Alex

 

Everything looked different in the light of day, including the blood soaking through my shirt. I had to accept that there was nothing more I could do to stop the bleeding. I just had to make a plan now and keep going.

I decided to head further down the mountain, knowing that water should be my next goal. I could go without food, but not water. It also would allow me to clean my wounds and assess my injuries again. From every cowboy movie I’ve seen, water always led to civilization.

With each shaky step, I carefully proceeded. Each sharp pain reminded me that my damaged body needed attention immediately.

Like I could forget.

This was as real as it got. My new reality didn’t allow for miscalculations. I knew I had one shot of making it out of here.

Suddenly, a noise broke the quiet. Was my mind playing cruel tricks on me? Was I being followed? I dove for cover and cringed, hearing the pain in my voice. A few minutes later, several deer walked past. My head collapsed on my arm in relief.

Fuck. I was being paranoid at this point.

Then I realized that the deer needed water, too. I began to climb out of the brush, my arms now abused by the thorns. I didn’t care about the bleeding scratches.

My racing heart began to slow. I needed to remain calm and rational, but the truth was that I wasn’t remotely equipped to handle this. I was hanging on to my sanity by a thread.

I hesitated. By the looks of it, the deer trail seemed logical to follow, but the climb down was extremely steep. I decided the trek was worth the risk if it led me to water. Yet each step was also leading me further and further into the woods, away from any roads—and any help. I knew I couldn’t go back now. I just had to keep going.

The agony of my ankle overshadowed my gut, which seemed to have numbed. I found this development disturbing, and assumed it wasn’t a good sign. I began to shake, and the sudden chill caused me to slip my jacket back on. I had taken it off hours ago because of the heat.

I recognized other symptoms that made me believe I was now in shock. I had reduced alertness, I was confused, and I felt very sleepy. The throbbing in my head was an afterthought, for now. I walked for hours, continually fighting the urge to rest. I was afraid I wouldn’t get back up. For the first time in my life, I thought of the what-ifs. If I died alone here in the wilderness, would my body ever be found? It was unlikely. Madison would never know what happened. I seemed to be unraveling, piece by piece. I had to keep trying, for her, and for me.

Then, out of the blue, I came upon a fence, and in the distance, I could see a stream flowing. My spirits lifted with relief. Slowly, I tried to process the obstacle in front of me. How would I climb the fence without causing additional harm to myself?

I had to conquer the fence.

I inhaled slowly, considering what to do. Several scenarios invaded my mind, all of them ending badly. I just had to take one small step at a time. I laid my jacket over the sharp metal, inserted my good foot into the chain links, and pushed myself over with everything I had. I tried to ignore the pain in order to protect my landing. To my utter surprise, I landed good foot first. Where was a camera when you need one?

I pushed onward, knowing the reward to come. My focus was clear despite the pain. I kept my feet moving with purpose. Finally, I reached the edge and collapsed onto my side, cupping water in my hands and drinking it. Tears began to flood down my face and sharp memories from last night’s wreck ran vividly through my mind.

I had made it this far, broken, bruised, and bloody, and I was fucking alive. I would rest here for a while, then go on with newfound strength.

After cleaning my wound, which was still seeping blood, I placed a new clean portion of my shirt back in its place. I secured it in the same manner as before and took advantage of the cold water by resting my swollen foot in the stream. I’d gone through hell, but it wasn’t over yet.

I considered resting here for the night. The source of water was appealing. Falling silent for the moment, sore and hurting, I swallowed the pain, but a sense of hopelessness began to sneak into my heart. I tried to fight it, but the mental images in my mind were ripping through me like glass.

I took a breath and gently reminded myself that I was loved, and that love was replicated. I needed to survive for Madison, because we had a future.

And I also had to fucking kill Graham. I had certainly underestimated my calculating and conniving opponent. He was a man who lacked a conscience. He was so rooted in evil that he wouldn’t last too long on this earth. Karma would eventually work her magic, and he would pay—with or without my help.

