Chapter Twenty-Five

 

 

 

 

 

Tori

 

 

 

 

God, my body ached. I hadn’t slept in almost twenty-four hours at that point and it was catching up to me.

When Trujillo and I went down, I honestly thought the tree had crushed half of the bones in my body. It took about thirty seconds for the phantom pain to subside but my team was frantic by then. The three of them, plus a few guys I didn’t know, were standing over me when I finally reopened my eyes.

Christos had been ripping my turnout jacket off of me, trying to figure out where I was injured, when I grabbed his hand and stopped him.

“I’m fine,” I croaked, recognizing the dull throb for what it was. Twin pain. “I’m okay. Really.”

And I was. Other than a few scrapes from where we’d slid against the ground, I was okay.

We immediately went back to base and I sought out the commander, insisting he call dispatch to ask about my brother. That was when I found out that he was also in California and he was hurt.

While he was airlifted back to Los Angeles, I got into a Department of Forestry truck and allowed someone to drive me off the mountain after Captain Stevenson promised to call my father. It took us almost three hours to get there but I didn’t leave Vincent’s side for a single moment until my father and Evan showed up.

They were both a happy sight, although I hadn’t been expecting Evan. When I realized that he thought I had been the one hurt, I felt bad for putting him through that but I was grateful he’d been there for my dad.

He was basically holding me up when we checked into a hotel one block over from the hospital. The poor desk clerk eyed me wearily and I knew I looked disgusting and probably smelled even worse. The hotel was super fancy and I looked like a homeless person in my ripped, dirty white t-shirt and torn navy blue pants.

The clerk asked if we were okay and Evan gave him a quick, reassuring answer. I probably wouldn’t have blamed the kid for calling the cops on us, though. We probably looked like two fugitives on the run.

“Come on, baby,” Evan murmured once we’d be given keycards. “Let’s get you upstairs.”

We stepped into the pristine elevator and he kept an arm around me while he pressed a button on the panel. He didn’t let me go until we were walking into a room that had two queen-sized beds.

“I have clean clothes in my gym bag that you can wear to bed.” He held up the duffel bag he’d brought in from the truck and offered me a small smile. That was when I realized that he looked as tired as I felt.

His hair was a mess on top of his head and his blue eyes held a hint of exhaustion. He wasn’t wearing his suit jacket but he had a red tie still around his neck, although it had been loosened a lot. The sleeves of his wrinkled, sky blue dress shirt were rolled up and it was only partially tucked into his suit pants. His gun, badge, and handcuffs were still on his hip and I knew he’d gone right from work to pick up my father.

“I love you.”

The words tumbled from my lips before I had a chance to stop them, let alone think about them. The minute they were out, I couldn’t take them back but I didn’t want to. I wanted him to know.

Evan’s small smile morphed into a large grin. He dropped the duffel bag onto the bed and took one step so he could wrap his arms around me.

“I love you, too, Victoria. So much.”

A relieved breath left my lungs as elation filled my veins. I’d only said those words to three people in my life and I shared DNA with every single one of them.

Words had power and I was never willing or strong enough to give that power to those who could hurt me. Yeah, I loved my friends. Owens, Christos, their wives, and Ty were all very important people in my life but holding back the verbal representation of my feelings kept one last safety wall between us.

A wall I knew I didn’t need but was too afraid to bring down.

But with Evan, it was a wall I couldn’t keep up anymore. Baring myself to him completely was one the most frightening things I’d ever done but hearing that he felt the same way was everything to me.

He brought his lips down onto mine, giving me a long, sweet kiss. “You’ve completely consumed me, Tor. I stormed a drug factory with the SWAT team earlier and it wasn’t even half as terrifying as receiving that call from your dad.”

“Wait, what?” I pulled back and frowned at him, forgetting we were sharing a tender moment. “Are you okay? What happened?”

He chuckled softly and nodded his head. “I’m fine. You’re fine. Vincent’s going to be fine. That’s all that matters.” His lips touched mine again. “You need to rest. Let’s get you into bed.”

“I need to shower first,” I replied with a wrinkled nose. “I stink.”

“Yeah, Tor.” He let go of me and picked up the duffel bag again. “You kind of do.”

I rolled my eyes and swatted at him half-heartedly before taking the bag. “That was kind of like ‘Do these pants make my ass look big?’ Don’t you know that you’re always supposed to lie and say it doesn’t?”

“Good thing your ass looks good in everything because I’ll never be put in that position.” He used the palm of his hand to swat my behind for emphasis. “Go shower. There’s soap and shampoo in my bag. Want me to order you something to eat from room service?”

“I’m too tired to be hungry but thank you.” I walked into the bathroom and cringed the second I saw my reflection in the mirror. I looked like I’d been through a few rounds in the ring.

The bruise completely surrounding my left eye was a deep purple and spread down my cheek quite a bit. I had scrapes along the other side, all of them superficial, but the dried blood and dirt made everything look worse than it was.

