Piece by Piece (The Riggins Brothers #2) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,85

pocket, I pull back the lid and look at the ring.

“I bought this for you,” I tell her. I don’t know if she can hear me, but the doctors tell me to talk to her; they feel like it helps the patients. “Royce went with me. Just like I went with him. Sawyer was in on it,” I tell her with a chuckle. “Little did I know that it would turn into a routine for the two of you, but that’s okay because I love it. I love that you have a friend in Sawyer and that she’s going to be my sister-in-law and by default yours.” I pull the ring out of the box, setting the box to the side.

“As soon as I saw this one, I knew it was perfect.” Without thinking, I slide the ring on her finger. “Fuck, Lay, seeing my ring on your finger, it does something to me. I wish I could find the words to explain this pounding in my chest or the way that I feel… lighter.” Carefully, I bring her hand to my lips and kiss the ring.

“When I walked into the house and saw you, I wanted to kill them, but I also needed to get to you. I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. It’s going to be a while, a long fucking while, baby, before I let you out of my sight. I know they’re behind bars, but fuck me, I could have lost you, and he could have—” I swallow hard, not able to speak about what that depraved son of a bitch could have done to her. What the police claim he was planning to do to her.

This time I don’t choke back the emotion as I let the tears begin to fall. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get there sooner.” My voice cracks. “I should have been there to protect you. I let you down, and I’m so sorry. You were protecting my family and me, and, baby, I would have given them the money. It’s only money. Nothing is more important than your safety. I wish you would have told me sooner, but I know you were trying to protect me. To protect my family.”

Lowering my head to the bed, I keep her hand in mine. I let the tears fall. I’ve been trying so hard to be strong for her, for my family, but here in this quiet hospital room, I lose the battle I’ve been fighting. I don’t bother to stop them or wipe them away. Instead, I let them fall unchecked as I hold her hand in mine. “Please, baby, wake up for me. I need to see those big blue eyes when I ask you to be my wife.”

I’m a blubbering mess, so when I feel her hand move, I think that I imagined it. Lifting my head, I see her eyes are still closed, but her fingers move. Please, God, let this be the time she stays awake. I just… need her. “Layla?” I ask. Reaching up, I smooth her hair out of her face. “Wake up for me, beautiful,” I say, and to my surprise, her eyes flutter. I rush to turn off the lights in the room and pull the blinds. “There, it’s dark. Show me those baby blues,” I whisper as I hover over her, waiting with bated breath to see her look at me.

Her lids flutter a few more times, and then she’s looking up at me. “Hey, baby,” I say, choking up. “I missed you.” I’ve told her this every time she’s woken up.

She tries to speak but grimaces. “Let me get you some water,” I say, reaching for the ice-cold jug I insist on keeping for when she wakes up. I pour her a glass and bend the straw, bringing it to her lips. “Slow,” I tell her when she drinks greedily. I pull the straw away, giving her a minute. “More?” She nods, causing her to grimace again. We repeat the process a few more times until she shakes her head that she’s had enough.

“I-I’m sorry,” she croaks.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. Layla, you were the victim in all of this.” Lifting her hand, I place it on my cheek. “I could have lost you.”

“W-Wh—” She swallows hard. “What’s that?”

“What?”

“My finger?”

“Oh.” I smile at her. “I forgot about that.”

“What is it?” she asks, her voice weak.

“That’s your engagement ring. I wanted to see what it would look like