Chapter 15 - Vince
She didn’t wake for several hours, and I think I was grateful of that with all the poking and prodding the doctors did. An IV was putting liquids back into her body that she had lost, the machine monitoring her heart was quiet, and the pressure cuff was starting again as she opened her eyes. I couldn’t help but stare into those beautiful eyes of hers and I never wanted to look away from them again. Jesus I’d never been so scared in my whole life, and I’d tell her that just as soon as she relayed the same story I made up for the doctors. They have been hovering, and having a guard posted outside of the room was starting to get on my last nerve.
“Hey there beautiful,” I take her hand and kiss it, “We told the doctors that you fell down a flight of stairs, tripped over something. Okay?”
She nods but I’m not sure she understands, “We couldn’t tell them what really happened, because they’d call the cops, and believe me I’m going to be the one to take care of that scumbag for what he’s done to you,” a flicker of understanding, and a small nod again.
“I have to go get them now, but I’ll be back. I promise,” panic so fierce takes hold of her. The hand I was grasping holds mine so tight that I have to stop the wince wanting to take over my face.
“Please, don’t leave me,” she pleads.
I rest my hand atop our joined one, “Okay. But sweetheart if you don’t let go of my fingers they're going to fall off,” she looked startled and as soon as she loosens her grip she just stares at her hand. Fuck I was going to kill him for turning her into this scared woman before me. As soon as I know the doctors buy the story I’m going to ask her and find out what the hell happened.
I click the button on her bed remote to signal to the nurses we’re in need of something, “Yes?” a way too chipper voice sings through.
“She’s awake.”
“Okay, I will call the doctor right away and let him know.”
A few minutes later the white haired man that I’ve been hounding for the last few hours comes in looking tired and well spent. Probably from too long of a shift.
“Glad to see you finally awake Ms. Halaway,” when she says nothing he continues, “Considering your injuries we just want to ask a few questions about how you got these bruises. Would you mind relaying the details so we can be sure we’re giving you the correct care?”
“I fell,” she says.
“You fell, where did you fall?” the doctor asks raising his eyebrow.
“I’m not sure the details are kind of fuzzy.”
“Mhhh Hmmm, try and remember what you can for me,” the doctor responds kindly.
“I was over at Vince’s house, when I tripped over something at the top of his stairs, my feet got tangled, and the next thing I know I’m here waking up,” she is hesitant in places, and the way her eyes keep darting to me there is no way that the doc is buying her story, but since she’s not a minor there is nothing he can do about it. He can go ahead and think I’m a woman beater, but me and Sara know the truth about that and that’s all that matters.
Do you feel safe with him?” the doctor points at me, and it takes a lot to not curl my lip and growl.
She grasps my hand, “Without a doubt.”
The doctor looks at our linked hands, and his mouth turns down, “Maybe he should leave the room.”
“No,” she almost shouts.
He looks taken aback for several seconds when he sees the fear in her eyes before his professional mask slips back into place. He raises his hands to placate Sara, “Of course. You are safe here Ms. Halaway. You have my assurances. He can stay if that is what you want.”
Her hand squeezes mine even tighter, and he has his answer written across her face. His face is sour when he takes the pill he knows he needs to swallow. But he asks one more time, “Are you sure?” when she nods, I can tell it’s swallowed.
“Okay, well from your “fall,” I call see the air quotes as he says the word fall in his voice, “You’ve sustained a break in your cheekbone, as well as two ribs on your right side. You’re going to have some pain breathing and moving around for a while. Since these breaks are in areas we cannot put a cast to help move the healing along you will just need to be patient and be sure to rest as much as possible. We can offer you a brace across the ribs if you’d like, otherwise just take it easy. Most of the other injuries are deep tissue bruises and will take a long time to heal. I have one more thing to tell you but it is private, and suggest you hear the news on your own.”