I allowed the water to run through my bloodied hair, and then I threw cold water on my face. I was starting to carve out a place to stay for the night before the cool temperatures approached, but they came faster than I expected down in the valley.

I woke many times during the night. My task was simple: survive. It was extremely cold, and my lungs burned every time I attempted to catch my breath. It occurred to me that I may have also broken a rib or punctured a lung. I looked into the darkness as doubt and fear pumped through my veins. Had I finally reached my limit?

I allowed myself to think of her as I finally drifted off, even as panic gnawed at my insides. Blessed sleep eventually took me to a peaceful, pain-free place.

 

***

 

“Hey, buddy, you okay?”

I felt a boot kick that jerked me awake. I glanced over my shoulder, assuming I was dreaming or hallucinating. Either way, I was going back to sleep.

“Hey.”

I felt a strong hand shaking me. I glanced back over my shoulder to see two men wearing camo. They were also carrying two rifles. Both were clad in orange vests.

“Call Madison. No wait… Call 911.”

I was tumbling into madness, even as I tried to fight it.

“Help me, please.”

My heart stopped beating for a second, clouding my judgment. My perception was foggy as the drumming of my pulse hammered at me.

“Can you walk?”

I shook my head no. I knew I couldn’t walk out of here on my own. The sudden emotion filling my chest caused me to fade in and out. Hope was dangling in front of me, tormenting me. I had to get home. Home to Madison.

“Roger, call 911. Use the satellite phone. They may need to call in a helicopter. He looks bad.”

“Thank you, God.”

The roar of the helicopter blades sounded ferocious as it hovered above me, yet it still didn’t drown out the pounding in my head. It revived my senses, reminding me that help was here.

An agonizing relief swept over me, but I shoved it aside, allowing room for the anger to surge through my body as revenge became the center of my attention.

I was lifted easily in a basket and floated above the trees as they secured me inside. They began to cut off my clothes.

Please not my jacket.

Assessing the injuries, I felt their hands on me, moving over my body. I was unable to pry my eyes away. Their remarks to each other blended into one overwhelming chaotic noise.

“What’s your name?”

Alex.

“Can you hear me? What’s your name?”

“Alex Storm.”

My mouth was dry, so it came out weak and groggy-sounding.

There was more talk above me.

“Alex, stay with me.”

The voice was anything but gentle as I heard the worry and urgency in it. My skull was splitting apart as the seams, thunder and lightning charging through my body.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

I strained to make sense of my situation as the pieces began to filter back in. I forced myself back to the present moment, away from the mind-numbing panic in the woods.

“You’re safe now.”

Maybe, but I was still shivering, bruised, and broken. Then there was a sharp pin prick, and I as flooded with a warm numbness, and I finally found some peace.

 

***

 

I woke to white walls and the faint smell of disinfectant. My eyes darted across the room in confusion. Immediately, the memories came rushing in. I tried pushing them away, but the horrors clung to me. My senses were still on high alert. I breathed in and out slowly, and it was all I could do to stay calm.

Suddenly a woman in white came in, answering the high pitch of the vital signs monitor.

“Mr. Storm, do you know where you are?”

“Hospital.”

She reached for the cup of water with the bendy straw and placed it to my lips. Staring at the sight in front of me, she looks like a smiling angel in white. I gulped the water down quickly.

“Okay, not too much,” she said, and pulled it away. “I don’t want you to get nauseous. The doctor will arrive shortly.” She rested her cold hands on my arm and I flinched. “Sorry, they’re always a bit cold. Let’s get your vitals.”

The door opened and a man with a white coat stood at the foot of my bed.

“Alex, I’m Dr. Barrs.” He lifted the chart that the nurse just handed him. “You’re a very lucky man.”

Am I?

“You were in a car accident. How much do you remember?”

“Just pieces of it.”

I felt a surge of terror.

“I’m not surprised. The memories may come back, or they may not.”

He flipped through the chart page by page, his glasses hanging loosely from his nose.

