CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“YOU SHOULD LIE DOWN,” Cannon told her for the hundredth time.
Sitting on the side of the bed in the emergency area of the hospital, wearing a hospital gown that barely fit her tall frame and a sheet wrapped around her for modesty, Merissa shook her head. She’d been at the hospital for forty-five minutes, long enough to be somewhat cleaned up and have the cut on her face—a cut she hadn’t even known about—bandaged.
She still shook from head to toe. Aches and pains had long since set in, but she had so many good friends crowded in the small room that she didn’t want to upset them more than they already were.
Soon, she’d been told, her face would be stitched and her arm x-rayed. Her poor arm. She glanced at it again and saw the awful mottled bruising from her elbow halfway up her arm and midway down her forearm. It had all happened so fast, she still couldn’t remember exactly how she’d gotten hurt, but she felt it now as she held her injured arm protectively against her body. Cannon stood right there beside her, holding her other hand, his thumb constantly brushing over her knuckles. Yvette stood half behind him, her cheek resting on his shoulder.
In the corner, Denver held Cherry, her back to his chest, his massive arms looped around her. They both watched her with concern. Merissa tried smiling to reassure them, but that just made the bandages on her face pinch.
Even though Merissa had tried to protest all the attention, Stack and Vanity were on their way.
Leese, now in a clean shirt that Denver had brought him, paced in the hall while continually looking in on her. Merissa wasn’t sure, but it seemed like he still had a lot of pent-up fury simmering just beneath the surface.
Even with a black eye and a bruise at the edge of his jaw, he looked dangerous.
And he’d saved her. Thinking that made her bottom lip quiver again, which of course Cannon noticed.
“Just hang on,” he told her, as if her life was on the line.
And that did make her smile despite the bulky bandage. “I’m okay, just rattled. I promise.”
Suddenly Leese looked up the hallway, then stepped out of view.
Merissa heard the heavy, hurried footsteps, heard Leese talking fast, and a second later Armie filled the doorway.
Their gazes clashed, and oh God, she lost it all over again. The tears welled up, her throat tightened. She tried to swallow but couldn’t.
Without a word, Armie cut through everyone else and reached her.
* * *
ARMIE BARELY NOTICED the others in the room. He’d left Lea in the hallway with Leese. Cannon was talking to him. But all his focus was on Rissy.
She reached out to him and he gathered her close, slipping one arm under her thighs, the other behind her back. Scooping her in close, using ultimate care, he moved with her to the other side of the curtain and an empty chair.
“Shh,” he begged in a voice gone thick with emotion. “Baby, please don’t cry.”
The awful, racking sobs continued.
With his forehead to hers, he whispered, “Tell me what hurts. What can I do?” She held one arm close and when he looked at it, his heart dropped. “Your arm.”
Nodding, she tried to talk and couldn’t.
“I’m so sorry,” he told her. “Jesus, I’m so sorry.”
She took three shuddering, choking breaths, and finally spoke. “I’m... I’m okay.”
Armie smoothed one hand over her back, her hip. “How bad is your arm?”
“I don’t know. Something happened when he grabbed me,” she whispered brokenly.
God, Armie knew he was going to kill those fucks. “Have they x-rayed it yet?”
“No.” She sniffled, dried her eyes on his shoulder and lifted her ravaged face. “They’re going to but I don’t think it’s broken.”
He swallowed hard. “Okay.” Being very careful, he kissed the bridge of her nose, then the bruised skin around her bandaged cheek. “What happened here?”
“He...he hit me.”
He closed his eyes, swallowed.
“Then he pulled me from the car and when Leese got there, he shoved me away and I guess I hit something on the car.”
That rambling explanation proved that she needed him to be strong now. “He who, honey?”
“The man from the robbery.”
Armie’s muscles twitched. Was Steve somehow involved in that, too? “Have you seen the cops yet?”
From the other side of the curtain, Leese said, “Some officers showed up, but when I explained, they said they’d have Detective Riske or Bareden get in touch.”
