Page 56 of The Cabin-A Reverse Harem Romance
“He’s injured,” Elise said softly. “He could have a concussion. Maybe more. I mean, there was the wreck, and then the beating –”
“That he deserved,” Trevor said.
Elise nodded. “Not disagreeing. I’m just saying, if there’s something wrong with him, like a bleed on the brain or something, and he ended up dying out here, I don’t know that I could live with the guilt,” she said, and then looked at all of us, one by one, her gaze penetrating. “Could you?”
I already knew the answer to that for all of us – yeah, we could. We could absolutely live with it. But we couldn’t’ say that to her. She’d never forgive us for being so cruel and callous. That’s probably something she would have expected out of Brad, but not us. I looked at the guys, and knew by their expressions, that they were thinking pretty much the same thing.
“Fine,” I said. “Since we’re taking you to the hospital anyway, we’ll take him too. And after that, we’re going home.”
“Back to the cabins?” Elise asked.
I shook my head. “No. Home,” I said. “We’re going home.”
Brad stirred, a low groan escaping him. He slowly sat up, looking like something straight out of a horror movie. His face was bruised, bloody, and swollen, and he grimace in pain every time he moved. Good. I hoped he hurt. And bad.
“You look like shit, chief,” Sean observed.
Brad opened his mouth to speak, but thought better of it, and closed it again. At least the man knew when he was beaten.
“On your feet,” I said. “We’re taking you to the hospital, against my better judgment. Remember, the injuries you sustained were from your car wreck. Nothing more. Or I swear to God, I will get the police involved, and have you booked on kidnapping charges. You got me, Brad?”
Brad looked at Elise, his gaze longing, lingering, and then angry. But, without a word, he got to his feet, the pain tearing through him more than evident. But, then the fire in his eyes dimmed, and he looked down at the ground, merely nodding.
“Let’s go,” I said.
Nolan, being less of an asshole than the rest of us, helped Brad get moving. With Elise walking between Trevor and I, Sean directly behind her, and Nolan helping Brad bringing up the rear, we walked out of the cabin, and headed back for the truck. I was hoping it didn’t take long at the hospital, and we could get on the road soon.
All of us were ready to put this winter wonderland well behind us.
13
Elise
By the time I was released from the hospital with a clean bill of health, the storm had let up for the most part. Brad was going to be there for a few more days, but I was good to go. The air outside was still frigid, but the wind wasn’t howling like it had been before, and the air didn’t nearly burn my lungs the way it had earlier. Nolan still seemed nervous about driving the snow-covered mountain roads though. But I knew we would be fine. My guys would not let anything happen to me. The guys offered the front seat of the truck, but I took the back, and was comfortably situated between Chase and Sean. Sean’s arm was wrapped around my shoulder, and he held me close. Chase didn’t say much at first, he just let me sleep. I dozed on and off for a long time, my mind and body exhausted from everything they had been through over the last few days.
“I’ve never been so happy to see the South Carolina border in my life,” Nolan said, stirring me from my nap.
I sat up, and while there was some light snow on the ground, it was nothing like the mountains we’d left behind. We were home, or almost home, at least. It wasn’t going to be long before I was going to be back in my warm, cozy house, tucked away in my warm, cozy bed, all safe and sound.
Thanks to these four amazing men.
They’d done so much. From driving up there to find me in the first place, to saving me from dying a certain death in the snow with my batshit crazy ex. The four men had risked their lives for me countless times, and I knew they’d do it again in a heartbeat. They’d always be there for me. To save me. To care for me. They would always be in my life, and I honestly couldn’t imagine my life without them.
I really didn’t know what I’d done to earn such enduring love and loyalty, but I was profoundly grateful for it.
I took Sean’s hand in mine and then gently reached for Chase’s. We hadn’t really talked much since the night he caught me with Nolan, and I still felt bad for hurting him. I didn’t want him to be hurt. I loved him. I loved all of them. I just needed to make them understand it – which might not be easy, since I didn’t quite understand it myself.
