him, but the alternative would have been worse.
“Sweetheart, what happened?” Mama Kerri squeezed my good hand as my sister came around to the other side of the bed and put her own on my shoulder, comforting me as much as herself. My sister had the ice princess thing down, but not when it came to me. I was her vulnerability in a big way. The weakest link in her armor. Which was also why I hated letting her down more than just about anything.
I swallowed and figured the best policy was always an honest one.
For the next half hour or so I explained what happened—from my douchebag boss, getting gas, the weird experience of the cashier trying to wave me back in that I ignored. Really wished I’d made a different choice at that moment. Then to the guy pulling me over with his gun visible, how I was scared that I was being arrested for no reason, then everything seemed to go dead silent in the room as I detailed what happened when the man crawled out of my car. It was like I was reliving it all over again.
The creak of metal from the door had me flinching.
Feeling the agent’s breath so warm and comforting against my cheek sent a wave of warmth through my body.
His scent wafting around us like a blanket being place around me.
Seeing the light from the car glinting off the shiny black gun. I winced.
Those two eyes holes cut out of the fabric and the one for his mouth flashing like a predator standing over me. I shrank back into the hospital bed on instinct.
The boom of the gun as it went off. I jerked and cried out.
When I came to, blinking away the experience and the retelling of it, Mama Kerri was sitting on the bed and I was in her arms. The PA was done, and I was in the only maternal arms I’d ever remembered. She ran her hand along my hair and back, over and over, as I cried, my face pressed to her ample chest. The smell of fresh cut flowers filled my nose as it always did when Mama Kerri held me. I trembled as she spoke quietly.
“You’re okay, my girl. Just fine. Right here with me and Sonia. We’ve got you, my lovely. I’ve always got you.”
And she did.
From the moment Sonia and I had walked up to her door hand in hand, Mama Kerri took care of us. Like a beautiful earthy goddess. Long, curly strawberry blonde hair. Pale pink lips. Pearly white skin. Eyes that seemed to change from blue to hazel depending on the day or the emotion she felt. However, none of that beauty could beat the sound of her voice. It resonated at a timber and lilt that brought a sense of peace and serenity that couldn’t be matched. Not ever.
“Mama,” I sobbed and gripped onto her wherever I could, letting it all out. The fear. The hopelessness of the situation while it was happening and even the worry over my savior’s prognosis.
“It’s okay. Mama’s here.” She patted my back and whispered against my temple. “You’re just fine. You. Are. Just. Fine.” Her words broke as she held me tighter. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. It sounds terrifying. Don’t you worry though. I’ve got you. Sonia and I have you, dear.”
I sniffled through my tears and took several breaths, allowing her to comfort me until I got myself back in check.
“Senator Wright, please excuse me. I apologize for interrupting, but we just got word the story has already leaked to the press. They saw you coming into the hospital and someone confirmed it was your sister that had been targeted.”
Sonia sighed as I sucked in a huge breath trying not to cry more. “I’m sorry, SoSo. I didn’t…”
“Wasn’t your fault. This was a random act of violence and we need to be grateful that you weren’t more seriously hurt.”
“Actually, about that…” The cute man shuffled his feet and grimaced. “The news is reporting it was an attempt by the Backseat Strangler…”
“What!” Sonia screeched and her entire face went deathly pale.
“No…” I practically choked on the word.
The young assistant, I think his name was Logan, firmed his stance and lifted his chest as he glanced down at his phone. “He crawled into her car at a gas station. Hid in the back.” He was reading something as though he’d been told my story directly. “The only other woman