Armie said, “Cannon?”
Her brother leaned around the curtain. “Logan’s on his way. Should be here soon.”
Armie nodded, gathered her close again and said to Cannon, “Where the hell is the doctor?”
“He’s here now,” Denver said.
“And,” said a new voice, “he needs everyone to clear out, please. I need room to move, but I promise to take good care of her.”
Rissy’s uninjured arm grabbed him tighter.
Near her ear, Armie soothed, “I’m staying with you.”
She went limp against him. “Thank you.”
“I love you,” he told her. “No way am I budging.”
She shot up to look at him. Her hair was a mess, her face dirty and scraped, bruised and bandaged. Red eyes and a redder nose and she was the most beautiful, most precious sight. “God, I love you.”
New tears filled her eyes. “Armie—”
He was already standing with her, carrying her back to the bed and the waiting doctor.
He and Cannon remained with her while the doctor put some very tiny stitches in the cut on her face.
When the doc first pulled off the bandage, Armie grimaced. From her cheekbone up to her hairline her flesh had been split. He’d seen worse injuries—but not on a woman he loved.
Cannon, having already seen it, still scrubbed a hand over his face.
Thank God Leese had been following her.
The doctor promised her that any scarring would fade to be almost invisible. It made Armie so damned proud that Rissy didn’t look overly concerned about it.
While the doc worked on her, he talked to them, saying it was the first time he’d had a group of MMA fighters crowding the emergency room. He asked questions, not just of Cannon and Armie, but engaging Merissa, too.
Armie thought it might have been the doc’s effort to put them all more at ease.
A nurse bustled around them, constantly glancing at Cannon, and then at Armie, while also being proficient at her job. When the doc finished and a guy in scrubs came with a wheelchair to get her arm x-rayed, Rissy flashed him another look of panic.
Armie helped her into the chair. “I’ll go with you.”
The doctor patted her shoulder. “There’s a waiting area just outside the X-ray room. He’ll be close.”
Armie could tell Cannon didn’t want to hang back, but he did it all the same. That was the thing about Cannon—he always did the right thing. Right now he knew his sister wanted Armie with her, so Cannon would wait.
More than anything else, that proved how much Cannon cared—about both of them.
There was a lot Armie needed to share with Cannon, but at the moment, reassuring Rissy took priority. He decided he’d tell Cannon everything as soon as he had the opportunity.
When they stepped out to the hallway and he saw Lea talking to Leese, reality crashed in.
He’d forgotten all about her.
Leese stepped over to them. “X-rays now?”
“Yes.” Teasing, Merissa shook her head at him. Keeping her voice low, she whispered, “Even here you’re hooking up? Shameless.”
“What?” Blank-faced, Leese glanced back at Lea, then shook his head. “No, see...” Appearing harassed, he turned to Armie for help.
Merissa said, “You’ve done more than enough today. If you’ve made other plans, feel free to go.”
Well, hell.
But it was Cannon who said, “Lea. This is a surprise.”
“Lea?” As the aide tried to wheel her away, Rissy twisted around to glare at Lea with mottled fury. “Lea Baley?”
“She’s here to help,” Armie rushed to tell her. Then to Cannon, “Get the info from her, will you? And update Logan.”
Brows up, Cannon looked at Lea again, then flagged Armie on. “Go. I’ll take care of it.”
Armie jogged to the elevator, sliding past the door that the aide held for him. “Sorry about that.”
The aide nodded. “No problem.”
Armie looked down at Merissa. Pissed didn’t even come close to covering it. He crouched down and took her hand. “Someone went to Lea and asked her about the rumors. But she fessed up to the truth. That’s why she’s here. To let me know.”
Incredulous, Rissy said, “And you believe her?”
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Armie straightened, and then kept stride with the wheelchair. “I do.” He didn’t want to tell her yet that it was Steve stirring up the lies. At the moment, she had enough to deal with.
When she remained irate, Armie said, “I’m not a fool, right?”
Her eyes, red from tears and a little swollen, glared at him. Grudgingly, she said, “No.”
