Page 58 of T-Bone
I was reluctant to let her go but she needed help, and I needed her to wake up and let me see those pretty green eyes again. “Tell me everything,” I insisted as Laura pushed me aside gently to assist Katey.
“Head contusion. Gunshot wound on the left side, though it’s only surface. Small cuts on her right hand. Significant blood loss.” Katey looked at me with a serious, sympathetic expression. “We’ve got her, T-Bone. I promise.”
I nodded and took another step back to give them room but I watched every move they made as she and Laura went to work. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched. Faith looked so small and so vulnerable, which was a total fucking trip to witness. She was subtle and understated but a goddamn powerhouse.
“She saved herself,” Hawk offered quietly. “She turned her phone on so Slate could find her. It was in one hand, finger blade in the other when I found her.”
I listened but my eyes never left Faith and longer I stared, the more I was forced to face my feelings for her. This wasn’t just a good fuck. It wasn’t just scratching an itch or the intensity of spending so much time together hunting for a little girl. It was more than that. It was the one thing I promised myself I’d never get mixed up in. Love. But I had to face the reality, which was that I was in love with a straight-laced former cop.
At some point I felt a hand wrap around my forearm and when I looked, I found Chloe staring up at me with teary eyes. “Is she going to live?”
Before I could answer, Laura turned with an easy, professional smile. “Absolutely. She lost a lot of blood, but we’ve taken care of that and stitched her up. She’ll be on antibiotics to avoid infection, but she will be good as new in no time.” Laura paused and her gaze found mine. “Faith is going to need a lot of rest so she can heal.”
“I’ll make sure she takes it easy.” If it was the last goddamn thing I did, if I had to tie her down, the stubborn woman would rest until she was back to good. “You should get some sleep Chloe. I’ll stay at Faith’s side tonight.”
Something that looked like relief flashed in her eyes. “Does she know?”
I could’ve pretended I didn’t know what she was talking about but for some reason I didn’t. “I don’t know. Hell, I don’t think so. I’m not even sure if she’d welcome it.”
“I heard the message. She’d welcome it.” She gave my arm a supportive squeeze. “Thank you T-Bone, for everything. Who knew my savior would be a group of badass bikers, one of whom managed to steal my sister’s heart?” She shook her head. “Life has a fucked up sense of humor sometimes.”
Hell yeah, she did. But eventually Katey and Laura had finished up with Faith and moved her to the new med room that wasn’t big enough to do shit in but sleep and wait, which was what me and Faith did for the next seven and a half hours.
She slept.
I waited at her side, with her hand in mine.
Waited for her to wake up.
To smile at me.
To listen when I told her how I felt about her.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Faith
The moment I came into consciousness all I felt was pain. White-hot, blinding pain in my left side and my whole damn head. I tried to open my eyes, slowly at first, but even the tiniest sliver of light caused more pain. I tried to lift my arms to cover my eyes, but one hand was heavier, there was more pressure on it.
I gasped and opened my eyes despite the pain, needing to know what, or who, was holding me down. It took a moment until the blinding pain faded but when it did, the room was unfamiliar, but the figure was very familiar. “T-Bone,” I rasped out. “Where am I?”
He didn’t move. His head was tilted forward, chin resting on his chest, sound asleep with my hand still clutched in his.
“T-Bone,” I tried again, a little louder but my throat was dry. He didn’t stir so I squeezed his hand. He squeezed it back and then froze before his eyes snapped open and turned to me.
He sat up quickly, intensity in his eyes and relief sagging his shoulders. “Fuck. Faith. You’re awake.” He smiled. “You’re here.”
I couldn’t help it. I smiled. “I’m here.”
“How are you feeling?” He leaned forward and enveloped my hand in both of his. His gray eyes took in every detail of the trainwreck I knew I must’ve looked like.
“I feel like I got shot and beaten up.” I tried for levity but as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I was rightback in the Shiloh Valley Forest with Nate and his biker goons. Every moment replayed in quick flashes that gave me exactly the details I needed, or maybe the ones I was trying to forget. “I killed Nate,” I stammered out slowly, not remembering the moment he died but knowing I’d stabbed him too many times for him to survive.
“I know.”
My gaze met his head on and there was no judgment there and no pity either. “He had two bikers with him, I killed them too. I had to,” I insisted even though T-Bone hadn’t argued with me. In fact, he hadn’t said anything. Tears pooled in my eyes. “I knew I needed to do it because it was them or me. I didn’t hesitate but I hate that I had to do it, even if it was the Ghost Riders MC.”
“You saved yourself Faith.” He squeezed my hand tight, his voice was thick and rough with emotion. “I’m damn glad you did. But the minute you’re better we’re going to have a serious fucking conversation.” The fierceness faded and turned to something else. “I got your message.”
