Page 106 of Searching for Bristol
She was wrong. Itdidmatter how long it had taken him. But he managed to mutter, “Damn straight.”
“I was going to fight like hell to keep from being put in that, broken leg or not,” she said, motioning to something behind him.
Blinking in surprise, Rocky looked around and saw something else he’d missed before.
A large open suitcase.
“He was freaked out yesterday, for some reason. He started getting ready to leave with me. He was going to drug me, stuff me in that, and carry me out.”
Every muscle in Rocky’s body tightened.
“Holy shit,” Drew muttered.
“I wasn’t going to let that happen. I was going to fight, no matter how much my leg hurt. I managed to hide a needle when he wasn’t looking. One that I’d been using to make the jewelry he wanted me to create. I was going to stab him in the eye or something.”
“Good girl,” Zeke praised.
Rocky wanted to tell Bristol how proud he was, but he couldn’t get anything past the lump in his throat.
“Coast is clear. He’s on his way to the station,” Simon said quietly. “We need to get her out of here. I’ve informed the paramedics that they need to go straight to Roanoke with her. The chopper is still occupied…” His voice dropped off, and the team already knew why the helicopter wasn’t available. Because it was still busy taking Art to the trauma center.
“Yes, please,” Bristol said with a small sigh, not knowing what had happened to the older man. “I could use a long hot shower, a huge hamburger, and maybe a pedicure while we’re at it.”
Everyone chuckled at that, but Rocky couldn’t bring himself to laugh about this. Not yet, and probably not ever.
“Can I carry you? Or will that hurt you too much?” Rocky asked.
“You carrying me will never hurt too much,” she replied.
Rocky wasn’t so sure about that, but since he wanted her out of this room and apartment, he was willing to try.
“I’m going to pick you up, but let me know if it’s too painful and we’ll figure something else out.”
She grimaced, letting Rocky know she was probably already in more pain than she was letting on. But she nodded. “Let’s do this.”
“I’ll hold her leg still,” Talon said. “Go easy.”
As if he wasn’t going to fucking go easy. But he didn’t snap at his friend. They were all on edge, and seeing Bristol in this condition was eating at everyone.
“Ready, Punky? Here we go.” Rocky gently slid his arms under her and lifted her from the bed. He heard her inhale, but she didn’t otherwise let one sound of pain escape her lips. Rocky could feel that she’d lost weight, and it made him want to kill Lance all over again. Motherfucker was going to pay.
Talon gently let go of her leg and nodded at Rocky. He walked carefully toward the door. He let out a small exhale of relief when they exited the prison she’d been in for the last two weeks. He heard the sound of the ambulance arriving when he neared the door, and walked a little faster. It looked as if they would be making another trip to the hospital in Roanoke, but as he’d done the last time, Rocky wasn’t going to leave her side.
He wondered if Art would be there too, but decided he’d worry about that once he knew Bristol was going to be okay.
Lance Zaun had caused a lot of pain for Fallport, but Rocky was proud of the way the town had come together to search for Bristol. They’d band together again to help care for both Art and Bristol when they came home to heal.
Rocky carried her down the stairs and toward the ambulance that had just pulled in. As the medics were preparing the stretcher in the back for Bristol, Rocky looked down at her. She was pale, her hair was greasy, she smelled like Zaun hadn’t washed her at all…but he’d never seen anyone as beautiful in all his life.
“I love you,” he blurted, not willing to wait one second more to tell her.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and met his gaze without fear or doubt. “I love you too. I knew you’d find me. Iknewit, Rocky. Just like you found me in the forest a few months ago. I just had to hold on, make him think I was his friend, until you did.”
Her confidence in him slayed Rocky.
“If you could put her down here, sir,” one of the paramedics said, interrupting their moment.
Rocky moved carefully, doing everything in his power not to jar Bristol more than he already had. He gently lay her on the gurney, but realized he was having a very hard time stepping away.