“So you’ll trust me on this? Please?”
“Maybe.”
At the end of a long hallway, the aide led them in to another, smaller waiting area. There were two other people there, an elderly woman glancing through a magazine and an even-older man dozing. A tall female tech gave Merissa a form to fill out. “We’ll be ready for you in just a few minutes.”
Armie again crouched beside her. “Lea’s father passed away a few years ago. She’s married now, has kids, and since she knew I wouldn’t talk to her on the phone, she came to me. She was still telling me everything when Cannon called and all I could think about was getting to you.”
Keeping her gaze averted, Rissy asked, “You think she can be helpful?”
“I do.” Armie faltered. Damn, that had sounded like a wedding vow.
“So...” She glanced at the form, then laid it flat against her midriff. “If we get things resolved, then you and I...that is...we...”
Armie took the paper from her and laid it on the end table. As gently as he could, he cupped a hand to her face. “I love you.”
Her smile wavered and her hand covered his. “Does that mean...?”
“It means I don’t ever want to be away from you.” He brushed her cheek with his thumb. “God, I was so stupid.” Instead of protecting her from his past, he’d made her vulnerable to new threats. “Odds are I’ll be stupid again at some point. When I am, please remember that I love you more than anything in life.”
Fresh tears swam in her eyes. “Armie...”
He leaned in, kissed her softly on her lips. “You said you were safer with me. Well, from now on, I want that. You with me. Always.” He kissed her again, so carefully because of her injuries. “Please tell me yes.”
“Yes.”
Armie searched her face, sensing some uncertainty. “I love you.” Now that he’d said it, he couldn’t seem to stop saying it.
She gave a laugh that sounded a little like a sob. “I love you, too. So much.”
“But you’re worried about something?” Was she still afraid? “I swear you’ll never be hurt again. I’ll keep you safe.”
“You always do.” After an expression of apology, Rissy looked at the form.
Armie didn’t understand, but he picked it back up and turned it over.
He sensed Merissa watching him as he read.
It was just a pregnancy consent form, basically asking if there was any chance... Blood rushed to his head, making his world spin.
Even before his gaze shot back to hers, Armie knew. His entire being went blank, then burst with bright colors. “Rissy?” he whispered around hope and amazement and the utter, blinding joy.
She bit her lip and breathed faster.
Holy shit! Dropping the form, Armie searched her face. As his own eyes grew wet, he used his thumbs to brush away her tears. “Rissy?” His hands trembled. “You’re pregnant?”
She bit her lip, closed her eyes and nodded. “I think so.”
Staggered, Armie sat back on his heels. His attention visually pored over her body. She was so damn slim! But now that he thought about it, her breasts seemed a little fuller...
He reached out to cup one, but she shrank back. “Armie,” she whispered frantically. “Get up!”
Instead he leaned in and put his cheek to her belly. “A baby.” His baby.
With Merissa Colter.
“It’s not confirmed. I mean, I’m pretty sure, but I haven’t taken a test yet.”
“We’ll do that together.” He had a hard time wrapping his mind around it. It was like a dream—except that someone had tried to snatch her right off the road. He wanted to crush her close, to shout with happiness, to hide her away so nothing bad could ever again touch her.
And he wanted to bind her to him, now and forever. The knowledge of a baby sent new fear cutting into him. Overwhelmed, he held her closer and asked quietly, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her fingers threaded through his hair. “I would have,” she replied, her tone as soft as his. “The night I realized I’d missed my period was the night before you...”
He groaned, kissed her belly and sat back to see her. “Jesus, honey, I’m sorry. I fucked up so badly.”
“No.” She kept touching him, soothing him when he should be doing that for her. “I wanted to let you get through the fight—”
“Screw the fight.”
“Armie Jacobson, don’t you dare act that way.” She grabbed his ear, and though she was injured, she still had plenty of strength in that one arm. “Do you want me to feel guilty?”
Insane, but even now Rissy could make him smile. “No, never.”
