CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
TRISH
“Hey,” I mumbled the second Lex walked through the door.
I sighed.
I wanted to get the hell out of here. I hated hospitals and I hated the smell of disinfectant. After having my neck stitched, my wrists bandaged and being questioned by the police, it was four in the morning. I was exhausted and I was dying for a shower.
Fortunately, the feeling came back to my arms, hands, legs and feet, but not-so-fortunately, the tingling and cramping was horrendous and made me cry. I preferred the numbness over the pain.
Lex didn’t say anything as she walked toward me, but at her first glimpse of the bandage on my neck, the tears rained down her face.
“I’m okay,” I whispered.
“You could have died, T,” she cried and my hand automatically flew to the bandage that covered the stitches on the side of my neck. I closed my eyes and thought about the scar I’d have there. I didn’t care about vanity, but I didn’t want the reminder. I didn’t even know how big the cut was; it wasn’t like the nurses handed out mirrors instead of medicine in this place.
I dropped my arms because I couldn’t hold them up any longer.
Then, I grabbed my bandaged wrists because I couldn’t forget about them.
“Have you heard about Bobbie Jo?” I asked. I was uncomfortable with how I felt about the woman who kidnapped me. I hated her and I didn’t want to have sympathy for her, but after the screams I’d heard from her when Zacharias had her, I did.
“She’s in the ICU, she’s still unconscious, but they think she’ll make it.”
I nodded. If she made it, BJ was going to have a nice long vacation in the woman’s correctional facility to look forward to… and Tonya’s instead of Tony’s.
“Did they tell you when I could go home?” I asked.
Lex shook her head. “No, you know how hospitals are. I’m surprised you didn’t refuse to stay.”
I groaned when I realized that I should have done that. “I can’t be here any longer, Lex. I’m tired and I want a shower.” Plus, they just gave me some really good pain meds before Lex walked in and I wanted to feel loopy at home, not here.
“Move outta my fuckin’ way!” I heard barked outside the door. I stiffened when I heard the commotion that followed.
“Why is he still here?” I asked Lex in a whisper. I was surprised they hadn’t thrown his ass out yet. Every five damn minutes he was fighting with someone.
“He refuses to leave until he sees you,” she answered angrily. “Landyn and Adam are outside; they won’t let him in.”
Well, that sounded good until the door was thrown open and Tony came barreled through. Landyn and Adam chased after him, but they both stopped dead in their tracks when they saw me.
Tony didn’t stop until he stood right in front of me and I turned my face away. I had to grab at the bandage on my neck because the sudden movement hurt, but I didn’t miss the bruises on his face, or the bag that he set neck to me on the bed.
“Please look at me,” Tony said softly, his tone tormented.
“Leave,” I begged.
A hand touched the bandage at my wrist and I snatched it away and glared at him.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Tony, but there’s still one more bitch left in the world,” I hissed at him, as I threw his hateful words back in his face.
I panicked when tears pooled in his eyes and fell down his face; not a rapid flow, but slow and steady. I’d only seen him cry once before and it was heart-wrenching. I didn’t even bother fighting back my own tears.
“I didn’t mean what I said,” he whispered. I shook my head because I wasn’t going to let him do this to me now.
“Yes, you did, Tony, but it doesn’t matter,” I said softly and continued. “I don’t blame you for what happened to me; it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t take me at gunpoint or leave me handcuffed for hours and you didn’t nearly slit my throat. So, you can leave here knowing that this had nothing to do with you. I don’t blame you for not wanting me anymore,” I finished and meant every word, but I had no idea where my strength came from.
Tony’s glassy eyes never veered from mine and his expression was haunted.
“Mi reina, you can’t really believe I didn’t want you anymore. I know I fucked up… so many times I’ve fucked up with you, but never this bad. If you only knew how much I regret the last few years of my life. I love you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. I knew that he knew. He might feel guilty for what happened, but this was something else altogether. He wouldn’t be here only out of guilt. Earlier he’d even wished me dead.
“Someone told you, didn’t they? Was it Lex?” I looked at the guilty party. “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” I asked softly. “You feel sorry for me now or sorry about my mother… surely she told you I was almost raped as a child. Maybe you feel like you owe me an apology for taking my virginity. This is exactly why I didn’t tell you about my past. I wanted to know that you trusted me and loved me without knowing any of that. It would have been honest then. Now, you’re just saying these things out of pity.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Please just leave,” I whispered and turned my face away before the sobs struck.
I felt movement and a hand moved the hair off my face to touch my cheek. Tony leaned into me and I felt his mouth at my ear.
“I love you, Trish. I’ve never stopped loving you. I understand why you didn’t tell me about your past, but I admit, I wish you would have. I’d never have wasted two fuckin’ years of our lives feeling sorry for myself because I thought the only woman I ever loved ripped out my heart for a little payback. You’re right though; I should have trusted you without knowing anything about your past and I’m ashamed that I didn’t… and I might not have trusted you, but I did love you... I’ll always love you. I’ll live the rest of my life loving only you,” he whispered and kissed my cheek.
He continued, “Come home with me... to our home.”
“I don’t have a home,” I whispered through my tears.
He pulled me into his embrace, but kept his hold gentle.
“Your home is with me, Trish. My home is with you.”
I shook my head against his chest. “I’m going back Lex… to my apartment. We don’t belong together, Tony. We don’t work.”
“We’ll work,” he said confidently. “I’ll do all the work for the both of us.”
“No.” I tried to push him away, but I was too sore. When Tony realized my intention, he backed up and I wiped away my tears.
“Knock, knock!” Someone called out as they also knocked on the half open door. I made eye contact with the doctor. She glanced at everyone the room and asked, “Is it okay if I come in?”
“Only if you’re releasing me; if not, I’d run,” I said in a poor attempt at humor… scratch that, I was serious.
She smiled.
“How are you feeling, Patricia?” the doctor asked and me, Tony, Lex, Landyn, and Adam all said, “Just Trish,” at the same time. I snorted a little when the doctor stiffened.
“Sorry,” I muttered. “I feel good, I’m just sore and my neck still hurts.”
“That will probably last a week. Have you had any dizzy spells; headaches?”
I shook my head. “I’m just sore.”
“Well, I’ve already released you. I’m surprised your fiancé didn’t tell you. He signed the paperwork outside. He has your prescription for antibiotics and I want you to take them to prevent infection. And remember to keep the stitches clean. Detailed instructions are in your release paperwork, but don’t forget to see your regular physician in a week to have them removed.”
I didn’t hear anything she said after the word “fiancé”.