Sadie
THE PLANE TOUCHED down in Savannah early the next morning, and I had to admit, flying first class didn’t suck. I hadn’t checked any bags, so I took a minute to stop in the ladies’ room and freshen up a bit, texting Ryder as I left the bathroom.
I headed toward the end of the secure area, but instead of finding Ryder waiting outside baggage claim, he stood just beyond the security barriers, holding a bouquet of orange roses. His face lit up when he saw me, and I took a running leap at him, throwing myself into his arms.
He lifted me off my feet, kissing my neck and then my lips. “Hey, baby.”
“Hi,” I whispered, hugging him tight.
He lowered me to my feet and stroked my cheek. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Ditto.” I leaned into his touch. “How’s your sister?”
“She’s better. She came through surgery well, but she’s going to be in the hospital for most of the week.”
“That’s great,” I said, relieved. “Shall we go there first?”
“Visiting hours are over, but it’s okay... she’s asleep. They’re gonna call me if she wakes up. She’s also heavily guarded, so she’s safe.” He smiled. “How about we head to breakfast, then I’ll take you to your hotel.”
“Oh, shoot, I forgot to book a hotel room!”
Ryder chuckled. “I’ve got it covered, baby.”
“You do?”
“I booked the room adjoining mine.”
“You’re amazing.” I leaned against him with a smile. “Thanks, honey.”
“Before you put on the hero worship, I debated on telling you the hotel was full so you’d be forced to sleep with me.”
“You’re ridiculous.” I giggled. “Still amazing, but also ridiculous.”
“I’m gonna want to keep the door between our rooms open as much as possible.” He grabbed my bag, handed me the roses, and then wrapped an arm around my waist. “You’ve been warned.”
“I can live with that.”
“Good answer.” He kissed my temple and led me to his rental car. “How was the flight? Did you navigate the airport okay?”
“You mean, did Reese hold my hand and lead me around like a child?” I retorted. “Yes.”
“I didn’t ask him to do that, Sadie.”
“Well, he did it anyway,” I said with a frown.
“I’ll talk to him.”
I sighed. “No, don’t. You have enough on your plate. I’m just a little tired. I’m sure Reese was just trying to help.”
“Yeah, baby, he would have been. Let’s get you something to eat and maybe a nap.”
“Probably a good plan.”
After breakfast, Ryder drove me to the hotel. He’d checked in with the hospital three times while we were at the restaurant and Scottie was still sleeping on an off and barely lucid, so there was time for me to unpack and maybe even shower.
He pushed open the door and I took in the space. A king-sized bed sat against the west wall, a sofa and coffee table next to it. Around the corner was a marble bathroom, and the window overlooked Savannah. It was beautiful to say the least.
“The room’s really nice, honey,” I said as he followed me inside. “A little fancy, don’t you think?”
“I’m a fancy guy.”
I smiled. “Right, I forgot about that.”
He chuckled, taking a moment to kiss me thoroughly before opening the door between our rooms.
“Tell me what happened with Scottie,” I said as I opened my bag and pulled out my bathroom supplies.
He filled me in, although I had a feeling he was leaving a few details out. What he told me was horrific enough, but I wanted him to feel like he could tell me everything if he needed to.
I bit my lip as I asked, “Eleven years old?”
“Yeah,” he breathed out. “Just turned eleven and she’d been in the house about a week. The reason Scottie was so badly beaten was because she’d gotten between one of the men and Molly in an effort to protect her.”
I gasped. “Oh, honey, that’s awful.”
He nodded, running his hands through his hair as he sat on the edge of the bed.
“How many girls were there all together?”
“Thirteen.”
I made my way to him, sliding between his open legs and wrapping my arms around his neck. “I don’t even want to think about what might have happened if the authorities hadn’t found them.”
He shook his head, settling his cheek to my chest, pulling me closer. “Me neither.”
I ran my fingers through his hair and took a minute to pray. “You did good, Ryder.”
“Not good enough to find her sooner.”