“Then you’re going to put your all into this fight. Do you understand me?”
She’d stopped whispering, which sort of amused him. Since it started to sting, he pried her grip off his ear, kissed her palm and said with complete honesty, “Whatever you want, Stretch.”
Her lips, too, twitched into a smile. “Thank you.”
The technician, who was probably taller than Rissy and built like a linebacker, returned and, without blinking an eye at seeing Armie on the floor, asked, “Are we ready?”
Armie said, “She’s pregnant.”
The tech smiled and picked up the paper. “How far along?”
“I don’t know,” Rissy said. “That is, I haven’t taken a test yet or anything but I’m pretty sure...”
“Just in case, we’ll protect you with a lead apron.” She handed Rissy the form with a pen.
“You’re sure it’s safe?” Armie asked, finally standing so he could meet the woman eye to eye.
“I promise it’ll be fine.” She patted his biceps, then nudged him toward a chair. “You can wait right there. I’ll have her back to you in five minutes, tops.”
Fretting, Armie watched her go. Then he sat. Then he dropped his head into his hands.
A baby!
In a rush, he stood and dug out his cell phone.
“Excuse me?” The older woman pointed to a sign on the wall. “No cell phones.”
Damn. He sat down again.
“Your first child?” she asked. Then with a smile, she explained, “I couldn’t help but overhear.”
Dazed and somewhat dumbfounded, Armie nodded. “Yeah.” Had the woman also heard him cursing? He winced. “Sorry.”
She looked tickled. “I take it you’re happy?”
That word didn’t even begin to cover it. He nodded again. “Very.”
She nodded in approval. “Our granddaughter is due in a few weeks. It’s a wonderful thing. Congratulations.”
His first congrats—not from his buddies or their very adorable wives, not from Rissy’s brother, but from a total stranger. Some of the shock faded and he stood to approach the woman, his hand out. “Thank you.”
Smiling, she stood, too, then opened her arms.
And damn, Armie hugged the old girl right off her feet.
* * *
LUCKILY HER ARM wasn’t broken. The doc declared it “badly bruised”—duh—and told her to ice it often and to take it easy until it felt better.
She had scrapes on her knees, her palm and one elbow. The worst was the discoloration around her cheek from where she’d needed the stitches. Everyone assumed she’d hit something sharp on the car, like the edge of the broken bumper or maybe the license plate.
Merissa remembered how the man had backhanded her, and she assumed that had caused the worst of the bruising. Thinking about it made her shiver with dread, so she pushed it from her mind.
Armie loved her.
She had plenty to think about without dwelling on the awful thugs. Besides, they wouldn’t be able to make another grab for her because she didn’t plan to give them the opportunity.
She didn’t want to be a wimp, but she’d had enough, so until they were caught she wouldn’t be alone again. She’d already arranged some upcoming time off so she could attend Armie’s fight. Well, now she’d just extend it, and her current injuries would be as good an excuse as any.
By the time the hospital finished stitching and x-raying and giving instructions, she’d been there for a little over three and a half hours. She knew all her friends were gathered in the larger waiting area at the front of the hospital, along with Lea Baley.
But she only wanted to go home, shower and crash.
With Armie.
So far, he’d barely let her out of his sight. After he’d helped her to dress, she started to zip up her jeans but he put his big hand over her bare belly and pressed his mouth to her temple.
“We’re okay,” she told him again, putting her hand over his. “I promise.”
Armie stayed silent a moment. She heard him swallow, then felt the near-reverent kiss he teased over her neck. “When will you tell him?”
She knew he meant Cannon. Armie hadn’t yet said anything to her brother, and she was glad. She didn’t want to make an announcement in a hospital. “Maybe after your fight, we can get together with him and Yvette for dinner and I’ll tell him then.”
“The guys at the gym will want to know, too.”
A thought occurred to her and, fighting a smile, she looked at Armie. “Did you want to tell them?”
He finished zipping her jeans for her, then lightly kissed her mouth. “I want to shout it to the whole world.”