She looks to me with panic in her eyes, and my fists tighten at my sides. The first chance I got I was going to kill Striker with my bare hands. But for her I try to put a smile on my face, and a reassuring nod, “It will be fine. I will stand right outside the door and you call me if you need me,” Her nod is hesitant, and she watches as I leave her with a look of dread in her eyes. I feel like punching something, tearing something up, or anything to take away that look in her eyes.
Hmmm the guard isn’t here, must have been sent to do something actually useful. Or was only stationed here until she woke? I don’t care enough either way to ask. A few minutes later the doctor exits not even bothering to look my way, but I don’t care, I’m not here for him. I go back into the room, and for once since this whole nightmare began she doesn’t look all that lost. As a matter of fact she looks, more determined than ever.
“What did he say?” she seems startled that I’ve reappeared.
“Nothing, that I’ll be just fine, asked me if you had anything to do with my injuries, and I’ll be given some Tylenol to help with my pain.”
I snort, “Fucking dick,” I shake off the comment and sit at the edge of her bed, “Tylenol? What the fuck will Tylenol do for easing the pain of broken bones?”
“It’s the strong Tylenol, he told me not to give you any. And he gave me a number to call in case I should “fall” again.”
“Will you tell me what happened?” I ask.
She flinches, and groans at the sudden movement. It takes several minutes but she relay’s everything, every detail, and I wish that I could take it from her and carry the burden of watching someone be murdered, watch someone get raped. It’s not something I’m proud of but visiting other MC’s I’ve seen it, and already know what to expect. The first time is always the hardest, but I was raised around it. The hardest part of life was in my face before I even understood the gravity of it. Sara should never have been exposed. But we don’t get to choose all that shit, you get dealt the hand you get dealt and work with what you have. I will help her move forward, and I will do what is needed to help her do it at whatever cost there is. I love her, and I will do anything for her.
Yes, I do love her, there is no second thoughts, or surprise. This woman is strong yet fragile, soft yet hard, kind yet tough, generous yet self-preserved, she is the perfect balance of everything I need. She may have lost her balance since the scales have been fucked with, but we will find a way together to make her into the woman she can be now, maybe even better than she was before. She is strong enough, she has me, and I’m never going to leave her side.
“Marry me,” I drop to my knees. I have no ring, I have no idea where I’m even going to get one, and this life I live in the MC is not right for her but I never want to be apart from her again. Her eyes fill with tears.
“I need answers to my own questions first.”
“You can’t answer this one first?” I ask exasperated.
“Not until you answer mines,” she says.
I stand not knowing how long this will take, “Okay fine, ask.”
“Why wasn’t I able to get a hold of you?” she asks shyly.
“He...the guy that took you changed the number in my phone for Ric, so I’ve been following false orders. I was so caught up in it I haven’t responded to anyone, believe me you're not the first person to be pissed off for my not responding this past week.”
“Don’t ever get caught up enough again to forget to text me. I told you something I don’t tell anyone and then I don’t hear from you in a week, I thought you gave up on us. I worried needlessly,” she condemns me.
“I’m sorry. I thought I made it clear that I wasn’t going to go anywhere,” I say sternly.
“Well you’re not the first person to say that to me,” she spits. There’s my firey girl peeking through.
“Well I’m not those other people, I’m me, and since when have you known me to break my word?”
“I can’t think of a time,” she says reasonably.
I sigh, “I hope there is a day you just take me at my word, but until then I’ll convince you with my actions.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It does piss me off you are punishing me for other people's mistakes, but you are worth the convincing even if it takes the rest of my life. So…,” I drop to my knees again, “How about now?”
“Why didn’t you tell me your MC name was The Kid?”
“Umm because it’s stupid, I didn’t even pick my own name. I started out so young in the club that it just stuck. I’m thirty two years old, it doesn’t fit now, but I’ll be called The Kid until I’m old and gray.”
“What’s going to happen to the scumbag that kidnapped me?”
“He’s hidden in one of the bases we have set up specifically for these kinds of situations. He’s being interrogated, but it doesn’t matter what we find out, because he’s going to die either way. I don’t care about territories. No way am I letting him get away with what he did to you or Brianna.”
