Page 51 of No One But You
She tsked and kissed my cheek before straightening.“Don’t be silly.You literally risked yourself for me, and you saved me by giving me that tracker.If you hadn’t thought of that, I might be….”She shuddered delicately.“Never mind.”
“Thank God they were able to find you quickly.”I reached for her hand, and she intertwined her fingers with mine.“I hate to think what could have happened if they’d noticed the tracker.They didn’t hurt you?”
She shrugged.“Not really.They were rough with me but didn’t hit me or anything after they threw me in the back of their car.I don’t think they really wanted to hurt me.Or at least, one of them didn’t.They just wanted to shut me up.”
My mind ached like someone was wringing it out.“Isn’t that the same thing?”
Tilting her head thoughtfully, she replied, “I think they legitimately did hope we could get out of it without violence that first day, but they didn’t expect me to fight back and then one of them lost their temper and… well, you know.Then, after they realized I’d survived, they knew that I might be able to identify them and get them arrested for assault or attempted murder.”
I didn’t think that was any better.Sure, their intentions might not have initially been violent, but the end result was the same.
“How do you feel?”she asked, leaning against the bed, her teeth caught on her lower lip.
“Apparently, I have a concussion and a minor skull fracture.I’m supposed to get plenty of rest and use painkillers as needed.”
The doctor who’d examined me had been surprised it wasn’t worse, but perhaps if what Bailey said was true, the man hadn’t swung the bat with his full strength.He’d have had no reason to do anything more than incapacitate me, after all.
She huffed and squeezed my hand.“How do youfeel?”
“Oh.”I supposed I had given her my prognosis rather than anything else.“Sore.But honestly, I’m mostly just relieved you’re okay.I’ve never been that scared in my life.”
I lifted her hand and brushed my lips over the back of it.There was a soft knock on the door, and Summer entered.When her gaze alighted on Bailey, she rushed over and swept her into an embrace.
“You’re okay,” Summer murmured, rocking slightly from side to side.“Don’t you dare do that to me again.My heart can’t take it.”
“I’m safe and sound,” Bailey assured her.“I’ll try not to get kidnapped again.”
“I’d appreciate that.”Summer let go of Bailey and grabbed onto me.“You too.You’re my nicest brother and I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t,” I assured her, my throat tight with emotion.
Drawing back, she glanced down at our joined hands.“Oh, so you guys have sorted everything out?”
Bailey met my eyes, and I smiled at her, hoping she could see everything that was in my heart.Her expression softened.“Yeah, we have.”
“Great.I expect you to take care of each other properly or you’ll answer to me.”Summer rubbed her palms together.“So, I had a quick chat with Nate.Apparently, the man they caught is talking.”
“What did he say?”I asked, eager for answers.
“That they suspected the hike might be a trap, so they used the opportunity to set their own trap.I don’t know more than that, but Grace is on her way, and she’ll probably have details.I’m going to grab some food.What would you like?”
“Anything is fine with me,” Bailey said.
Summer turned to me.“Max?”
“Er.Perhaps something soft?”
She grinned.“Done.I’ll be back soon.”
“Thanks.”
When she left, Bailey moved a chair closer and sat right beside me, holding my hand and clinging as though she was afraid I might vanish any second.
“I’m so sorry I brought all of this trouble to your doorstep,” she said.Her head was angled down, the slope of her neck graceful, but I hated that I couldn’t see her eyes.“You have a skull fracture and won’t be able to work for a while just because you were trying to take care of me.”
“It’s not your fault.”
When she made a doubtful sound, I tightened my grip on her.
