“What is up with her using middle names. Not to mention, how the hell did you get mine?” I ask her.
“Why don’t you ask Travis?” she pouts.
“Figures,” I grouse.
“I didn’t have much time. I still don’t. Wheels are back up in twenty-four hours. It’s best that we get the story straight that Bridger is telling the cops, so when they come and question you, we’re all on the same page,” Travis states, but he’s detached. Taylor hasn’t seen this side of him, and I know for a fact he never wanted her to see this side, but when you’re a trained sniper for the Navy Seals, you do what you have to. We get our story nailed down, and I can see Travis’ anger simmering on the edge, something I know I’ll have to deal with soon.
Eighteen
Taylor
“I can’t believe you brought me to the emergency room. I’m okay, Slade.” My body was trembling when we got here, which I’m sure was me coming down from the adrenaline rush, but Slade wasn’t having any of it.
“Do it to appease me, at least?” He rubs his hand down his face. Slade barged his way back in here with me, not even giving me a chance to plead my case. I take another look at him. The stress from today has aged him ten years in a matter of minutes.
“All right.” I nod my head in consent. I wonder where Travis went. The look on his face was like nothing I had ever seen.
“Is Travis okay?” My voice is weak. I’m not sure if it’s because I think he’s upset with us, or if it’s because he had to come home to help take care of a threat and lose time from his platoon.
“Yeah, Trouble, he’s okay. He just needs to calm down. Hell, I feel every bit of my thirty-two years right about now.” Slade comes to stand beside me while I’m lying in a hospital bed.
“I’m sorry, Slade. I’m so sorry you guys had to go through all of this.” Tears are gliding down my cheeks.
“Oh, Taylor, none of that. You did exactly what you should have, calling and texting. It helped Easton locate you sooner than if you hadn’t. If anyone should be sorry, it should be me.” His hip finds the edge of the bed, and feeling the heat radiating off of him gives me the calmness I need in this storm that has been our life today.
“Okay.”
Slade dries my tears that were running down my cheeks. He kisses me lightly. I’m seeking more when a throat clears, letting us know someone’s in the room with us.
“I swear if that is Travis, I’m hiding under the covers,” I whisper to Slade, not opening my eyes until I know who is in my room.
“You can open your eyes. It’s the doctor,” he says with a laugh. I open my eyes and watch as he gets off the bed and stands at his full height. Slade is a sight to behold. The way he stands says he’s ready for battle, but it also lets me know I’m safe with him. What happened today wasn’t anyone’s fault besides Eric’s. His five o’clock shadow is on full display, dark circles under his eyes mar his beautiful tanned skin, and his jaw ticks. The doctor looks me up and down, appraising my scrapes and the nice bruise on my forehead I’m sure is forming there.
“Hello, Miss. Daniels. I’m Doctor Pioneer. How are you feeling?” He offers his hand to shake, and I extend my hand to his, all the while hearing a growl coming from the man standing protectively at my right.
“Slade,” I murmur under my breath. “I’m good, ready to get home and in my own bed. No offense.”
“None taken, not a whole lot of people like being here. I’ll just look at your eyes and check you out, but from what the nurse said, you have no signs or symptoms of a concussion. That being said, I’d still like you to be watched throughout the night, just in case anything arises,” he states, looking at Slade.
“Not a problem.” Slade’s voice is stoic, and I have a feeling he is going to take watching over me to the utmost extreme.
Doctor Pioneer checks my eyes, ears, and throat before looking over the scrapes that the nurse already put a salve on, then says, “Everything looks good to me. I’ll have the nurse bring in your discharge papers.”
“Thank you,” Slade says before I can get out my thanks. Instead, I nod. The doctor takes one last look at the both of us before making his exit.
“Growl much?” I raise my eyebrows at Slade.
“He was doing more than looking with his eyes, Trouble.”
I roll my eyes at that comment alone. “How’s Leo? Can we go upstairs and see how everyone is doing?” I slide my legs over the edge of the bed, standing. I’m tired of sitting on my ass.
“Last I heard, he’s out of surgery. The first thing he asked was how you were doing. Fucker, he scared the shit out of us all. I think I may need to put him on desk duty for the time being, though—something he’ll fight us all on tooth and nail.” Slade fists his hair at the base of his neck. I stand and step right into his arms, snaking my arms around his middle. This time it’s me giving him the comfort he so clearly needs.
“Hey, we’re all okay. Everyone’s quick thinking helped everyone. We’ll go check on them all, and then I’m sure I’ll have to answer to the police still too. After that though, I really want a shower and our bed.” I look into his eyes. This time he gives me what I want, and his mouth meets mine. The chaste kiss earlier barely held me over. Slade gives in, not backing down. Instead his mouth is owning mine, much like his body, heart, and soul already owns me.
When we pull apart, we’re both breathless, and some of the spark has returned to his eyes. It makes me fall in love with him all over again.
“I love you, Slade.” I’ll probably tell him this every hour of every day until I can get over the thought of not hearing it back when I wasn’t sure what was going on.
“I love you, Taylor. Get those thoughts out of your mind. I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. We have the rest of our lives to plan out—marriage, babies, growing old together. I want it all with you by my side.”
“You’re going to make me cry, then I’ll really look like a mess. I want that Slade, and I can’t wait to see what else comes our way in this life together,” I reply. The nurse coming in halts our conversation. I sign all the documents; she hands me a prescription for the salve they put on my cuts and scrapes, then leaves as fast as she came.
“Ready to go see the gang?” Slade asks.
“Yeah, maybe I’ll get to see Travis while we’re up there. I hate that he only gets to be here for a day,” I say with hopefulness.
“He’ll be back home before you know it.” He guides me out of the room toward the elevator that will lead us to Leo’s floor. When the elevator door opens, Travis steps out. He sees the hold Slade has on my waist and his eyes narrow.
“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” I blow out. “If you two are going to fight, go somewhere else. I’ve had enough violence for one day.” I disentangle from Slade, letting them both know I won’t stand for it.
“Taylor,” Travis grunts out.
I roll my eyes. “I don’t want to hear it. If you hurt him, I’ll never forgive you. Slade, I love you. Please remember you two were friends at one point in time. Travis, you’re my brother, but I’m a woman, not a child that you need to shield everything from anymore.” With that final statement, I punch the elevator button and the doors close, leaving them standing there with their mouths hanging wide open.