Page 20 of Redemption

Chapter 16

Connor must have brokenevery speed limit known to man because within twenty minute he was banging on my door. My arm still burned like fire, but I was pretty sure the bleeding had slowed down enough that I wasn’t going to bleed to death. I’d been applying pressure and elevating this whole time.

“What the fuck happened, Josie?” he barked the minute I opened the door to let him in. His gaze honed in on the bloodied towel wrapped around my arm. Immediately, his eyes scanned my body, assessing me for any further injury. Once he’d assured himself I wasn’t harmed elsewhere, he began pacing.

“When I got home, someone was in the house. He attacked me with a knife, and I was able to disarm him. But not before he sliced the shit out of my arm. I’m pretty sure I’m gonna need stitches. Once he took off, I looked around a little, but I haven’t noticed anything missing. So, I either caught him before he had a chance to steal anything or there was another reason for him to be here.”

Connor ran his fingers through his hair. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. “Jesus, c’mon, let’s get you to the hospital.”

I was beginning to feel a little woozy so I let him guide me out to his car. Once he had me secured in the passenger seat, he hopped in and took off like a bat out of hell to Pinegrove General. I knew Connor would investigate the break-in at my house, but he had little to work with. I didn’t have security cameras, and there was only one streetlight that partially shone on the far edge of my back yard. Unfortunately, it didn’t provide enough illumination on the off chance a neighbor had been looking outside when the intruder had entered or fled.

While not a professional hit, the glimpse I caught of the intruder didn’t give anything away. The person had been covered from head to toe in black, from the ski mask to the black gloves to the nondescript black shoes. The only clue was that I knew he was male based on the sound of the voice when I’d disarmed him. It still wasn’t anything to go on. It had either been a random home invasion, and I’d startled him, or the attack had been personal, and we just had to wait for it to happen again since the first time was a failure. If my death was the end goal, that is.

While I couldn’t prove it, there was a good chance the attacker had been sent by my father. He was the only person I could think of that would want me dead, especially after our phone conversation the other day. I wouldn’t expect him to send an amateur, but maybe he was hoping it would look like a home invasion gone wrong. Either way, I needed to keep a closer eye out.

If it were my father, once he discovered they’d failed, someone else would try again. I couldn’t think about it right now. I also, intentionally, didn’t mention my suspicions to Connor. He’d only mother hen me to death. I must have been more out of it than I realized, because before I knew it, we were at the hospital. Connor got me inside and three long hours later, I was stitched up, given a prescription for pain meds, and sent home.

Connor helped me into the house, and I tiredly plopped down on the couch.

“Can you stay for a little while? I need your advice.” I hated how defeated I sounded.

His face softened, and he came to sit beside me. When he opened his arms, I snuggled up to him, resting my head under his chin.

“What’s going on, Little Bit?”

“I fucked up, Connor.”

“It can’t be that bad.”

In spite of myself, a sniffle escaped as I felt a tear fall. Son of a bitch. I wasn’t a crier. I hastily wiped it away before another could join it.

“Miles hates me. He showed up at Eden tonight, and we went back to a private play room. He was fully agreeable to everything when we headed back there. I thought about waiting until after we… well, you know and then telling him who I was, but I didn’t think it was fair. I wanted him to know exactly who he was submitting to. When he saw it was me, he was so hurt. I mean, devastated. And betrayed. Just like you said. You were right. I don’t know if he’ll ever forgive me.”

“Oh, Josie, you know he doesn’t hate you.” Connor placed a soft, brotherly kiss on the top of my head. “He’s just nursing his wounds right now. Men don’t want their women to see when their hurting. Even when the woman might be the cause of the pain. It’s a defense mechanism we use so you don’t think we’re weak. A lot of shit has been thrown his way lately, and he needs to figure out how to process it all. Once he thinks about things, he’ll forgive you. It may not be tomorrow, or even the next day, but in time, he’ll understand your reasoning. But you have to let him do it in his time. You can’t go forcing things to happen when they don’t fit in your time table.”

“How did you do it?

“Do what?”

“You were in love with Bridget for years before you finally got together. How could you look at her every time you were at Eden and not do something?”

My hair fluttered with his breath as he let out a sigh. “You have to remember, Little Bit, I had my own hang ups. To me, Bridget was unattainable. She was everything I wasn’t. Bold. Outgoing. I’m a scarred, run-down man who hates talking to most people. My insecurities were what held me back. For a while, they were stronger than even I knew.”

“You have far more restraint than I do. It’s been six years, Connor. Miles and I had one night, and it was the best night of my life. And now, it’s slipped out of my fingers. My heart literally aches, because, for the tiniest moment, I had him and now, I’ve lost him.”

Connor’s arms tightened around me in a supportive squeeze. “You haven’t lost him. I’ve known Miles a long time, Josie. And even though I’ve never said anything because it’s none of my business, I see how he watches you in the office. He looks at you like I look at Bridget. Like his life is a barren wasteland and you are the balm to his aching soul. You’re everything he’s ever wanted, but didn’t know it. He’ll come around.”

My eyes were growing heavy, and I knew Connor needed to get home to Bridget. I pulled out of his embrace and dropped a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for everything. I know I don’t say this often enough, but I love you, Connor. You’re the best big brother I never had. Go home to your fiancée, and give Bridget my love.”

“Don’t give up, Josephine. You’re strong enough for this.”

After Connor left, I locked up, double-checking that all the doors and windows were secure. I took some pain medicine and slipped off to sleep.

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