I looked down at Anderson, and before the paramedics had even got a chance to check him over, I swung my foot and made contact with his ribs. His screech of pain told me I’d broken something and it pleased me greatly. The policemen did nothing; one of them even appeared to grunt in agreement.
“I hope it hurts, ye rotten scumbag.”
The policemen moved forward to stand watch over Anderson, and I assured them that I would give a statement afterwards. Once I told them that Noah’s life was in danger, they didn’t question me, they just gave me a simple nod.
I hurried over to the ambulance that Noah was being loaded into the back of.
The female paramedic tried to stop me. “Sir, you can’t—”
“She’s my girlfriend!” I interrupted. “She has a traumatic brain injury, she was in the ICU a few weeks ago. She only got out of hospital three fuckin’ days ago. Her left leg should be in a boot cast, it was severely fractured and had to be surgically repaired. She inhaled a lot of smoke, and the bastard who started this fire tried to kill her and beat her badly. I’m comin’ with her, missus. God ’imself couldn’t make me stay away. She’s me whole heart.”
The woman blinked up at me, then wordlessly stepped aside so I could get in the ambulance.
“Irish!”
I looked over my shoulder at AJ.
“Take care of her,” he called. “We’ll take care of things here.”
I nodded. “Thanks, brother.”
He gave me a thumbs up, then got back to work just as the doors to the ambulance closed. I moved to Noah’s side and took hold of her open hand. She still had darkened soot under her nostrils and her face was bruised and swollen. Her throat was a mess of red and blue, and I could almost see finger marks imprinted on to her skin. I clenched my free hand into a fist.
“Noah?” I called. “Come on, sasanach, show me those pretty green eyes.” I kissed her face as she moaned. “Come on, gorgeous. Look at me.”
Her eyelids fluttered open, and for a long moment she stared at me like she had never seen me before, and my heart just about stopped in my chest.
“Elliot,” she suddenly rasped. “Anderson did it, he caused the crash.”
Relief that she hadn’t forgotten any more of her life – forgotten me – washed over me.
“I know, honey.” I stroked my thumb over her cheek. “I know. Look at me, okay?”
“I can’t,” she whimpered. “I can’t see your face, everything is blurry.”
My gut twisted.
“I’m right here, Noah,” I assured her. “Right here, beauty. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
“Elliot,” she cried softly, her voice a rasp. “I love you, I’ve always loved you. Please, tell me you know that? It’s always been you, paddy.”
I laughed in disbelief. I knew this woman loved me; I felt it radiate from her in waves.
“Yeah, sasanach, I know. I love you too.”
“I recorded everything,” she coughed. “The police have to hear it!”
“They will,” I assured her as I took the oxygen mask the paramedic was trying to put over Noah’s face and fixed it in place. “Nice deep breaths. Slow everythin’ right down for me, green eyes.”
“Elliot,” she whispered. “Everything hurts.”
My heart ached.
“I know, beauty. It’s gonna be okay.”
“Please,” she said as her eyes closed. “Don’t leave me. I’m not scared of the silence when I have you.”
I had no idea what she was talking about, but I squeezed her hand.
“I’m not goin’ anywhere, Noah.”
“My head . . . my head.”
Her head lolled to the side, and my body tensed as the woman I loved with every fibre of my being was lost to darkness. I sat next to her, ignoring everything around me but her. Then I bowed my head and I prayed. Noah’s fate was out of my hands . . . I just pleaded with all that was divine in the universe to show mercy on her because she, more than anyone, deserved it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
NOAH
When I came back to awareness, a familiar off-white ceiling came into view. I could hear a steady, repetitive beep that drew a long groan from me. That fucking sound killed my head. As a matter of fact, that groan I’d just released hurt my head too.
“Noah?” his voice said. “Noah?”
“Elliot?” I lifted my heavy eyelids. “Is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me, sasanach.” His voice cracked. “I’m right here.”
When my vision came into focus, I blinked against the light in the room – but it didn’t bother me once I rested my eyes on his face. I looked straight into the ocean blues I loved, and widened my own eyes when I saw they were filled with tears. When Elliot blinked, those tears fell.
“No,” I whispered. “No, I’m okay. Please, don’t cry, honey.”
This was the first time in the many years I’d known Elliot that I had seen him cry. I had never seen him look so scared and yet so relieved in my life.