Page 68 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
“Whatare the chances that he’ll develop a cancerous growth?” I ask.
Thedoctor shakes his head. “I can’t give you a percentage. This is a rare diseaseand it acts differently in each patient.”
Isit beside Landon’s bed, and he reaches to take my hand, carefully because ofthe IV running into the back of his hand. “Your hands aren’t burnt?”
“Theywere tied behind me,” he replies.
Daresteps forward. “We’re on her trail, and the asshole with her.”
“She’sbeen following me. Bragged about it. Going through my mail. I had a flyer fromthe XP convention in Vegas next month. That must be how she found out what Ihave.”
Dareleans close to Landon and murmurs something that sounds like “pig food”.
Landonshakes his head. “No. Let the cops deal with them. Tell Mason. He’ll make surethey get the right judge.”
Thedoctor seems to turn a deaf ear to their conversation, and I remember that he’sbeen Landon’s doctor since he was a child. After slathering Landon’s body inthe cream, he shows him how to hit a button to self-administer a pain med, thentells him he’ll check back in on him the next day.
“Thatass wants to keep me a week,” Landon complains, but I can see the agony in hiseyes.
“You’rehurting. Push the button, babe. Get some sleep. We aren’t going anywhere.”
“Don’tlike drugs,” Landon gripes.
Insteadof arguing, Dare marches to the side of the bed and presses the little redbutton. “Asshole,” Landon grumbles, but the lines in his face smooth out as hestarts to relax.
“Loveyou too, dickhole,” Dare replies, pushing the button again.
Landon’seyes flutter closed and his hand goes limp in mine. “Sit on this side of thebed. You can hit the button for him when he’s too stubborn.” His gaze sweepsover Landon’s body. “I can’t imagine how much that hurts.”
It’sthe first time I notice how devastated he looks, and I wrap my arms around hisbulky body. He returns the favor and we stand there, holding each other for amoment. “He’ll be okay,” I whisper.
“Yes,he will.” He steps back and wipes his face. “I’m going to go make a few callsand let the other guys come see him.” He leaves, and I take my place in thechair where I’ll be spending my week. Beside my future husband.
Nottwo hours later, Mason’s brother Alex enters, a wide smile on his face. Landonis still asleep and I hope he stays that way for a while. He’s in too much painwhen he wakes. “We got her. And her meth head partner. Our guy in the policedepartment assures me they’re both being charged with assault, kidnapping,attempted murder, and anything else the prosecutor can think of.”
“Didshe say why she did it?” I ask, running my thumb over Landon’s hand. I can’tseem to let go of him.
“Sheknew Landon was the one who called the cops when Colin was brought in for thesuicide attempt. She said it was his fault Arlen killed himself by jumping offthat bridge.” Intense eyes study mine from beneath a mop of blond curls. Heknows the truth and is trying to discern whether I do.
“Thatson of a bitch got what was coming to him.”
Nodding,he hands me my phone. “You left it in the waiting room. Your brother is tryingto reach you. I told him everything is fine. Everyone’s safe.”
“Thankyou, I’ll call him.”
ChapterFifteen
Landon
Tendays I was stuck in that hospital. Between the agony of feeling like a litmatch was being held to every inch of my body and the mind altering drugs beingpumped into my arm, the first few days are blurry. One thing I remember, everytime I pulled myself from the sludge of unconsciousness and managed to force myeyes open, Zoe was there. Sometimes with a book in her hand, or her tablet,sometimes lying on a cot beside me, often just gazing at me with a heartbrokenexpression.
I’venever felt so loved or cared for in my entire life. I was in and out ofhospitals as a child, but other than a random visit from my mother, I was leftto the care of the doctors and nurses. A chronically sick kid wasn’t going toput a damper on their travel plans. I didn’t begrudge them, after all, whyshould my disease screw up everyone else’s life as well as my own?
Iknow Zoe doesn’t see it that way, and though I should probably feel guiltyshe’s stuck in a hospital with me when she should be in school or taking careof her brother, all I feel is gratitude for the way this beautiful, sweet womanloves me. All of me. Even this damn disease.
Afew days after I leave the hospital, Dare and Jeremy help me move my stuff toZoe’s house, our house for now. I really don’t have a lot to take since neitherof us is all that fond of the antiques I inherited from my uncle, so we get themove completed in one evening.
“So,all healed up?” Jeremy asks, placing the last box on the living room floor.