My hair was still in a ponytail but more had fallen out than was still in. Clumps of my blonde locks were matted with sweat and had a few errant pine needles stuck in it. I could feel the grime on the rest of my body and knew I smelled disgusting. It was amazing any one person could stand to be near me, let alone hug or kiss me in that moment.

And yet, one man could because Evan Coleman loved me.

I smiled at my disgusting reflection and started the water to the shower. I finally stripped out of my nasty clothes and tossed them into the corner of the bathroom. I had no idea what I was going to wear to the hospital in a few hours but it couldn’t be those clothes again.

The warm spray beating down on my back felt like heaven and it was a few minutes before I did anything other than stand there. I didn’t move until Evan came into the bathroom to brush his teeth and asked if I needed anything. When I finally did wash, it was with his soaps and I absolutely loved having his scent everywhere.

I got out of the shower, dried off both my body and my hair the best I could, and dug around in the bag. I pulled out the clean navy blue boxer shorts and the simple white t-shirt he had inside, ignoring the gym shorts. I had to roll the waistband on the boxers three times to get them to stay up but they would work for the night.

He’d left his toothbrush on the sink, which I unashamedly used to scrub my nasty teeth twice. I ran his comb through my hair and nodded at my reflection, which still looked worked over but was about fifty times better than what it had been.

When I opened the door to the bathroom, I found Evan in one of the queen beds. The blankets had been pulled down and he was resting on one of the pillows with his eyes on the screen of his phone. He’d undressed, too, leaving only his boxers on.

Even with how tired I was, I still appreciated the sight of his strong, bare arms and sculpted chest. If I’d had even an ounce of energy, I would have been all over that. As it was, I just wanted to curl up in those arms and get a few hours of sleep.

“Feel better?” he asked, putting his phone next to where his gun was on the nightstand between the beds. He patted the spot next to him and I nodded, crawling up the bed until I was collapsed on the second pillow.

“So much better. Do I smell okay now?”

He turned the light off and settled on the bed next to me, pulling my body to him until we were chest to chest. He pressed his nose to my neck and inhaled dramatically.

“You smell like me, which is kind of a bummer because I love the way you smell, but it’ll do for now.”

We laid like that for moment before I pulled back and looked at him. Even with how dark it was in the room, I could tell he was looking back at me.

“You stormed a drug factory today?”

He nodded and kissed the tip of my nose. “We found where a lethal and potent form of heroin was being processed and arrested a lot of key players. Not the one we’re really after but it’s a step in the right direction, at least.”

“I’ve never really thought about how dangerous your job is.”

“My job?” He let out a snort of laughter and tightened his hold on me. “I’ve visited you at the hospital twice in the past three months, Victoria.”

He had a point. “Hey, today wasn’t even for me. My current injuries don’t require hospitalization.” I paused and felt my chest constrict. “Vincent’s going to be okay, right?”

“Right.” Evan maneuvered us until my head was on his chest and his fingers were stroking my wet hair. “He’ll have a long couple of months of recovery but he’s going to be just fine.” He kissed the top of my head and sighed. “When do you go back out to work?”

“I’m not going back out with the hotshots,” I told him with a yawn. “Cap authorized personal time for as long as I needed. I’m going to get Vincent home and I’ll go back to work once the guys get back to the station.”

He released a long breath and I knew he’d been worried about me going back up the mountain. That realization made me smile.

“I really do love you, Ev.”

“And I really do love you. I think I’ve loved you since you started making snarky comments under your breath at that first soccer practice.”

I laughed and burrowed deeper into his hold. “I think I started falling when I watched you with Grace at the station house that day.”

His only response was another kiss and I closed my eyes, breathing him in deeply. It couldn’t have been more than a few minutes later that I was asleep.

–––

When I woke up, the room was still dark but I could see the sunlight peeking around the edges of the blackout curtains. The spot on the bed next to me was empty and I sat up to look around for Evan.

Before I could worry too much, the lock clicked on the door and the man in question stepped inside the room. He was wearing his black suit pants and dress shirt again, although he hadn’t bothered tucking one into the other.

He smiled when he saw I was awake and then turned to put down the bags and cup carrier he was holding.

“Good morning. Feeling refreshed at all?”

I yawned and stretched my arms above my head. “I am. Have you heard from my father?”

“Yup.” He came to sit down next to me, offering up a disposable coffee cup as he did. “Vincent came out of surgery just fine and he’s been sleeping since. As soon as you’re ready, we’ll go back to the hospital and let your dad come here and rest.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, using my fist to rub my eye and regretting it when I touched the bruised, swollen flesh. Evan gave me a sympathetic look and stood from the bed.

“I have breakfast burritos because you have to be starving. I found a Target and picked us up some stuff to wear and brought you some ibuprofen for your head. Hopefully everything fits. I peeked at the tags on the clothes you were wearing last night and just grabbed stuff in the same size.”

Love swelled in my chest for the man in front of me. I put my coffee down, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him. I wanted to do more than just kiss him but I also wanted to get to the hospital to see my brother. Evan must have understood my torment because he pulled back and squeezed my hips once before releasing me.

“Let’s get going so your dad can get some sleep.”

