Page 303 of Mangled Memory
When she’s left the room, Liam says, “There’s still the matter of who tried to murder my sister.”
“Yeah. I haven’t forgotten that either. Trust me.” I grab my phone when a new text comes in. Before I check it, I discover what Cian wrote to his brother—As if I could sink in. Besides, who would want what’s left anyway?
Breakfast done and eaten, Cian retires to the guest room for some peace and quiet. Liam takes off with a wave, and Ren heads to Fitz’s place on the grounds to put some things together for us to take to the hospital.
“Princess?”
Ayla turns from where she’s cleaning the kitchen. Again. “Yeah?”
“You need to check on your mom. You may even need to head to the hospital to be with her.”
“I need to see Fitz.”
“We’ll do that too. But think about it, okay?”
“I really want to get out of here. I want to get into the mountains. I want to find those May flowers that brave the oncoming snow to bloom a bit early. I need the hike and the fresh air. I really want to go to the bungalow in Aspen and sit on the front porch and drink iced tea.”
I laugh. “You don’t drink iced tea.”
“Don’t ruin my fantasy! I want to be safe enough to do all that. I want Ci not to need what could amount to months of surgery. I want you not to have two bullet wounds. Give me iced tea.”
“All right, love. You should have iced tea in Aspen. We’ll find a way in the next couple of weeks, even if it’s just for a day. That work?”
“Yes.” It’s as if all the air whooshed out with that word. “Thank you.”
“And, if we can be positive that we’re not sitting in the crosshairs of the Laotian government, or anyone else your dad has pissed off, all the more reason to take those hikes. With Fitzor me, of course. You might find Cian is a good hiking partner too.”
“Ellie,” she practically screams. “We need to go get Ellie. Come on.” She grabs my hand and tosses my keys to me.
When we’re on the road and almost to Cian’s, she whispers, “I have an idea.” Her eyes light up and she tells me her plan.
My wife is diabolical.
And I love it.
41
swoon hard
Ayla
We dropped Eleanor off at our house, settling her in with Cian after letting her burn some energy in the backyard. She was ready to explode when we arrived at Cian’s. No telling how long she’d been without a bathroom break, but she was a good girl and held it, that is, until we got outside and she let the floodgates open.
I grabbed her kibble while Christian figured out how to break down her crate. Spoiler alert—he didn’t, so he shoved it into the trunk and came back for her toy box.
My husband made me fall in love with him all over again. He didn’t assume we could just pop in and let her out. He didn’t act like she could stay with us just long enough for Cian to get better. He, in essence, moved her in with us until such a time as her dad is ready to take her home. Christian, loving me well by being kind to Eleanor, made me swoon hard.
Then he took me back to Porter.
I smuggled coffee in for Fitz, along with a take-out container of breakfast. It was already noon when I got there, but we only ever had one meal together, that breakfast in Estes Park, so it was all I knew he liked.
And I wasn’t wrong. He scarfed it down. He didn’t say much, but the empty plate and empty coffee mug said what I needed them to.
Before I leave, I apologize again. “I’m sorry, Fitz. I can’t eventell you how sorry I am you were shot.” Tears well in my eyes and I fight them back. “I should’ve listened when you told me to get in the safe room. You were right to ask. And I was wrong for questioning you. And this—” I look down at the larger-than-life man who’s in a bed after havingcodedduring surgery yesterday. “This is my fault. I own it. I’ll do better.”
He sticks a fist up. Does he want me to bump it?
One of my eyebrows hikes, and I stare at his fist. Okay then. I bump fists with him. “It can’t be as easy as that. “
