Page 59 of Crossroads of Innocence
“I don’t know anything except his room number,” Cruz said.
She resisted asking any more questions because nothing would untie the knots in her stomach. Nothing except seeing Wade awake and knowing he’d survive the bullet wound that had sent him to the ground. The bullet he took while saving her life.
Pressing her hands to her abdomen, she focused on evening her breathing as Cruz turned into Wade’s room. Sunlight streamed through the slanted blinds. His eyes were closed, his skin ashen.
Cruz wheeled her close to the bed. “I’ll leave you two alone for a minute. Just know you’re safe. The threat to your life is over. But we’ll discuss all those details later. Right now, focus on Wade.”
“Thank you,” she choked out, waiting until he left and closed the door before skimming her fingertips up and down Wade’s arm.
The machine beside him continued its steady beat.
“Hey, babe. It’s me. Jude. I’m right here beside you. I promise I won’t leave. Not while you’re sleeping. Not once you’re awake. Not after you’re out of this damn hospital and back in your tiny apartment above the Chill N’ Grill. I’m here for as long as you want me.”
A half-smile ticked up the side of Wade’s face, accentuating one dimple.
Her heart galloped in her chest and she stopped the motion of her finger along his smooth skin. “Wade?”
“Yes, darlin’?”
“Oh, my God! You’re awake!” She threw her arms around his neck.
He coughed out a course chuckle and rested his palm on the small of her back. “I am. How’s your leg?”
“Fine. I’m totally fine now that you’re okay. I was so damn scared I’d lost you.”
“It’s gonna take a lot more than being shot to get rid of me.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “If you’re offering to stick around, I’ll accept that offer any day of the week. I’ll always want you, Jude. Forever.”
She gasped and reared back. He couldn’t possibly mean he wanted her to be hisforever. “Do you mean it?”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. I’ve missed you every day since you left Pine Valley. I’ll spend every day showing you how much I love you. If that’s what you want. If you love me, too.”
“I love you more than you’ll ever know. You’re my best friend. My lover. My home.” She pressed her lips to his, savoring the moment and thankful as hell that she’d finally found her way back to the man she’d always loved.
* * *
A knockon the door interrupted the happiest moment of Wade’s life—a moment he’d never thought he’d experience in a hospital bed. But he didn’t care where he was. Jude loved him. She was staying in Pine Valley and wanted to be with him forever. Nothing could be better.
Cruz stepped inside. “Sorry to interrupt. Hope that was enough time for privacy, but I have some information.”
No amount of time alone with Jude would have been enough, but Cruz was right. A lot had happened, and he had to know where everything stood. Starting with his mother. “Is my mama out of surgery?”
Cruz nodded. “She is. Everything went well, but there’s one thing you need to know.”
Alarm hummed inside him, and he tightened his hold on Jude. “What is it?”
“Your mom was pushed at the nursing home.”
He squeezed his eyes shut against the statement. His mom had told him someone had pushed her, and he’d swept it under the rug, blaming her confused mind. “She tried to tell me. I didn’t believe her.”
Wincing, Jude shifted to sit on the side of his bed and rested a palm on his chest. “You had a lot thrown at you in a short amount of time. You can’t beat yourself up for this, especially since the truth came to light.”
He opened his eyes and stared at her beautiful face. Gratitude swept over him. “You’re right. But who pushed her?”
“The same man who took Jude and shot you. He must have done his homework and knew if your mom was in the hospital, you’d show up and Jude would be with you,” Cruz said.
His stomach churned. He’d been played and put Jude’s life in danger. Not to mention his mom had been at risk. “How did you figure this out?”
“One of the nursing aids at the care facility looked at the security footage and alerted authorities. Lincoln connected the dots when he showed up here.”