Thirty minutes later, I walked into the hospital with my hand in his. I was wearing black yoga pants, a red v-neck shirt, a pair of flip flops that were half a size too big, and a bra that was a bit too snug.

It was perfect.

Vincent was sleeping when we arrived. His arm was in a blue cast that ran from his fingers all the way up past his elbow. A blanket was covering his lower half but one of his legs was elevated under the covers slightly. His handsome face was covered in bruises and I swallowed back the threat of emotion that bubbled up in my throat.

Dad looked relieved to see us and he held me in a tight embrace before doing the same to Evan. When my boyfriend offered up the keys to his truck, my father hesitated.

“Go sleep, Warren. Order some food that’s not from the hospital cafeteria. Victoria and I will hold down the fort.”

“Okay.” Dad kissed my forehead and took the keys, casting a glance back to his sleeping son for a second, before leaving the room.

Our father had been gone for about twenty seconds when I nudged my twin’s unbroken arm.

“You can stop faking now. He’s gone.”

Vincent’s lips twitched with the threat of a smile and he cracked open one eyelid, looking around before opening the other. When he realized that it was just the three of us, he let his grin break free.

“I love that old man, but you know how he gets when he’s stressed.”

I nodded my head and sat down in the chair next to his bed. “Chatty.”

“So chatty.” Vincent sighed but it turned into a wince when he shifted slightly. “She looks better, Coleman. Thanks for making her sleep.”

Evan took the seat next to me and dropped his arm across my shoulders. “What have the doctor’s said?”

“That I don’t have a concussion, my arm should be healed in about eight weeks, and that I’ll be off my feet for three or four. Fucking sucks. They say I can go home tomorrow with another clear MRI but the department is paying to transport me back.”

“Want to come stay with me?” I asked but he shook his head.

“I’ll stay at Dad’s since he doesn’t have stairs and so I don’t starve to death.”

Both guys laughed and I rolled my eyes while fighting my own laughter.

The laughter suddenly cut off when someone rushed into the room looking absolutely frantic.

I stood from my chair and gaped at the newcomer. “Ty.”

“I didn’t hear until earlier this morning,” he explained as he looked between me and Vincent, the panic obvious in his features. “I got a ride out as soon as I could.”

“I have no idea how the lines got so crossed that everyone thinks it was me that got hurt.” I let out a small huff of laughter as Evan moved to his feet. “You didn’t have to come, though. I’m okay.”

“Tori,” Evan murmured quietly, moving so he was standing behind me with his hands on my shoulders. “Tyson isn’t here for you.”

“What?” I looked at him in confusion before focusing back on the other two men.

Vincent and Tyson were locked into something that looked like a staring contest. Ty’s face was full of anguish, like he was in pain just seeing my brother. Vincent’s expression was apologetic but relieved and I was so damn confused.

Until I wasn’t. Everything clicked at once and I gasped, drawing the attention of both of them.

“You guys…?” I covered my mouth and went to take a step back, but Evan was there and his arms came around me in a steady hold. I pointed at Tyson. “You’re the person he’s been having relationship problems with?”

Ty’s anguish deepened. “Tor-”

I didn’t let him continue before I focused my gaze on my brother. “And you’re the guy who refuses to come out of the closet for him? Oh, my god.”

Pain seared through my chest but not because my brother and one of my best friends were in love. No, that was amazing and beautiful all at the same time. But because two men I adored deeply, including one who was my other half, had been lying to me for months.

“How could you lie to me?” I asked in a whisper as I looked at my brother. My vision was blurry with tears, something I’d shed more of in the past week than I had in the years before.

Vincent grabbed his chest, like he could feel my pain, and shook his head quickly. “Vic, we wanted to tell you but-”

“But nothing. You lied to me.” I glanced between them quickly. “You both lied to me. You know I wouldn’t have cared because I love you guys but yet you…” I looked over my shoulder at Evan. “I need to get out of here.”

“Okay, baby.” He dropped his arms and took one of my hands instead, leading me out of the hospital room. I heard both men call my name but I ignored them, not bothering to look back.

We only made it to the waiting room before I stopped and buried my face into Evan’s neck. He held me tight and didn’t say anything. I breathed him in and tried to reconcile what I’d just learned with what I already knew.

“Vincent’s gay,” I mumbled, pulling away from Evan so I could meet his gaze. “Did you know that?”

He shook his head and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I had no idea. Does that bother you?”

“No.” I scoffed and turned to head to the windows that looked out into downtown Hollywood. “Of course not. And he has to know that it wouldn’t bother me. What bothers me is that he kept this huge secret from me.” I looked over my shoulder at my boyfriend. “From me. His twin sister. I’m hurt.”

“I’m sorry, Tor.” He moved until he was next to me and he rest his hand at the base of my neck. “He knows you love him but he was probably scared that there might be a chance, even the tiniest chance ever, that you’d be disappointed in him. That guy loves you so much that I’m sure that is what kept him from being honest.”

I swallowed and nodded my head as I stared out at the city. It made sense, honestly, but it still hurt. I trusted both of those guys so much and the fact that they couldn’t trust me was gutting.