Page 134 of Wine & Whiskey
* * *
Nick races down the hallway. Hospital guards, as well as his own security team, pack the waiting area outside her room. Sitting on the gray and white sofa, Carrie massages her forehead as Nathan quietly talks to her. She looks up at Nick and frowns. “Hey.”
“How is she?”
“Asleep.”
Nathan’s expression hardens into a scowl. “I’ll tell you how she is. Because of you, she’s physically and mentally exhausted. She’s dehydrated and undernourished. She hasn’t eaten anything since this morning with everything that’s been going on. Her blood pressure is low, and of course, she’s worried about the baby.”
Carrie shakes her head and grasps Nathan’s arm. “Shit, Nathan! He didn’t know.”
His chest constricts as all the air leaves his lungs. Shae’s pregnant. With his baby. Their baby. Again and again, she gives him everything he didn’t even know he wanted, but will kill to keep.
Carrie gives him a small smile. “She wanted to tell you herself, but I guess now you know. Congratulations.”
He can’t help but return the sentiment. Yesterday, he struggled to survive the loss of the woman he loves. Now, he has her back with a child on the way and maybe a daughter to add to their family. A bastard like him doesn’t deserve the blessings he receives. “Is the baby okay?”
Nathan sighs before nodding. “From what we can tell so far, yes. She’s not very far along, only about six weeks. We’ll have to do the tests Dr. Patterson ordered for Monday. Right now, all we can do is wait and see.”
Six weeks. His soaring heart plummets. Ever since she snuck out of the house without security, he knew she was hiding something. He’s put her through hell, and all this time she’s been too scared to tell him.
Bile burns his throat as the realization of the timing becomes apparent. He put his hands on her when she’s pregnant, bruised her while she carries his child. God, he’s a fucking monster. No wonder she fears him, and yet somehow, still loves him. “I need to see her.”
Nathan folds his arms across his chest and shakes his head. “You really are crazy if you think I’m going to agree to that. I don’t know what the hell happened at her house, but from the damage, it’s obviously not good.” He nods to Nick’s bloody shirt. “Then, you get her involved in some kind of shootout at a desolate landing strip. She doesn’t need anything except for you to leave her alone.”
He accepts the fury Nathan unleashes on him. Yet right now he doesn’t have the patience to argue. His only goal is seeing Shae and making up for everything he’s done to her. “Damn it, Nathan, if it was Carrie, you’d want to see her.”
“If it was Carrie, I wouldn’t put her in danger in the first place.” His voice tight with frustration, Nathan jabs his finger in the air. “I told you—”
“No, Nathan.” Carrie grasps his hand and holds it next to her thigh. “Don’t do this now. Shae doesn’t need an argument between you two.”
“Fine.” He shakes his head and puts up his other hand. “With Shae’s status as a public figure, access to her room is severely restricted. Carrie’s listed as her next of kin. She decides who can see Shae until she can make those decisions for herself.”
Carrie used to be his only supporter. Now with everything that’s happened, her backing may be gone too. “Please, Carrie. I have to get to her.”
She bites her lip, looking between Nathan and him, hesitation filling her eyes. With Shae’s fragile state, forcing his way into her room will only scare her and jeopardize her health, as well as the baby’s. Shae would hate her friend being caught in the middle, but he has to do whatever it takes to get Carrie’s approval. “I swear to God I won’t do anything to hurt her. I just need to see her.”
She runs her hands through her long hair before placing them on her head. “I’m fucking pissed at you for what you’ve done to her.” Her eyes lock with his, burning with doubt. “I’m only doing this because I know it’s what she wants, and I don’t want to upset her more. Don’t fuck this up. If you do, I won’t ever help you again.”
“I promise I won’t. Thank you, Carrie.”
He takes a deep breath before opening the door to Shae’s room. She lies curled on her side, the usual pink glow missing from her creamy white skin. An IV bag hangs from a silver metal hook with its tube coiling down to the needle in the back of her hand, tucked halfway under the covers. A bottle of water and untouched tray of food sit on the side table.
He drops into the chair beside the bed and studies her, unable to fathom how she can actually love him. She forgives him when he doesn’t deserve it, protects him when he should be punished, believes he’s a good man when he’s really a horrible bastard. Just like Evan said—a thug not worthy of a beautiful angel like her.
After a few minutes, her eyes flutter open. She meets his gaze and a slow smile lights up her face. “Hi.”
The turmoil around them falls away at her happiness to see him. He leans forward and kisses her temple. A light red scratch runs from her eye to under her hair. Fury surges in him at the thought of Carter’s gun to her head. “How’re you feeling?”
“Okay. I know it’s terrible to be in the hospital when you’re not really sick. But I’m so tired, it feels good to lie down.”
She can have anything she wants, and she’s grateful to rest. God, he’s fucked her up even more than he realized. “It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, a little bit.” She tries to stifle a yawn but can’t hold it back.
He strokes across her cheek and down her hair. “You need to get your rest. Go back to sleep.”
“Will you stay with me for a while?”