“Honey, you helped to rescue twelve young girls and Scottie. You absolutely were good enough.”
He dropped his head back to meet my eyes and studied me, sliding his hand to my neck and drawing me close, nose to nose. “Do you know how beautiful you are?”
“Ryder.”
“You calm me, you make me feel safe, as weird as that sounds. I don’t feel out of control when I’m with you. You steady me. You make me want to be better... a man worthy of you. A man worthy of your world.”
“Honey.” I blinked back tears as I stroked his beard.
“Thank you for coming, baby. I seriously think I’d go off the rails if you weren’t here.”
“I’m happy to be the third rail so to speak... keep you electrified and on course.”
He burst out laughing, pulling me to him. “Damn, you’re funny.”
“I needed to get off the heavy subject,” I admitted.
“Okay, baby, I get it. Apparently, I’m the romantic in this relationship.”
I slid my hands back in his hair. “I don’t have a whole lot of experience in this department, but I think that’s a good assumption to go with.”
“I’ll be your romance guide, baby.”
“Thank you.” I kissed him gently.
Ryder shifted and pulled his phone out of his front pocket, keeping me anchored to him. “Ryder Carsen. Yeah. Be there in five. Okay, thanks.” He hung up and kissed me quickly. “Scottie’s waking up. I want to get there before she’s fully lucid.”
“Of course.” I smiled. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“Always.”
“Ryder.” I squeezed his shoulders. “It’s okay if you want time alone with your sister. I don’t mind.”
He rose to his feet and lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my palm. “I’m gonna say this once, yeah? There will always be a place for you with me, Sadie. You never have to question whether or not it’s the right thing. I like you. I like being close to you, so considering the fact I have to go and see my baby sister who’s been beat to shit, I’d really like my train conductor there to make sure I don’t touch the third rail.”
“No, honey, I am the third rail... I keep you electrified.”
“Oh, right. Okay, third rail, electrify me.”
I couldn’t help but giggle. “Okay, Shakespeare. I’ll come with you.”
“Thanks, baby.”
He kissed me one more time then led me out to the car and drove to the hospital.
* * *
Once inside, Ryder gripped my hand as we walked down the hallways and into ICU where his sister was recovering. I bit back a whimper at the sight of the tiny woman in the large bed. Her face was swollen, a bandage around her head, her leg elevated, also wrapped in copious amounts of bandage. I’d seen women broken and bruised from domestic violence before, but nothing as bad as this.
“You okay?” Ryder whispered, turning to face me.
“Yes. I’m okay.” I blinked up at him and hoped I sounded convincing. We hadn’t had time for a nap, so my exhaustion added to my general emotional-ness.
Ryder kissed my forehead then approached his sister’s side. “Scottie?”
It took a few minutes, but Scottie finally opened the eye that wasn’t swollen shut and burst into tears.
“Hey, baby girl. None of that,” he crooned, and kissed her fingers (pretty much the only part of her body not bandaged).
“I’m sorry, Ride.”
“Shhh. You’re okay.” He smiled. “I want to introduce you to someone.”
“Ryder,” I objected. “I’m not sure—”
“It’s okay, Sadie,” he interrupted.
I widened my eyes, then tried a glare, but he gave me nothing. The poor girl was not at her best and if I were her, the last thing I’d want, especially if I were in the hospital, would be to be introduced to a stranger. Ryder ignored my facial cues and waved me over.
“Ryder,” I whispered.
“It’s fine, Sadie.”
I stepped to the bed and smiled down at Scottie. “I’m sorry, Scottie. I hope I’m not making you feel more uncomfortable.”
“Scottie, this is Sadie.” Ryder wrapped an arm around my waist. “Your future sister-in-law.”
“What?” I said in shock. “He’s joking.”
“I’m not,” he corrected, and an obnoxious smile covered his face.
“Ryd—”
“No point in arguing.” Scottie reached her hand out to me. “If he said it, he means it,” she rasped.
