Bye-Bye Baby Page 19

  “I’m going to be right here,” she promised him. “Please let Dr. Jefferson take a look.”

  Damon stayed where he was.

  “I need to check him,” Dr. Jefferson said. “If he won’t let me, I’ll have to sedate him.”

  “No,” Beth said. “Let me talk to him. He’s scared.”

  Dr. Jefferson pinched his lips, but shrugged and took a step back.

  Carefully, Beth straightened and shifted Damon’s position. The tight coil of his legs around her waist made that hard, but she nudged just an inch of space between them.

  “Damon.” Her hands slid under his arms and she gently pried them off her neck. “The doctor needs to check and make sure you’re okay. I need you to be really brave for me, okay? Once he’s done, I’ll hold you again. I promise.”

  Damon didn’t fight her. He let himself get placed on the bed. His small feet dangled over the edge. He sat with his head down and his hands curled into the mattress.

  Dr. Jefferson moved forward and started his examination. He talked to Damon, telling him what he was doing and what a great sport he was being. Damon didn’t seem to care.

  “Nothing seems to be broken,” Dr. Jefferson said at long last. He tossed the stethoscope cord around his neck and stepped back. “Aside from the bruises, I think he’ll be fine. Do you know if he hit his head?”

  Beth shook her head. “It was too dark and everything happened really fast.”

  The doctor turned his head to her. His gaze settled on the throbbing welt across her cheek.

  “You should get checked as well.”

  “I’m fine.”

  No sooner had she spoken when raised voices filled the hallway. All heads turned to the door just as a figure filled the frame. Another joined it a second later.

  “That’s my family in there!” Cole snapped at the guard trying to keep him from entering.

  “It’s okay.” Dr. Jefferson hurried over. “He’s fine.”

  The guard eyed Cole, but didn’t stop him when Cole shoved his way through, breathing hard, eyes a murderous blue scanning the disaster that was Damon’s room. He took in the mess across the floor first before lifting his gaze to Damon. Then he finally found Beth and immediately honed in on the bruise marring her face.

  “Cole…”

  The temperature in the room seemed to drop somewhere below zero and all the air and space seemed to vanish as his anger became an unstoppable force consuming everything into its vast rage.

  “Where is he?” His lips barely moved to form the question.

  Beth took a tentative step forward. “Cole—”

  “Where is that son of a bitch?” he snarled.

  “Gone,” Dr. Jefferson said. “He got away, but the sheriff has been called.”

  Those same blue eyes left Beth to pin the doctor with their fury. “How did this happen?”

  Dr. Jefferson shook his head. “We don’t know, but we will be reviewing the security tapes when the sheriff gets here.”

  Cole shook his head, it was slow and his gaze never left the doctor. The look in them said very clearly he blamed the hospital for what happened.

  “They were supposed to be safe here.” He said. Then, rather than wait for a response, or an excuse, he crossed the room. His hands framed Beth’s face, tipping it up so he could assess the damage. His thumb smoothed gingerly over her unnaturally hot cheek. “I’m going to kill him,” he said so softly Beth nearly didn’t hear him.

  “I’m fine,” Beth promised. “It doesn’t even hurt.”

  Something sparked behind his eyes. “That isn’t the point.” Moving away from her, he went to the bed and knelt at Damon’s feet. “Are you hurt?”

  Damon never so much as moved.

  “Damon?” He reached out a hand to the boy’s leg and quickly snatched it back when Damon flinched. “Is he okay?” he demanded of the room.

  “Just a bruise on his leg where he was dropped,” Dr. Jefferson supplied.

  Cole raised his head and twisted it around to peer at the doctor from over his shoulder. “Dropped?”

  “He grabbed Damon,” Beth said. “It’s my fault. I jumped on him and I think his grip slipped—”

  “You what?”

  She had the full force of his fury now.

  Beth licked her lips. “He was trying to take him from the hospital,” she explained. “I couldn’t let him. I knew that if he left, Damon would be lost forever.”