So he wasn’t just accepting. He was happy? She licked dry lips. “Armie...” He watched her so intently that she stalled and had to try again. “I don’t want to pressure you.”
“Pressure me?” Far too serious, he gathered her close. “Do you know it kills me that, for even a second, you’d think that way?” He lifted her hand and pressed it to his heart. “You own me, Stretch. For better or worse. Today and forever.”
That sounded so close to a proposal, Rissy lost her breath. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t blink. Beneath her palm, Armie’s heartbeat grew heavy.
“Forget all my misguided intentions to let you find a better life with a better man.”
“Armie!” That’s what he’d thought? “I want you, and damn it, you are—”
“No one,” he said, interrupting her, “could ever love you as much as I do. I swear it.”
Her heart melted. That was the absolute sweetest, most wonderful thing anyone had ever said to her.
She was working up the nerve to ask him about the future when they were finally free to leave.
She and Armie reached the main waiting room to find it mostly filled with her visitors. It made her blush when everyone started greeting her at once. Sticking close beside her, Armie smiled as if proud.
Unlike the ambulance that had brought her in, her friends hadn’t parked in back at the emergency entrance. There were so many of them that she was glad they hadn’t remained in the small waiting area and instead had moved to the front of the hospital.
“Logan wants to talk to you more tonight,” Cannon told her. “But he got a call and had to take off for an hour or so.”
Biting back her groan, Merissa said, “That’s fine.”
“She’ll be at her house,” Armie told him. “With me.”
“Better late than never.” Cannon looked at each of them in turn, then smiled. “As long as it’s never again.”
“Now and always,” Armie assured him.
Merissa didn’t know how long it’d take her to get used to that, but she wanted to hear it for the rest of her life.
While the men clapped Armie on the back and heralded him for his good sense, Leese smiled at her, then lifted his palm for another high five. Laughing, Merissa kept her injured right arm close but slapped her left palm to his.
As a small crowd they exited the hospital. For once, Merissa didn’t mind that everyone pampered her. Her poor brother especially looked ravaged with worry, so she gave him extra hugs, and accepted his hugs in return even as her thoughts skipped ahead.
Now and always. So was Armie thinking about the future? And under what terms?
“Hey.” With his arm around her, Armie asked, “You okay?”
He was so attuned to her. Merissa nodded. For now, she decided to stop worrying about tomorrow so she could concentrate on the here and now.
Leese said, “I can get Lea back to her car if you want.”
Armie nodded, but asked Lea, “Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
Merissa turned to the woman, who, so far, had been very quiet around her. Lea didn’t look like a monster, or an evil, conniving bitch. She looked like an average woman, who’d grown up.
Smiling at her, Merissa said, “Thank you.”
“For finally telling the truth?” Lea returned the smile. “It’s long overdue, and believe me, it’s my pleasure.”
Armie started to say something, but his gaze went to the far end of the parking lot.
Merissa looked but couldn’t see anything.
Armie took Cannon aside and said something that clearly enraged her brother. Cannon immediately went to the other men and they, too, disliked whatever they heard.
“What in the world?”
“Stay here,” Armie told her softly, then he ducked into a row of cars.
Leese showed up at her side. “Come on. Let’s get you to Armie’s truck.”
She dug in. “No way. Tell me what’s going on.”
Leese took her measure, came to some decision and bent close to say, “He’s here.”
He who? Rather than take a chance on distracting Armie, she followed Leese to the truck and got in on the passenger side. To her consternation, Lea got in the driver’s seat.
When Merissa looked through the windshield, she saw that the rest of the women had also disappeared to their respective cars. Only Leese and Cannon remained visible, but they immediately circled around the lot, going in different directions. Recognizing that they were up to something, she said to Lea, “Stack and Denver must be with the ladies.”
“Fascinating.” Lea held the steering wheel and looked around. “Any idea what’s going on?”
She shook her head, but spotted Armie when he stepped out from between a row of vehicles.
And that’s when she realized the man with his back to her, watching the emergency room exit, was Steve.
