Page 91 of Montana Silence
“You didn’t know.”
Knuckles stroked my cheek. “That doesn’t matter.”
“I love you,” I whispered. The first time I’d spoken the words aloud. “I wasn’t saying goodbye. I just wanted to make sure I said it in words and not tapping.”
“I heard you, sweetheart. Loud and clear. I am so fucking proud of you, though I never want to hear you scream again.”
I laughed and then groaned. The motion hurt too. “Hopefully I won’t have to. How bad is the damage?”
“Broken arm,” Liam said. “The rest is some big-time bruising and scrapes. Along with feeling like you got hit by a truck, because hitting asphalt at that speediskind of like getting hit by a truck. But you got lucky.”
His voice told me everything I needed to know about how terrified he’d been. “Why can’t I move my head?”
“Neck brace as a precaution. Now that you’re awake, we’ll have the doctors come by, and hopefully you can take it off.” He took my hand gently, squeezing. Nothing between our hands, so no cast on my right. Left must be broken.
“What happened? Is Neil—”
“Dead. It all happened fast. He hit the spike strip and came out shooting. The police took him down before he even took a step. And Malcolm… Well, he’s dead too. Someone in the prison.”
Sweet relief and freedom filled my chest. “I shouldn’t be happy to hear that,” I said. “But I am.”
He grinned. “I won’t tell anyone. But I am too. There’s more to tell you, though. Claire is alive and has been arrested. He did a number on her and her mind. But there’s no question about whether she’s going to jail.”
“I’m not testifying,” I said immediately.
“You don’t have to. There’s plenty of evidence against her already. And Brynn is here in the hospital as well.”
I blinked. “What?”
Liam told me his side of the story, from the water in the gas tank to being approached by Brynn. And everything that came after.
“I guess you were right,” I said quietly. “About her showing up at exactly the right time.”
“Maybe. But she helped save your life. She snapped out of it and knows what she did. If anything, it’s impressive. And seeing her the way she was…” He sighed. “He messed with her mind. She didn’t know any better. But now, I think she has a chance.”
“Did Claire say anything about Ecuador?”
Liam frowned. “Not that I know of. Why?”
“It’s where the new compound is,” I said. “He told me in the car.”
“I know a few people who will be very interested in that piece of information,” Liam said quietly, though he was brushing his lips over my skin.
“Everyone back home?”
His grin lit up the whole room. “Going crazy to talk to you as soon as you’ll let them.”
I smiled. “Maybe in a little while.” While I loved our family, they were also overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure I could take the kinds of questions and phone passing that would happen on a call. As it was, as soon as we got home, I knew everyone would be falling over themselves to help.
“You got it.”
“Our patient is awake, I see.” A man in a white coat stood in the doorway. “Nice to officially meet you.”
“Hi,” I said, my voice sounding more like a croak than anything else.
“I’m Dr. Araya. I’ve been looking after you since you were brought in.”
“Can she take the brace off?” Liam asked.