Page 98 of Broken Butterfly
I’m sitting beside Elizabeth’s hospital bed. I’ve been clutching on to her hand for the past ten minutes, ever since I arrived. Ry called me after she was admitted, and I think I broke every damn law in the state of North Carolina getting here.
“Hey, kitten.”
She squeezes my hand and tremulously tries to give me a weak smile. Her eyes slowly bounce around the room and she lays her head back, exhaling gruffly. “I really fucking hate hospitals.”
“I’m going to get you out of here as fast as I can. I promise.” I reach over and gently push her hair away from her face. “Please tell me that you remember who I am.”
As soon as Ryder saw me out in the waiting room, he pulled me aside and freaked the fuck out. Elizabeth having another concussion or head injury could result in permanent brain damage, or she could lose her memories again.
“Of course I do.Ohhh,” she says when she realizes why I asked. I give her a small smile and she tries her best to smile back at me through a wince of pain as she touches two fingers to her head.
“Where’s Ryder?” she asks.
“He stepped outside a few minutes ago to deal with your insurance. Julien and Elijah went to grab some burgers to bring back because hospital food sucks.” She chuckles and winces, her hand moving to her stomach. “Ry asked if Jay could go grab you some clean clothes from the apartment. Meredith started going rabid with worry, so I called Trevor to come deal with her.”
Elizabeth’s hand reaches for her chest and gropes around frantically. Her hand bunches around the thin fabric of her hospital gown and a heavy breath escapes her lips, “Oh, thank God. I didn’t lose it.” I wonder for a few seconds what she’s going on about.
She licks her dry lips and repositions herself. “Do you mind?” she asks, motioning to the cup of water with a straw in it. I hold it up for her to sip. “Thanks. So, what’s the prognosis.”
“Don’t you want to wait for Ry?”
“Fallon, just tell me. This isn’t my first hospital rodeo.”
“Fair enough. Good news is, you only have a slight concussion. The drugs they gave you knocked your ass out. Because of your previous major head trauma and amnesia, the doctors want to play it safe and keep you overnight. You’re also going to be black and blue for a little while but nothing is broken, thank fuck.”
“I was pushed, Fallon. Someone pushed me in front of that car.”
Rage like I’ve never felt, more powerful than eventhatnight, courses through me. It takes everything for me not to jump up right now and burn this fucking town to the ground until I find out who did this. Son of a bitch tried to kill my sunshine—my best friend’s girl—tonight and I will use every resource in my arsenal to make sure the motherfucker pays.
“Fallon.” Her voice brings me back from the dark edge I was about to leap from. “Right before I was pushed, he said something. He said, ‘Told you I was coming for you, bitch.’ He said the same words that someone texted me and the same words that were written on my car. I’m scared, Fallon. All I keep thinking isHe’sback.He’scoming for me. I can’t letHimwin this time.”
Fuck, am I crying? Goddamn it. I swipe angrily at the tears escaping from my eyes.
“Kitten, the man from that night will never hurt you again. It wasn’t him.”
“How can you be sure? How do you know?”
I look at Elizabeth lying in the hospital bed; her appearance so tired and small; her face, neck, and arms bruised. The green orbs of her eyes gazing back at me with a mixture of fear and trust. She’s still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on.
“I made you a promise.” I promised her thatHewould never hurt her again.
At that moment, her hospital door opens. After stepping inside, Ry comes to a dead stop when he sees Elizabeth is awake.
“Jesus Christ, baby,” he chokes, and I have to turn around to compose myself while he barrels over to Elizabeth and breaks down in racking sobs against her neck. “I was so scared, sweetheart. I love you so much. I thought I’d lost you. Please don’t ever forget me again,” he begs and kisses her face all over, careful not to hurt her.
This strong girl who has more heart than anyone on Earth, comforts Ryder even though she’s the one in the hospital bed. She wriggles to make room for him to lie down beside her.
“Shhh. I love you. I’m fine. Just a little bruised. Nothing serious from what Fallon has told me. I’m a tough chick. I’ve been through much worse, and I’ll always find my way back to you. I’m not going anywhere. You and me forever, remember?” Elizabeth tells him, caressing the side of his face.
I step over to the hospital room window to give them a little privacy. I take out my phone and text Charles to direct him to get here as soon as possible. The police have been waiting for Elizabeth to wake up so they can get her statement. I’m also going to get her moved to a private suite upstairs since they’re keeping her overnight.
“Need me to text Jay and Jules for you?” I ask over my shoulder.
Elizabeth’s hoarse giggle has me turning back around. I cock my head at her to ask what’s so funny and she starts to laugh even harder, then groans. “Stop it, Fallon. I hurt too much right now to laugh.”
I look at her like she’s lost her mind. “What the fuck did I do?”
“The fact you would text Jayson for me, and that you contacted your brother. If I didn’t know any better, I think it was you who has a concussion.”