“Alex, you have a concussion, so that may account for the fogginess. The good news is that there’s no internal injuries. The puncture wound missed all your internal organs, and there’s no sign of an infection. But you did lose quite a bit of blood. We’ve got it under control. Should I continue?”

He tucked the steel file under his arm, meeting my gaze.

“Yes, go on. Pain,” I said with so much effort.

“I’m sorry about that, Alex. I held off on your morning pain medications so we could have a chance to talk. I needed you conscious.” A warm, compassionate smile appeared on his face. “You also have a bad sprain in your ankle, but no hairline fractures. There’s also the two broken ribs, but there’s not much we can do for those but wrap you up tightly. It will be a slow healing process, I’m sorry to report.”

I nodded, absorbing the facts, even as my mind was still clouded with pain.

“We’re going to keep you here overnight for observation, but considering the facts of the accident, Alex, you’re lucky to be alive.”

I watched as he looked at my nurse. Then she inserted a needle into my line. The pain subsided quickly, replaced with a feeling of weightlessness. Now I was bound to no one. I allowed the feeling to take me away.

Later they woke me to give me more meds and then they forced me to drink chicken broth.

“Mr. Storm, you have some visitors, and they’re all anxious to see you,” my new nurse said as she took my vitals. “We’ve moved you out of intensive care, but please keep it down to one person at a time.”

A prickle of fear caused me to shut down mentally. It was irrational, but panic was beginning to set in, and I realized that the only person who could help me was right outside that door.

“Can you ask Theo Grant to come in?”

I was able to reach the water on my own now, so I did. Then I saw a very tired, very worried friend appear in my line of vision.

He stood frozen, as if already trying to analyze me.

“You do realize that your brother and Madison were fuming when I was asked to come in.”

“I’m sure.” I rested the cup on the table. A small groan escaped as my ribs screamed at me. “But I needed to see you first.”

“Okay.” He pulled a chair closer. “How much do you remember?”

“That is wasn’t an accident. A black SUV collided with me and purposely pushed me off that cliff.” Theo didn’t seem as shocked as I’d anticipated. “But I don’t want anyone such as the authorities to know about Graham’s part in this. As far as they are concerned, this was purely an accident on my part.”

“Do I want to know why?”

“No.”

His brows bumped together disapprovingly.

“Madison heard from Graham, and he alluded to being the one responsible.”

I couldn’t breathe. Even knowing that this was the case, hearing it confirmed scared the hell out of me.

“So what’s to stop him from trying again?”

“Steel and his team. Now, can we talk about the last forty-eight hours? How did you survive? Let’s put aside future plans of revenge and just concentrate on your healing. Both physically and emotionally.”

“Yes, doctor.”

I felt the tremor in my voice as I attempt to speak, but I push on. I quickly focused on the highlights. I wasn’t ready to revisit the place that had brought me to my knees. Not yet. I just wanted this poison, this anger, out of my system.

“It’s like my head is playing tricks on me, catapulting me back into the deep dark woods.”

Our eyes met, and mine were filled with rage. His were filled with compassion.

“Pieces of my ordeal are coming together quickly, as if I’m truly reliving each and every moment.”

I tried to explain it the best I could.

“You’re showing sign of PTSD, my friend. What I’m saying is that you can’t keep everything bottled up inside. Eventually you’ll need to talk to someone who specializes in this.”

Maybe.

“It’s all I can do to stay calm, Theo. The panic attacks, the nightmares—it’s as if it’s pitch black outside, and I have to crawl my way to safety.”

“You still have many lingering symptoms of shock.” He stood then, making his way to my window and sliding the heavy drapes open, allowing the sun’s rays to shine in. “That’s better.”

“Or sometimes it’s as if something is numbing all my emotions, both good and bad.”

I watched him take his seat again.

“I didn’t realize how quickly the man I was before could be destroyed so easily.”

At this admission, my throat closed and I turned away.

“Alex, that’s your body’s own way of protecting itself from the trauma you just experienced.”

I couldn’t help but admire his resolve. That’s what made him such a good doctor.