Was he waiting for her? But that didn’t make any sense. Steve had no way of knowing what had happened.
“That’s him,” Lea told her. “The man who came to see me. He really hates Armie.”
Lost in confusion, Merissa concentrated on Armie.
Unfortunately, when Steve spotted him, he turned and walked away—heading straight for the truck.
Armie shouted, “Don’t make me chase you, you bastard.”
Steve turned back to him and in a voice just as loud, said, “Where is she? Is she all right?”
Armie didn’t slow, and when he reached Steve, he grabbed him up by the throat and pinned him—hard—to a cement pier in the garage. Nose to nose, his every muscle bunching, Armie snarled, “You dare come here?”
Cannon and Leese showed up, flanking Armie.
Lea watched, her eyes wide.
Merissa covered her mouth. She didn’t know what was going on, but she didn’t like it.
“You sure about this?” Cannon asked Armie.
Lea opened the driver’s door and got out. “Even after I told him it was all a lie, he tried to convince me to keep it going.” Her chin lifted. “He offered me money.”
“Dumbass didn’t know she’s rich.”
“I’m not,” Lea said. “Daddy left his money to my stepmother.”
Surprised, Armie said, “Oh. Hey...sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m happier now than I’ve ever been.” She glared at Steve. “And I definitely didn’t want his money.”
Merissa slowly stepped from the truck, too. She looked from her brother, to Lea, to Armie—and finally to Steve.
With both of his hands wrapped around Armie’s wrist, maybe as an attempt to keep from being strangled, Steve rasped, “Merissa!”
She wasn’t feeling very generous. In fact, if her arm wasn’t injured, she’d have taken her own turn. “Armie?”
Negligent, he glanced her way. “Yeah, Stretch?”
“I’m glad you’re finally fighting back.”
He grinned while Steve redoubled his efforts to get free.
Impatient, Cannon crossed his arms. “What are you planning to do?”
“Kill him.”
Knowing he wouldn’t, Merissa nodded. “Sounds about right to me.”
Rubbing his mouth to stifle a laugh, Cannon took charge. “As usual, I have to suggest that perhaps we ought to get some information from him before you mangle him. What do you think? It could possibly lead us to answers about other things, as well.”
“You’re right.” Just like that, Armie opened his hand and Steve slumped while coughing.
“Asshole,” he managed to gasp.
“Idiot!” Merissa shot back.
Armie glanced her way. “Honey, why don’t you wait in the truck?”
Merissa arched a brow. “Why don’t I not?”
Regaining his aplomb, Steve turned to her. “Jesus, you are hurt.”
Merissa studied him.
He ran both hands through his hair, his gaze taking in her bandaged face, the bruising, the way she held her arm. “What happened? Do you know who tried to grab you?”
She was wondering how Steve knew anything about that when suddenly Armie turned an incendiary glare on him. In a voice so soft it was eerie, Armie murmured, “You son of a bitch.”
Cannon, equally enraged, reached for Steve, and this time it was Armie stopping her brother.
“He’s mine.”
Heaving, Cannon paused and gave one small nod.
Looking every bit as enraged, Leese said, “Well, I’d fucking like a turn, too.”
“Let’s get those other answers Cannon mentioned, first.”
The reason for their rage suddenly dawned on Merissa and she took a step forward. “You.”
Armie nodded. “Him.”
Blustering, Steve said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Apparently deciding discretion was the better part of valor, he tried to elbow his way past them. No one budged. “All of you,” Steve insisted. “Get out of my way.”
“Call Logan,” Armie ordered while stepping Steve back.
Without taking his gaze off them, Cannon did just that. When he disconnected, he said, “He was already headed back here. He said to give him five minutes.”
Armie pressed in on Steve again. “Until Detective Riske gets here, how about you tell me why?”
Gaze darting everywhere, Steve shook his head. “Why what?”
“Why target Rissy? Why hire fake reporters to hassle her?” Armie shoved him hard into the pier. “Why set her up to be kidnapped right off the fucking street?”