“I should have done more,” he told her emphatically. “If I hadn’t left you with him, this would’ve never happened.”
“Not your fault,” she typed slowly. Those three words took almost a full sixty seconds for her to type. It was apparent that she tired easily and soon had no more energy to respond to his other questions; the emojis and letter responses followed.
Justin left the hospital for the first time in weeks to go into their office in Dallas. He worked for a few hours but was back to have lunch with her. He returned to the office and returned to the hospital for her evening meal before going to his temporary apartment in the city. The apartment was owned by the firm and used by him and his brothers whenever any of them were in Dallas. His brother Matt, no longer involved in the day-to-day of the firm, ran his ranch in Austin. The apartment was usually only used by Justin and Colt.
A few days later, she was stronger and remained awake long enough to start writing a statement about what had happened to her. It took a few days, but Nakia eventually remained alert long enough to give a complete recount of what her husband had done.
Justin was chilled by what she recounted. It made him want to get her husband in an isolated room and beat the shit out of him. He wanted that bastard to feel the helplessness, the lack of control over his own destiny, and the pain he’d inflicted. He wanted him to suffer.
Justin ensured that her statement was delivered to the Miami police with a request that a harsher charge of attempted murder be filed, instead of assault.
As soon as her family found out about the statement and revised charges, they arrived at the hospital in Dallas en mass, wanting her to retract the charges she’d pressed against her husband. Justin was helpless to stop their visit because initially Nakia had authorized their admittance to see her, although she insisted Justin remain with her.
It didn’t seem as though any of them cared that she was still bedridden and her face and body were almost mummified to assist in her healing. They saw the possible loss of the lucrative contract her husband was anticipating. After the second day of their badgering, Nakia refused to see them.
Justin hated hearing what they said to her and how she seemed to flinch at each lacerating word toward her. Despite their efforts, she didn’t break or type a harsh word back. He admired her strength in the face of her parents’ and in-laws’ persistent anger over her refusal to help her husband. He hoped that the charges caused the NFL to suspend the bastard indefinitely.
“How are you today, Nakia?” Justin asked her almost two weeks later.
“Probably better than you.”
Her husky, raspy voice caused him to stop in his tracks. He’d gotten used to avoiding looking directly at her whenever he visited because it pissed him off whenever he saw her face and body wrapped like a mummy. And he’d done the same today. However, now it was a bit stunning to hear her speak, look over at her, and to see her face without its usual bandages. There were a few smaller Band-Aids on her stitched face, but she was still stunning. In a dark way, but it seemed nothing could detract from her striking gray eyes, honey-colored skin, and kissable lips.
“You’re healing,” he said softly. He cringed, as he was unable to keep the pleased awe out of his voice.
She tried to smile but then grimaced in pain. “Not quite,” she mumbled.
He moved closer to her. Now that he could clearly see her beautiful, but battered face, he was reminded again why he’d been mesmerized by her that day in the airport. The jarring impact of the chemistry between them had him taking short frequent breaths. It was as though he were being pulled by an invisible string when she held his gaze with an unsettling unwavering openness. He rarely met anyone, man or woman, who could be so direct in communication.
Married to a woman who only cared that she was flawless with not a hair out of place, even after sex, he was finding it difficult to not respond to a woman who seemed to not care that her beauty was maybe flawed. “What are the doctors saying? What prompted them to remove the bandages?”
“Basically, while I can’t go out and run any marathons any time soon, I can start moving around now. I went to the bathroom by myself for the first time this morning.”
Justin appreciated her tongue-in-cheek attitude and ability to laugh at herself. He grinned along with her.
“I can’t wait until I can take a decent shower. I’ve had enough sponge baths to last me a lifetime.”
Again, amusement lurked in the depths of her gaze and in her voice. Justin was intrigued. He was happy that she felt comfortable with him.
“I’m glad you’re looking much better today.” He sat on the chair at her bedside. “Is there anything I can get you?” Justin wanted like hell to spoil her, give her anything she needed after what she’d endured.
“Seems that you’ve already done so much for me already.”
There was a clear admiration in her gaze, which made him feel ten feet tall.
“I’ve emailed by boss, and he told me that you squared things with him already and all the relevant paperwork for my leave has been submitted. So, thank you for that. You did all the necessary filings with the police in Miami and ensured Ralph is slapped with a restraining order. I can’t thank you enough for that too. Thank you.”
“Ragnarson Law Firm takes care of its employees,” he drawled, not wanting her to continue listing what he’d done. “I did nothing. It’s Colt you should thank.”
“Oh God, stop making me laugh. That shit hurts,” she choked out.
“I wasn’t aware that I was telling jokes.”
“Justin, you need to learn something about me.”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t like pretend. You and I both know that the reason I’m in this bomb-ass specialist hospital isn’t because of the firm or our employee insurance plan. This was not a Ragnarsons’ policy. This was a Justin policy. I don’t know how, and I don’t know when, but I am forever in your debt.”
Justin felt slightly embarrassed by her praise. “Colt and I would’ve done the same for any of our employees.”
She smiled and then grimaced. “Told you that hurts. Anyway, I won’t argue the point. I’m too grateful that you helped me.”
Justin could only nod in acknowledgement, realizing that she wasn’t going to back down no matter what he said. He admired that steel he recognized in her and wondered again how she could have hooked up with an asshole like her husband. He then thought of the shortcomings in his own spouse and immediately dismissed the question. Shit happens to all of us.
“As for the doctor, he says that they will keep me in for a few more days for observation. However, given my improved mobility and the fact I’m no longer doing the Sleeping Beauty impersonation, I may be able to go home by the end of the week.”
Justin frowned. He was more than concerned about her vulnerability to her family. Never mind the restraining order on her husband. If Ralph really wanted to get at her, he would. “Is that wise though? Shouldn’t they wait until you regain all your strength? At least, while you’re here, no one can get to you.”