Defying Fate (28 page)

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW
much time has passed. With a flutter of my eyelids, I’m waking up and able to recognize what happens to be my bedroom. The feel of my warm fuzzy comforter under my fingertips feels fantastic. My eyes widen as the realization overwhelms me, I made it, and I’m alive.

Max’s plan has worked. I can’t help but squeal with delight. My door suddenly a squeak as it slowly opens, sending my heart racing in fear. My instincts tell me to panic with fear, so I close my eyes concentrating on my breathing. The dip in the bed alerts me that someone is sitting next to me, and I’m frightened. Dominic’s face is all I can see. I’m not sure how long I’ll be looking over my shoulder thinking he is there waiting for me. It’s going to take time… and patience.

A gentle hand moves my hair away from my face. The faintness of the touch and the aroma of cologne clue me into who is sitting next to me. Yep, I know who it is, it’s the hands of my man. I lie still so I can absorb his touch, and much wanted words.

“Izzy, baby you are a sight for sore eyes,” Braxton says thinking I’m still asleep. “The fever finally broke late last night, and Max finally injected the medicine that allows you to finally wake up. It’s all about you now honey. We are all waiting for you to come back to us.”

Braxton then leans in and kisses my lips with a tender peck. The warm feeling of them wakes up parts of my body, and I find myself returning to the sweet gesture as I mold my lips to his.

Sensing movement on my part Braxton freezes as I feel his head pull away. I slowly open my eyes and am so shocked I wince, he looks terrible. The week old stubble of his beard, I admit it’s not bad, but his eyes are bloodshot with deep dark circles. I have to admit he looks as bad as I feel.

His breath hitches, and he gasps what sounds like a soulful breath he has been holding. He’s shouting out as my face grimaces with pain. My head hurts like hell. I don’t get a chance to say anything because he gently cups my cheeks and kisses me. It’s gentle and yet filled with so much adoration, it’s not hard to figure out he is talking without words. He’s showing me what he can’t say at the moment.

With shaky hands, I reach up to touch his face as he quickly covers mine with his own. The emotions contained in our touch speak volumes as we both close our eyes at the same time. When you survive the hell as I have, I appreciate these small gestures. A simple smile, a peck on the cheek, the way one feels when a hand gently cups your cheek. Sometimes the best words are not spoken, they are said with the sweetest of touches.

“You came back to me.” He breathes out.

My smile comes with a few shaky breaths as I’m weak and finding the strength to speak. “Yeah, who wouldn’t come back to her knight and shining armor? You took care of Dominic for me, you came and rescued me.” I say struggling.

“How did you know that?” Braxton asks with curiosity.

I can sense we are not alone any longer as I catch sight of Kara by the door. Braxton looks back and moves a bit to the side, so I have a better view. Liam has a teary-eyed Kara by his side. Max is slowly inching his way closer to the bed with a complex expression. I swear Max has aged ten years since this mess all started.

The nod of my head is slight but enough to answer Braxton’s question. “I heard it all, I, of course, could not see any of it, but I sure heard it all.” My feeble attempt at a laugh falls short. “I was going to come back and haunt you all if I never did wake up.”

No longer staying still Kara strides over to me and gently hugs my shoulders. “Hey Izzy, you look like shit girl.” She says laughing.

Everyone laughs, but Braxton. He did not find it funny, not at all. Classic Kara, I loved it.

“I feel as bad as Max and Braxton look. Max looks like he has aged ten years, and Braxton looks like he is a walking zombie.” I laugh holding my stomach, it’s still quite sore. My sudden yawn is a reminder, just how exhausted I am.

Max lets out a few swear words motioning with his hands for everyone to leave the room. “She needs rest, and I need to look her over.”

Braxton goes to stand but not before grabbing my hand. Max notices this and sighs with exhaustion mixed with aggravation.

“Brax you need to move away from the bed so I can check her,” Max said slightly irritated.

