Page 12 of Forever Found

“I’m sorry shortcake, but there was nothing you could do, and I knew it. We were in the middle of who knows where. You’d only have panicked more if you knew I was still bleeding.”

“Yeah, well ‘panicked’ wasn’t exactly the word when I did find a service station and you wouldn’t damn-well wake up. I thought you were dead!” I cried.

“Hey. It’s okay.” Eli grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly in his. “I’m here. We’re both safe. Did you manage to call Ash?”

“Yeah. He’s coming here, but I don’t know when. I kind of lost it when I heard his voice,” I admitted.

“You’re exhausted. Have you been checked over?”

“I’m okay.”

“Addy. You need to at least have someone look at your head.”

“I can’t, Eli. Please….just don’t. I c-can’t stand anyone touching me…not now,” I whimpered as I fought hard not to cry again.

“Okay, sweetie. Just try to calm down. We’ll wait until Ash arrives, okay?” I managed a weak nod in reply. “Adam?” he asked, changing the subject.

“He’s alive. He had to have surgery but Asher said he’s stable.”

“See? I told you he was strong. He’ll be alright,” Eli assured me.

“He has to be,” I whispered. There was nothing I wanted more in that moment than to be surrounded by all three of my guys. I wanted their arms around me and I wanted to hear their promises that I was safe. I needed that so much.

“Have the police spoken to you?” Eli asked.

“They tried but I…I’m not good right now. They agreed to wait so we could talk to them together,” I explained.

“Come sit up here with me now,” Eli told me as he scooted across the bed away from me with a slight grimace, then patted the space at his side.

“I shouldn’t. The nurses won’t like it,” I argued.

“I don’t care what they think. I care that you feel safe. Come up here and let me hold you. We’ve both had a tough couple of days, and I need this as much as you do.”

I nodded tearfully as I sipped my feet from the too big sneakers, then moved carefully to slide onto the tiny hospital bed beside him. My back was stiff and painful with every move, and my head spun when I stood, but it was all worth it when I found myself pressed into Eli’s side, his arm wrapped around me and holding me tight.

“I just want to go home,” I whispered tearfully as I clung to him tightly.

“Me too. It won’t be long. Asher will take us home when he gets here, okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed with a single nod. “Am I hurting you?” I worried as I looked up at him again. His injured arm was at the opposite side to where I sat, but still.

“No. Stop worrying. We’re both okay now. I want you to try and rest for me, okay?”

“I can’t. I’m too scared to close my eyes right now,” I confessed. I held out my hands and saw how badly they shook. I felt like my entire body was shaking too. Only Eli’s heat and strength surrounding me was making me feel slightly less raw and exposed.

“Then at least rest against me and try to clear your head. Asher will be here soon and he’ll take care of everything. Until then I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”

I lay my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, but instantly an image of Max, standing over me came into my head. I heard his threat again.

‘I have to admit, a huge part of me wants to have a piece of the joy I saw on your father’s face when he was taking you that night.’

I gasped in panic and opened my eyes again, not wanting to see that cold, menacing look on the face of a man I had believed I could trust.I was such an idiot! How could I fail to spot what a monster he was after all that I had been through?

“Sshh. You’re okay, Addy. We’re safe now,” Eli reassured me gently as he pulled me back into his side and ran his hand over my wild hair.

‘We’re going to have some time together, Addy. You’ll do exactly as I tell you to in that time, or I’ll have Bull beat your precious brother to death.’

I didn’t even close my eyes this time as Max’s voice echoed through my head deafeningly. I pressed my face into Eli’s side as I slammed my hands over my ears. I couldn’t hear it anymore. I couldn’t stand to think about Max, or any of what had happened. I was just done. All I wanted was to be home with my brothers and my guys. I wanted to feel safe and secure, just as I had only two days before.