hunter alter ego is still lingering around. Or maybe because I’m surrounded by my men– my family, and I know for a fact if he breathes wrong in my direction, he’s dead.

He doesn’t look scared though. He looks confident and his gaze hasn’t once drifted past my eyes. “That sounds like a plan, Doc. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Would you like some privacy while I examine you? Your family can wait outside–”

“Abso-fucking-lutely not going to happen, Doc.” Maddox is up and over the bed in the blink of an eye, standing toe-to-toe with the new doctor. Alek and Royal sound like wild animals growling at the man who’s trying to help.

“Maddie. I’m okay. Come here,” I say, patting the bed next to me. Alek backs up, making room for Maddox to sit down. He runs his fingers under the back of my matted hair, tangling his fingers at the nape of my neck. I surprise myself that my voice stays steady and I look into each of their eyes as I whisper to the three men who I know will let me break if I need to. But I don’t want to break into a million tiny pieces in front of everyone. “He’s going to ask me questions you won’t like the answer to. You’re going to see things you don’t want to see. You all might want to step outside. Snow can stay with me. You don’t need to see the damage.”

I knew what I was signing up for when I goaded King. What happened to me, these are my battle wounds to bear. That doesn’t mean I won’t lose it eventually. I can shatter later, when we’re alone.

“That’s not how this works, Cherry. You belong to us– with us. Every new scar on your body, or on your soul, is ours. Every mark. Every bruise. Every ounce of pain you’ve felt at his hands, will be rectified.” Maddox takes a deep breath before blowing it out slowly. “We won’t look right now if you don’t want us to, but we will see everything very soon. And we sure as fuck aren’t leaving the room. We just got you back. I can’t leave you, not now. Maybe not ever. Get used to it.”

“Yeah, what he said. We’re not going anywhere, Angel.”

“We’ll stand by the wall and turn around if that would make you more comfortable. But we’re staying, Babygirl.”

I look between the three of them, their eyes so full of love, I feel like I’m drowning in it. It doesn’t hurt, though. It feels good–like I would happily drown in their love for me. I’ve never felt anything like what I feel when all of their attention is on me. If it weren’t for all the bullshit trauma I’ve been through, I’d dare say I’m the luckiest woman alive.

“Okay. You can stay.” I relent easily. I really don’t want to be away from them either, no matter how much of a brave face I try to put on. They don’t see my scars as disgusting or repulsive. And sure, there are new ones I haven’t even had time to take stock of, but deep down, I know it doesn’t matter to them. Tears fill my eyes as I look at them once more, my voice breaking. “Thank you. For not leaving me there. For saving me. And my daughter.”

Royal leans in first, capturing my lips in his. His fingers tangle my hair, controlling my head. He’s gentle with me, which is unlike him, but the passion and love he pours into me says everything I thought I needed to hear.

“You saved yourself, Angel. You’re a warrior, just like I said. We’ll be right here, Angel.” He gets up and steps to the end of the bed.

“We’ll finish this conversation later, my Queen,” Maddox says, winking and grinning at me in that feral, psycho way of his. He melts my heart and makes a mess of me with his infectious personality. I can’t help but smile back at him.

As he steps back, Alek scoots in, slipping one of his massive hands behind my head and the other tips my chin up to look at his gorgeous face. He leans down, capturing my lips in the sweetest, most possessive kiss. It ends too quickly, but not before curling my toes beneath the blanket. “Babygirl. I am so proud of you. You’re the strongest, bravest, fiercest woman I’ve ever met. But you’re not alone anymore. We’re here now. You’re allowed to be honest and vulnerable with us. We can handle it. Whatever happened to you there, we’ll get through it together.”

“Okay, Daddy,” I whisper, trying to lighten the mood and hide the tears pooling in my eyes. These guys know just what to say to me. Just how to get under my skin and burrow themselves into my heart. They crack my Hunter’s facade, wielding a sledgehammer of their prettier words and declarations, but set me ablaze with a blow torch with their actions backing them up. I’ve never felt so cared for, so loved, since Grams died.

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