It’s easy to sense the tension between them. I can imagine them living under the same roof has been exhausting.

Braxton stands up straighter. “Not leaving her, no fucking way. You can check her out while I hold her hand.”

I squeeze his hand, letting him know without words that he needs to cut Max some slack. If not for him I would be dead. With what went down, a hospital visit for me right now was not a good idea. Max is my best hope for a full recovery and has been my personal physician for several years on top of that. Better Max than a doctor who has a lot of questions about how I got hurt.

“Braxton,” I say with a feather-like sigh. “You need some sleep, go home and get some rest. When you come back, I will hopefully be rested and awake.” Still holding on tight to his hand, there is so much I want to say to him. Before I drift off to sleep again, I say, “Come here honey.”

Bending down so were nose to nose, I get a better look at his dull brown orbs. It makes me sad as they are not the sparkly ones I’ve come to expect from him. All the more reason to let him know how much he means to me right this minute.

“I love you,” I whisper.

Moaning loudly, Braxton falters to his knees, “Damn girl, I love you too. Must have been while you were sleeping.”

Head slightly tilted his smile matches the sweetness in his eyes. His reference to my favorite movie reminds me of the night we watched it together. While I enjoyed it, Braxton tolerated it at best reminding me it was a total chick flick. Deep down I know he liked it as well, he just could not admit it being all manly and such.

I admit jokingly. “Damn straight, but I don’t want to go to Florence for our honeymoon.”

He winks with a shake of his head. ”Damn chick flicks.” Holding up his finger, he continues saying, “I swear when you get better I’ll watch anyone you want. First you need to get better, I have plans for you sweetheart. We can discuss our honeymoon later.”

Slightly caught off guard, I blush at the word honeymoon. “Not if you don’t get some much-needed rest.”

Leaning in to kiss my forehead, he pulls back holding up his hands as if surrendering. “Okay, just coming out of a coma and you’re bossy already.”

Kara and Liam are cracking up standing at the end of my bed. Max is listening to our conversation looking at his watch and taking my pulse as he holds the other hand Braxton is not holding. Kara’s laughing breaks up the tension in the room.

“She’s back. I don’t ever want to see you like that ever again Missy.”

The tears that slide down her face just about break my heart. I realize what happened to Dominic for Kara was liberating, but he was her brother, all the same. She puts on a brave face, but I’m not convinced she is okay with killing him.

Before leaving the room, Liam says it’s his turn and walks over to me moving Max out of the way. Yeah, he knows better than to ask Braxton to move.

Liam takes my cold hand in his. “Glad you’re back, I swear I was close to shooting Brax. He was close to being put in a coma until you were back in the land of living. Bastard was hard to control, Max here wanted to lock himself in here with you, just to get away from him.”

It’s so easy to smile and joke with Liam, it’s his loving personality. Seeing my best friend with a guy like Liam is such an awesome thing. He sacrificed himself, and his band of brother's to help save me, I’m not sure how to ever repay him for that.

“Liam,” I choke up fighting back tears. “Thank you so much. Thank you for helping me.” Words will never be enough, but it’s a start.

Gripping my hand tighter Liam’s eyes tighten. “Never need to thank me Izzy.”

“OUT. All of you need to get out. I need to check her over.”

Max finally is shoving everyone out the door. Huffing and complaining as he does. I can’t help but chuckle to myself. Watching Braxton leave is not a great feeling I’ll admit. As much as I want him near me, the man is looking like death walking. To myself, I utter ‘Get some rest my sweet, sweet man.’ My mind drifts as I watch his backside as he walks to the door reluctantly. I can’t help myself, I raise my left eyebrow noticing how sexy Braxton really is.

My exam goes well, Max talks as he checks each bandage. I wince a few times as I am forced to look at my newest marks. I sigh out a breath, knowing these will be the last from him. He will never touch me again, he will never be able to torment me. The reality of knowing this is real and that Dominic is, in fact, gone, brings out a fresh set of tears. Max is giving me a look of pity, but in reality, my tears are out of relief, tears of happiness that I will never have to look over my shoulders ever again. I am finally free. Finally, free from him.

