Page 103 of See It Through
A ragged moan left her broken lips, her hand reaching out. I wrapped mine over hers, alarmed at how cold her skin was. But she was moving, breathing, alive.
“It’s Remi, sweetheart.” Somehow, the words came out steady, though I was a quivering mass of panic. “We’re gonna get you help. You’re safe now. You’re safe.”
The next couple hours were a living nightmare. Ambulance, cops, doctors, the Kelly clan, hospital, waiting room—all a blur of horror.
With my head in my hands, I leaned forward, guilt weighing me down like an anvil on my back. Elena was with Hannah, so all of us had to wait until we were allowed in her room. I’d never felt so goddamn helpless.
A heavy hand patted my back. “Get it out now, son.”
I turned my head. Lock had taken the seat beside mine. He was watching me with warm brown eyes that reminded me so much of Hannah’s. A knot lodged in my throat and refused to clear out.
He shook his head. “When you go back there to see her, you can’t take any of this with you. She’s going to be feeling bad enough as it is. You bringing your guilt won’t help anyone.”
“I should’ve been there,” I rasped.
He jerked his chin toward Cormac, huddled up with Caleb on the opposite side of the waiting room.
“I just got through hearing my son say the same thing. I’ll tell you what I told him, you did what you could with the information you had. Getting bogged down in the ‘would haves’ and ‘could haves’ will get you stuck in a world of hurt. Operate in facts. Hannah’s injured, but she’ll survive this. You got there in time, Remi.”
I nodded, tears blurring my vision. “I just need to see her.”
“I know, son.” The weight of his big hand on my back brought me as much comfort as his words. “I have a feeling she needs to see you just as much. We’ll get you in there soon.”
Soon was relative, but a nurse eventually called us back to Hannah’s room. I thought I’d gotten a handle on my emotions. But one look at my beautiful girl, bruised and battered in a hospital bed, and my knees threatened to give out. I had to brace myself on a wall, letting her family go ahead of me to see her first.
“Remi?” Raw and gritty, Hannah used her voice to call out to me. “Get over here.”
Elena moved to the foot of the bed, giving me space to stand right beside Hannah. The bruises on her throat almost had me seeing stars, but losing it wasn’t an option. Like Lock had said, she needed me. She was hurting, maybe afraid. The very least I could do was be a pillar for her to lean on, knowing I’d stay standing when she couldn’t.
“I’m here, sweetheart,”
She reached for my hand, weaving our fingers together. Her eyes, bloodshot and filled with tears, found mine.
“I was trying to get to you,” she whispered. “Kept thinking I needed to see you again.”
My head fell forward. I took a deep breath, working hard to stave off the sheer panic.
“You did a good job, sweetheart. You fought hard. You made it to me.”
Her split lips curved into the slightest smile as her eyelids drooped. Her doctor had dosed her with pain meds, but she was fighting them, trying to stay awake.
“I made it to you, Remington,” she echoed softly.
I touched her unmarred cheek, cupping it as gently as I could. “You’re safe now, Hannah. You need to rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Promise?” Her lids were already lowering.
“I promise. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “Just for a little while…”
Lock brought me a chair so I could sit by Hannah’s side while she slept, her hand cradled in mine. Hearing her even breaths reassured me. Each one was precious, and I’d never take a single one for granted.
After a while, her siblings went home, but Lock and Elena stayed, snuggled together on the small couch under the room’s lone window.
Elena had been there when Hannah had spoken to the police. Once Hannah had fallen asleep, she’d shared what had happened with Lock and me.
She’d gone down the alley to help Tina. It was no surprise she’d put her own safety aside to save someone else. But goddamn, if it didn’t make me angry she’d been put in that position at all.