Page 111 of No More Lies

Chapter 26

A strong, warm hand was holding her own. Steve.

Diane tried to open her eyes, but it was like they were glued shut. What the hell was going on? Then, like a movie reel, the backs of her eyelids became the movie screen, and everything came flashing back.

Volkov, Melanie, Natasha, Anya, the window, the blood, her arm, bullets. Scenes flashed in front of her mind’s eye. The hold on her hand tightened. Steve’s voice interrupted the horror movie playing out.

“Angel, it’s OK.” His voice was soft, close to her ear. “You’re safe. I’m right here.” His breath warmed her skin.

Again, she tried to open her eyes. Her eyelids were heavy, as if telling her she should stay asleep. She didn’t want to stay asleep. She wanted to see her husband and Megan. Oh, God, Megan! Was she OK? Her eyes flew open, and she gripped Steve’s hand.

“Megan?” Her voice sounded hoarse.

“She’s safe. He never had her Angel. She was safe the whole time.” Steve brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. The small action undid her. Tears came hard as the reality of the past few days hit her.

The bed dipped and Steve sat, pulling her gently into his arms. She cried with relief. She was alive, and Megan was safe. She cried for what Melanie and Natasha went through. She cried for little Anya. She cried at how unhappy she had been this past year. She cried with exhaustion. She cried for not being worthy of the most wonderful man in the world, though he was holding her. He’d saved her life.

Gradually, her tears subsided as the minutes passed. She went to wipe her face, realizing her arm was still in a sling, but it no longer hurt.

“You dislocated your shoulder. You passed out, and when you arrived here, Sophie thought it would be better to make sure you stayed out while they put the shoulder back. She gave you a light sedative and some morphine. She could then check you out thoroughly without causing you pain.” His soft voice washed relief into her.

“I’m at Westside? I’m not military.” This hospital was for enlisted only.

“You’re part of my military family. That makes you one of us. How are you feeling?”

“OK. Where’s Megan? I want to see her.”

Steve nodded. “She’s right outside with the team. I’ll get her.”

“The team are here?”

“Yes. Everyone. Raven, Nyx, Sam, the girls. I would have called your parents, but I didn't want to worry them as they don’t know what happened.”

Diane swallowed. She couldn’t do this. Not yet. “I... Just Megan.”

Steve nodded again. “I understand.”

He opened the door. A second later Megan was there inside the door, looking a little uncertain. Diane held out her good arm and Megan ran to the bed.

“Oh, baby, I missed you so much.” She squeezed her daughter to her side and kissed the top of her head.

“I missed you, too, Mommy. I’m sorry you got hurt.”

Diane had no idea what Steve had told her, but it didn’t matter right now. She was here. She was safe.

“I’m going to be just fine. Don’t you worry.”

“I know. Daddy said you’re the strongest person he knows.”

Diane glanced over at Steve, seeing him smiling. Strong was not a word she would use to describe herself.

“He said you’re going to need our help for a while because you have to keep your arm in that white thing.” Megan pointed at the sling. “We already decided who’s going to do what. I can’t cook, so Daddy is going to take care of that. I’m going to do dishes. Daddy and I will do laundry together, and he will vacuum, and I will dust. Then—”