That freaked me out a little more than I expected, but I soldiered on.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry I’m invading your space right now.”
“It’s okay.” She yawned, shifting on the bed with a groan.
“You’re in pain,” Ryder deduced.
“I’ll get a nurse,” I offered.
“No. I got it,” Scottie said, and pressed a red button next to her. Her body sank into the bed as she let out a sigh of relief.
I made my way to the chair by the window. Ryder sat on the bed beside her and held her hand. They chatted quietly as I tried not to listen.
“You must be Ryder,” a soft, southern voice said, and I glanced up to see a pretty blonde nurse walking into the room.
“Yeah,” he said.
“I’m Andi. I’m your sister’s nurse for the next eight hours, so if you need anything, let me know. I’m just going to check her out real quick.”
Ryder nodded and stepped away from the bed, sitting on the window seat next to my chair as Andi ran through vitals with Scottie.
I took Ryder’s hand and gave it a squeeze. His face was pinched tight with worry, but he relaxed a bit and smiled gently.
“She’s okay,” I whispered.
He gave me a slight nod, but nothing more.
“Everything looks good, Scottie,” Andi said. “When you’re feeling up to it, Molly’s been asking if she can visit.”
Scottie sat up a little. “Is she okay?”
“She’s doing great, hon.”
“I’d like to see her.”
“Maybe you should wait a bit,” Ryder said.
“No, I want to see her,” Scottie insisted.
Ryder stiffened. “You’re still healing, Scottie. I think you should wait.”
I squeezed his hand and got a scowl for my efforts, but I didn’t back down. Scottie had been through trauma and she needed to make sure Molly was okay. “Honey,” I whispered.
“I want to see her,” Scottie insisted, ignoring her brother.
Andi smiled, patting her arm. “I’ll bring her down in a little bit.”
Scottie relaxed against the pillows again. “Thank you.”
“I’m just going to borrow your brother for a minute,” I said as I stood.
Ryder shook his head. “I don’t want to leave her.”
“We’ll be right outside,” I insisted, and tugged on his hand.
He reluctantly followed me into the hall, scowling as I faced him. “Wipe it,” I demanded.
“What?”
“That churlish look off your face. Wipe it.”
“Sadie,” he snapped, dragging a hand over his beard.
“No. You’re being a jerk. Stop it. Your sister has endured horrific trauma and—”
“One she brought on herself,” he said, ungraciously.
I let out a quiet hiss. “Wow.”
“Shit, babe, sorry. Saying it out loud makes me sound like a dick.”
“Well, you’re right about that.”
“I don’t know how to do this,” he rasped. “I don’t know how to watch her tiny, beaten, and bruised body lie in a bed two sizes too big while people poke and prod her. I don’t know how to help her with the inevitable emotional pain that’s gonna come because she lost a baby, especially when I’m happy about it. God, Sadie, she was raped repeatedly and got fuckin’ pregnant! How the hell do you come back from that?”
“You love her.”
He shook his head. “If she’d just listened to me—”
“Okay,” I interrupted, laying my palms against his chest and dropping my head back to catch his eye. “You need to start by stopping the blame game. You both made mistakes, but you need to learn from yours and move forward. She’ll have to do the same, but you have to love her now. Unconditionally. She needs you to support her, not judge her, and she will eventually need you to loosen the reins so she can be an adult, but for now, let’s start small.”
He slid his arms around my waist. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I said. “You get to be you whenever you’re with me. That’s the deal. I don’t want the you that’s holding back. I want all of you, so never feel like you have to filter. I might be small, but I have strong shoulders and if it means Scottie gets the filtered you for now, I’m all in.”
Ryder grimaced. “I don’t know if I can do this alone.”
“Honey, you’re not doing it alone.” I patted his chest. “I’m here.”
He relaxed, pulling me closer. “I forget that sometimes.”
I hugged him tightly. “When you do, I’ll remind you.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I smiled up at him. “Now, let’s get back in there.”
He kissed me gently and then led me back into the room.