The nurse checked his blood pressure and entered it into her tablet. “Probably the pain meds, but I’ll let Dr. McIntyre know. He’ll be in soon. Can I get you anything?”
Tate held Liz’s hand. “I’ve got everything I need right here.”
The nurse smiled at both of them, then headed out.
Liz propped her hip next to his on the bed and stared at their joined hands, so grateful he was awake and alive.
“It’s over, Liz. He’s dead. He got exactly what he deserved.”
“I know. It’s terrible, but I’m glad he’s gone.” She didn’t want to think about Clint or the horrid things he’d done anymore.
Tate squeezed her hand to get her out of her head. “What about that woman?”
“Kelly. His assistant at work.”
Clint used and harassed so many women, but he’d really hurt Kelly in a way that changed her. Just like he did to Aubrey. They wanted him to love them. They just didn’t see Clint wasn’t capable of love. He didn’t care about anyone but himself. They got caught up in his charm and how he’d say all the right things and dismissed the way he acted. They couldn’t reconcile the two opposing things, so they craved more of his attention and dismissed the way he hurt them.
“Did she make it?”
Her chest went tight. “I couldn’t hold on to her. She broke free and fell into the rushing water.” She brushed her fingers over the scratches on her hand.
Tate shifted his hand in hers to cover them. “I thought you were going to go over, too. My heart stopped when I saw you tip over the railing. I wasn’t sure I’d grab you in time.”
She lifted her shirt. “You held on.”
“Jeez, Liz. I’m sorry.” He brushed his fingers over the four purple bruises on her side left by his fingers digging into her body as he kept her from going over the bridge with Kelly.
She pulled up the other side of her shirt. “I have a matching set.”
“Do they hurt?”
She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.” She took his hand again and held it tightly. “You saved my life.”
“I would have shot Clint myself, but Kelly got in the way. I didn’t want to hurt her. I only wanted to save you. I could feel myself fading and my head hurt like hell, but I wasn’t going to stop until I knew you were safe and we could be together without him haunting our lives anymore.”
Liz agreed. Clint took up too much of what should have been a happy time for her and Tate. He tainted everything and everyone around him.
Still, she hadn’t quite gotten over the whole ordeal. “I just can’t stop seeing Kelly falling. Drake tried to help.”
“I was too late.” Drake walked in behind her, along with Declan and Trinity. “I missed her by a few inches.” Drake’s dark expression matched exactly how Liz felt inside.
Just a few more seconds and they might have saved her.
Tate studied the cut on Trinity’s temple and her black eye. The swelling had gone down, but she couldn’t open her eye all the way yet. “Are you okay?”
Trinity rushed to his side and wrapped Tate in a hug that made him wince, but he still held on to her. “I am now that you’re awake.” Trinity stood up and brushed her hand over Tate’s hair, making sure not to mess up the bandage around his head. “You scared us.”
Tate searched Trinity’s oddly blank face. They’d all noticed something off about her. Understandable after what Clint put her through and Tate being unconscious for so long. Maybe now that Tate was awake and doing well considering his injuries, the wall she’d put up to hide her emotions would come down.
They all needed a little time to let this settle and allow the shock and nightmares to fade.
Tate noticed Trinity’s brave face, too, and held her arm to try to comfort her. “I thought the worst when Drake said you went missing.”
“I thought the worst when he shoved me into the trunk.” Trinity visibly shook, but tried to pull herself together by wrapping her arms around her middle. “I’m fine. How are you?”
“Kinda tired.”
“You need to rest.” Liz rubbed her hand over his chest. “You’ll probably be here a couple days so they can monitor the concussion.”
“My brain feels like it’s stuck in first gear.”
Declan put his hand on Tate’s leg. “Sounds like you’re back to your old self.”
Tate smiled at the teasing. “I have a head injury. What’s your excuse?”