Page 125 of Beneath the Surface

“No,” I say, just like earlier. “No drugs.” I turn my gaze to Chase, suddenly desperate for them to understand. “Don’t let them give me any drugs.”

Chase’s lips turn down in the corner, his fingers squeezing mine. “I won’t let them, Lil.”

The doctor nods. “Alright, then we’ll get you taken care of and you should be out of here within the next couple hours.”

* * *

Three and a half hours later,Chase pulls into his driveway, turning off the engine and sighing as he looks over at me. “You’re not gonna run again, are you?”

Gritting my teeth, I shake my head. “I can’t take Chase away from the only family he’s ever known.”

He nods, sucking on his teeth. “Good. I’d just find you again, anyway.”

I stare down at my hand, the urge to scratch at my wrist strong, but as I go to move, a stinging pain in my shoulder reminds me that my arm is in a sling, and I can’t.

“Are you gonna be okay?” he asks.

I shrug. The past few weeks combined with the events of today coagulating until they’re a giant blood clot, forcing my heart to work double time in order to simply beat.

He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. I continue to stare at him, the haze creeping up over my mind, whispering that it can protect me. Keep me safe from having to deal with these pesky emotions.

“I called Sam and Anna. They wanted to come to the hospital, but I told them I wasn’t sure if you would want C to see you like this.”

My chest squeezes at the nickname that everyone in the family has taken to using for my baby boy.

“You’re right. Thank you.” The throbbing intensifies in my head. I’m sure I look like a complete disaster, but I’m scared to look in the mirror, not wanting to see the sins of my past showing as bruises on my face. I try to move to open the car door, but forgetagainthat my arm is in a sling, andeverythinghurts. Tears burn behind my eyes, frustration making me grit my teeth. “Can you... can you help me open the door?” I stutter out.

Chase’s lips draw down as he nods. “There’s one more thing.” He cringes. “You’re probably gonna want to kill me, but he deserved to know. He would havewantedto know.”

My insides freeze. “Who is ‘he’?”

“Mason. He’s here.”

His hand waves in front of us, to the black Harley Davidson that’s parked off to the side—the one I didn’t take time to notice when we first pulled in. My lungs cramp and I suck in a breath, hurt clashing against visceral need, my vulnerability not knowing which one to cling to.

I lean my head back against the headrest, unsure how to feel. Part of me is still so angry with him. But the bigger part of me craves his comfort, knowing he’s the only person who has ever been able to bring me back when I’m feeling lost in the wind. Blowing out a slow breath, I nod.

“Well, let’s go in and greet him.”

58

Mason

Car doors slam and my body jolts upright, my heart banging against my chest cavity, body tensed and itching to get close to Lily. I have no idea how she’s going to react to me being here. And maybe it was stupid. Maybe it was selfish to come when she’s been through so much. Especially since she most likely wants nothing to do with me.

But I couldn’tnotcome.

I’m up and out of my seat before the front door even opens. Alina—who has been the picture of southern hospitality—is on my heels, as we move to the hallway that leads to the entry. My footsteps halt when the door opens and Chase walks in, his arm wrapped around Lily’s waist.

My stomach tenses as my eyes soak her in. Her right arm is in a sling, but it’s overshadowed by her face, which has been turned into a canvas of blacks, blues, and purples. The entire right side is swollen, a giant contusion sitting on top of her forehead. Both of her beautiful eyes are surrounded by rings of color, and my body rages at the need to find the motherfucker who did this. Show the stupid son of a bitch what happens to people who think they cantouchher and not have any consequences.

Her eyes glance up and lock on mine, my chest pulling so tight I feel faint. The blood vessels have ruptured in her right eye, bleeding into her iris, and I bite back the anger that’s sparking in my veins at seeing my little bird look so broken.

I can’t help but feel like part of the responsibility for her ending up like this falls on me. After all, it wasmewho ensured she’d come back here. It wasmewho was so lost in the threat of my father, that I didn’t even consider the threat waiting for her in Tennessee.

It wasmewho was a coward and ran without talking, instead of letting her be a part of her decision. And it wasmethinking I knew best, instead of consulting her on the safety of her own life and that of her son’s.

Regret is a hell of a thing. It’s heavy as it presses down, forcing me to my knees. I’m ashamed of myself for allowing Lily to leave my life so effortlessly. For not fighting to make her understand.

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