Wilde Love (The Brothers of Wilde, Nevada 6)
Page 16
He nodded, leaned against the wall, and began scanning the long hallway. Jessie liked the big, muscled men protecting her. Knowing someone still had it in for her, she was glad they were here.
She gingerly pressed the door wider and walked into Austin’s room.
* * * *
Against the nurse’s instructions, Austin swung his legs to the side of the bed and sat up. The tray of uneaten food one of the attendants had brought him dangled precariously on the opposite side. An IV tube was attached from the crook in his right arm to the bag of clear liquid hanging from the metal stand.
Attempting to focus his mind, he inhaled and exhaled rhythmically. He could still sense the effects of the drugs in his system, but he was fighting them off with all his might.
When he spott
ed Jessie entering through the door, he blew out a lungful of air. “Thank God. You’re okay.”
She’s still wearing my collar.
The sight of the band of metal with the accompanying diamond around her neck added to his heavy guilt. How the hell had he let his guard down?
Jessie didn’t shut the door. Instead, she just chewed on her lip. She didn’t move a single inch toward him.
The woman he loved had been attacked, kidnapped, and in a car accident. I can’t give into my self-pity. Her needs trumped his pangs of remorse. She needed him to be strong and not a pussy.
He motioned her closer.
“Austin, I’m so relieved that you’re okay.” Closing the door behind her, Jessie walked to the side of the bed.
Austin thought about standing but knew he was too fuzzy still to try. She must only see strength from him. Besides, his ass showing from the thin hospital gown that didn’t quite tie together in the back gave off a less than Dom-like image. So, he remained sitting on the bed and patted the mattress. “Come sit by me, pet.”
Jessie hopped up next to him. His failure to protect her weighed on him like an anchor. Still, he smiled and cupped the woman of his dream’s chin. “Are you okay?”
With tears brimming in her eyes, she nodded.
Austin pulled her in to his chest. “You are safe. Understand?”
“Sure,” she stated flatly.
He stroked her hair. She didn’t need any physical dominance from him at this moment. She needed his firm reassurance. “You. Are. Safe. Understand?”
“Yes, Austin.” She began to tremble.
He squeezed her, melding their bodies together. He watched her warm tears stream from her eyes, dampening his hospital gown.
“I–I th–thought he killed you.” Jessie sobbed.
“He didn’t, sweetheart. I’m perfectly fine.”
“It’s all my fault.”
“Don’t be silly, pet.” He knew Jessie needed to see the steady, powerful Dom he’d shown her, so he fought back his shame and regret. “Just tell me everything. Mom told me the little bastard is in a coma.”
“Yes. He wasn’t working alone. Someone put him up to it.”
Austin’s entire body tensed.
“Master?”
Austin wasn’t about to alarm her more, so he intentionally relaxed every muscle. “Who, pet?”
“I don’t know. Paul King’s dead. His wife, too. I need to look over my notes again. There’s something I’m missing. A connection? I don’t know what or who.”