CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“Sorry I crashed your girls’ night, I didn’t know what to do. How bad is it?” Chris asked.

“We need to get him to the hospital.” Claire’s tone was gentle but firm. “I’m sorry. I know that’s not what he wants, but he has broken bones. Bones — plural!”

“Christ.” Chris ran a hand over his chin, wincing at the bruising that filled the majority of the left side of his face. “Okay, I’ll take him. He’s in no condition to fight me anyway, might as well take advantage. Where’s your car? I’ll drop you and Tori off first.”

“No way. I’m coming with you,” Claire announced as she dug through her purse. “Tori can follow us to the hospital.”

“Should either of you be driving?”

Claire looked up at him. A sad, half-smile pulled at one corner of her mouth. “Tori hasn’t had a drink all night. She thinks I didn’t notice. I’m pretty sure she was holding out in hopes of driving back to see you tonight.”

Chris nodded, the pain of Claire’s admission dogpiling onto the many ways he’d fucked up tonight.

Claire gave his arm a gentle squeeze. “Let’s get Travis taken care of, and then you can sort things out with Tori.”

He followed her gaze to where Tori sat holding Travis’ hand. Her lips were moving slowly like she was singing or talking quietly to soothe him.

“You’re right.” Chris nodded and motioned for her to get into the truck. “Let’s get Travis to the hospital.”

Chris inhaled deeply, ignoring the sterile smell of the hospital and focusing on breathing through the pain throbbing inside his head.

He jumped up at the sight of Claire coming out the double-doors that led to the patients’ rooms and nurses’ station. She motioned for him to sit as she stood before him.

“He’s going to be fine. They set the bones and gave him something for the pain. He’s resting now.”

“Can I see him?”

“Yes, but only for a few minutes. Technically, it’s past visiting hours, but I went to school with the charge nurse.”

He stood, anxious to see his brother, but Claire laid a hand on his chest to stop him.

“Five minutes! I don’t want to push my luck.”

He nodded in agreement, and Claire moved out of his path.

Chris’ skin crawled as he walked down the dim hallway searching for Travis’ room. The beeping of machines and the squeaky wheels of a nurse’s cart rolling down the hallway were the only sounds this time of night.

He crept in quietly so as not to disturb his brother. It’d been a hell of a night, and Chris had so many questions, but right now, he just wanted to be there and see for himself that Travis was resting easily.

The sight of Travis’ left arm in a hard cast flashed a memory of how Travis had looked when he found him. Three men had circled around as Travis lay on the ground already moaning in pain. Chris hadn’t known how long he’d been down, but it was clear the men surrounding him weren’t done yet. One man had paced around Travis, telling him if Danny didn’t get his money in a week, they’d be back. The other men had sneered in the background, nodding and grunting their encouragement to the ringleader.

Chris hadn’t been sure of what he had intended to do as he’d strode forward directly toward the men. He hadn’t been in a fight outside of the ring in years, but the adrenaline rush at the sight of his brother being attacked had flipped a switch in him. He’d attacked the leader just as he’d reared back to give Travis another solid kick. He’d enjoyed it, too. That first punch, landing square on the jaw, had felt awesome. Judging by the way the man’s eyes had glazed over, it would have only taken another punch to knock him out cold, but before he could verify that theory, the other guys had grabbed him and gotten a few punches in.

“You look like shit,” Travis mumbled, his eyes barely open.

Chris chuckled softly. “You’re one to talk. At least I’m standing on my own two feet.”

Travis laughed and then winced in pain, grabbing his side. “You got me there. I don’t think I’m going to be standing on mine for a day or two.”

Chris sat looking over his brother as carefully as he could in the dark. Broken nose and broken arm and more bruises stretched out over every inch of his uncovered skin.

“I’m sorry,” Travis said quietly, closing his eyes.

“We can talk about it another time. You just rest.”

“No, I need to say it now. I knew it was a bad idea going tonight.”

“You knew they were going to be there? That’s why you didn’t want to go,” Chris said to himself, thinking back to Travis’ odd behavior as they were leaving Sweetbriar. “Shit. I’m an idiot. I thought you didn’t approve of me boxing.”

Travis laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. “I knew Danny’s thugs were looking for me. If they got wind you were fighting, I’d be easy to find. I knew it was a risk, and I didn’t say anything. I put you in this situation, and I’m sorry. Years of living and dealing with shit-bags like Danny, and I always thought I was better than them, as if I had some sort of moral compass that knew right and wrong on a higher level than theirs. But tonight, I led us into a situation that I knew could end badly. I should have told you.”

“Don’t you dare compare yourself to those assholes. You’re better than that.”

Travis laughed and winced, grabbing at his side with his good arm. “I don’t know anymore. I can’t seem to get my shit together.”

“We will get through this together. You’ve got me and Charlie. We may not have been there for you like we should have been after Mom and Dad died, but we’re here now.”

“Since when did my little brother become smarter than me?”

“Knock, knock.” Claire poked her head into the room. “The nurses are pacing out here. I think it’s time to let him sleep.”

Chris nodded at Claire as he stood next to Travis. He wanted to reach out and touch him, assure him in some way, but the fear of hurting him further restrained him. “I’ll be back. Get some rest.” He left the room and joined Claire in the hallway.

She looped her arm through his and bumped her shoulder against his. “He’s gonna be okay. He’s in good hands here.”

“Thank you.”

Claire stopped outside the nurses’ station. “Tori is in the waiting room. I’ll catch up with you guys in just a minute.”