Only I wasn’t prepared to tell him yet that hidden deep within me was a hatred so strong it was actually festering. It was a scab I wanted to pick off and watch bleed. I wanted revenge. Justice. Maybe even something more. I wanted him to hurt and to suffer, and I wanted to be the man inflicting all those things.

“I think Madison will soon be breaking down this door if I don’t return and let her in.”

I nodded in understanding and watched him leave.

Then the door cautiously opened and I observed her move with grace toward me.

“No worries, baby,” I said, attempting to turn on the charm, but she wanted no part of it.

Instead, she slipped in close to me, carefully avoiding any injuries I might have, and buried her face in my neck.

“I thought I’d lost you.”

Her words shook me to my core, and I felt her tears landing on my shoulder.

“What’s all this?” I whispered.

She glanced up, her blue eyes filled with tears.

“It’s all my fault,” she declared.

“Is that what you think?” I wiped a tear from her cheek. “No, we knew the risks we were taking, remember?”

I was so drawn to her, and she didn’t realize it, but she’d saved me out there. Wrapped in her love both then and now, she was somehow able to chase away my deep fears, which were hidden behind the walls I’d constructed.

“It must have been a nightmare.”

“It was, but I kept returning to the memories of us, and they saved me. You saved me. You’re the most important person in the world to me.”

Our lips brushed against each other’s, her moist, plump ones against my chapped, dry ones.

My erection came to life with startling urgency. Apparently, I had no injury in that department.

“I go home tomorrow. Say you’ll come with me.”

“Of course.” She held me gently, her breath still on my neck. Her familiar scent surrounded me like a cocoon. “I’d love to stay wrapped in your arms forever, but your brother is here to see you. I’ll pick up some supplies and be here in the morning to take you home.”

With a sigh of relief, she kissed me goodbye and left.

Ben entered next. His dark suit and starched collar were all business. The large vase in his arms filled with flowers? Not so much.

“I must have died and gone to heaven. Those from you?”

“Hardly,” he said as he set them on the shelf and grabbed the card, handing it to me.

“The office is a lot quieter without you,” he teased gently.

“I bet.”

I read the card. It was from Janelle.

 

Good news: we settled out of court. Your chivalry apparently convinced the lawyers that her claims weren’t legitimate. Her case was just falling apart. You saved me, my charming friend, and I owe you—big. Get well soon, Janelle Xxoo

 

“From one of my many admirers.”

I smiled as he turned to the shelf, resting the only bouquet where I could see it.

“Ah, the only one, apparently.”

He took the same seat as all the others had, and let his head drop to his chest.

“I’m okay, Ben. A little banged up, but okay.”

Our eyes met, and I noticed that his eyes were welling up. He reached for my hand.

“Says the man with a head injury and several broken bones.”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

A corner of his mouth lifted and a partial smile appeared. He had been my rock and my sidekick ever since we were little. I understood his concerns. If the situation were flipped, I would feel the exact same.

“I’ll be fine, Ben. I just need a little time.”

“Okay, big brother. I’ll stop by the house this week. Can I bring you anything?”

“Yes, a new Audi R8. Maybe red this time.”

We smiled at that and he left.

Then I was all alone. Well, as alone as you could be in a hospital. My thoughts drifted back to Steel and my plan. I felt a certain calm that justice was within reach, but Graham still owned my nightmares.

They came at me in waves. I must have yelled out once during the night, because it woke me. I found myself both sweating and shivering. Alone in the dark, the only sound was that damn monitor, beeping. Then the nurse arrived and checked me over, helping me calm my breathing. She tried to reassure me that I was alright, but morning was still a long way off.

But I welcomed dawn. Its arrival meant I was going home.

 

***

 

Madison drove me home in hopes that she would be caring for me, but helpless Alex was not happy Alex. I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to see me under those conditions. But Nurse Perry did have a nice ring to it.

