Page 107 of Searching for Bristol
“Sir? If you can please move so we can do our assessment.”
Rocky nodded—and didn’t move.
It wasn’t until Bristol squeezed his hand and said, “I’m okay,” that he was able to force his feet to shuffle to the side.
“Assuming you’re going with us?”
“Yes,” Rocky said firmly. He wanted to see them try to force him out of the back of the ambulance. It wasn’t happening.
“I’m gonna go get Lilly. We’ll meet you in Roanoke,” Ethan said from the open doors of the vehicle.
“Same. Elsie would raise hell if I didn’t bring her,” Zeke said.
“We’ll see you there too,” Drew said.
Looking at the faces of his team, Rocky once again thanked his lucky stars they were there. “Thanks, guys. Just…thanks.”
They all nodded as the paramedic shut the doors.
“We’ve already gotten approval to go straight to the trauma center,” the paramedic told Rocky.
He nodded, but still couldn’t take his eyes off Bristol. Her eyes were closed and she was grimacing as the other medic in the ambulance began to check her over. He wanted to yell at the man to be careful, but he kept his mouth shut. The less he interfered, the sooner Bristol could get the medical care she needed.
He couldn’t stop himself from leaning forward and putting his hand on top of her head. A small smile formed on her face, but she didn’t open her eyes. Just knowing that she was aware he was there was enough…for now.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Bristol was more than ready to go home. She’d been in the hospital in Roanoke for a week. She’d had surgery to replace the pin that Lance had knocked free when he’d re-fractured her leg. She had an infection from the wound that was being stubborn, she was dehydrated, and her blood pressure was a bit wonky. But she was alive, and so thankful for that.
She’d been devastated to learn about Lance stabbing Art. Apparently, he’d seen the shock on Art’s face when the older man saw the package Lance was carrying into the post office, and had followed him home. When Lance broke in and confronted him, Art denied knowing anything about seeing the package, but the kidnapper couldn’t risk Art alerting the authorities. Lance had stabbed him, probably assuming he’d bleed out and die.
Bristol hadn’t been able to see Art in the hospital, but as soon as they were both released, he was going to be the first person she went to visit. Rocky assured her that Art was doing well, and his granddaughter had taken a leave of absence to help him recuperate.
Rocky had been amazing. Now that she was free of Lance, Bristol was suffering nightmares and flashbacks. He stayed in the hospital with her, and when she woke up during the night, confused about where she was, the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was him. He refused to let anyone turn off the lights in the room, so she never had to be in the dark.
The last three days, he’d left for a few hours during the daytime, telling her he had some things he needed to take care of back in Fallport. She hated to see him go, but she also didn’t want to be clingy. He didn’t elaborate on what he was doing, but Bristol figured he’d tell her if it was important.
She’d had a steady stream of visitors when Rocky wasn’t there, so at least she was never bored or lonely. Bristol had cried—hard—when she’d seen Finley. Rocky had told her all about how she’d been the one to visit her website, and figure out that people were leaving reviews on stuff they’d received very recently. When Bristol had expressed concern that her friend had closed the bakery to visit, Finley had shrugged and said she’d put a note on the door that she was in Roanoke visiting Bristol, and if anyone had a problem with that, tough.
It was wonderful to see Finley gaining some confidence. But it seemed she was still just as shy around Brock…because when he’d shown up to visit with Bristol, Finley had stayed for only a few more minutes. Then said she had stuff she needed to get done, leaving quickly. Bristolsowanted to say something to Brock about her, but she didn’t want to embarrass Finley.
It was currently mid-afternoon a full week later, and Bristol was more than ready to get out of the hospital. She was grateful for the amazing care she’d received, and for everyone who’d driven out of their way to visit, but she wanted to go home with Rocky. Wanted him to be able to sleep on something more comfortable than the hospital cot next to her bed or the chair.
“How are you doing, honestly?” Rocky asked. He’d just returned an hour earlier after another trip to Fallport.
“I’m okay.”
“I know you talked to Simon about the facts of the case, but I’m more interested in where you’re at here,” he said, brushing his thumb against her temple gently.
“Honestly? I’m all right. I can’t deny I was scared to death, but as long as I did what he asked, it was almost as if he was…a roommate.” The first time Bristol had said Lance’s name, Rocky’d had a visceral reaction. His face got red and his fists clenched as if he couldn’t even bear to hear the name of the man who’d kidnapped and held her captive. So Bristol did her best to not say it in Rocky’s presence again.
“He wasnota roommate,” Rocky bit out.
Bristol put her hand on her man’s cheek. “I know,” she said softly.
“I can’t get over that you were so close,” Rocky said miserably.
She hated that he was beating himself up over that. “I shouldn’t have opened the door.”