She flinches at the name, “Sorry babe.”
She shakes her head, “It’s alright, you’ve done nothing to be sorry for, but I don’t know if I'll ever hear that name again and forget her face.”
“You won’t, but it will get easier as time passes,” I try and soothe.
“That’s hard to believe,” she breaths out on a sigh.
“I know,” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. My beautiful girl.
My knees start to ache on the hard floor, so I stand again.
“Why are you getting up?” she asks.
“My knees are hurting, and the wait for an answer is making other things hurt.”
“Stay down for one more second, and ask me again.”
I do as she says, “Marry me?”
“Ask me like you mean it Vince, and I might say yes.”
“I couldn’t be any more sincere than that simple question to the woman I love more than anyone else in this world. I want to lay my head next to yours, and see your smiling face each time I wake. I don’t want anyone else’s touch but yours, even for the simple everyday touches. Never do I want to be a part from you, because the week leading up to the hours you were in Strikers clutches was the hardest in my life to live through. The two days that you were missing I was sure I would die. Lastly I think we’d make some pretty babies and I want to make as many of them with you as you can stand to pop out.”
Through the tears that started sometime during my speech she snorts out a laugh, “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
I finally stand, and kiss her solidly on the mouth. Her arms come around me, and a small protest begins in her throat as I pull away. Grabbing my hand she looks at me, “Stay,” she starts to move to one side of the bed to make room for me, almost dragging me in with her. There was no way I could tell her no. Before I completely topple over I nod. It's been a week since I've rested, and the last two days I didn't sleep at all. I could not waste a minute of my day until I found her safe. The relief on her face was written in every line.
“Can I have my hand back though? I’d at least like to take off my boots,” she releases me and I make quick work of the laces, then kick them over to the chair.
Both of us being as tall as we are there are only inches left till we meet the end of the mattress. We are going to have to sleep on our sides the whole time but we would make it work.
“Thank you,” I say into her ear. I pull her closer to me and her body molds perfectly to mine. I try so hard not to get an erection started, but there is no helping it.
“For what?” she whispers.
“Saying yes,” I say.
“I love you Vince there’s no reason not to.”
I kiss the shell of her ear, “I love you too. I hate that I’ve waited so long to say it, because I’ve felt it since the first time I laid eyes on you. I don’t want you associating my love with all you've seen in the last few days.”
She starts to turn in my arms, but whimpers when she hits a sore spot.
“Stop moving.”
She nods, “I won't let him ruin this for us. He’s taken more than enough to last a lifetime,” she says through gritted teeth as she adjusts back to a place that's comfortable. I think she will say more, but once her breathing starts to even out, and her body relaxes in my arms I know she’s fallen asleep. I lay there for a long time, thinking about everything and nothing, and somewhere in between I let it all fade long enough to sleep.
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I wake up to a limb hitting my torso that sends me toppling to the floor. When I come to, I realize that it was Sara that had hit me. She has no idea since her eyes are shut tight trapped in a nightmare. She’s moaning and writhing on the bed all arms and legs. I get back in trapping her body against my own, making sure she’s unable to escape, she struggles, but I have her, and start to speak her name. When her eyes finally open they are wide with fear as they search the room.
“Sara, you are in the hospital, you are safe, I have you,” I say to her in my soothing tone, the one I would use when Teddy woke after a night of watching horror flicks when I wasn’t there to stop him.
A pained moan escapes her lips, as her body comes down from the adrenaline rushing through her veins. Her eyes clear after a few moments of me wrapped around her, tears streaking a path down her cheeks. She burrows further into me, I continue whispering soft words, and I'm thankful when she drifts back to sleep somewhere between your safe and I love you.
She probably didn’t sleep much when Striker had her, and the doctor said that she would need more sleep than usual to help the healing along. If the nightmares become a constant thing I'll have to insist she get that brace, and maybe sleeping pills. She'll only injure herself if I don't. I call it a blessing that she doesn’t wake again in the night.
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