We slowed down when we reached the upscale area. I lived on a tree-lined cul-de-sac. The winding driveway weaved as the house came into view. It had been built with brick and stone, and I had painstakingly worked with the architect for over a year to get it just right. I even decorated every corner myself. Much to everyone’s surprise, and the endless mocking of my male friends, it had turned out great, and I liked having a place with my stamp on it. All the guys had eaten their words when I’d showed them the six-car tandem garage—every spot filled, by the way.

We parked on the circled drive. In the distance, the sounds of rustling leaves triggered a flashback, but I stomped it down before it could take hold.

“It’s beautiful, Alex.”

I didn’t hide my pride. I smiled instead, knowing the best was yet to come. The place was a showstopper, alright, nested within the trees, yet not obstructing the panoramic views of the Eastern Sierra Mountains. Mount Rose only a fifteen-minute drive to skiing. There were many year-round activities. If you liked hiking, the lake only an hour away. I was excited to share all of this with Madison.

“Hey, baby, Steel is arriving shortly. I’ll give you the tour after he leaves, okay?”

Her curious look didn’t go unnoticed, but I had to put my plan in motion—at once.

“Alright.”

She helped me to the front door. I wanted to rip my arm away, telling her I could walk up five damn stairs, but I withheld the petty urge. That wouldn’t be starting things off on the right foot.

“But you’ll rest before?”

I agreed as we made our way up the grand staircase to the master bedroom. Madison’s eyes traveled around the open-floor space as we ascended one step at a time.

“I can make you something to eat. Are you’re hungry?”

She sat on the side of my king-size bed once I’d been tucked in and gave me a half smile.

I had to admit that I was practically pain-free laying here in my comfortable bed, in my familiar surroundings. It was also drug-induced, of course.

“I forgot to mention—I hired a cook who also cleans a bit. I’ve used her before. You’ll love her. She’ll be here to cook dinner.”

Madison looked surprised at this, but I only wanted her company when she was here, not her cleaning or cooking skills.

“Oh,” she said. “So, you’re only interested in my nursing skills now? How about a sponge bath?”

I wanted much more than that. Fuck, there were no injuries down there. My cock was in full form.

Before I had a chance to address her flirty comment, the doorbell rang and she reluctantly left my side to answer it. A few minutes later, she peeked her head in.

“It’s Steel. Do you want me to show him in here?”

I wasn’t keen on Steel seeing me in this condition, but walking down the stairs didn’t appeal to me, either.

“Thanks babe. Please send him up.”

Steel knocked on my door a few moments later, even though it was open. His form was overpowering as he stood in my doorway. I was reminded of how powerful his presence could be, but that only proved that he was the right man for the job.

“Feeling any better, Mr. Storm?”

He slowly approached me, then slid a chair closer.

“A little. And you can call me Alex.”

He nodded, despite the fact that it wouldn’t have been his first choice.

“Alex, I’ve handled a few of the details you requested. There’s been no media attention, and I’ve been withholding any evidence that would suggest the crash was anything but an accident.”

“Did you find him?”

The eagerness in my voice was thick with rage.

“We’ve had a minor setback. We learned that after the accident, he left Nevada on his father’s private jet. We’re trying to locate the flight plan to find out his whereabouts. With his vast resources and connections across the globe—not to mention his endless supply of funds—it’s not surprising that we lost him—temporarily.”

“He’s more clever than we anticipated,” I grumbled. “And he did a good job of covering his tracks. This all leads me to believe that this isn’t the first time he’s done something like this.”

I made a mental note to get Ben to approve the use of the company jet, if it was needed.

“Steel, do whatever it takes to find him and bring him back.” I handed him a card. “Here’s the address of a warehouse I’m renovating. I’ve stopped all construction for the time being. I’ll also secure the use of our company jet, if needed.”

Steel nodded, understanding what it was that I wanted.

“Once you find him, detain him there. Call me once he’s at the location.”

I was well aware of the fact that this was insane, but to get my sanity back, I needed to do this.

“Oh, and Steel? Blindfold him immediately, once you get your hands on him.”

Shaking him up a bit beforehand would only heighten the eventual experience.

“Yes, sir.”