Vivian Arend - Turn It On

She wanted Ryan. He’d take care of her; he was always taking care of her. She remembered his expression as they’d made love that morning, the passion and the tenderness wrapped together, their bodies and souls connected. A tear rolled down her cheek and landed on her arm, and suddenly there was a thin glimmer of hope.

The sensor.

Ryan had installed a moisture sensor in the bathroom. If she triggered it, the alarm would call someone to check the house in less than fifteen minutes.

Dragging her body along the floor took forever, but when Maxine attempted to rise the room spun so hard she toppled to the ground, exacerbating her arm and shoulder injury further. Guiding herself with her good hand she stuck as close to the vanity as possible until she finally reached the other side. She had to get the sensor wet for long enough to make it react. Her mouth was dry, the water taps too far above her head to try and reach. She stared longingly at the tub, even the toilet, but the water in them was as good as being a mile away. Blackness covered her vision again and she laid her head on her arm willing it to pass. Just a little longer. She needed to stay conscious for just a little longer.

She shuffled closer to the wall to feel her way to the sensor. Desperation drove her and gave her more strength than she thought possible. It was there, the narrow tube, low to the ground. Touching her fingers gingerly to the back of her head, she drew them away sticky with moisture. It took a few repeats to gather enough blood. It was cold on the floor, her head ached, and tremors racked her body before the blessed sound of a faint beeping from the main floor reached her ears.

Maxine put her head down and let the pain wash over her, numbness and darkness taking control.

* * *

Machines hummed in the background, low and unnatural, and there was a lingering odor that reminded Ryan of antiseptic cleansers and recycled air. Hospitals tried to make their rooms as pleasant as possible but they still were fucking awful places.

He stared at Maxine, tightly clutching her hand that lay on top of the pristine white sheets.

“You should go get a coffee or something. They said they don’t expect her to move for an hour with all the drugs they’ve pumped into her.” Maxwell Junior slid into the chair next to him.

Ryan glanced up in surprise. He’d never been so distracted on a mission to miss the arrival of another person into his immediate area. Of course, he’d never been distracted by having to sit and watch someone he loved lie in a bed, beaten, with a concussion. “You’re one to talk. Don’t you have a wife and baby to go home to?”

Junior nodded. “I’ll head home soon. I hoped I’d still be here when she woke. I need to know she’s okay.” He hesitated for a minute before lowering his voice. “You’re going to make sure she’s okay, right?”

This was about more than the injuries that caused Maxine to lie so still and pale. “You wondering about my relationship with your sister? That’s a matter between us. I thought I made that clear the last time we talked.”

Junior sighed. “I’m not asking what your intentions are or offering to meet you for pistols at dawn. I love my sister a lot and she means the world to me, but she’s got a mind of her own. I’m just curious if you’re planning on sticking around. The ass she was with before was all wrong for her, but there’s something about you I like.” Maxwell leaned back in his chair. “Even if you do cheat at cards.”

Ryan laughed quietly. It felt good to release a little of the tension wrapped around his brain. He liked Maxwell, liked how the man wasn’t pushy but quietly stuck to his guns until he got what he wanted.

Kind of like having a mosquito in the room—you had to pay attention.

“You’re jealous because you haven’t figured out how to count cards. Stick on a nineteen, it’s a very basic rule…” Ryan forced the light-hearted conversation out, but what he wanted to do was kick some ass. He’d known there was danger, and he’d screwed up somehow and let her down. She’d been hurt and it was more than he could bear. He twisted his body to be able to continue holding her hand and face her brother better. He considered for a moment.

“My first reaction is to say again it’s none of your business what’s between me and Max and tell you to fuck off, but your family is one of the tightest knit groups I’ve ever met. I can understand why you’re asking and I’m willing to share I’m planning to do my damnedest to make her happy. I’m also going to figure out what the hell is going on around the house so we never end up in this stinking hospital again.”

Junior nodded slowly in response. “That’s more than I was asking for, and about what I expected.” He rose to his feet, brushed a kiss on Maxine’s cheek and headed to the door. He turned back to stare at Ryan. “For what it’s worth, I like you. I think you’ve got a good heart. You might even have the nerves it takes to be part of this family.”

Ryan snorted. “I was in the fucking military and you wonder if I’ve got enough balls?”

“Oh, you’re physically and mentally strong, but family comes in all shapes and sizes, there’s no one size fits all. You get to pick your friends. You don’t get to pick everyone in your family, and it takes a special kind of courage to survive that reality.” Junior glanced at Maxine once more. “Call me when she wakes?”

Ryan nodded, his brain full and his heart aching, as Maxwell left the room.

How had someone gotten into the house to injure Maxine? All the safeguards had still been in place when the alarm went off. He’d made it to the house shortly after the emergency response team arrived and they’d had to break a window to get in. Seeing her white face and the bloodstains as the EMT carried her out on stretcher had wrenched something inside him, and he’d happily kill the bastard who’d hurt her when he found him.

A bigger question nagged at him. Why were all these things happening? It made no sense. Maxine’s Gramma had lived in the house for years without any disturbances and suddenly, once she moved out, the place got taken over by fucking ghosts.

Maxine shifted on the bed and drew his attention. She was going to be frightened as hell to know someone had broken in. It was his damn fault she was hurt, and it was breaking his heart to see her lying there bruised and battered. He needed to make things better. Needed to heal the hurts and stop the insanity from continuing. If he had to sit on her until the bastard was caught, he’d be willing. This was not about ordering her around, it was about potentially saving her life. And his, because if something happened to her, he’d never recover.

