Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 79749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
"Momma?"
In the next breath, Eli is scrambling away from Nolan and climbing into my arms.
I hold him as tight as I think I can without breaking bones, and I can feel just how small and fragile he really is. I want to grill him about what has happened. When was the last time he ate? Is he hungry now? What did Damien do to him? Has anyone hurt him?
"We need to get him to the hospital," Nolan says.
"Casper has ordered medics," I tell him, but walk toward the door when he guides me in that direction.
"I don't trust anyone right now, Peach."
I watch as Casper dips his head in understanding, rather than being upset that his efforts go unwelcomed.
I'm urged toward an idling SUV, and I'm grateful he stopped here first rather than making me wait even longer.
"Are you hurt anywhere, Toadstool?"
"Toadstool?" Nolan asks as he opens the door and pulls a seat belt across the two of us.
I look the man in the eyes. "That was Princess Peach's original name."
Nolan presses his head against mine before pulling back and pressing a kiss to the top of Eli's head.
I don't take my eyes off my son as Nolan walks around the SUV and climbs into the back passenger seat beside us.
It doesn't feel real. The last several days without Eli, not knowing if he was safe, have been brutal. I know the crash is coming and it's going to knock me on my ass, but this child is my only concern right now.
His slow breathing as Hemlock drives us out of the neighborhood we were in tells me that he feels safe enough to fall asleep, and only then do I look over at Nolan.
"Does he have any injuries?" I ask.
He points to his face. "He has a bruise on his cheek. He hasn't complained of pain or anything, but I want to get him checked out anyway."
"Of course," I tell him. "Damien's dead."
He doesn't smile. There's no jovial celebration, only the flat line of his lips. "Dead."
I don't feel anything that a normal wife would feel at hearing that her spouse is dead. If anything, I feel that hint of joy. Knowing that he can't hurt or terrorize us anymore brings with it a relief as big as the one I felt when Nolan walked into the house with Eli in his arms.
The drive to the hospital somehow seems to take forever but yet is over in a flash.
"What's going on?" I ask when I look out the window and see a lot of the men who worked with Nolan today standing just outside the emergency department at St. Vincent's.
"They're family," Hemlock says.
"You have a big family," I whisper.
"We have a big family," Nolan corrects.
I even spot Nyx, the man who was in my face yelling that I was lying and implying that I'd protect Damien over the safety of my son, standing there.
"He deactivated the device that was strapped to Eli," Nolan whispers when he notices where my eyes have landed.
I'm not going to be best friends with the guy but knowing that makes it impossible to hold on to the hatred I had felt for him before.
"Wait for me," Nolan says when we pull up to the non-emergency entrance.
When he opens my door, I attempt to climb out of the SUV holding Eli, but just can't manage it. I feel a great loss when Nolan reaches in and easily plucks him up, cradling him to his chest like the precious thing that he is.
I press my palm to Eli's back, taking a moment to count a few breaths before feeling as if I can step away for just a few seconds. Instead of holding a grudge or staying angry, I walk toward Nyx with tears streaming down my cheeks. I don't have enough words in my vocabulary to express my gratitude, so I don't even try.
Instead, I wrap my arms around him and squeeze. He stiffens at first, but then I feel his hand pat me twice on the back. He seems like an incredibly hard man, someone who has likely suffered more than most can imagine, and I know his reaction to what happened earlier was a result of that trauma.
"Thank you," I whisper as I take a step back.
He releases me immediately, and although I don't get a smile, he dips his head in my direction. I squeeze his hand before walking back toward Nolan.
As far as I know, no one asked these men to be here, but I smile at each and every one, whispers of "thank you" on my lips as I pass by them.
I don't know if the hospital just isn't busy, or if someone here managed to pull some strings, but the wait in the small triage room is less than ten minutes.