Tori was sitting on the edge of her seat, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth. She stood as he stepped forward, but stayed firmly in her place.

“He’s gonna be okay,” Chris said, taking a seat next to her.

Tori nodded and sat back down.

“Okay, I got two rooms at the hotel next door,” Claire said as she hustled into the waiting room with a large plastic bag in her hands. “Let’s get out of here.”

Tori took her time in the bathroom, wiping her face bare and thinking over the night. Chris had come to Carroll to fight Louis. He hadn’t said it exactly, but he’d told them he’d found Travis after his fight was over. Why hadn’t he told her he was coming to Carroll to fight? It bothered her more than she wanted to admit. He’d asked her opinion and pretended it mattered. She’d been feeling bad about leaving him in Sweetbriar for a night out with Claire. Ha!

“Tori?” Claire’s voice came from the other side of the bathroom door. “I’m gonna head back to the hospital and sit with Travis. My nurse-friend said it was okay as long as I didn’t get in the way.”

Tori listened and nodded at her reflection in the mirror.

“Tori?” Claire asked, knocking on the door.

“I’m here. I’ll see you in the morning.”

She waited until she heard the click of the door signaling Claire’s departure then opened the bathroom, ready to collapse into bed. Her head ached with unanswered questions.

Long denim-clad legs caught her attention. Her eyes snapped to the bed where Chris sat. His legs dangled over the edge of the bed, and his torso was bare, revealing the bruising he’d gotten tonight.

“What are you doing in here?” she asked more harshly than she intended.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to talk.”

“How did you get in?”

Chris pointed toward the adjoining door that led to his room.

“Oh” was all she managed.

“Sit, please. I need to explain.”

Tori waved her hands in front of her face. “There’s no need.”

“Are we back here again?”

Tori shot him a look, wondering why she’d ever imagined things could be easy between them.

“Just let me explain. Please?” He patted the bed next to him.

Tori moved the bag Claire had brought back from the hospital, glancing inside to find a variety of first-aid items, and sat at the end of the bed, keeping some distance between them.

Chris’ voice was low and apologetic, nothing like his usual teasing, argumentative tone. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was coming to Carroll tonight.”

“You think I’m mad because you didn’t tell me you were going to be in Carroll?”

“No. I know why you’re mad. I wanted to surprise you after the fight, but then everything happened.”

Tori kept her eyes focused on the bag and began pulling each item out. Bandages, antiseptic, ice pack, Tylenol — Claire had thought of everything Chris might need. “I was definitely surprised.”

She looked up to find his face sad and searching. She took a deep breath and told herself this was not the time or place. “Here, let’s get you fixed up.” Tori tore open the antiseptic wipes and dabbed at a cut on the side of his face. “Does it hurt?”

He laid a hand on top of her free hand that rested on the bed. “Yes.”

It wasn’t clear if they were still talking about the cut or the turmoil between them, but she didn’t push. She placed a bandage on the cut and moved to his torso. She ran a hand lightly down his chest and over the bruising that was turning a purplish color.

His hand moved to caress her face, and she closed her eyes and leaned in to it. He kissed her softly and slowly apologized with each gentle touch.

She kept her eyes closed and let him take control, laying her back on the bed and covering her with his body. The anger and frustration she felt for his betrayal gave way to an urgency deep within her. She needed him. Every screwed-up part of him was meant for her. Her anger had always been a buffer to her heart. If she hated him, then his actions couldn’t hurt her. Only they had, and they always would.

She moved on top of him and pulled his jeans and boxers down. She tossed them aside and then slipped her panties off under her dress and flung them in the same direction as his clothes with a wicked smile. She turned around and lowered herself slowly down until he filled her so full she cried out. She leaned forward, placing her hands on his thighs so none of her weight would risk hurting his injuries. With no fear of making eye contact, she was able to regain some of her careful control.

He took over, grabbing her hips and moving her up and down over his slick shaft. “You’re beautiful.” He pressed his lips to her back, continuing his torturous pace.

His words were like throwing lighter fluid on an already roaring fire, and she gasped and arched her head back as she climaxed uncontrollably. She opened her eyes as he spun her around. His eyes held a dangerous look.

Tori flung herself onto the bed next to him and listened to his breathing even out. She was raw with emotions and uncertain as to what to do or say. She couldn’t unload on him now. Not after everything he’d been through. Still, she had questions.

“Did you win?”

Chris didn’t speak for a long moment, and she was sure he had fallen asleep. She turned on her side, expecting to find proof that he’d shut his eyes and nodded off. Instead, she found his blue eyes focused on her hair splayed out on the pillow. He reached up and tenderly wrapped a long strand around his finger.

“Yes.”

She considered that for a moment. What would tonight have been like if he’d shown up at the club, excited to tell her he’d beaten Louis? Would she still be feeling as hurt as she did in this moment?

With a sigh, he pushed himself up from the bed and pulled his jeans on.

Panic took over as he zipped up and looked down at her, still standing and making no move to get back into bed. “You’re leaving?”

He nodded and leaned down and brushed her lips with a kiss. “It’s been a long night. I’ll see you in the morning.”

She attempted to smile up at him even though she felt like she was plummeting into Brokenheartville. She wanted to jump into his arms and wrestle him back to the bed and demand a redo that involved her being a badass sexual diva and him being… well himself, but less sad and intense.

He smiled back at her, one side of his mouth turning up into a devastating smile. “Sweet dreams.”