Maya Banks - Colters’ Gift

He knew there was more. He knew she’d endured the worst, but he was so goddamn relieved to have her back that he was weak with it.

“The doctor will meet you outside,” the nurse said in a quiet tone. “He’ll be able to give you the X-ray results as well as tell you how long she needs to remain in the hospital.”

“Thank you,” Noah said.

He leaned down to press his lips against her forehead and closed his eyes for a long moment.

“I love you,” he said against her skin. “I love you so goddamn much. We’ll get through this, sweetheart. I swear there’s nothing we can’t beat together.”

She sighed and turned her face upward as if seeking the comfort of his voice. He ran his fingertips over the delicate lines of her face before finally retreating.

Liam waited at the door and when the two men stepped out, the doctor walked down the hall toward them. His step was brisk, and he stopped in front of the group of men, his gaze sweeping over them.

“Which of you are Miss Wilder’s family?” the doctor asked.

Every single man spoke up.

The doctor cleared his throat and glanced skeptically at the assembled group.

“We’re her family,” Adam said in a grave tone. “We’re her fathers and brothers.”

Max nodded his agreement.

“How is she?” Noah blurted, no longer able to be patient. “When can she go home? She’s been asking.”

The doctor sighed. “I see all manner of things through this emergency room. Some you wouldn’t believe. One would think as often as I see the results of violence that I would be immune to it. And yet it still pisses me off every single time a woman comes through these doors because some bastard used her for a punching bag.”

The others simmered and seethed, their anger a tangible thing that hovered over them like a cloud.

“She fractured two lower ribs and has extensive bruising in that area, whether from the car accident or from abuse. It’s hard to say, and it’s likely that it’s from both.”

He paused a moment before continuing.

“Considering what she’s been through, her physical condition is better than I would have expected. Quite frankly, it’s her mental state that has me the most concerned and why I’m hesitant to release her from the hospital.”

“She needs to be home where she feels safe and surrounded by the people who love her,” Liam said.

“I agree,” Max interjected. “I think the sooner we get her back home, the sooner she’ll come around.”

Noah faced the doctor, his chest tightening with dread. “Besides the fractured ribs, did she sustain any other injury?”

The doctor folded his arms over his chest, trapping his clipboard against his body. “It’s my opinion that she wasn’t sexually assaulted. She’s bruised and she’ll be sore for several days, but given the circumstances, she fared far better than one might expect. She’s a tough young woman.”

Noah let out his breath, nearly light-headed from holding it. “So can we bring her home? How long will you want her to stay?”

The doctor seemed to consider the request for a moment. “If you are indeed going to take her home and see that she gets the proper rest and care, then I’ll discharge her as early as tomorrow morning. I want her to stay at least one night for observation.”

“She’ll have the best care possible,” Max said in a terse voice. “And she won’t so much as lift a finger.”

Noah and Liam both nodded their agreement with Max’s statement.

Movement behind Adam and Ryan made Noah’s gaze veer in that direction. Liam’s parents had come to stand just behind the assembled group and were listening as the others spoke.

“Then I’ll have her moved to a private room so she can rest overnight. If all looks well in the morning, the on-call doctor will see her when he makes rounds and he’ll discharge her.”

Noah extended his hand. “Thank you.”

The doctor shook Noah’s hand and nodded at the others. “We’ll get her up to a room as soon as possible.”

When the doctor turned to leave, Noah motioned for Lisa and Carl Prescott to move forward. He introduced them to Max and the Colters and saw Lisa’s eyes widen when the Colter familial situation was explained.

“Is Lauren all right?” Lisa asked after pleasantries were exchanged.

Liam sighed. “No. Not really. But then she shouldn’t be expected to be all right. She was kidnapped by a monster and subjected to God knows what.”

“She will be, though,” Noah said with determination. “Liam and I are going to take her back to Colorado. Home.”

Noah saw the knowledge in Liam’s mother’s eyes. To her credit she didn’t argue or try to persuade them differently. Her face softened, as only the love of a mother can soften a woman’s face.

“I know you’ll both take good care of her.”

Carl stepped forward. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let us know. And, Liam, don’t forget in all of this to take care of yourself as well. Your mother worries about both of you. A bullet wound is no small thing so don’t treat it as such.”

“I will, Dad,” Liam said as he was pulled into his mom’s arms.

Lisa pulled Noah closer until she stood between the two men she called her sons. The Colters and Max had discreetly moved farther down the hall, affording Liam and his parents privacy.

“When she’s better, I’d like you to bring her to visit and to meet us,” Lisa said in a low voice. “I don’t want to burden her right now and I think it better if we leave. I just wanted to be sure you were okay, Liam.”

“We’d like that,” Noah said. “I think Lauren would like it too.”

Liam nodded his agreement. “As soon as she’s up to it, we’ll bring her for a visit. Promise.”

“Good enough,” Carl said.

Liam’s father pulled Liam into a bone-crushing hug and then did the same to Noah. Noah winced. Liam got his size and build from his father. Carl Prescott was no slouch at sixty years old. He was a former mixed martial arts fighter and had served in the Marines before going to work in the paper mill he’d retired from. Even so, it was amusing to see that Lisa Prescott had the big man in the palm of her hand.

This was what Noah wanted. He wanted what Liam’s parents had. He wanted what the Colters had. He wanted Lauren and her love, and wanted to shower her with his love and devotion so that one day their children could look at them and think that they wanted the same.

“We’ll let you two get back to her,” Carl said in a gruff tone. “Call us when you get back to Colorado and let us know how things are going. Your mother will worry if she doesn’t hear from you.”

“Will do, Dad. Love you,” Liam said.

“Love you too, son. Both of you.”

Lisa kissed them both and gave them one last hug before she and Carl headed down the hallway toward the exit.

Liam turned to Noah, blowing out his breath. “Well. That went a little better than I thought it might.”

LAUREN laid her head back against the seat and closed her eyes as the plane lifted into the air. On either side of her were Liam and Noah, both touching her in some way whether it was a leg against hers or a hand on her arm. It was a silent reminder that they were there. Just as they’d been every minute since they’d burst into the lake house where Joel had died.

The last day had been a blur. Constant flow of people in and out of her hospital room. Noah and Liam had been determined that they were taking her back to Colorado at the very first opportunity, despite requests for them to remain in the area for further questioning.

She’d been questioned at length by the investigator assigned to the case as well as the district attorney whom Noah had turned the disk over to. In truth, she’d paused briefly, considering whether she should give the information now that Joel was dead. It shamed her that she feared reprisal from other quarters once the investigation was launched.

But Castanetti had guaranteed her anonymity and that she wouldn’t even have to testify since all she’d done was collect information from Joel’s computer. They’d have to launch their own investigation based on the information she’d provided. She’d given the disk to the D.A. and had immediately felt a weight lifted from her shoulders.

It was something she should have done from the start. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that, had she not done so much wrong, she wouldn’t have been abducted and subjected to Joel’s abuse, and Liam wouldn’t have been shot rescuing her.

She shivered and her stomach coiled into a knot. Just being on a plane brought back the memory of what Joel had done to her. What he’d forced her to do. Tears burned her eyelids and she bit into her lip to maintain control.