  Cole unfurled from his kneeling position like a cobra getting ready to lash out. He raised a hand and lightly brushed it over Damon’s bent head once before reaching past him to the bundle of blankets. He pulled them around Damon’s stooped shoulders, swaddling him tightly before hoisting Damon up against his chest. The boy didn’t fight him.

  “We’re leaving. I’m taking you both home right now.”

  “I strongly advise against—”

  Cole turned on the doctor and the other man instantly ceased speaking. “Oh, I don’t give a shit,” he said with deadly calm. “I’m not letting them stay here another minute so you better go get whatever forms you need signed, because we’re leaving.”

  “Cole, please—”

  “That bastard got all the way to the second floor without anyone noticing,” Cole cut her off. “He could have killed you both and no one would have known until morning so don’t tell me I need to be reasonable, or rational, or whatever else. I am not losing either of you because this place has shit security. So get your things, Beth. The car’s in front.”

  “Now hold on a minute.” Sheriff Henley stepped into the already crowded room. “Why don’t we all just calm down and sort this out. I still need to know what happened here.”

  Cole turned, Damon still in his arms. “What happened here is that you didn’t catch that son of a bitch and he nearly got the people I care about,” he retorted. “Now I’m taking them home where I can keep an eye on them myself. So whatever questions you’ve got, you can ask them quickly right now, or back at the apartment, because that’s where they’ll be.”

  Maybe it was because he looked scary as all hell and no one wanted to mess with that, or maybe it was because they agreed the hospital wasn’t a safe place for them, but no one argued with him. Beth told the sheriff everything quickly while they waited for the nurse to bring in Damon’s release paper. Then Cole bundled Beth and Damon into his car and drove them home in the wee hours of the morning. The horizon had a pale gash where sky met land as dawn punctured its way through. The rest of the town slept on, oblivious of that night’s events, but Beth knew they would all know by morning, or whenever Georgia May got up. Knowing that nosey bitch, she was probably on the phone even as Cole pulled into his usual parking spot.

  The first thing Beth noticed when Cole let them into the apartment was that the desk that was in his office was shoved into the corner of the living room, along with his filing cabinets, making a cluttered mess. She realized why when Cole carried Damon into his office and the only thing in there was a laid out and made up futon.

  “You’re giving up your office?” Beth asked.

  Cole set Damon down gently on the mounds of pillows and blankets. “I don’t need it. He does.” He crouched down in front of the boy, but turned his head over his shoulder to fix Beth with his blue eyes. “Can you get us a glass of warm milk please? I think I might even have some cookies somewhere in one of the cupboards.”

  Beth felt her mouth twitch. “Mm, milk and cookies. I hope I’m allowed to join.”

  She pushed away from the doorframe and walked into the kitchen. She took her time pouring exactly three cups of milk into a saucer and setting it on the stove. It was only when she was turning the dial on that she noticed the blood on her hands and under her nails. She was almost certain most of it wasn’t hers.

  Gingerly, she unwound the ruined gauze and ran her hands under cool water. She could see what the doctor had meant about scarring. The skin was shiny along the back. Most of it had scabbed over, but some parts were still red and
flaking. It certainly didn’t look as bad as it had felt. But she knew she wouldn’t be hand modeling any time soon.

  She left the wraps off, giving her injuries air to breathe. Truthfully, it felt better without the restraints. The skin on her fingers and the back of her hands didn’t sting as badly without the fabric rubbing against them, or worse, getting caught.

  She didn’t let the milk fully boil before pouring out three mugs. She set them down on a tray already occupied by a platter of chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies. Her knuckles stung when she curled her fingers around the handle, but it wasn’t unbearable. Just uncomfortable.

  “He hurt her,” she heard Damon whisper when she got to the office door. “I said he would.”

  “I know he did,” Cole murmured back. “But that wasn’t your fault, Damon. Beth and I, we’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, do you understand that? You’re not alone anymore.”

  “He’ll come back.”

  Beth edged closer and peered inside. Cole was still kneeling next to the bed. Damon was sitting cross legged on the mattress, the blankets wrapped tightly around him. There were tears on his cheeks.