Her eyes opened and his heart leapt to his throat. “Sweetheart?”

Maxine turned her head toward him and grimaced. “Crap, I hurt.”

Ryan nodded, sliding forward so she didn’t have to move to see him. “You’re going to hurt for a bit, but there’s nothing permanently damaged. Thank God. You’ve got bruises and you probably feel like there’s a jackhammer going in your head but you’re going to be fine.” He lifted her good hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles gently. The tight knot in his belly released a tiny bit as he watched her eyes dart around the room, sharpness returning.

“I’m at the hospital?” she asked.

“Actually, I redecorated your bedroom. Like it?”

Maxine chuckled for a second before groaning. “Don’t make me laugh, it hurts. What happened?”

“I hoped you could tell me. What do you remember?” He rubbed her fingers, touching her again and again to reassure himself she was okay.

“I was in the bathroom, and when I came out I heard a noise. Something hit the back of my head and…” She frowned. “I don’t remember much else. My head hurts and my arm hurts.”

“You’ve got a concussion, and your arm is in a cast because you tore some ligaments and cracked a bone when you landed on it. Your collar bone is bruised too.”

Her eyes grew wide. “Shit. That’s not good. I must look like a mess.”

Ryan swallowed hard. “You’re beautiful. And brave. You set off the alarm, sweetheart, and I’m so proud of you. You took care of yourself and got the help you needed when my security system let you down. I’m sorry, I’m the cause of this.”

Confusion flashed across her face. “Did you hit me?”

He jerked back in surprise. “Of course not.”

Maxine smiled at him. “Then don’t be stupid, it’s not your fault.” Her eyes grew glassy again and she took a long breath in. “There’s some seriously good shit floating through my veins.”

“Maxine, I love you.” Fucking great timing, but he couldn’t wait anymore. It burst out of him like a breached dam and he needed her to know. “I love you and I want to marry you. I want us to be together and have kids and add to the insanity of your whole clan.” He leaned closer and gently touched her face.

“I love you too, Ryan.” She closed her eyes. It was quiet in the room for a minute before she cracked one eyelid open. “Did you just propose to me?”

He nodded.

“Hmm.” And she fell asleep again.

Nurses bustled in to check her and there was no more time for talking, for seeing if she’d understood what he’d said. Ryan laughed at himself. All fucking month to figure out he needed her like he needed oxygen, and he had to go and propose while she was high on painkillers and totally out of it.

Later. He’d try again later, and do it right.

“You want me to wait for you?”

Ryan handed the cabbie money and shook his head. “I’ll phone when I need a ride back.”

He let himself into the house and mentally reviewed the list of things he thought Maxine would like to have at the hospital. She’d have to stay overnight, possibly two nights, and he knew she’d feel better with some of her personal possessions around. It was easier to leave his car parked and grab a cab than fight rush-hour traffic and attempt to park again. Taking the stairs two at time, he headed toward their bedroom to grab her bag from the closet.

A loud clatter rang out from above his head and he ducked into the first side room, disappearing from sight. Swearing followed, and then rapid footsteps, and Ryan pressed hard against the wall. He could see the hallway through the narrow crack between the door and the doorframe. Someone with dark hair carrying a box in their arms raced past and disappeared into the master bedroom. Ryan glanced around for something to use as a weapon, anything, and ended up grabbing an antique bed warmer off the wall. He approached the doorway cautiously, but when he entered the room it was empty.

He inched his way forward, checking the bathroom, listening for any noise to explain the disappearing intruder. Then he noticed the closet door was ajar, a faint light visible through the crack.

The closet had no interior light.

Brushing aside their clothing, he spotted a small opening in the back wall about three quarters the size of a regular door. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. There was a secret passage in the back of the fucking closet. After carefully putting aside the bed warmer, Ryan entered and followed a narrow hall to the top of a steep spiral staircase.

He tried to imagine where in the house the missing space was taken from. Ryan debated descending, but with no light other than the single bulb above his head, and no weapon, he wasn’t going to be stupid and try to surprise the trespasser in the narrow quarters.

Distant shuffling noises drew closer and Ryan retreated. With more space around him he’d be very willing to meet the prowler.

When Maximilian stepped into the room and headed for the main hallway Ryan saw red. Her own cousin was the cause of Maxine’s troubles? The fear and anger of the past months rolled together into a tight ball then burst out like an explosion. He caught the ass by the shoulder and flung him face first into the wall. Ryan yanked his arm up behind his back and the slimy bastard yelped in pain.

“What are you doing? Let me go,” Maximilian pleaded.

Ryan shoved the arm he held captive higher, pleased with the gasp of pain Maximilian released. “Let’s start this conversation over, shall we? This is not your house and I don’t remember inviting you in. So your presence means you’re here illegally and your rights have gone down to whatever I say they are—fucking nothing. Talk fast before I break your arm. What are you doing?”

Maximilian hesitated and Ryan felt a streak of pleasure rise at the asshole’s stupidity. His actions wouldn’t change the fact that Maxine lay in a hospital bed. Didn’t change the fact she’d spent months scared to death because of this asshole. But it would feel damn good. Flipping Maximilian around, Ryan punched him. The man flew backward, splaying out his hands to stay on his feet. “Shit!”