“I’m the fourth.” Tessa Taylor, having arrived at some point during the pandemonium of questions, jumps forward, linking a hand with E’s and shooting an apology over her shoulder to Grayson. Not one person here would deny that E, Bette, and I would be the other three.
“I’m aware Kayla sustained her injuries from an assault.” Dr. Holloway speaks to the group as a whole but gives the bulk of his attention to the two officers. “Given the severity of those injuries and the resulting concussion and pain medicine administered, now is not the best time to get a statement.”
“Understood.” The officers are quick to nod their acceptance. “We will still need to speak with both Ms. Dennings and Mr. Nova eventually, but that can wait. With video taken of the incident and statements from witnesses at the scene, we have enough to proceed with bringing up charges should her family wish to do so.”
“You’re goddamn right we do,” E fumes. “Throw the whole fucking book at that son of a bitch.”
Bette runs a hand over E’s back to calm him. This is not the time or place for him to lose it, not that I’m doing any better at the moment.
“Listen…” E says after taking a deep calming breath. “I’ll give you whatever you need from me, just let me check on my sister first. After that I’m all yours.”
Details sorted, Dr. Holloway informs nurse Vicki where we can find Kay, and we follow her back through the emergency room, past various bays and beds filled with other patients being treated, until we come to one toward the back.
I stare at the white curtain in front of me as if by doing so hard enough, I can see through it. The metal rings clink and clang as nurse Vicki pulls it aside, and I suck in a breath at what’s revealed.
Kay looks even smaller and more fragile than I’ve ever seen her, lying propped up in the hospital bed. Her blonde curls are in disarray across the pillows supporting her, the usually vibrant rainbow highlights almost appearing muted by the gravity of the situation.
There’s a faint hint of orange peeking out from under the dressing covering her temple left over from the betadine solution used to clean her wound, and the bruise on her cheek is more prominent than it was half an hour ago. The center is a garish yellow ringed by red, and the outer layer is a deep purple. My molars grind knowing underneath the baseball-sized bruise lies a broken bone.
“Oh, Kay,” Bette coos, walking slowly to her side, dragging E with her since their hands are clasped together tightly.
Kay stirs at the sound of her sister-in-law’s voice, but her eyes remain closed.
Tessa hangs back at the foot of the bed while I make my way up Kay’s right side. Carefully, I slip a finger under the edge of her hospital gown, lifting it to see how bad her injuries are. I mutter more than a few choice curses at the mottled pattern of discoloration decorating her ivory skin. Seeing her hurt like this breaks a part of me.
“Kay?” I brush a knuckle over the curve of her uninjured cheek. “Can you open up for me, baby?” I ghost a fingertip over her closed lashes.
“You—” She coughs. “You talking dirty to me, Caveman?”
The relief of hearing her voice is enough to have my legs give out, and I have to catch myself on the hard railing of her bed. “Fuck, baby.” I lock my knees so I don’t eat it and bend over to rest my forehead to hers, one of my hands going around to cup the back of her neck. Everything and everyone fades away as I pause to breathe her in. It doesn’t matter that her peppermint and vanilla is masked by antiseptic; all that does matter is that she’s here, she’s awake, and she seems to be alright.
“There’s my girl,” I say when I finally get a glimpse of her gray eyes.
“Why are you naked?” Kay asks, her gaze moving down my neck to my bare torso.
A deep chuckle rumbles from inside my chest. “I have pants on.”
“Pity,” she whispers before her eyes fall closed again.
Just seeing her awake was staggering, but hearing her usual brand of sass has me close to tears. I swallow down the emotion and place a kiss on her forehead.
“Why are you shirtless?” E asks, the stress lines on his face