  “Hey.” Cole lightly nudged Damon’s knee. “He’s not going to get to you, or Beth. I’m here now.”

  Damon said nothing for a long time, and just when Beth thought it was safe to intrude, he raised his small face and looked into Cole’s eyes.

  “Why?”

  To anyone else, they would have been confused by the randomness of the question, but Cole knew exactly what he was asking.

  “Because when I was little and my dad used to hit me, my brother would protect me. But no one protected him.”

  “Your dad hit you?”

  Cole nodded. “All the time.”

  “Do you hit Calla?”

  Cole shook his head. “Never. I love my baby girl. I don’t ever want to see her cry.”

  Damon lowered his chin to his chest. “I made her cry.” He peered fearfully up at Cole. “Are you going to give me back to my dad?”

  “No.” Cole raised a hand slowly and reached for Damon the way one would a frightened dog. He touched the boy’s head. “But I would like for you to stop making her cry.”

  Damon nodded. “I promise.”

  Cole ruffled his hair. “Thank you.”

  Beth cleared her throat and stepped into the room. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”

  Cole rose and took the tray from her. He looked down at her hands.

  “They’re okay,” she assured him. “I think I actually like them better this way. I mean, I’ll wrap them at night, but it’s nice to get some air on the burns.”

  Cole nodded. “As long as you’re okay.”

  “I am.”

  They all climbed up onto the futon. Cole placed the tray in the middle and nudged the plate of cookies closer to Damon.

  “So what were you boys talking about while I was gone?” Beth asked.

  Cole shrugged. “Just man stuff, right?”

  Damon gave them the first real hint of a smile at the wink Cole shot him. “Yeah.”

  “That’s no fair.” Beth pouted. “I’m getting outnumbered.”

  They sat and talked and munched on cookies until the sun painted the windows a pale orange. By then, Damon had already passed out. Cole helped Beth clean up their mess and then started for the sofa.

  “Where are you going?” Beth asked.

  “Sleep,” he mumbled. “I’m exhausted.”

  “The bedroom’s this way,” she reminded him, her heart pounding a little faster at her own implication.

  Cole raised his head, his eyes dark. “I don’t mind crashing on the sofa.”

  “I know.” She shrugged. “But the bed is big enough for both of us and…”

  “What?” he pressed when she faltered.

  “And I kind of might want you there.”

  Cole raised a brow. “Kinda, huh?” He closed the space between them. “I hope you’re not thinking about seducing me, Ms. Doan.”

  Beth chuckled. “Not tonight, Mr. McClain. I can barely keep upright.”

  “Fair enough.” Bending at the knees, Cole swept her up into his arms and carried her bridal style into the bedroom. He dumped her on the bed. “Want to wrap your arms?”

  Too tired for anything but sleep, Beth peered down at her hands, tempted to just say forget it. But the last thing she wanted was to accidently get blood on the sheets.

  “Maybe just my hands?”

  Cole left her and returned a moment later with clean gauze. He wrapped her hands. Then tumbled fully clothed into bed with her and they both fell right to sleep.

  Chapter Thirteen ~ Cole

  It was reaching across the sheets and immediately finding her that brought Cole out of his dreamless sleep. It was the realization that she was there, in his bed that had him anchoring an arm around her middle and drawing her back to him, back to the curve of his body that was made to fit her.

  The movement had her twisting around to nuzzle into his chest. Her groan was filled with despair and early morning crankiness.

  “Don’t make me get up,” she groaned.

  Cole chuckled. “It’s still early.”

  That was all she needed to hear. One leg was forced between his, her arm was tossed over his middle and she was out in a sprawled position across his chest. Cole didn’t move a muscle. He held on to her and watched as the dawn painted across his ceiling. Early morning traffic roared beneath the window, breaking the otherwise peace. He wondered how long he had before he would be forced to untangle himself and get ready for work.

  Five minutes.

  That was how long it took for someone to knock on the apartment door, propelling him to make his decision early and slide out from under Beth. She didn’t seem to notice, or care. She latched on to the heat he’d left behind on the sheets and continued sleeping.

