Page 58 of The Fear
Someone touched Hala’s shoulder. She turned. To look into beautiful Hiller-man eyes. “Guthrie. We’re here. It’s all going to be okay now. You’ll take care of him for me.”
“We will. Tell me what happened, kid.” He even sounded like his brother. Hala just sort oftiltedthen. Right into Guthrie’s strong arms. He lifted her up. Just like his brother would.
That was really all she remembered after that.
They weresafenow.
53
When Grady opened his eyes,someone was holding his hand—and peering down at him like he was a bug. His little sister Genny’s precious face was only a handful of inches from his. Not a bad way to wake, after being stabbed by a mad woman with a butcher knife. “Hey, kid.”
“Grady Treyton Hiller, onlyoneof us was supposed to be impaled this lifetime. And I had already donethat.You really shouldn’t copy me. How do you feel?”
“Where’s Hala?” Was there any other real question? “She okay? What about Jessica’s kids?”
He’d never forget the sight of those two innocent little kids covered in blood like that. Because of their mother’s actions.
“Hudson bodily carried his sister out of here, even with one hand. He took her to the cafeteria to feed her. She definitelydid notwant to leave you. So romantic, you two. Hudson and Gia are ganging up on her. She’ll be back shortly. For some reason, she’s insisting that she is the one staying with you. Something about you not escaping her ever again.”
“Don’t ever want to escape her.” Grady closed his eyes for a moment. He felt cloudy, no denying that. “Love her, you know.”
“Yeah, we all kind of figured that out when you told her that right in front of the entire ER. You remember that part?”
“Of course I do. I’m the one who said it. Wake me when she’s back.”
“I will. And…Jessica’s kids are going to be okay. Greer stayed with them on the ride in. Bailey Addy drove them. Greer stayed with them until their aunt got here to be with them. Their dad…”
Grady knew…it wasn’t good. “How bad?”
“He was found in time. Barely. But he’s got a way to go. That’s all I can really say. She even attacked her own mom, Grady. Marie is in ICU. No one knows if she’s going to be okay.”
Grady nodded. He would never understand. “She smelled like booze.”
“High blood alcohol, Clay said. She was just drunk. And angry. That was all it took. People…make bad choices.” Genny rubbed her own shoulder. He knew she was remembering what had happened to her, too. Memories could torture. Grady would know that forever.
But…he wanted a future. With a woman who drew smiley faces in purple ink. Who sang songs to her nephew about puppies and clowns and big purple dinosaurs. Who was already talking aboutherpuppy with excitement.
He was going to just get her out of that apartment of hers, move her into the ranch, and keep her forever. Have a big party wedding like Ryan and Calvin were already planning for Gia, and then have six kids of their own. He wanted that more than anything in the world.
Once his damned chest stopped hurting, anyway. “How long am I stuck here?”
“Two days, Caine said. The knife just missed your lung. And we’re watching for infection. No one knows what was on that knife and she’d used it twice before. Hala had to have stitches in each arm. Defensive wounds. Hala and Aubrey and me—we allhave matching slice-and-dice scars now. We’re going to compare later.”
“The little girl? Hala was holding her away from Jessica when I got there.” How could anymotherdo what she had done, with her little girl right there tosee? How could she have done that?
“I can’t say much, Grady. HIPAA rules. Wynnie was cut a few times. But nothing significant. At least…physically.”
“She’ll always remember.” He’d heard her crying, saying her mommy hated her. He would never forget that precious baby’s pain.
“Yes. But Janie, that’s her aunt, she works here, too. She’s a friend. She was already making plans to take her niece to W4HAV. They have a new counselor there for young children. She told me that this morning, personally. Janie is taking over the kids’ care, until their father is home, so Janie’s dad can focus on being with Marie.”
Grady just nodded.
Then…the door opened. And there she was. The light of his world. She wore a pair of jeans that he was almost certain were Genny’s and a t-shirt withFCU: Lawthat he suspected belonged to Gia. Her hair was in a ponytail again. He loved it when she wore it like that. Tempted him to touch, every time.
Grady shifted in the bed. He wanted to hold his woman.
“Nope, big brother. No sudden movements. Trust me. You’ll regret it.” Genny worked the button for him, until he was actually sitting up. Almost. “Now, you two can make googly eyes at each other. Hala, he is all yours.”
