Page 591 of Filthy Elites

“Did you tell them…”

He rubs his thumb on my palm. “Everything they need to know. The firemen contained the fire to the north side of the hill. By the time they arrived, the rangers’ place was completely burned. They found a charred corpse.”

I nod, though it’s hard to imagine that Vince, the Vince I knew, is a corpse now. After what he did, I’m glad he’s gone, but it’s still an adjustment.

Someone knocks on my door. I lift my gaze to a beautiful black woman in green scrubs. “Ms. Simons? I’m Brenda, your nurse tonight. Your friend let me know you’re in a bit of pain.”

“A bit,” I say. If “a bit” means that it feels like someone cut off my hand and sat on my foot.

“Well, I can top up your painkiller. Now, if you guys wouldn’t mind stepping out…”

The boys and Morgan very much minded. "We can stay to the side, right?” Camden asks. “We won’t disturb you.”

The nurse’s no-nonsense expression says otherwise. “I need the space, and your friend needs rest. She shouldn’t have more than two visitors at a time.”

Rhys, Camden, and Roman are bullied into leaving along with Morgan, but when Chase stirs, I close my fist over his hand.

“He can stay, right?”

Brenda hesitates. “For procedures, it should only be family.”

“He’s my fiancé,” I tell her.

I feel Chase’s eyes on me but I ignore him, focusing on my nurse as she changes the fluid bag I’m hooked to.

She’s not done yet when Audrey storms in, Chase’s father hovering in the door behind her. “Oh, darling.” She throws herself on my chest and weeps as she hugs me. I wince because she’s pushing on my arm, right where the IV’s needle’s stuck in. “I could kill him! I would if he weren’t dead already. My baby girl…”

“I’m okay,” I tell her.

I’m not about to go for a walk alone at night anytime soon, but I genuinely feel all right, if I discount the physical pain.

Nothing bad happened to me, because Chase made it so. He came to get me. He took care of me.

I can’t remember the last time I felt like someone else was looking out for my welfare. Don’t get me wrong, Audrey loves me, but she doesn’t proactively care for my wellbeing. If it had been left to her, I would have been found dead two or three days from now. Thanks to Chase, I was found in less than an hour, alive, and not charred to a crisp.

I look at Chase’s father, who’s awkwardly remaining at the door, and I wave. “Hi.”

We’ve never talked much. I’m the adult daughter of his girlfriend, what could we have to say to each other? But he came here because he cares for my mother enough to be at the hospital.

“Hi, Erica. I’m glad you’re all right. I’ve talked to the police. You can go to the station tomorrow to give your statement. I let them know you needed the rest.”

“Thank you.” I do need the rest, though I doubt this hard bed in a sterile blue and white room is likely to help. “I’d like to go home.”

“I’m not sure that’s wise. You passed out, darling,” Audrey reminds me. “They’ll want you for observation, in case you have a concussion, or worse. Inhaling smoke can be very dangerous, too.”

Chase kisses my left hand gently. “I’ll ask.”

He lets go and leaves the room. His father squeezes his shoulder as he walks past.

“That boy’s smitten with you.” Audrey grins conspiratorially.

I smile back at her, my older mirror, and I consider what my life might have been if I had looked different. If I were less pretty—perhaps not ugly, but plainer than the likes of Audrey—I might not have needed to deal with murder-y, rape-y stalkers. I also might not have earned the attention of Chase Archer. I suppose I don’t mind one of those two things.

Chase is back in moments. “We can bring you home after the doctor checks you out, so long as you’re not alone through the night. I texted Mom. She’ll book a nurse who’ll come see you in the morning.”

I beam at him. “Thanks, Chase. These beds are torture.”

Audrey stays until the doctor arrives, chatting animatedly about her evening with Xavier Archer—they were at the theatre in LA when Chase’s text came through. I zone out as my pain recedes thanks to the painkillers.

---