  Shaking his head in amusement, he drew the blankets around her and went to see who would be at his door at that hour.

  “Sloan?”

  His brother stood taking up most of the doorway. He offered Cole a raised eyebrow and a quick once over.

  “Sleep in your clothes?”

  Cole glowered at him as he moved aside to let him in. “We had a long night.”

  Sloan nodded and stepped inside. “We heard and wanted to make sure you guys were all right.”

  Cole left him to shut the door and wandered towards the kitchen for coffee. “You know, they have this magical thing called a phone…”

  He got a literal kick in the butt for his smart mouth.

  “Is that anyway to thank your brother for his concern?”

  Rubbing his bruised backside, Cole glowered over his shoulder. “Bite me.”

  Unperturbed, Sloan heaved his frame onto a stool and watched as Cole brought down coffee and mugs. “I’ll leave that to Beth.”

  Cole felt himself smile at the mention of her name.

  “You two seem to be getting along pretty well.”

  Cole shrugged. “We’re working on it.”

  “Does that mean she’s staying?”

  Hitting the on button on the machine, Cole turned to his brother. “We haven’t discussed that yet.”

  Sloan nodded. “Just be careful, eh? The fall out wasn’t too pretty the last time.”

  “Maybe it won’t be like last time.”

  “Maybe.” Sloan turned his head towards the hallway. “How’s the kid?”

  Taking a step forward, Cole folded his arms on the counter and leaned in. “Shaken. The fucker got all the way to their room.”

  Sloan shook his head. “Nothing like that is supposed to happen in Willow Creek,” he mused. “It’s the town where people leave their doors open, because they trust their neighbors.”

  “Yeah, well, I could have lost them both last night.” He rapped his fingers hard on the counter. “Every time I think about it, I want to hunt that bastard down and break my fist in his face.”

  With a sigh, Sloan rubbed his jaw, the
n dragged his hand back through his hair. “That was my thought this morning when I heard the news. Lily’s beside herself. She’s on her way here once she drops Calla off at school.”

  Cole nodded slowly. “I was thinking about working from home for a while. I don’t like the thought of leaving them alone again.”

  “You can send them over to my place,” Sloan suggested. “You know we’d make room for them until he’s caught.”

  Grateful, Cole smiled at his brother. “Thanks.”

  The coffee machine chimed and Cole turned away. He didn’t bother asking if Sloan wanted a cup. He knew his brother wouldn’t say no.

  “We have company.”

  Sloan’s quiet murmur had Cole glancing over and around. At first he saw nothing but the corner where the counter curved to separate the kitchen from the rest of the apartment. Then he saw them, the pair of blue eyes just peeking over the edge.

  “Morning.” He gave Damon a half grin. “Hungry?”

  Those same wide eyes darted from Cole to Sloan.

  “Don’t worry about him,” Cole said, moving to yank open the cupboard and rummage around for something breakfast worthy. “That’s my brother, Sloan.”

  Damon continued to eye Sloan. There was a quiet deliberation in his eyes, a sort of contemplation that looked odd on the face of a six year old. It was just too wary.

  “Hey kid,” Sloan said. He shifted his weight around on his stool and reached out to pat the one next to him. “Climb up.”

  Damon continued to scrutinize him from afar.

  Sloan didn’t push.

  “Hey, I found cereal.” Cole yanked out the box, a little surprised himself at the sight of it.

  Sloan chuckled. “How long’s that been there?”

  Cole shrugged. “I have no idea.” He reached into the box and pulled a handful out. He ignored Sloan’s grimace of disgust and shoveled it into his mouth. He chewed. “Still tastes okay.”

  “That’s so wrong,” Sloan mumbled. “Don’t give the kid that.” He hoisted his massive frame off the stool and ambled around to the fridge. He yanked it open and peered inside. “You got eggs.” He hauled the carton out and set them on the counter. He pulled a bowl and whisk out next. “Will you get out of my way?” he muttered at Cole.