Max explains it could take over a week to actually start feeling better. Although my wounds are healing nicely, the infection is the primary concern. My fever has broken, and I’m awake, so I’ve got that going for me.

I took this private time with Max to grill him about what’s been going on since I’ve been down and out. The aftermath of them killing Dominic worries me. What is going to happen now?

What about Tiffany? So many questions I have, I know Braxton will never tell me the truth. He doesn’t want to worry me.

In great detail Max went on explaining how it all went down. Liam and Max had a plan set in motion after only a few days’ time of planning it. Trying to control Braxton was the hardest part.

They found out the client at Braxton’s shop with the expensive cars was Dominic, setup with the help of Tiffany. Dominic wanted eyes on Braxton to see his comings and goings. It was sick, but well executed. Every detail thought out, Dominic had different plans for how he was going to gain access to me from what I’m being told. It just so happened that Kara and I walking down the street was his golden opportunity to grab me. For Max, it was easy, Dominic laid out his plans in front of him. The only variable was the how and when he would nab me.

Tiffany is no longer going to cause a problem for me, no other explanations were offered, so I let it go at that. Max explained that Liam had a long talk with his uncle regarding the ‘Lost Souls’ and Dominic Santos. Uncle Marty had been informed all about me and my new connection with Braxton as well.

After learning of my regrettable history, Liam’s uncle was not so keen on Dominic and his connection to the ‘Lost Souls’, it would seem. He had no tolerance for violence against women. Uncle Marty also proved most helpful with the disposal of Dominic and the horrific scene at the abandoned old farm house. Off the beaten track, it was perfect as no one heard all of the gun shots and violence that went down that night. His crew went in and handled it all, no blowback on Liam or Braxton, thank god!

His vagueness on the whole Tiffany part does bother me, I would need to talk to Braxton about it. I’m sure he won’t want to talk about her, but that’s too damn bad. She is the reason he found me after all. When Max told me how serious my infection had gotten, I admit it left me speechless, hearing how bad my health had got.

Max clears his throat with a raised eye. “Brax never left your side, want to hate him, but that man loves you Izzy. Guess I missed my chance to steal you away.” He says mischievously.

“Pfft. You always got to see me at my worst can’t believe you don’t hate me or something. I want to thank you for taking such good care of me Max. Seriously, you helped give me my life back.”

“It felt good to finally do something right for a change. Helping Dom all of these years, let’s say was getting more and more difficult. You…You…Ah, I’m just so sorry Izzy.”

I could see the regret wash over his face.

“No, you don’t need ever to apologize to me. If it weren't for you, I would not be here today. I’m glad you are away from him as well. Now what happens to you Max? What will you do?” I ask.

Sitting down next to me he rests his arms on his knees, looking down at the floor.

“I’m...” letting out a sigh, he adds, “I’m going to fucking rest.” Max then let out a much-needed laugh.

Looking at me, he smiles tenderly.

“Seriously, I’m not sure. Whatever it is, it is not going to require me to be ‘a beck and call’ doctor.”

With a contented sigh, I shake my head glad to hear it. “Whatever you do, you’ll be great.” Max gives me a slight smirk and nods.

“Better get some rest. Brax will be in here in no time from his cat nap and I’ll be here stopping in to check on you. Get some rest sweetie.”

Max leaves the room quietly shutting the door behind him. Pulling the covers up higher under my chin, I realize I am in shorts and a loose t-shirt. I have no idea how I got into these clothes or when the last time I got cleaned up. My teeth need brushing; my hair needs a good washing from the feel of it. I am just too damn tired to do anything. Sleep is calling my name, so I give in and drift off once again.

“KARA, I CAN SHOWER BY
myself. Jesus quit being a mother hen.” I try to push her out of my bathroom.